J. W. Randall, a retired merchant at Kingsley, this county, former justice of the peace there, and honored veteran of the Civil War and resident of this county for more than twenty-five years, is a native of Pennsylvania, born at Cochranton, in Crawford county, that state, August 7, 1838, son of George W. and Lydia (Randall) Randall, the former a native of New York state and the later of Pennsylvania.

George W. Randall was born in the state of New York, son of Ichabod Randall and wife, the former a native of Rhode Island and a fuller in a woolen-mill. George W. Randall became a hotel man, and in 1846 moved from New York to Clayville, Ohio, and thence to Cumberland, in that same state, where he conducted a hotel and where his wife died in 1857. He later married again and bout 1860 went to Ohio, where he settled on a farm, but a short time later moved to Oregon county, Missouri, where he farmed until his retirement and removal to Alton, the county seat of that county, where he died in December, 1887, at the age of seventy-three years. As noted above, George W. Randall was twice married. By his marriage to Lydia Randall, who was a daughter of John Randall and wife, who moved from Erie county, Pennsylvania, to Muskingum county, Ohio, he was the father of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was first-born, the others being Ann, Catherine, Nancy, George W., Hannah, Ichabod, Pauline and Frank. By his second wife, Elizabeth, he was the father of three children, Edwin, Valandingham and Alexandria.

J. W. Randall was but a child when his parents moved to Cumberland, Ohio, and he received his schooling in the schools of that city, growing up an assistant to his father in the management of the hotel. In the fall of 1860 he married and on October 9, 1861, enlisted for service during the Civil War as a private in Company A, Seventy-third regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which command he served until it was mustered out on July 26, 1865, the war then being at an end. Mr. Randall's regiment saw service in General Sherman's army and participated in the campaign of that army through Georgia and on from Atlanta to the sea and thence to Washington, Mr. Randall thus having participated in the Grand Review of the army at Washington at the close of the war. Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Randall returned home and shortly afterward moved to Cole county, Illinois, where he settled on a farm and where he remained for three years, at the end of which time he moved to the Territory of Dakota and there took a homestead in the vicinity of Yankton, developed the same and there made his home for more than twenty-three years, at the end of which time, twenty-five years ago, he retired from the farm and moved to Kingsley, this county, where he engaged in the grocery business, and was thus engaged for four or five years, since which time he has been living practically retired at his pleasant home in that city. Mr. Randall is a Republican and has served the public in various elective capacities, having served for six years as township assessor, for four years as constable and for two years as a justice off the peace. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with which organization he has been associated for many years and in the affairs of which he takes a warm interest.

It was on October 4, 1860, that J. W. Randall was united in marriage to Sarah C. Kennard, who was born on a farm in the vicinity of Rushville, Ohio, December 14, 1839, daughter of John and Sarah (Johnson) Kennard, natives of Pennsylvania, who had settled on a farm near Rushville, Ohio, and to this union eight children have been born, namely; Sarah Lydia, who married W. H. Hackenthorn; Mattie, who married A. Park; Walter, who is living at Dickenson, North Dakota; Mary, who was graduated from the high school at Pierre, South Dakota, and married E. D. Kent; George, who is living at Vermilion, South Dakota; Catherine, who married O. C. Moore, of Deuel county, South Dakota; Joseph, who is a farmer, living near Staples, Minnesota, and William, also a farmer near Staples. Mr. and Mrs. Randall celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1910 and the occasion was made one of much felicitation on the part of their many friends in and about Kingsley. Mr. and Mrs. Randall are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church and for many years have taken an active interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in all community good works, helpful in promoting all worthy causes hereabout.

PETER RAVELING   

One of the many well known and prominent retired farmers of Remsen is Peter Raveling, who was born in Germany on November 10, 1862, the son of Henry and Cecelia Raveling, also natives of Germany, who continued to reside in the land of their nativity until 1882, when they came to America. On their arrival in the United States they came to Iowa and Henry Raveling rented land and engaged in farming until the time of his death in 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Raveling were active members of the Evangelical Lutheran church, took much interest in church work and were held in the highest regard and esteem by all who knew them. They were the parents of ten children: John, William, Trinka, Hilka, George, Jacob, Peter and three who died. The first three named are located in Minnesota.   

