USA > Iowa > Adair County > History of Adair County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 1
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Adair CO
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HISTORY -
OF
ADAIR COUNTY - IOWA
AND ITS PEOPLE
BIOGRAPHICAL
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO THE PIONEER PUBLISHING COMPANY 1915
ADA
100
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS 1915 L
FRANK B. WILSON
BIOGRAPHICAL
FRANK B. WILSON.
Frank B. Wilson, the present postmaster of Greenfield, and also a member of the local bar, is widely and favorably known in Adair county. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, March 8, 1862, a son of James S. Wilson, who was born in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1823, and who after his emigration to the United States thoroughly identified his interests with those of his adopted country. In 1862 he went to the defense of the Union, enlisting in September of that year with the rank of first lieutenant in the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Infantry Regiment of the New York State Volunteers. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he re- enlisted with the same rank and served until the close of the war. His son still has his discharge papers, which were dated June 19, 1865, and were signed at Richmond, Virginia. He was by occupation a blacksmith and was an excellent workman. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Harney, was born at Roxbury, in the vicinity of Boston. To their union were born seven children, namely, Elizabeth, Thomas, Emma, Margaret, Stella, Joseph and Frank B., who is the only one living.
Frank B. Wilson attended the public schools of New York city until 1876 and then, at the age of fourteen years, went to sea, remaining in the merchant service for three years. At the end of that time he located in Orange county, New York, and for four years was employed at farm work. In 1886 he came to Adair county, Iowa, and for eight years taught school in this and Guthrie counties. In the meantime he began his legal study, reading law with C. S. Fogg at Stuart and afterward with J. G. Culver of Greenfield. He was admitted to the bar in June, 1894, and opened an office for the practice of his profession in Greenfield, where he has since remained. He gave his entire time to his work as an attorney until January 30, 1915, when he was appointed postmaster of the city, in which capacity he is now serving.
Mr. Wilson was married on the 22d of May, 1900, at Alvin, Texas, to Miss Cebe M. Hulbert, who was born in Adair county and is a daughter of J. S. Hulbert. Her mother is deceased but her father survives and makes his home at Nampa, Idaho. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been born five children: Selden H., Dorothy B. and Mary V., all in school; Harriet V .; and Frances B., deceased.
Mr. Wilson is a democrat and has always been loyal in his support of the candidates and measures of that party, believing firmly in the wisdom of its prin- ciples. His fraternal associations are with the Elks and the Knights of Pythias.
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
Although he has been the incumbent in the office of postmaster for only a few months he has already demonstrated his ability to discharge the duties devolving upon him with accuracy and dispatch and his uniform courtesy adds to his popularity as an official.
O. A. TUTTLE.
O. A. Tuttle is the owner of valuable property interests in Greenfield but is practically living retired, save for the supervision which he gives to his real estate. He has at different times been identified with agricultural and commercial interests and his success has been won through persistent, earnest effort. He was born in the state of New York, December 31, 1842, his parents being Orris and Annie (Smith) Tuttle, who were also natives of, the Empire state. Both the father and mother were born, reared and educated in Oneida county and following their mar- riage they began their domestic life there, continuing to live in that locality until 1848. They then removed to Peoria county, Illinois, where they resided for four years and in 1852 they removed to Henry county, Illinois. They took up their abode upon a farm which Mr. Tuttle entered from the government and which was wild and unimproved land. Eventually they sold that property and came to Adair county, Iowa, where both Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle spent their remaining days. They had a family of twelve children but O. A. Tuttle is the only one now surviving.
