USA > Iowa > Mills County > A biographical history of Fremont and Mills Counties, Iowa > Part 64
USA > Iowa > Fremont County > A biographical history of Fremont and Mills Counties, Iowa > Part 64
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maternal grandparents were Warren and Caroline ( Roe) Wyman, the former a na- tive of Vermont, who died in New York, the latter a native of New York, who spent her whole life there. Both of these families are old and prominent, having descendants in many states of the Union.
The children born to our subject and wife are: Rev. Albert M., a Presbyterian minister and superintendent of the Nez Perce Inchans in Idaho and has two chil- dren : John Henry, who has one daughter; Carl .A., a school-teacher in this township; Marian F., who is attending school in Oma- ha, Nebraska: and Lulu M., a student of the Emerson school. All of these children have been well educated. Mr. McClain tak- ing a deep interest in educational matters in his district.
On September 18. 1861, Mr. McClain enlisted in the Union army and gave faithful service to his country until October 27, 1864, when he was mustered out. His sery- ice was for three years, when he answered the call that was made for three hundred thousand men and entered Company Ks, Thirty-seventh Indiana Volunteers, under Captain John McKee, who lost his life at the battle of Stone River. Under Captain John B. Reeve, our subject accompanied his regiment through many serious engage- ments, was captured by the enemy at Pulas- ki, Tennessee, and paroled, later was taken sick and obliged to spend some time in the military hospitals at Nashville and Murfrees- boro. Mr. McClain was present at the bat- tle of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Kenesaw and almost all the important battles of the Army of the Cumberland. For one and hundred twenty days our subject was continually engaged,
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finally reaching Atlanta with his regiment.
The first time that our subject voted the Republican ticket was in the first campaign of Abraham Lincoln, since which time he has never wavered in his allegiance to that party. He is a charter member of the G. A. R. post at Emerson, in which he takes an active interest.
Few men have seen more of the horrors of war than our subject, and few veterans can show a better record. His devotion to his country was sincere, and when sick in the hospital and offered a furlough he would not accept it, hoping sooner thereby to be able to return to the battle-field. Mr. Mc- Clain possesses the esteem and conldence of his fellow-citizens and may be considered a representative man of Indian Creek town- ship.
SAMUEL S. SALYERS.
Samuel S. Salyers, a farmer, was born October 24, 1831, in Jefferson county, In- diana. The paternal grandparents of our subject were Jerry and Mary Salyers, both of North Carolina, whence they removed to Kentucky, where they passed the residue of their lives. His maternal grandparents emigrated from Switzerland to the new world, taking up their abode in Kentucky. where they died well advanced in years. The father of our subject. Samuel S. Sal- yers, Sr., was born in North Carolina and died in Marion county, lowa, at the age of seventy-five years. He married Miss Marga- ret Sidner, who was born in Switzerland, of German parentage, and passed away in 'Marion county, Iowa, when sixty-five years of age. She was the mother of eleven chil- dren, three of whom are living.
Mr. Salyers of this review remained in his native county until twenty-five years of age. He then removed to Marion county, Iowa, in 1856, and engaged in farming un- til 1861, when he went to Monroe county. On the 15th of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Thirty-fourth Iowa Volun- teer Infantry, and while in the service he participated in the following battles: Chick- asaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, the siege of Vicksburg, Yazoo City, Graham Plantation, Fort Gaines, Fort Morgan and Fort Blake- ly, being mustered out at Devenport, Iowa, August 16, 1865. He returned to Monroe county, where he remained until 1870, when he came to Mills county, and in 1874 lo- cated on section 13, White Cloud township, where he now resides.
Mr. Salyers was married, May 26, 1853, to Melissa Z. Copeland, a native of Indiana. There were born to them five children, of whom four are now living .- George M., James M., William S. and Robert F. Mr. Salyers has lived in Iowa forty-four years. In politics his parents were Democrats, but he first voted the Know Nothing ticket and has been a prominent Republican ever since.
ANDREW BERKHEIMER.
Among the honored and highly respected citizens of Mills county, who have for many years been identified with its agricultural in- terests and have met with success in their chosen calling is Andrew Berkheimer. He was born in York county, Pennsylvania, on the 17th of March, 1832. his parents be- ing George and Lydia Berkheimer. They also were natives of the Keystone state, where they spent their entire lives, the fa- ther dying when about seventy years of age,
MR. AND MRS. ANDREW BERKHEIMER
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
1. UNE
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and his wife passing away at the age of sixty-seven. They were farming people and enjoyed the high regard of all who knew them, owing to their many excellencies of character.
