Biographies Prairie City's Oldest Residents Jacob Ruggles - 94 Jacob Ruggles was born June 2, 1862 about one and three-quarters miles west of Otley, Iowa. After his father's death he moved with his five brothers, one sister, and his mother to a farm four miles southwest of town. Mr. Ruggles, then 23, married Mandy Herman, 17, in Nebraska, December 31, 1885. They were seperated by her death after 62 years together. Mr. and Mrs. Ruggles were blessed with six boys and five girls; one boy and three girls have died. Those living are: Earl--who has lived on the late J. B. Ryan's place north of town for 43 years. Hattie Hatsall--who lives in Des Moines. Her husband is a retired employee of Iowa Power and Light Company. Charles--who lives in Des Moines and works for the Globe Supply Company. Lee--who lives in Prairie City. John--who lives in Des Moines and works for Solar Aircraft. Gail--who will soon retire from the Navy in California. Winnie Sullivan--who lives in California. When he was asked his philosophy for long life, he said, "By gum, work hard, eat good, sleep good, and live a clean life. That's the way I've always lived, and am still living it. I'll be 94 in June; I've lived alone for ten years, waited on myself, and do my own business and everything." (from page one of booklet Centennial 1856-1956 Then Til Now Memories Prairie City available in Prairie City at the Historical Society -transcribed by Carrol Mick from copy in possession) Mrs. Louise (Waasenaar) Kane - 92 Mrs. Kane was born in Holland January 10, 1864. She came to this country with her parents when she was a small child. Mrs. Kane is the mother of five children -- Armel; Oscar; Gertrude (Hanell); Gay (Shaphorst) of Brooking, South Dakota; and Elsie (Tice). Her husband, Daniel, died in 1944. (from page one of booklet Centennial 1856-1956 Then Til Now Memories Prairie City available in Prairie City at the Historical Society -transcribed by Carrol Mick) Kintz Family John William Kintz, the son of Joseph and Mary Walkerburger Kintz, was born April 6, 1834, in Ohio. He came to Jasper County, Iowa, in 1845 with his parents. His marriage to Mary Oswalt took place there August 1, 1852. They were the parents of six children. One son, Joseph B, died November 16, 1853, at the age of two months and twenty-nine days. Mary Elizabeth Kintz was born February 8, 1853. She was married twice; to James Bird and to James Galigan. She lived in West Des Moines in 1925. Her death occurred January 25, 1936. Rebecca Ann Kintz was born about 1855. George William Kintz was born November 6, 1857, at Collins, Iowa. He was married April 25, 1878, at Jasper County, Iowa, by P. H. Doud, J. P., to Mary Alice Furguson. The daughter of John Ferguson and Anna Stock, she was born April 25, 1855. They were the parents of three children. Their son, Chauncie, married Margaret Hoy and had two children, Loren and Russell. Loren now lives in Palos Verdes Estates, California. Russell is deceased. The daughters were Mrs. Milo (Nora Kintz) McKeever and Mrs. Minnie (Kintz) Belding. Jane Kintz was married second to George McQuiston, the son of Perry Commodore McQuiston and Catherine (Henning) McQuiston. Commodore Perry Kintz was born about 1861 in Jasper County. His first marriage occurred Dec 12, 1880, in Jasper County, Iowa. His bride was Rhoda Almira Sager, the daughter of Simon and Eliza (Alder)Frances Sager. They were the parents of one son, William Lawrence Kintz, born April 5, 1884, at Colfax. He lived in Colfax his entire life. Bill was married to Louise Maitland. They had four children: Lawrence, now deceased; Mrs. Helen Broughton of Mitchellville; Mrs. Paul (Virginia) Hill of Colfax; and a daughter, Ella, who died at the age of three. Commodore Perry Kintz's second marriage was on October 2, 1890, at the E. M. Streeter home. He was married to Yettie Wiesel, the daughter of Labram and Caroline (Williams) Wiesel of Clear Creek Township. They were the parents of two sons, James Ora and John Ivan. Commodore died and Yetta was married to a Mr. Brigham. Yetta died July 31, 1915, in Des Moines and is buried at the Kintz Cemetery. Source: Mingo, Iowa Community Centennial 1884-1984 History Book, submitted by Norma <gmaszoo at iowatelecom.net> C. P. KINTZ Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 14; P. O. Clyde; born in Summit Co., Ohio, Dec. 1, 1841; came to this county with Father Joseph in 1845, who is now the oldest settler in this part of the county. He has a good farm located near Clyde, with good building and orchard, and under good improvement; has 226 acres, valued at $40 per acre. He enlisted in Aug. 1862 in the 40th Iowa V. I.; was in the Western army; lost his health by taking the measles and taking cold, and was discharged by reason of physical disability. He married Mary Ann THOMPSON in Iowa in 1863. She was born in Ohio April 4, 1844. They have seven children - Margret, Sarah, Joseph W., Laura Bell, Mary, Alta and Charles. He is a Democrat. Source: "1878 History of Jasper County" Clear Creek Township Biographies; submitted by Norma <gmaszoo at iowatelecom.net> Commodore P. Kintz It would indeed be hard to find in the annals of Jasper County a name worthier or better known than that of the sterling pioneer, the late Commodore P. Kintz. If great and beneficial results, results that endure and bless mankind, are the proper measure of the good men do, then who is there in the history of this or any locality that may take their places above the hardy pioneers? To point out the way, to make possible our present advancing civilization, its happy homes, its education, literature, culture and social joy, is to be the truly great benefactors of mankind for all time. This was the great work accomplished by the early settlers, and it is granted by all that they builded wiser than they knew. Admit that as a rule but few ever realized in the dimmest way the transcendent possibilities that rested upon their shoulders, realizing but little the results that ultimately crowned their efforts; yet there exists the supreme fact that they followed their restless impulses, took their lives in their hands, penetrated the wilderness and with a patient energy, resolution and self-sacrifice that stands alone and unparalleled, they worked out their allotted tasks, accomplished