The youthful experiences of O. A. Tuttle were such as usually fall to the lot of the farm lad. He attended the common schools and worked in the fields until he began farming on his own account in Illinois, being thus engaged until 1868, when at the age of twenty-five years he came to Iowa, settling in Adair county. Pur- chasing a farm in Orient township, he hauled lumber from Des Moines in order to build a house and he lived upon that place for four years. He then rented the farm and returned to Geneseo, Illinois, where he continued to reside for six years, after which he again came to this county and once more took up his abode upon his farm. There he resided until 1886, when he removed to Greenfield, where he established a grain and coal business, which he conducted with growing success for a number of years, securing a liberal and well merited patronage. He continued in business until he retired from active life. He is now enjoying well carned rest. having no busi- ness interests, save the management of his property. He has sold his farm but is still the owner of several houses in Greenfield, from which he derives a gratifying annual rental. He is also the treasurer of the Adair County Mutual Fire & Insur- ance Company, having occupied that position for a quarter of a century.
In 1867 Mr. Tuttle wedded Miss Mary Chamberlain, who was born in Logan county, Illinois, a daughter of Dr. Nathan A. and Sarah (Jameson) Chamberlain, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Connecticut. At an early day they located in Illinois, settling in Logan county. Their family numbered two chil- dren, both of whom survive. The mother, however, passed away in Illinois, and the father's death occurred later in Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle have been born six children: Alonzo A .. a banker, now residing in Idaho; Ralph R. and Ara C .. both of whom are deceased: Effa M .. the wife of Dr. Crawford, of Guthrie
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
Center ; Amy L., the wife of H. W. Orr, of Waterloo, Iowa; and O. A., living in Greenfield. Mrs. Tuttle is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and her life has been the exemplification of her Christian faith. She is also a member of the Rebekah lodge and of the Woman's Relief Corps, in which she has served as junior vice-president and is at present special aid on the department president's staff.
Mr. Tuttle is a republican in his political views and has acceptably filled sev- eral local offices. He belongs to Greenfield Lodge, No. 375, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all the chairs. He is now nearing the seventy-third milestone on life's journey. His life has been well spent, activity in business winning for him suc- cess, while substantial traits in other lines have gained for him the friendly regard of those with whom he has been brought in contact.
L. G. WOLFE.
L. G. Wolfe, who owns and operates a stock farm four miles east of Greenfield, in Lee township, was born in Jackson county, Iowa, a son of Jacob Wolfe, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Our subject remained at home until he had attained his majority and then began his independent career by working as a farm hand. A number of years later he took charge of the work of the homestead and subsequently purchased the place, which comprises one hundred and sixty acres on section 11, Lee township, this county. He grows the usual crops but gives par- ticular attention to raising and feeding stock. He has made a number of improve- ments upon his place and his well directed industry yields him a competence.
In 1907 occurred the marriage of Mr. Wolfe and Miss Nettie Johnson, who was born in Warren county. this state, a daughter of John and Sarah Johnson. Her parents removed to Adair county many years ago and are now living in Grove town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe have a daughter, Elizabeth.
Mr. Wolfe is a republican but has never sought to hold public office although taking a citizen's interest in affairs of government. Both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, whose teachings form the guiding rules of their lives. He takes justifiable pride in the fact that he has been the architect and builder of his own fortune, as he began his independent career without capital or the aid of influential friends. He owes his success to his industry and sound judg- ment, qualities which do much to insure prosperity in any line of activity.
E. M. PIPER.
E. M. Piper, owning and operating an excellent farm of sixty-five acres in sec- tion 12, Summerset township, has lived in Adair county for almost a quarter of a century and enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the substantial and representa- tive agriculturists of his community. His birth occurred in Ohio on the 21st of December, 1858. his parents being L. V. and Caroline (Martin) Piper, both of whom were natives of Vermont. Removing to Ohio, they resided in that state for
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
about five years and then returned to Vermont, where they spent the remainder of their lives. To them were born two children, namely: E. M., of this review; and Mary, who is the widow of D. A. Hites and makes her home in Des Moines. Iowa. E. M. Piper attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education and spent the first twenty years of his life under the parental roof. He then made his way to Kansas but at the end of a year removed to Rock Island county, Illinois, where he resided for three years. On the expiration of that period he went to South Dakota, remaining in that state for eight years or until 1891, when he came to Adair county, Iowa, and here settled on a farm. Subsequently he bought one hundred and sixty aeres of land in section 23, Summerset township, and later purchased a farm of sixty-five aeres in seetion 12, Summerset township, on which he has made many substantial improvements and which he has operated continuously to the pres- ent time. In connection with the production of cereals he has always devoted eon- siderable attention to the raising and feeding of stock and in both branches of his business has met with gratifying and well merited success.