Our subject was reared in the manner of most farmer boys of his day, aiding in the cultivation of the fields and other farm work, and attending the district schools near his boyhood home. In 1849. at the age of seventeen years, Mr. Berkheimer left the pa- ternal roof and went to Michigan, driving a team from his old home to St. Joseph county, that state. In the same year he lo- cated in Kalamazoo county, where he made his home for four years, being engaged in agricultural pursuits. He then made a tour through the west, visiting Illinois and lowa. but returned to Michigan, and did not locate permanently in this state until 1858. when he took up his residence in Mills county. Hle purchased sixty acres of wild land in Silver Creek township, and to its improve- ment and cultivation he at once turned his attention. His first home here was a frame house, fourteen by sixteen feet, where he lived until 1865. when he built his present comfortable residence. He hauled the lun- ber for the first house in Milton, now Mal- vern, built for J. D. Paddock, the present postmaster of that place. Mr. Berkheimcr has one of the best orchards in this section of the state, and his well improved and high. ly cultivated farm is one of the most desir- able places of its size in Mills county.
At Kalamazoo. Michigan, on the 17th of September. 1855. Mr. Berkheimer was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Oman, who was born in Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Peter and Sarah ( Cunningham) Oman, who with their family removed from
Pennsylvania to Michigan at a very early day. Mrs. Berkheimer crossing the Alle- ghany mountains on foot. Her father was born in the Keystone state and died in Mich- igan, at a very advanced age,-eighty-one years ; and his wife, who was a native of New Jersey, passed away in Michigan, at the age of seventy-five. Mr. and Mrs. Berk- heimer became the parents of fourteen chil- dren, eight of whom are yet living and are now married. They also have twelve grand- children. Their living children are: Ches- ter, who married Mary Oney: Sarah. now the wife of Henry Donner: George, who married Maude Elwood: Clara, now the wife of J. D. Barrick: Oscar, who mar- ried Gertrude McMillen: Louis, who mar- ried Mlbia Byers: Maggie, who married P. M. Cadwell: and Andrew, who married Carrie Byers.
Since coming to lowa Mr. Berkheimer has been a stanch supporter of the men and measures of the Republican party, and has even taken a deep and commendable interest in public affairs. He is a man of recognized ability and stands high in the community where he has long made his home. Those who know him best are numbered among his warmest friends, and he is justly de- serving of the high regard in which he is held. He and his wife are active members of the Baptist church, in which he has served as deacon for a quarter of a century. He liberally aided in building the house of wor- ship for that denomination in Malvern. The first meeting was held in the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad depot. Mr. Berkheimer arranging some boxes obtained from the stores for use as a pulpit. When Milton-Malvern was being laid out there was no place in the town where the men
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could board, so Mr. Berkheimer had to board them, also the depot agent. In sur- veying for the town he hauled the stakes around for staking off the lots. He has done everything in his power to promote the work of the church and his influence has been widely felt for good in his community. In his business affairs he has been particularly successful and though he started out in life empty-handed he now controls a good in- come, which he has won through earnest and indefatigable effort. His life illustrates the possibilities of labor, when guided by sound judgment, in conquering and adverse fate. From a humble financial position he has worked his way to a place of prominence among the substantial citizens of his adopted county and in its history he well deserves mention.
SAMUEL GALBRAITH.
Samuel Galbraith, who is identified with the farming interests of Henderson county, Illinois, was born on the 6th day of No- vember, 1824, in Kingston, east Tennessee, a son of Thomas and Margaret Galbraith. The family is of Scotch descent. The father was a farmer by occupation and carried on that business in Tennessee until 1829, when with his family he removed to Illinois, locating first in Morgan county. The following year, however, he removed to Adams county, that state, and in 1834 took up his abode in what is now Hender- son county, Illinois. In the latter place the subject of this review spent the greater part of his youth. He was early inured to the arduous labors of developing a frontier farm. He acquired a limited education in the district schools of the neighborhood.
and after putting aside his text-books he engaged in chopping and making rails, for every farm had to be fenced in order to pro- tect the crops against the horses, hogs, sheep and cattle. Mr. Galbraith early be- came familiar with the work of the field and meadow, assisting in the cultivation of the fields from the time of the early spring planting until the harvests were gathered in the late fall. Throughout his business career he has been engaged in agri- cultural pusuits. He went to Henderson county, Illinois, in 1834 and now resides near Gladstone. Illinois, where he has a good farm. He has placed this under a high state of cultivation, has added many huprove- ments and derives from the place a good income.
