Dubuque County >> 1894 Index
Jones County
Clayton County

Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties
Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894.

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Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Becky Teubner.

JOEL LANTZ

There is in the business world one kind of men who can successfully combat many disadvantages and trials and come boldly to the front. It is this sort of men, with superior intelligence and force of character, that seem somehow to transform a poor beginning into the most flattering end. To this class belongs Joel Lantz, a man who by shrewdness of judgment and good management has risen to an honorable position in life.

Our subject was born in Clayton County , this state, in 1852, and is the son of Christ and Sophia (Meyer) Lantz, natives of Switzerland . The parents emigrated to America in the year 1850, landing in New York City and for the following two years made their home in that state. Then coming to Iowa they located in this county, the father in the meantime following his trade of cigar manufacturer. In addition to this business he superintended the operations of the estate on which the family made their home for two years. Mr. Lantz then purchased another tract of land, and moving his family upon it occupied it but a short time when he sold out and went to Indiana , where he is still living and is in the possession of a good income from his agricultural pursuits. His family comprises the following named children: Christ, Sophia, Lizzie, Bertha and Joel, our subject.

The original of this sketch was deprived by death of the care of his mother when an infant of six months. He remained in the home in which he was adopted until attaining his fifteenth year. Then starting out in life on his own responsibility he worked as a farm hand for ten years; when he had accumulated a sufficient sum of money, he purchased one hundred and sixty-five acres of choice farming land, the extent of which he soon increased to two hundred and ninety acres, his possessions at the present time. He has abundantly shown his good judgment in the accumulation of his estate, which is well supplied with improvements which make life in the country enjoyable and add to the value of the property.

Joel Lantz was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Frieden, a lady who is a native of this county and is the daughter of Benedict and Annie (Baumgardner) Frieden, formerly wealthy residents here. Mr. and Mrs. Lantz have become the parents of three children, bearing the respective names of Willie, John and Celia. They are being given the best advantages for obtaining an education by their worthy parents, who will also train them to fill honored positions in life.

Mr. Lantz is a stanch member of the Democratic party, understands well the political issues of the day and firmly believes that he is right in his judgment regarding them. In religious affairs he belongs to the Dunkard Church .

GEORGE F. LECLERE

The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch is one of the wealthy retired farmers residing in Monticello . He came to Iowa comparatively a poor man and began farming on a tract of eighty acres in Dubuque County , He made a specialty of feeding cattle and hogs, and as he prospered invested his money in real estate, until at one time he was the owner of over eighteen hundred acres in this state. He is consequently one of the wealthiest retired farmers in this portion of Iowa and one of its largest landowners, notwithstanding he has given his children considerable property when ready to settle in life.

Mr. LeClere was born in France , January 14, 1817 , and is the son of George F. and Catherine (Belea) LeClere, who emigrated to the United States with their family in the year 1828, landing in New York . They made their home on a farm in the woods of Oswego County , which they cleared, cultivated and lived upon until 1852, when the father died. Mrs. LeClere survived him until 1872, when she passed away at the home of her son, G. F. The subject of this sketch was one in the family of eleven children born to his parents, only four of whom are now living. One is in New York , another in Storm Lake , Iowa , and the third in Dubuque County . Like his brothers and sisters, he attended the district school in Oswego County , N. Y., and remained on his father's farm until attaining manhood.

In 1841 our subject and Miss Louisa Laude were united in marriage. The lady was born in France and was the daughter of James and Margaret (Bourquin) Laude. Mr. and Mrs. LeClere located upon a farm in Oswego County , N. Y. where they lived until 1846, the date of their advent into Dubuque County , Iowa . Here he became the proprietor of eighty acres, which he cultivated in such a profitable manner that he was soon enabled to enlarge his estate, and continued to add to his possessions until he became the owner of one of the largest tracts in the county.

In 1878 Mr. LeClere removed from his farm to Monticello , where he has since resided in the ease and luxury which his industry so well deserves. To their union there have been born eight children, of whom four sons and two daughters are living. Charles F. is in Prairieburg, Iowa; Eliza C. is the wife of Morris Bebb, and resides in Monticello; George F. is a farmer and minister of the Presbyterian Church and makes his home in Texas; Albert D. is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of fine farming land in Dubuque County; Henry A. has in his possession three hundred and twenty acres also lying in Dubuque County; Lulu is Mrs. Smith; Emily and Susie are deceased. In politics our subject was in early life a Whig and cast his first Presidential vote for General Harrison. He is now, however, a strong Republican and takes great interest in the success of his party. Religiously he and his wife are devoted members of the Presbyterian Church, and their whole lives reflect great credit in that connection.