In February, 1889, Mr. Piper was united in marriage to Miss Lee Adda MeNay, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of W. B. and Mary (Lucas) MeNay. who were likewise born in the Keystone state. In the year 1873 they removed to Peoria county, Illinois, and a decade later took up their abode on a farm in Adair county, Iowa. The mother here passed away, but the father survives and now makes his home with our subject. Mrs. Piper followed the profession of teaching for several terms prior to her marriage. She has beeome the mother of five children, as follows: one who died in infancy; Earl, who is deceased; Merle, twin of Earl, who is a student in Park College of Parkville, Missouri; A. Glenn, who has graduated from high school and is at home; and W. R .. a high-school student.
In his political views Mr. Piper is a staneh republiean. He rendered able service as a member of the school board for a number of years and is now acting in the capacity of township trustee, making a most ereditable record in that connection. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias, in both of which organizations he has filled all of the chairs. Both he and his wife belong to the Presbyterian church and take an active and helpful interest in its work, Mr. Piper having served as a trustee for fifteen years. They are well known here socially and have a large cirele of warm friends who esteem them for their many excellent traits of character as well as for their hospitality and kindly spirit.
JOHN MICHAEL.
John Michael who is condueting a feed barn at Bridgewater, was born in the state of New York, October 22, 1859. a son of Jacob and Sarah (Day) Michael. The father, who was a native of Pennsylvania, was married in New York, in which state the birth of his wife oeeurred. They continued to reside there until ealled by death.
John Michael is one of a family of six children of whom four survive. He remained at home until 1885, when his marriage oeeurred, and continued to reside
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
in New York for four years thereafter, when he came to Adair county, Iowa, where he remained but a short time before removing to Horton, Kansas. A year later he returned to this county and purchased a farm in Washington township which he operated for fourteen years. At the end of that time he rented his place and removed to Colorado, where he took up a homestead, upon which he lived for two years, after which he sold his place and again became a resident of Adair county, locating in Bridgewater, where he owns and conduets a feed barn. He understands his business thoroughly, is energetic and reliable and has gained a large and lucra- tive patronage. He still owns his farm in this county, from which he derives a gratifying addition to his income.
Mr. Michael was married in 1885 to Miss May Skellenger, who was born in New York and is a daughter of John and Harriet (Batterson) Skellenger, both like- wise natives of the Empire state. However, they removed to Iowa in an early day in the history of this state and resided here for four years, after which they returned ยท to New York, where they lived for seven years. At the end of that time they came against to this county, driving through with teams and being eight weeks on the way. Both passed away here. They were the parents of four children, all of whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Michael have no children but have reared a nephew, C. E. Michael, whom they took when he was but eighteen months old. He is now living upon the farm belonging to our subject.
Mr. Michael is a republican and has consistently supported the candidates of that party at the polls. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church of Bridgewater and no worthy cause appeals to them for support in vain. He is a successful business man and a valued citizen of his community.
JOHN KOSAR.
John Kosar owns and cultivates one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 29, Riehland township, comprising one of the valuable farms of that township, and he enjoys an enviable reputation as a substantial and enterprising agrieulturist of the county. His birth occurred in Adams county, Iowa, on the 28th of November, 1881, his parents being John and Barbara (Marik) Kosar, who emigrated to America in 1877 and took up their abode in Adams county, this state. The father first purchased eighty acres of land and subsequently bought another tract of the same size, devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career. He passed away in Adams county on the 17th of July, 1912, but is sur- vived by his widow, who lives on the home farm.