their destinies and today their descendants and others enjoy undisturbed the fruitage of their labors. Mr. Kintz, being prominent among the honored pioneer element in the locality of which this history treats, achieved an incalculable amount of good, for he not only did what he could in the material development of the community, but he set an example for industry, integrity, unfailing honesty and kindness that is not frequently surpassed. Mr. Kintz was born in Summit County, Ohio, December 1, 1841, the son of Joseph and Mary (Walkerburger) Kintz, the father born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, January 11, 1813, and the mother's birth also occurred in that state on May 2, 1812. They grew up and were married in their native State, and they emigrated to Jasper County, Iowa, before it was surveyed, settling seventeen and one-half miles from their nearest neighbor, having driven horses from Ohio to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where they were exchanged for oxen. They made their entry into Jasper County in 1845 and entered one thousand acres of land from the government near the present village of Clyde and here they set to work establishing a new home, underwent all the hardships incident to pioneer life, but with courage and perseverance they set about the task and succeeded, finally becoming leading farmers of the County and here they spent the balance of their lives, both being now deceased. There were five children in their family, as follows: John W., who lives at Colfax, this County; Commodore P., of this review; Mrs. Sarah Signs, now deceased; Mrs. Rebecca Buttinger, of Clear Creek Township, Jasper County; Susan lives at Colfax. Mr. Kintz, of this sketch, was four years old when his parents brought him to this County. Here he grew to manhood, assisted with the work of developing the homestead and here he was content to spend his life. When the great Civil War began he offered his services to the Federal government, enlisting at Clyde, this County, in August 1862, in the Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and he made a very faithful soldier in the Western army, from which he was honorably discharged, he having been practically incapacitated for service, having been attacked with measles, later contracting a severe cold. He at once returned home and resumed farming as soon as able. Mr. Kintz was married on October 7, 1863, to Mary Ann Thompson, who was born in Ohio, April 4, 1844, the daughter of William and Margaret (Morehead) Thompson, a prominent family who came to Jasper County, Iowa, in early days and became well established there. There were eleven children in the Thompson family. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kintz, six of whom are living at this writing, all born in Clear Creek Township; they were named as follows: Mrs. Margaret Cool, born July 10, 1864, lives at Baxter, Iowa; Mrs. Sallie Downs, born October 10, 1866, lives in Clear Creek Township; Joseph W., born October 1, 1868, died at Fort Dodge, Iowa; Laura D., born October 24, 1870, died when nine years of age, in October 1879; Mary E., born January 10, 1872, is deceased; Mrs. Alta Gingles, born February 16, 1874, lives at the village of Collins, this County; Charles, born March 1, 1877, lives on the old home farm in Clear Creek Township; Pearl M., born July 16, 1879, is deceased; Mrs. Myrtie M. Shryock, born July 16, 1879, lives at Baxter, Iowa; Carl C. and Cloe A., twins, were born November 8, 1882, both dying in August the following year, the son on the 16th and the daughter on the 19th; Oley A., born July 27, 1885, was graduated from Drake University and is at present living in Des Moines. In 1888 Mr. Kintz moved from the farm and turned his attention to the hotel business, first at Collins, then Rhodes, continuing thus until 1900. Mr. Kintz was very successful in a business way and accumulated some splendid property and a competency, his estate, including a business house in Colfax, also one in Collins, together with a large, substantial and well furnished home in the latter town, and two hundred and seventy acres of choice, well-improved and productive land in Clear Creek Township, this County, also valuable land in South Dakota. In the early days the newcomers made the Kintz home their stopping place until they could locate and this name was one of the best known in this and adjoining counties. The death of Commodore P. Kintz occurred on April 5, 1908, at his beautiful home in Collins, where Mrs. Kintz still resides. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church here, and he belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the local lodge conducting his funeral, which was one of the largest this part of the County ever saw, for he was popular with all classes, having been a kindly, generous, honest and hospitable gentleman who believed in scattering sunshine about him as he went through life. Source: pg. 1319, "Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa" by General James B. Weaver, submitted by Norma <gmaszoo at iowatelecom.net> Conrad Hay Conrad Hay, residing on Section 30, Clear Creek Township, is a pioneer in this section of the state, and has been a resident of Jasper County since 1857. He was born in Pennsylvania May 10, 1854, and with his parents John P. and Rosa A. (Lint) Hay, came west at a early date. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania. His father was born August 12, 1813, and died in February 1894. His mother is now a resident of Maxwell. There were four sons and two daughters in his father's family, Conrad being the oldest. Susan Borts became the wife of our subject in January 1875. She was born in Indiana, February 25, 1852. They are the parents of four children: John, Clayton, Edwin, Melvina and Rosanna. When our subject started for himself, he possessed a team and wagon and two cows. He has been reasonably successful in his business enterprises, and now owns 255 acres of land in the Clear Creek Township. Politically, he believes in the principals laid down by the Republican party. Socially, he and his wife are members of the M. P. Church. [Source: pg. 35, 1901 Atlas of Jasper County, Iowa, Part III, submitted by Norma <gmaszoo at iowatelecom.net>] ©2008 Genealogy Trails