From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 635.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 635.

H. A. Toenjes, a farmer and dairyman of Wayne township, was born in Oldenburg, Germany, March 11, 1856, and is a son of John Christopher and Anna (Guelfs) Toenjes. The parents were both natives of Germany, where until his death John Toenjes followed farming. In 1869 his son John canme to the United States and five years later Mrs. Toenjes, who was then a widow, H. A., Dietrich and a daughter, Elizabeth, came here, settling in Jones county. After she arrived in Iowa Mrs. Toenjes married again and passed the last years of her life in Ireton, at the home of her daughter. She had reared a family of five children: Rev. John Gerhart, who is the pastor of the German Lutheran church at Quyvrel, Idaho; Mrs. Johanna Ludwig, a widow, who is still living in the old country; H. A., of this sketch; Dietrich, who lives in Chicago; and Elizabeth, who is the wife of H. L. Vonder, a farmer of Ireton, Iowa.

Accompanied by his mother, brother and sister, H. A. Toenjes came to the United States in 1874, settling in Jones county where he has since resided. He had learned the carpenter's trade in the land of his birth, and after coming to this country he followed it for about two years. He then took up farm work by the month, and four years later engaged in farming for himself. He selected Wayne township as the scene for his labors and bought here eighty acres. After he had proved to his satisfaction that he could make a success of this vocation he bought one hundred and twenty acres more, so, that he now has a farm of two hundred acres on section 28. This is especially well improved, the result of his own endeavors, and the buildings are of an exceptionally fine character. In addition to the work of the fields he milks about thirty-five cows, engaging to some extent in the dairy business. He assisted in the organization of the Co-operative Creamery Company of Amber and is now on the board of directors of the concern.

Mr. Toenjes wedded, January 28, 1877, Miss Margaret Zimmerman, who was born near Dixon, Illinois, May 13, 1859, but was only four weeks old when brought to Jones county by her parents, A. G. and Anna (Grumm) Zimmerman, who were born, reared and married in Hanover, Germany. They came to the United States in 1854 and five years later came to Iowa, where Mr. Zimmerman, bought a farm in Wayne township, where he lived until he retired from active life and took up his residence in the village of Amber. There his death occurred in 1904 and there his widow still lives. Mr. and Mrs. Toenjes have had thirteen children; John C., of Ireton, Iowa; Anna E., who is the wife of Warner Heiken, of Cass township; A. G., of Wayne township; Augusta M., who is the wife of Herman Folkers, of Wayne township; Julia, who lives at home; Johannah, who resides in Greeley, Colorado; George, Elizabeth, Clara, Laura and Herman, who are still at home; William, who died in infancy; and Maria, who died at the age of three. The family are members of Zion German Lutheran church of Wayne township, and take an active part in its social and religious life. Since he has become a citizen of this republic Mr. Toenjes has looked to the democratic party for his guidance in political affairs and while he has not been active in public affairs he held the office of township trustee for a period of three years and has ever been interested in the welfare of his fellowman. He is not only a diligent worker but is also imbued with those ideas of progress which make his counsel of real value to other men who are struggling toward success and distinction in the same line of work.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 569.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 635.

J. A. Tomlinson was reared under the parental roof and was enrolled as a student in the local public schools, from which he derived substantial training for life. As he grew to manhood he was able to enter more and more into the work of the home farm until finally he and his father operated it in conjunction. The partnership existed until about twelve years ago, when the older man retired, leaving J. A. Tomlinson with the full responsibilities of the place. It is a tract embracing two hundred acres, situated on sections 1 and 2, Madison township, and is rightly accounted one of the finest farms in Jones county, for few places give such bountiful returns for the labor expended upon them. To be sure Mr. Tomlinson has spared no effort to make himself prominent as an agriculturist so that, perhaps, as much to his industry as to the natural richness of the soil are to be attributed the large harvests which he reaps each season.

In January, 1883, Mr. Tomlinson was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Montague, of Michigan, whose home was near Benton Harbor, and one son, L. J., has been born to them. Mr. Tomlinson has not seen fit to give his allegiance exclusively to one political party, but as he is interested in questions of public moment he investigates them and, after having deeply considered them from different points of view, he feels he is competent to render his judgment. Accordingly. his vote is usually cast for the man who is worthy of support rather than for the candidate who perhaps has little to recommend him save that he is his party's choice. This independence of judgment is but one phase of the progressive spirit which has dominated the course of his life and has contributed as much as his unremitting industry to the winning of the good fortune in which all of his fellow citizens as well as himself may take a pride.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 505.

Chancey Tompkins was about thirteen years of age when his parents came to this county and received his education in the common schools, whence he derived all the instruction be could during the few months in which they held session. In the meanwhile he worked upon the farm with his father, participating in all of the labor that was carried on there, and not until he was twenty-six years old attempting to start in life for himself. At that age he married and established his home on a rented farm. After five years' experience as a tenant he bought the place on which he is now living but which was only partly improved at the time. It embraces one hundred and forty-seven acres on section 20, and through careful cultivation well supports the general line of agriculture to which Mr. Tompkins has devoted his energies. He has also engaged largely in the stock business, raising, feeding and shipping large numbers of cattle and hogs. From experience he has learned the value of incessant toil in obtaining appreciable returns in his calling and his capacity for industry united with the good judgment he displays in the management of his affairs has won him, a, measure of success that is gratifying indeed.

At the age of twenty-six, Mr. Tompkins wedded Miss Mary Jennings, a native of Ohio, and their union has been blessed with two children. Iva, the older, graduated from the Wyoming high school and is now the wife of Dr. Chamberlain, of Wyoming. Lyle, lives at home.

Mrs. Tompkins is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, but Mr. Tompkins does not profess allegiance to any creed. Politically, he is in sympathy with the platform of the democratic party, for whose candidate he. almost invariably casts his vote at. the polls. For himself, however, he has never sought office, although he has served efficiently as a school director for a number of years.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 163.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 606.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 685.