John Kosar of this review was reared to manhood under the parental roof and acquired his education in the distriet sehools. In the spring of 1906, when in his twenty-fifth year, he started out as an agriculturist on his own account, operating a farm which he rented from his father and which he inherited after the latter's demise. The property embraces one hundred and twenty acres of land on seetion 29, Riehland township. Adair county, and is a valuable and productive tract, the well tilled fields annually yielding bounteous harvests as a reward for the careful supervision and the energy of the owner. Mr. Kosar is a stockholder in the Nevin-
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
ville Telephone Company and is widely recognized as one of the, enterprising and representative young citizens of his community.
In the fall of 1906 Mr. Kosar was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Kreisinger, who is a native of Bohemia and emigrated to this country as a young woman of twenty years. To them have been born three children, namely: Albina B .. Nellie M. and William J. Mr. Kosar gives his political allegiance to the demoe- racy, and he and his family are members of the Western Bohemian Brotherhood Association.
J. F. BAUDLER.
J. F. Bandler is president of the First National Bank of Fontanelle and in busi- ness cireles occupies a most enviable position. He is honored and respected by all, not alone by reason of the success he has achieved but also owing to the straightfor- ward business policy that he has ever followed. Moreover, his record proves that success is not a matter of genius or of luck. as held by some, but is rather the out- come of elear judgment, experience and enterprise.
Mr. Baudler is a native of Saxe-Coburg, Germany, where his birth occurred July 6, 1855. His parents were Ernest and Elizabeth (Kaiser) Baudler, both of whom spent their entire lives in Germany. The son was reared under the parental roof and was edueated in the public schools of his native country. In accordance with the laws of the land he served for three years in the German army, from 1874 until 1877. His father was a farmer by. occupation, and after leaving the army Mr. Baudler worked on his father's farm until 1883, when he came to the United States, bringing with him a capital of but twenty dollars. He first took up his abode in Bureau county, Illinois, where he was employed as a farm hand, thus gain- ing his start in the new world. In the spring of 1885 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Ritter, also a native of Germany, who came to the United States in 1884. Immediately following their marriage they removed to the west, making their way to Iowa. They settled in Jackson township, Adair county, where Mr. Bandler rented a half section of land owned by an Illinois man. The farm was badly run down at that time and was largely covered with a growth of briars, so that his neighbors predicted that he would starve to death before he could get the place into a cultivable condition. With determination and characteristic energy, how- ever, he began his work, cleared the farm and in the course of time transformed the place into productive fields from which he annually gathered good harvests. He also extended his efforts to the live-stoek business, beginning, however, with but five cows and five hogs. A few years later he bought with his first carload of cattle an eighty-acre farm, and from that time he has continued to prosper, increasing his farming interests and his live-stoek business from time to time until he is now one of the substantial residents of Adair county. He still owns two hundred and forty acres of valuable land and has sold off two hundred acres sinee his removal to Fontanelle.
In 1904 he took up his abode in the town, where the succeeding years have been passed, and he is today one of the foremost business men of the city. Some time after removing to Fontanelle he purchased some stock in the First National Bank
J. F. BAUDLER
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
and in 1912 he bought the stock of William Johnson in the bank and was elected president of the institution. He still owns the controlling interest and remains at the head of the bank, carefully directing its policy and winning for it a substantial measure of success. He has made a close study of the banking business and his laudable ambition and energy have been elements in the growth of the institution.
To Mr. and Mrs. Baudler have been born four children, as follows: Katherine, the wife of Ernest Miller, who operates her father's farm; Lydia, who gave her hand in marriage to Diedrich Stamberger, of La Salle county, Illinois; Louise, who is the wife of Fred Welsch, of La Salle county, Illinois ; and Pauline, at home.
