J. H. Lamont, blacksmith, was born
at Canton, N.Y., in Aug. 1834. At the age of 17 he
commenced work at his trade, and in 1863 came west
and located at Waukon. He was married in the spring
of 1856 at Richford, Vt., to Miss Martha E. Hathaway,
and they now have two sons, Charles. A. and Henry A.
pg 509
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Hon. Andrew Landy, P.O. Lansing,
farmer, born in Switzerland in 1829. He was educated
in his native country; attending two different
colleges, one being an agricultural one. In 1849 he
came to America and settled in this county, where he
has since resided, locating on his present farm in
1850. In 1871 he was chosen by the people to
represent his county in the State Legislature, which
position he held one term. In 1852 he married
Elizabeth Hirth, and they have ten children--five
sons and five daughters. pg 508
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J. R. Laughlin, farmer, P.O.
Postville, son of John and Jane Laughlin, who were
born in Scotland and emigrated to the U. S. in 1835,
locating first near Schenectady, N. Y., remaining
there till in l839, when they came to St. Joseph Co.,
Mich., where they lived till in 1842, they again
moved to Wells Co., Ind., and in 1849 came to
Allamakee county, Iowa, they being among the first
settlers in Post township Mr. John Laughlin was among
the leading and prominent men of the county, serving
as Sheriff, also as Justice of the Peace in his
township several years. He was also one of the
proprietors of the first platting of the town of
Waukon. He died in September 1862. The children
living are John H. Elizabeth, Robert, Mary J., Ella
and James R., the latter the subject of this sketch,
who was born in this county in 1852. He now carries
on the home farm, consisting of 144 acres. He was
married to Miss Jane Harris, daughter of Elisha
Harris, in 1872. Mr. Laughlin is a member of the U.
B. church. pg 511
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Jeremiah Leas, Linton Township, was
born in Harrison Co., Ohio, in 1831, and was raised a
farmer. In 1856 he came to Iowa and settled on his
present farm of 320 acres, which is one of the best
in his township He married Susanna Henderson, of
Ohio, by whom he has nine children. pg 512
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C. A. Leithold, sheriff, was born in
Bavaria, Germany, in 1850; came to America in 1856
with his parents, and settled in Clayton Co., Iowa.
In 1872 he removed to Postville and engaged in
merchandising until 1878, when he changed to that of
agricultural implements. In 1881 he was elected to
his present office. pg 512
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Frank Leithold, farmer, sec. 3, P.O.
Waukon; born in 1832 in Switzerland and emigrated to
the U. S. in 1855, locating on 40 acres of his
present farm, which by his economy and industry he
has added to till he now has 200 acres with
first-class improvements. He married Miss Anna Vile
in 1860. She was born in England. They have six
children, Catharine, Julia, Henry, Margaret, Albert
and George, and have lost one infant. pg 511-512
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Matthew Leithold, dealer in
clothing, hats, caps, boots, shoes, and gents'
furnishing goods, also millinery, which latter is
superintended by his wife. He was born in 1846, in
Bavaria, Germany. His parents emigrated to the U. S.
in 1856, locating in Clayton Co., Io. He commenced
clerking for Messrs. Petersen & Larson of
McGregor in 1865, and in 1871 commenced general
merchandising in Postville, under the firm name of
Leithold Bros., and his present business in 1881. He
married Elizabeth Osterdock in 1870. She was born in
Clayton Co., Iowa, in 1852. They have five children,
Lucy, Edward, Rialdo, Lillie and Florence, and lost
one son in infancy. Mr. Leithold is a member of the
A.F. & A.M., and A.O.U.W., also the Lutheran
church. pg 510
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Henry Lenz, P.O. Lansing, farmer;
son of Fred and Barbara Lenz, was born on his
father's farm, where he still resides, Aug. 22, 1855.
His parents came from Germany to this country in
1850, and located upon this farm, which contains 120
acres well improved. His father also owns a farm of
160 acres, southwest of this a couple of miles. The
subject of this sketch was educated in the common
schools and at Grinnell College. He was married to
Miss Mary Gramelich, March 28, 1876. She was also
born in this county. They have three children, Emma,
Willie and Nettie. Mr. Lenz carries on his father's
farm and is a member of the M.E. Church. pg 511
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J. M. Lisher, proprietor of the
Commercial House and livery stable, Postville, was
born in Ind., in 1844; his parents moved to McHenry
Co., Ills., in 1846, and in 1854 to Allamakee Co.,
Io., locating ten miles north of Waukon. In 1862 he
enlisted in Co. B., 2d Battalion, 16th U. S.
