IowaJones/Biographies/A

W. H. Anderson–H. Arnold

William H. Anderson
Born October 11, 1846

WILLIAM H. ANDERSON, real estate dealer, was born in Scotland, October 11, 1846, and four years later came to the United States with his parents who located in Jones County, Iowa. In the fall of 1859, his father came to Kansas, bought a farm of 160 acres in Americus Township, two miles northwest of town. Wm. H. remained upon this farm until August, 1862, when he enlisted as a private in Company E, Eleventh Kansas Regiment. He participated in all the battles and skirmishes in which his company was engaged and was mustered out at Fort Riley, August 7, 1856. He returned to Americus and bought a farm of eighty acres, adjoining that of his father, which he worked for about two years. In 1867, he sold the farm and removed to Neodesha, Wilson County, where he was for eight years engaged in the hardware business, and in 1878, in connection with others, organized the "Union Loan and Trust Company of Kansas," with offices at Fredonia and Americus. The Americus office has always been under the immediate management of Mr. Anderson. In July, 1880, he formed a partnership with John L. Butler, under the firm name of Anderson & Butler, dealing in real estate, insurance, loans and collections. He married Miss Lovonia Brown, of Americus, September 1, 1870, and has by this marriage had four children, of whom John A., George D. and William F. are living. He is a member of Americus Lodge No. 9, A.F.&A.M., member of Neodesha Lodge No. 72, I.O.O.F., also of Americus Lodge No. 28, A.O.U.W.

From The History of the State of Kansas, by William G. Cutler, A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL, 1883, and was submitted by Elaine Bukove.

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Alfred T. Andreas
Published Iowa Historical Atlas

ALFRED T. ANDREAS was born in Amity, Orange County, New York, May 29, 1839. After acquiring a liberal education he went west, taught school for some years and engaged in several business enterprises. He enlisted in Company G, Twelfth Illinois Infantry and served through the war, fighting in a number of the great battles. Mr. Andreas located in Davenport, Iowa, after the restoration of peace and for many years engaged in compiling and publishing county and State atlases. In 1875 he completed and published his greatest work, which was an "Illustrated Historical Atlas of Iowa." It was a work involving a vast amount of careful labor as it contained large and reliable maps of each of the ninety-nine counties. These maps contained a complete plat of the section lines as well as townships, showing the wagon roads, railroads, native groves and belts of woodland, towns, cities and water courses on a large scale. It also contained histories of the various counties, biographies and protraits of the prominent State officials and notable men of Iowa. It was by far the most useful and valuable publication made in the State up to that time. It was accurate and became an official authority for real estate dealers, county and State officers. Later Mr. Andreas moved to Chicago and organized the "Western Historical Company," and gave his time to historical writing. He died at New Rochelle, New York, February 10, 1900.

From History of Iowa from the Earliest Times to the Begining of the Twentieth Century, by Benjamin F. Gue, New York, The Century History Co., 1903, and submitted by Debbie Clough Gerischer.

J. W. Anthony
Born January 20, 1819

J. W. Anthony, retired, Monticello; is a native of Ulster Co., NY, and was born January 20, 1819; he grew up to manhood and learned the trade of blacksmith; he lived in New York City, and was engaged in ship-smithing in the ship-yard of George Law; in 1850, he came to WI and was foreman in the railroad blacksmith-shops in Milwaukee for 11 years, and was engaged in farming in Rock Co.; in 1866, he came to IA and engaged in farming; he was also engaged in mercantile business some years. On the 16th of November, 1857, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Susan M. Banta, formerly Miss Susan M. Drake, from Westchester Co., NY; she has 1 son, James H. Banta, living in Chicago. Mr. Anthony had nothing when he began life, and has made what he has by his own efforts. He has 2 children by a former wife—John B. (now living in St. Louis) and Mary J. (now Mrs. N. A. Rice, of this county).

From History of Jones County, Iowa, 1879, page 659, and submitted by Lori J. Mentzel

John H. Antons
Born 1830

John H. Antons, who at the time of his death was one of the most substantial and well-to-do farmers of Scotch Grove township, was one of those representative American citizens who claimed Germany as the land of their nativity and who in the new world found opportunity for advancement and progress. He was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, in 1830, and was therefore seventy-eight years of age at the time of his death, which occurred on the 10th of November, 1908. Reared in the fatherland, he was there educated nd married, and came to the United States in 1881, attracted by the advantages here offered for advancement in business lines. Upon arriving in this country he came direct to Jones county, Iowa, taking up his abode in Wayne township, he was engaged in agriculture until 1892. In that year he removed to the present home farm in Scotch Grove township, lying about one mile north of Center Junction, upon which he resided until his demise. It consisted of two hundred acres of land which, under his careful management, was brought under a fine state of cultivation, becoming one of the most highly improved and valuable farming properties in Jones county. Industrious and energetic, he was one of those sturdy Germans who know no such word as fail, and who brook no obstacles that can be overcome by diligence and perseverance. Arriving in the United States a poor man, he steadily worked his way upward in the business world until he had amassed a very comfortable fortune and ranked among the progressive and well-to-do farmers of the county, earning and well deserving the proud American title of a self-made man. Although he won most gratifying prosperity in the business world, it all came to him as the result of well directed efforts, unswerving integrity and honest and upright methods, and his life record is but another indication of the fact that success and a good name can be won simultaneously.