Mr. Baudler and his family are all members of the German Lutheran church and are interested in those elements which are forces in the moral development of the community. In 1906 he returned to his native land for a visit, spending about six months in that country. His political indorsement is given to the republican party and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. Though of German birth, he is strictly American in spirit and interests. The man who comes to the new world to establish his home should no longer remain a "German-Amer- ican" or retain any other term which indicates in a way a half-hearted allegiance to his adopted land. Mr. Baudler, since becoming allied with the new world, is thor- oughly American and his attitude toward all question relative to the welfare of his community is that of a public-spirited citizen. He has given generously to further plans for the public good and his business life has been such as has added to the material prosperity of the district in which he lives. His example indicates what may be accomplished when energy points out the way and his record proves that success and an honored name may be gained simultaneously.
LUCIAN MOODY KILBURN.
Lucian Moody Kilburn, of Greenfield, has devoted much of his life to agricul- tural pursuits, but has also engaged in the loan and insurance business and since 1888 has been president of the Adair County Mutual Insurance Association. Hc was born in Boscawen, New Hampshire, January 20, 1812. The Kilburn family is of English origin, the American ancestor being Thomas Kilburn, who was born in Cambridgeshire, England, in 1578, and came to America in 1639 accompanied by his three sons and two daughters, all of whom had then reached maturity. He set- tled in Weathersfield, Connecticut, but one of his sons, George Kilburn, went to Rowley, Massachusetts, and was there registered in 1640 as a freeman, or land- owner. He was the founder of the branch of the family of which Lucian M. Kilburn is a descendant in the seventh generation. His grandfather, Eliphalet Kilburn, was a Massachusetts minuteman at the time of the outbreak of the war between the Colonies and the mother country. He participated in the battle of Bunker Hill and was also present at the capture of Burgoyne at Saratoga, New York. His son, Eliphalet Kilburn, Jr., was born in Boscawen, New Hampshire, in 1804, and in 1832 married Mehitable Foster, who was born in Canterbury, New Hampshire, in 1803. She was the daughter of Asa Foster, who also served as a soldier of the Revolutionary war but would never accept a pension or a land warrant for his services, believing it to be an improper thing to do so. He died at his home in the
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
old Granite state at the notable age of ninety-five years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Eliphalet Kilburn, Jr., have passed away, the former in 1863 and the latter in 1899 at the age of ninety-six years.
Lucian M. Kilburn pursued his education in the New London (N. H.) Literary Institute and the Elmwood Academy at Boseawen, New Hampshire. He left the latter institution in the fall of 1862 in order to respond to President Lincoln's call for three hundred thousand men for nine months' service, enlisting in the month of October as a private in Company E, Sixteenth New Hampshire Volunteer Infan- try. He was at once elceted by his company to the position of corporal and so served until honorably discharged at the close of his term. He participated in the engagement at Fort Burton, at the mouth of the Red river, in Louisiana, and after the capitulation of the fort was stationed therein with his regiment, remaining there for about two months. Later the Sixteenth New Hampshire participated in the Port Hudson campaign, and after its elose Mr. Kilburn's term expired. Immediately afterward he returned home and for six months was ill with malarial fever. The regiment had been assigned to duty in the swamps of Louisiana, and the hardships undergone there destroyed the lives of half of the men and disabled three-fourths of the remainder. Privations, fever and malaria were rampant and the war took the full toll in health from the members of that regiment.
In November, 1868, Mr. Kilburn left New Hampshire and made his way direct to Fontanelle, Adair county, Iowa, although he had in the meantime spent a year and a half in the state of Massachusetts. He was accompanied by his brother Charles and his mother. His brother, Galen F., had already become a resident of Fontanelle, having made the journey from the east by stage in 1857, while Lucian M. Kilburn traveled by rail, the Rock Island having been built to Casey and the Burlington to Afton, Iowa. On reaching this state Mr. Kilburn turned his attention to farming, which has been his chief occupation throughout his life. He also taught school for two terms at Fontanelle. Mr. Kilburn has dealt in loans and insurance and has been connected with various other business enterprises as a side line at different times. Since 1888 he has been president of the Adair County Mutual Insurance Association, and he is also a director of the First National Bank of Fontanelle. He continued his residence in that place until the latter part of 1913, when he removed to Greenfield, where he now makes his home.
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