Peter Raveling received his education in the public schools of his native land and there grew to manhood and engaged in farming until he came to America in 1880. On his arrival in the United States he came to Iowa and located in Remsen township, this county, where he worked as a farm hand for one year. After that time he and his father rented two hundred acres of land in the township for some years. After his marriage he moved to Marion township where he rented one hundred and twenty acres for two years. He then moved to Meadow township, where he rented two hundred and forty acres and there he remained for twenty-seven years, engaged in general farming and stock raising. In 1916 he moved to Remsen, where he purchased seven and one-half acres of land and retired from the larger duties of farm life.   

In 1883 Peter Raveling was united in marriage to Clara Freis, and to that union eight children were born, Henry, George, Cecelia, Mary, Jacob, Hilka, Clara and Cecelia. George Raveling married Emma Struble and has one child, Orville. Cecelia married Andrew Willerson and has one child, Lester. The rest of the children are still single. After the death of Mrs. Clara (Freis) Raveling, Peter Raveling was united in marriage to Alvena Stiffen, the daughter of James and Catherine (Rohweder) Stiffen, and to this union two children were born, both of whom are deceased.   

Alvena (Stiffen) Raveling is a native of Grundy county, Iowa. Her parents were both natives of Germany, where they received their education. In their youth they came to the United States, first locating in Scott county, Iowa, and later in Tama county, where they were married. After their marriage they went to Grundy county, where the father rented land, and there they now live. They were the parents of eleven children, six of whom are now living.

Harry Reints, one of Elgin township's well-known and progressive farmers, is a native of Illinois, born at Freeport, that state, but has been a resident of Plymouth county since 1885. He was born on October 31, 1864, son of William and Hilka (Van Deist) Reints, natives of Germany, who had come to this country in the days of their youth with their respective parents, both families settling in Stephenson county, Illinois. There William Reints was married. He owned a farm in the vicinity of Freeport and was also engaged in the lumber business and operated a grocery store at that place. Later he located on a farm near Foreston, in Ogle county, Illinois, and there remained until 1885, in which year he disposed of his interests at that place and moved to Iowa, settling on a farm in Stanton township, this county. He developed that farm and became one of the substantial farmers of that neighborhood. His wife died there in July, 1904, and he has since been making his home with a daughter on the old home place and with a son in Oklahoma. William Reints is a member of the Evangelical Association, as was his wife, and their children were reared in that faith. There were seven of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow; Kate, the widow of Richard Meiners, of Stanton township; William, deceased; M. W., of Le Mars; Annie, who married Charles Werth and lives in Stanton township; Maggie, who married William Werth and lives Le Mars, and John, who is now farming in Key county, Oklahoma.

Harry Reints received his schooling in the common schools of Ogle county, Illinois, and grew up to the life of the farm. When his parents came to Plymouth county in 1885 he accompanied them and assisted in the work of improving the developing the home farm, remaining there until his marriage in 1892, after which he settled on the farm in section 16 of Elgin township, where he has since made his home and where he and his family are very pleasantly situated. When Mr. Reints took possession of that place it was a "new" farm and all the improvements on the place have been made by him. In 1895 he built a fine new house and in 1906 built a new barn. The other improvements on the place are in keeping with these, the whole place being well kept and profitably cultivated. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Reints pays considerable attention to his live stock, raising a good grade of cattle, Poland China hogs and draft horses and is doing very well. He is a Republican and has served the public in the capacity of school director and as township road superintendent, in which latter capacity he is now serving.

In the spring of 1892 Harry Reints was united in marriage to Martha Detloff, who was born at Bloomington, Illinois, a daughter of Henry and Paulina (Pech) Detloff, pioneers of Plymouth county, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and to this union six children have been born, namely; Carrie, who married Frank Weber, of Fredonia township, and has one child, a son, Leonard, and Henry, William, Leona, Lewis (deceased) and Minnie. The Reints family have a very pleasant home and take a proper part in the general social activities of the community in which they live.

PETER REISCH, a native of Luxemburg, and now one of the well-know and successful farmers of Marion township, this county, was born on April 13,1865, the son of Francis and Margaret Reisch, also natives of Luxemburg, who spent all their lives in their native land, dying some years ago. The father was a laborer and a farmer in a small way, and devoted his life to that work. Mr. and Mrs. Reisch were active members of the Catholic church and took much interest in church work, well-known in the social and the religious life of the community in which they lived; highly respected family, held in the highest regard by all who knew them. They were the parents of three children, Peter, Elizabeth and Anna.   