Before leaving the fatherland Mr. Antons was united in marriage to Miss Gesche Catherine Johnson, who still survives him and makes her home on the old farm. In their family were six children, namely: John and Gerhard, operating the home farm; Sophia, the wife of John Stahlberg, of Scotch Grove township; Henry, residing in Delaware county, Iowa; Catherine, the wife of Charles Teten, of Laurel, Nebraska; and Anna, who married John Radloff and resides in Madison township, Jones county. The two eldest sons who are now managing the home farm, are very skilled agriculturists, progressive and up-to-date in their farming and business transactions. Upon their place are found only the best breeds of stock and the consensus of public opinion accords them a foremost place among the enterprising and substantial farmers and stock raisers of the county. They are stalwart republicans in their political allegiance and are members of the German Lutheran church, both standing very high in the community where they have resided for almost two decades. The younger of the two, Gerhard, was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Lurkens, of Scotch Grove township, and unto this union have been born four children, namely: Gesche Catherine, Maria Christina, Ann Margaret and John Henry.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 649.

James S. Applegate
Born 1826

JAMES S. APPLEGATE, farmer, Scotch Grove Twp., Sec. 17; P.O. Scotch Grove; was born in Trumbull Co., Ohio, in 1826; he came to Jones Co. in the spring of 1857; he purchased the farm which he now owns in 1864. He was married to Elizabeth Scofield, who was born in Ohio; has seven children—Alva L., Mary F., Henry W., Charles S., Adda A., Lena R. and Maud P. Farm contains 200 acres of land. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, 1879, page 654, and submitted by Lori J. Mentzel.

James Armstrong
Born April 13, 1841

JAMES ARMSTRONG farmer, Greenfield Twp., Sec. 5; P.O. Martelle; born April 13, 1841, in Cortland Co., N.Y.; in 1852, came to Jones Co. with his parents. He owns 162; acres of land. Married Ann E. Brady in 1868; she was born in Chenango Co., N.Y.; have four children—Jennie, John, Eugene and Mary.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 584.

Hiram Arnold
Born January 9, 1843

Hiram Arnold
Nathan Arnold, Hiram's father

HIRAM ARNOLD, for a number of years actively engaged in agricultural pursuits, at present devotes his attention to the buying, selling and shipping of stock, in which line of business he displays great energy, capability and force of character. Since the close of the war he has been a resident of Jones County, and during much of this time has made his home in Wyoming, where he now resides. He is numbered among the influential citizens of the place, and by his marked public spirit has enhanced the material development and growth of the city.

The Empire State has given to Iowa many of her best citizens, and Mr. Arnold is one of this class. He was born in Jefferson County, N.Y., January 9, 1843, and is of Scotch-lrish descent. The family has been represented in America for several generations, and Jacob Arnold, our subject's grandfather, himself a native of Jefferson County, N.Y., was one of the brave men who defended the interests of the Government against the encroachments of the British that resulted in the War of 1812.

The father of our subject, Nathan Arnold, was born in Jefferson County and was trained to farming pursuits. In 1850 he removed westward as far as Illinois, whence in 1854 he came to Jones County, Iowa, and with the early history of this part of the state his name was closely associated. He took a prominent part in the opening of roads and building of schoolhouses, and was instrumental in securing many improvements of a substantial nature. His death occurred in Rome Township, September 20, 1890, when one of the pioneers of the county was removed from the scenes of his former activity. Politically he had been prominent as a local leader of the Republican party. His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Calkin, was born in Jefferson County, N.Y., and was a daughter of Seth Calkin, likewise born in that county. She is still living, and at the age of seventy-six years (1894), resides in Iowa.

When the family came to Illinois the subject of this sketch was a lad of seven years, and the rudiments of his education were received in the schools of Rockford. In 1854 he came to Jones County, where he grew to manhood. When the war broke out he was only eighteen years of age, but fired with the ardor of youth and the patriotic impulses of a loyal citizen, he enlisted in the defense of the Old Flag. July 28, 1862, his name was enrolled as a member of Company K, Twenty-fourth Iowa Infantry, which was assigned to the Thirteenth Army Corps. With his regiment he participated in several of the most decisive engagements of the conflict, as well as many battles of lesser note. At the battle of Sabine Cross Roads he distinguished himself by carrying ammunition and distributing it all along the lines, where he was exposed to the hottest fire of the enemy.

At the close of the Rebellion, with a record as a brave and gallant soldier, Mr. Arnold was honorably discharged from the service. Coming to Iowa, he settled on a farm near Wyoming, and for four years engaged as a tiller of the soil. Since that time he has been a dealer in stock, which he buys extensively and ships to the large markets. In politics he is a Republican, and takes an interest in the success of his party. He is a member of the City Council and for nine years, beginning in 1878, filled the position of Deputy Sheriff of Jones County.

The marriage of Mr. Arnold, occurring in 1868, united him with Miss Armella Newell, who was born near Towanda, Bradford County, Pa. Her father, Elisha Newell, removed from Pennsylvania to Iowa and died in Jones County. Two sons and one daughter have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Arnold, namely: Frederick H.; Letta M., wife of R. B. Curtis, of Anamosa, Iowa; and Arthur J. In religious connections the family is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Wyoming, to the support of which, as well as all truly benevolent projects. Mr. Arnold is a generous contributor. Mr. Arnold is also engaged in raising sheep and furnishes numerous farmers with flocks to keep on shares.

From Dubuque, Jones, and Clayton Counties History, 1894, pgs. 375-376, and submitted by Becky Teubner. Photos provided by Janie DeNunzio, Nathan Arnold's 3rd-great-granddaughter.