Infantry., and participated in the battles of Stone
River, Prairieville and Chickamauga, at which latter
he was captured Sept. 19th, 1863. He was first taken
to Libby prison, and in Dec. following to Danville,
and to Andersonville in April 1864, weighing when
received at the prison 184 lbs, and at the expiration
of eleven months, when taken from there, only 90
lbs., which is a sufficient explanation of the
treatment received. He was taken to Black River, near
Vicksburg and paroled. Sent to Louis, thence to
Cawego, New York, and discharged, his discharge
bearing the date April 14, 1865. The following fall
he returned to Iowa, and in 1874 engaged in the hotel
business at Lansing, running the livery business in
connection. He was burned out in 1876, and in March,
1879, came to Postville and took charge of the
Burlington House, and in Sept., 1881, took charge of
the Commercial house. He was married to Miss Mary
Adams, a native of Indiana, in 1868. They have two
children, Floyd C. and Myrtle M. Mr. Lisher is a
member of the A.F. & A.M., I.O.O.F. and A.O.U.W.
pg 509-510
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Hosa Low, hardware merchant, is
found among the early settlers as well as prominent
businessmen of Waukon. He is a native of Vt., born in
1829. In 1836 the family came west, first stopping at
Chicago, then removing to Wis., from which State Mr.
Low came to Allamakee Co., settling at Waukon in
1858. Here he at once engaged in the hardware
business, being a member of the firm of Low &
Bean, and has pursued mercantile life in the hardware
line most of the time since. Mr. Low, in 1859, was
united in marriage to Miss Laura A. Stilman, of N.Y.,
and now has two sons and two daughters, Frank, Mary,
Fred, Josie. pg 509
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Simon Ludeking, P.O. Waukon; farmer,
sec. 29; son of Simon and Charlotte Ludeking, was
born in Prussia, Germany, in 1826, where he remained
till the spring of 1854, when he emigrated to the U.
S., stopping in Sheboygan Co., Wis., and in the
spring of 1855 came to Iowa and located 80 acres of
his present farm and commenced making improvements
upon the same. The following winter he went to
Lincoln Co., Mo., where he engaged in chopping
cordwood for steamboats and the St. Louis market,
continuing to work on his farm summers and in
Missouri winters, till in 1858 he married Miss Mary
Geesmeyer of Mo. She was also born in Germany. He
then came on to his farm, which by his industry and
economy he has added to till he now has 280 acres
well improved and among the best farms in the
township He has a family of eight children, whose
names are as follows; Louisa, Mene, Ulrich, Samuel,
Henry, Gustaf, George and Thomas, and has lost one
daughter, Lydia. Mr. L. is a member of the German
Presbyterian Church. pg 509
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H. S. Luhman, of the firm of Luhman
and Sanders, dealers in general merchandise, corner
Tilden and Lawber streets, was born in 1853, in
Sheboygan Co., Wis. He came to Postville in 1873 and
engaged as clerk for Roberts Brothers in a general
store, and afterwards for Skelton & Co., and in
1878 went to Bonnair, in Howard Co., and engaged in
general merchandise till in the fall of 1881, when he
came to Postville and engaged in the present firm. He
married Miss Sarah Sanders, of Clayton Co., in 1880.
Mr. Luhman is a member of the I.O.O.F., and of the M.
E. church. pg 510
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Rev. D. W. Lyons, farmer and retired
pastor of the Presbyterian church, owns about 800
acres of land, valued at $32,000; was born in
Harrison Co., Ohio, in 1823; received his education
at Franklin College, New Athens, 0., and the Western
Theological College at Allegheny City, Pa., after
which he served as pastor of the Presbyterian Church
for many years, until compelled by ill-health to
abandon the ministry; came to Allamakee Co., Iowa, in
1850, locating near Postville. He organized a
Presbyterian church at Postville in 1852, preaching
the first sermon at the house of Mrs. Zeruiah Post.
In 1856 he removed to Kansas City, Mo., serving as
pastor of the Presbyterian Church there one year
when, on account of ill health, he commenced
traveling through southern Mo. and Arkansas till in
1860, when he returned to Postville and engaged in
real estate and general merchandising. In 1870 he
removed to Mason City, where he engaged in the same
business in company with his son, William W. Lyons.
In 1875 he removed to Des Moines and his son to
Brooklyn, Io., where he engaged in the banking
business, and subsequently opened a bank in Colfax.
In 1880 Mr. Lyons returned to Postville. He was
married to Sarah A. Wallace, of Ohio, 1840. She died
in 1875 at Mason City. He was again married to Mrs.
Elizabeth Marquis, a widow of the Rev. Robert
Marquis, in 1880. Mr. Lyons has seven children by his
first marriage, William W, Mary A., Sophia J., Sarah
E., Susan M., Carrie B. and Effie M., and lost one
son, Daniel M. By his second marriage he has one son,
Charles R. pg 510-511
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Gilbert C. Lyse, P.O. Dalby, farmer,
sec. 3; owns 260 acres of land valued at $25.00 per
acre. He was born May 4, 1826, in Norway. In 1854 he
emigrated to the U. S., coming via New Orleans and up
the Mississippi River to Columbus in Allamakee Co.,
Iowa, in July of that year. In 1856 he purchased land
on sec. 15 of this township, which he subsequently
sold and came on to his present farm in 1858. He
married Miss Caroline Engbretson in 1854. She died in
1870. He was again married to Mary Halverson in 1875;
had one son by his first marriage--Christ, who is now
engaged in the mercantile business at Brookings, D.
T. The children by his second marriage are Caroline
M., and Carl E. He is a member of the Lutheran
Church. pg 509
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