NORTON J. LOOMIS is a dealer in lumber, brick, tile, cement, etc., in Farley, Dubuque County , Iowa . He was born in Martinsburgh, Lewis County , N. Y., in 1831, and emigrated with his parents to Wisconsin in the year 1842. His parents were Amassa C. and Francis (Thompson) Loomis, natives of Maine and Massachusetts respectively. The family was originally of English extraction.

Nine years after going to Wisconsin , Mr. Loomis of this sketch removed to Dubuque County , where he has since made his home. When he landed here and took stock of his possessions he found he had only ten cents. This was on the Fourth of July, and he was necessarily unable to celebrate the day with such patriotic manifestations as was befitting. The first year after that he spent on the river, working at whatever he could find to do in order to obtain a livelihood. He worked by the month in this county until 1859, when he located on a farm and engaged in its cultivation until about the year 1886; he then sold most of his property and engaged in his present occupation, in which he has been very successful. Mr. Loomis owns quite a large amount of real estate and some of the best buildings in the town.

In 1854 Miss Ellen Hooper became the wife of our subject, and of their union were born eight children who grew to mature years, Amassa, the oldest, was killed in this county; he left a wife and child; May F. is the wife of E. B. Catron, of Earlville; John W. is a resident of Farley; Bennett E. is a stock merchant in the same place; Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of W. F. Klaus, of Earlville; Wellington W. is a liveryman; Frank H. and George G. complete the family. By a second marriage, when Mrs. Ella H., widow of Henry Edzard and daughter of A. W. Himbaugh became the wife of our subject, were born two children, Florence E. and Affal R. Our subject has been a strong Republican all his life and is proud of the fact. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Farley, in the work of which he takes an active part. Our subject is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is a citizen who has always done the utmost in his power to advance the prosperity of this region.

MRS. MARY E. LOWRY, one of the best known residents of Jones County , is the lady whose name opens this sketch. She is the widow of Joseph Lowry, and makes her home at the present time in Olin. Our subject was born in Genesee County , N. Y., August 26, 1814 , and is the daughter of Jeduthun Seeley, whose birth also occurred in the Empire State , whence he removed to Illinois in an early day in the history of that state, and departed this life in Whiteside County . He was married to Miss Sarah Gibbs, who was also born in New York . Mrs. Seeley survived her husband many years, dying after her removal to Olin.

The original of this sketch spent the early years of her life in her native state, and received her education in the schools near her home. She accompanied her parents on their removal to Illinois in 1835, and three years later was married to Richard J. Cleveland, a native of Boston , Mass. , and a graduate of Harvard University . Mr. Cleveland was the son of Richard J. Cleveland, Sr., a man of much learning, and his mother bore the maiden name of Dorcas Hiller. She was likewise born in the Bay State and was finely educated for that period.

Mr. Cleveland was prominent in the early settlement of Whiteside County , Ill. ; he was very public-spirited and took great interest in school matters. He was a stanch supporter of the Republican party after its organization, and he was very popular as a man of wide reading and general research. He departed this life in Jones County , December 7, 1877 , greatly mourned by many relatives and a host of warm friends. To Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland there were born four children, all deceased.

In 1878 our subject was married to the Rev. Joseph Lowry, a minister in the Presbyterian Church, and a native of Ireland . He was educated in the University of Dublin and the College at Belfast , and took an active interest in all the affairs of his native land. Mr. Lowry emigrated to the United States in 1854, and taking up his abode in Jones County , this state, in 1878, did much toward furthering religious work in this locality. He organized the first Sunday-school in the county, and as a minister of the Gospel manifested a deep interest in the noble work in which he was engaged. He was a man of education and refinement, highly respected and esteemed, not only by his own congregation, but by all who knew him. He departed this life in January, 1891, and many were the expressions of condolence which Mrs. Lowry received. After the first shock she rallied and set an example of self-sacrifice which we can only regard as heroic. She owns valuable property in Olin, and at present occupies a beautiful residence in the place. She is a lady of great refinement and intelligence, and enjoys the friendship of the best people of the county.