Peter Reisch, the only one of the family who came to America, was educated in the public schools of his native land and there grew to manhood. He spent three years of his early life in Belgium, after which he returned to his native land, where he remained for one year, and then decided to come to America. It was in 1884 that he bade good-by to the family and the scenes of his childhood and young manhood and sailed for the United States. On his arrival in this country he came at once to Iowa and located near Le Mars, where he worked as a farm hand in America township for six years. He then rented land in that township for nine years, after which, in 1899, he purchased one hundred and forty-three acres of land in Marion township, where he now lives. Since he made his original purchase he has added to his holdings until he is now the owner of four hundred and twenty-seven acres of excellent land in Marion township, as well as a small tract that adjoins Le Mars. At the time Mr. Reisch made his first purchase of land the tract was for the most part only partly improved and developed. Since that time he has put some ten thousand dollars in improvements and has developed the place until it is today one of the ideal farms of the township. There he is engaged in general farming and stock raising and is a firm believer in intensive farming and in the keeping of the best of stock. He farms one hundred and twenty-five acres of corn and one hundred and ten acres of small grain, the most of which he feeds on the place. He keeps one hundred and fifty head of hogs, feeds out a carload of cattle each year and is today recognized as one to the progressive and successful farmers and stockmen in the township.   

In 1890 Peter Reisch was united in marriage to Jennie Rolling, a daughter of John and Susan Rolling, pioneers of Plymouth county, whose last days were spent here. John Rolling was born in Germany and there received his education in the public schools and there grew to manhood. As a young man he learned the carpenter trade, at which he worked until he was twenty-five years of age, when he decided to come to America. On landing in the city of New York he remained there for two years and worked at his trade. He then came to Iowa and located in Jackson county, where he was married and continued to engage in the carpenter work until 1872, in which year he came to Plymouth county and purchased a farm of two hundred acres in section 19 of Marion township, and there established his home and spent the remainder of his life. When Mr. Rolling settled on his farm the tract was wild prairie and it was necessary for him to break the sod and propagate the land for cultivation. He at first built a small house and at once began the task of developing his farm. He later built a more commodious houses, planted a grove and in other ways made his farm one of the substantial places of the township. At the time of the grasshopper visitation he suffered severe losses, as did all the pioneers of that time, but he overcame these losses and soon became a successful farmer, in time becoming known as one of the substantial and influential men of the township. It was on that home farm that Mrs. Rolling died on January 4, 1894. Mr. Rolling survived her and died on February 24, 1903. They were the parents of the following children: Nicholas, a resident of Perry, Oklahoma; Lena, the wife of Peter Zeit; Jennie, who married Peter Reisch, and John P., a prominent and well-known farmer and stockman of Marion township.   

Peter and Jennie (Rolling) Reisch are the parents of the following children: John (who died in infancy), Nick, Lena John, Frank, Leo (who died at the age of eleven years), Alfons, Emma, Raymond, Elizabeth and Marie. The Reischs are active members of the Catholic church and have long been prominent in the social and the religious life of the community, where they are held in the highest regard and esteem by all who know them. Mr. Reisch is a member of the Roman Catholic Mutual Protective Association in which he takes much interests. Politically, he is an independent Republican and takes and active interest in the civic life of the township as well as the county.   

On coming to this country, Peter Reisch was a poor boy and had little else than his ability to work and the determination to succeed. His life has been a busy one and he has devoted his time and his energies to his work in hand. He was always saving and economical and as soon as he was in a position to do so he purchased a farm of his own, which today is developed and improved into one of the best tracts in the township, and has a beautiful country home. Mr. Reisch is held in the highest regard because of his ability to do things, and because of his high regard for the opinion of others.

Jurgen Renken, one of the most substantial farmers in the north central part of Plymouth county and the proprietor of a fine farm in Grant township, now living retired at Le Mars, is a native of Germany, but has been a resident of this county since pioneer days, having come out here in 1871, among the earliest settlers of the county.  He was born in Hanover on November 8, 1850, son of Herman Conrad and Hilka Marie Renken, also natives of Germany, the former of whom was a small farmer and also held a position under goverenment, having been a man of education.  He and his wife were the parents of eight children, seven of whom came to the United States and four of whom are still living: Margaret, who married Gerhart Popkin; Ameta, who married Albert Albers, and Gerhart and Jurgen, who are living at Le Mars.  The father of these children died when his son Jurgen was eight years of age and his widow some years later came to this country, her last days being spent in this county, where she died in 1892.     

Jurgen Renken was given a good education in his native land and was sixteen years of age when he came to this country with his mother in 1866, locating in Jones county, this state, where he remained, engaged as a farm hand, until 1871, when he came to Plymouth county.  He started to drive over from Jones county in February of 1871, but on account of continued rains and the impassable condition of the roads was obliged to abandon that method of travel and the trip as far as Sioux City was completed by rail.  Upon his arrival here Mr. Renken bought a tract of eighty acres in section 15 of Grant township, set up a small shack, twelve by fourteen, and a straw barn on the same and started in to break the sod and develop his farm.  He also set out a grove, which after awhile became a most attractive feature of his place.  During the grasshopper devastations of the middle seventies Mr. Renken suffered in common with all the early settlers here-about, but he was not discouraged by such setbacks and "stuck to the job," presently beginning to see his way clear, and it was not long until he was on the high road to prosperity.  As he prospered in his opeerations, Mr. Renken added to his land holdings until he became the owner of one thousand and forty acres of land in this county, besides valuable lands in the Panhandle section of Texas.  He personally managed a four-hundred-acre farm in Grant township, surrounding his original home, and improved that place until he had expended more than fifteen thousand dollars in the way of improvemnets, developing one of the best farms in the county.  In addition to his general farming he for years gave considerable attention to the raising of live stock and early became recognized as one of the foremost farmers and stockmen in the county.  In 1912 he and his wife retired from the farm and moved to Le Mars, where they are now living and where they are very comfortably and very pleasantly situated.  Mr. Renken is a Republican and has ever given his earnest attention to local politica l affairs, for years having acted as trustee of Grant township and also as school director in his home district.  He is the president of the German Savings Bank at Craig and owns a controlling interest in the same.     

In 1881 Jurgen Renken was united in marriage to Wilhelmina Sophia Berg, who also was born in Germany, daughter of William and Minnie Berg, who came to this country in 1880 and located in Grant township, this county, where William Berg bought one hundred and twenty acres in section 15 and there established his home.  His wife died in 1899 and in 1901 he retired from the farm and has since made his home in the household of the Renkens.  William Berg and wife were the parents of three children, Mrs. Renken having two brothers, Louis and Herman Berg.  To Mr. and Mrs. Renken nine children have been born, namely: Herman, who married Anna Brabender and has six childred, George, Herman, Louis, Lawrence, Raymond and Florence: John, who married Kate Nubben and has three children, Fred, Bernard and Alice; Gerhart, who married Ricka Oetken and has four childdren, Gerhart, Herman, William and Luella; Minnie, who married Rank Oetken and has four children, George, Harry, Rose and Mildred; Mary, who married Conrad Garets; Anna, who married William Garets and has one child, a son, Leonard, and Emma, George and Bertha, who are unmarried.  The Renkens are members of the German Edvangelical Lutheran church at Le Mars and take an earnest interest in the affairs of the same.  Mr. Renken was one of the organizers and a charter member of the church of that denomination in Grant township and for years was a member of the board of trustees of the same.

John Richardson, one of Plymouth county's best-known pioneer farmers, now living retired at Le Mars, was born in London, England, September 15, 1849, a son of James and Eliza (Simmons) Richardson, the father born in Scotland, in 1818, and the mother in London.

James Richardson was fifteen years old when he left his native land and went to London. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade and became a fine workman, having served an apprenticeship of seven years. He worked at his trade ten years before immigrating to America in 1851. He located in Chicago and worked in car shops, repairing passenger coaches, doing all hand work there for five years. He came to Iowa in 1856 and spent one year at Dyersville, in the days before the railroad had penetrated to that section of the state. Later he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Delaware county. It was wild land, but he improved it and engaged in general farming there until his death in 1893, at the age of seventy-five years. His wife also reached the age of seventy-five. They were parents of the following children: Henry, who lives in Kansas; James, who lives in Hartley, Iowa; John, the subject of this sketch; David, who lives in Missouri, and Walter, who lives in Delaware county, Iowa.

John Richardson was about two years old when his parents brought him to America. He received his education in the common schools, helped his father with the farm work in Delaware county, this state, and remained at home until he was twenty-six years old. On July 24, 1876, he married Florence Shaw, of Guttenburg, Iowa, a daughter of William and Nancy (Beckett) Shaw, natives of Pennsylvania and Missouri, respectively. William Shaw grew up in his native state and came to Iowa in 1856; was married in Dubuque and settled near Earlville, Delaware county, on a farm; later moved to Sac county, then to Sioux City, this state, whence he moved to Topeka, Kansas, where his death occurred on September 15, 1914, and where his widow is still living. They were parents of four children, namely; Florence, wife of the subject of this sketch; Perdita, who lives in Topeka; Eva, who lives in West Plains, Missouri, and William, who lives in Fairmount, North Dakota.

To Mr. and Mrs. Richardson three children were born, namely: Harvey, who is farming at Worthington, Minnesota, married Myrtle Kirby, and has three children, Clarence, Florence and Walter; Arthur, unmarried, who is engaged in farming near Painsville, Minnesota, and Gertrude, who married Ezra G. Pearce, of Worthington, Minnesota, and has one daughter, Juanita. These three children all received good educations in the public schools.

In 1871 Mr. Richardson came to Plymouth county and bought a farm in Union township, on which he located in 1875, improved it and added to it until he now owns two hundred acres of valuable land. He engaged in general farming and stock raising there with success until 1906, when he retired and moved to Le Mars. He built his present attractive home in the Wernli addition in 1914. He votes the Republican ticket, but has never been very active in public life.

JOHN P. ROLLING, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Marion township, this county, is a native son of Iowa and has lived in this state all his life, with the exception of brief periods of residence in the state of California and in South Dakota. He was born on a farm in Jackson county on April 20, 1869, son of John and Susan Rolling, who later became pioneers of Plymouth county, where their last days were spent.   

John Rolling was born in Germany and was trained there to the carpenter's trade, at which he worked until he was twenty-five years of age, when he came to the United States. Landing in New York City, he remained there, working at his trade, for two years, at the end of which time he came to Iowa and located in Jackson county, where he presently married and where he worked at his trade until 1872, in which year he came to Plymouth county and bought a farm of two hundred acres in section 29 of Marion township, where he established his home and where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Upon taking possession of his farm, for which he paid nine dollars an acre, John Rolling was confronted with the task of breaking the virgin soil and preparing the same for cultivation. He erected a small house which served as a dwelling until he later was able to build a more commodious and comfortable residence, planted a grove and in other ways started in to make a first-class farm of his place. During the years of the grasshopper visitation he suffered serious losses, as did all the pioneers of this part of the state, but he presently overcame those losses and it was not long until he began to see success attending his efforts, he presently becoming recognized as one of the most substantial and influential pioneer residents of that part of the county. Mrs. Rolling died on the home farm in 1891 and Mr. Rolling survived her for about seventeen years, his death occurring in 1908. They were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last-born, the others being as follow: Nicholas, who is living at Perry, Oklahoma; Lena, who married Peter Zeit and is now deceased, and Jennie, who married Peter Reisch.   

John P. Rolling was about three years old when his parents came to Plymouth county and he grew to manhood on the home farm in Marion township, receiving his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood and remained at home, a valued assistant to his father in the labors of developing and improving the place, until he was twenty-one years of age, when he took a prospecting trip to California, later locating in South Dakota, where he farmed for a couple of years, at the end of which time he returned to Plymouth county and rented a quarter of a section of land, which he worked for three years. After his marriage in 1895 he rented a half section of land and there made his home until 1904, when he returned to the old home place and managed the same until his father's death in 1908, after which he rented the place for a couple of years, at the end of which time he bought a two-hundred-acre farm in Marion township, the place on which he ever since has made his home and where he and his family are very pleasantly and comfortably situated. Since taking possession of his present farm Mr. Rolling has added to his holdings by the purchase of an adjoining "eighty" and is thus the owner of a fine place of two hundred and eighty acres, on which he as made improvements to the value of about five thousand dollars. Mr. Rolling also formerly was the owner of a quarter section of land northeast of Remsen, but he sold that place some time ago. In addition to his general farming he annually feeds about one hundred and fifty head of hogs and has done very well in his live-stock operations. Mr. Rolling is a Democrat, but has not been included in the office-seeking class.   It was in 1895 that John P. Rolling was united in marriage to Theresa Colling, daughter of J.P. and Catherine Colling, of this county, and to this union two sons have been born, Edward and Leo. The family are members of St. Kathryn's Catholic church at Oyens and take a proper interest in parish affairs, Mr. Rolling being a member of the Mutual Protective Society of the church.