On the 28th of June, 1849. Mr. Gal- braith was united in marriage to Miss Sa- rah Evans, who was born in Indiana, June 13, 1830. Their marriage has been blessed with the following children : Amanda, born April 20, 1850; James F., born September 12, 1851 ; Minerva, born October 12, 1853; Mary, born August 8, 1855: John, who was born January 9, 1857, and died on the 24th of December, of that year; Evaline, born October 18, 1858; Margaret J., born January 9, 1861 ; George M., born October 7, 1862; William T., born December 5, -1864: Charles E., born December 5. 1866; Clyde E., born January 15, 1869; and Myrtle S., born October 15, 1876, and died November 1, 1877.
Mr. Galbraith has long been a supporter of the Democracy and cast his last presi- dential vote for William Jennings Bryan. He has, however, never been an aspirant for political honors, preferring to give his time and attention to the business affairs
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whereby he has gained a comfortable com- petence. Socially he was connected with the Masonic fraternity, having been made a Master Mason in Fortitude Lodge, No. 638, F. & A. M., in 1868. For a number of years he served as its treasurer and enjoys the high regard of the brethren of the frater- nity. He is widely known as a reliable busi- ness man and citizen of sterling worth.
WILLIAM A. WILKINS.
One of the prosperous young farmers of Mills county, Iowa, is the subject of this sketch, who was born in Washington county, Iowa, November 8, 1873, and is a son of B. F. and Mary J. (Moore) Wilkins. His father was born in Roane county, Tennessee, January 6, 1847, the latter in the same coun- ty, July 6, 1852, and they were married in August. 1870. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Elisha Wilkins, who emigrated from Tennessee to Washington county, Iowa, in 1865, bringing with him his wife, six sons and three daughters. One son is now a Methodist minister in Birming- ham, lowa, another, for many years a prac- ticing physician in Oskaloosa, this state, moving in 1893 to Colorado for his health. where he had vast interests in the sheep business. While there he was a surgeon for the Burlington & Missouri River Rail- road, and also elected to the legislature in 1894, returning to his old home in Wash- ington county, Iowa, where he died in 1897. The paternal grandmother of Mr. Wilkins was Nancy Burnet, a native of Tennessee, born in 1823: hence she is nine years the junior of her husband, who bears his years as well as she does hers, both being active in mind and body. The grandfather being
one of the few pensioners of the Black Hawk war.
Our subject is the second in number in a family of six children, these being : Dwight E., a resident contractor of Council Bluffs; cur subject : R. H., a civil engineer residing with his wife at the home of W. . A. : Fred, an official of the Union Pacific Railroad; Claira Idell and Earl. Mr. B. F. Wilkins resides in Council Bluffs, but is a commercial traveler in the nursery business. Our sub- ject was educated in the public schools and academies of Washington county, lowa, and at the age of twenty left home to fight the battles of the world for himself. Going to Fremont. Nebraska, he entered the commis- sion house of Kirschbraun & Sons, where he remained for two years, and then spent two years representing them on the road. Fol- lowing this initial capacity he traveled for one and one-half years representing Edward Lytle, of Omaha, Nebraska, closing his en- gagement only on account of the failure of the firm. He is now engaged in farming on a tract of one hundred acres one and one-half miles from Silver City, Iowa, owned by his father-in-law, renting also fifty acres, upon all of which he carries on a general farming business, also raising fine cattle, hogs, and horses and making hogs a spec- ialty ; and he is making a success of the new venture.
Mr. Wilkins was married, March 30, 1898, to Miss Birdie Huffaker, the beauti- ful and accomplished daughter of H. H. Huffaker, of Silver City, lowa. She is the only daughter in that family and is a well- educated lady of great ability, painting in oil and proficient on the piano. She was born in Silver City, in 1880, and educated in St. Francis Academy in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
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One little son has come into this family, born December 26, 1898; and it is needless to say he is the idol of his grandfather. Mr. Huffaker, the father of Mrs. Wilkins, came to this county in an early day from Illinois and now possesses many broad acres of fertile land.
In politics Mr. Wilkins is a Republican and boldly upholds the principles of the party. He has no desire for office, his busi- ness and delightful home giving him suffi- cient use for his time. The substantial resi- cence of Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins was erected for them by the generosity of Mr. Huffaker. They resided at the old farm nearly sixteen months and came to their place in July, 1899. A fine new barn is in course of erec- tion, and there seems to be no reasonable doubt that prosperity will continue to smile upon this most worthy young couple.
ROBERT J. CLARK.
Robert J. Clark, who carries on general farming and stock-raising in Sidney town- ship. Fremont county, was one of the worthy citizens that Ohio furnished to the Hawk- eye state. He was born in Ross county. Ohio. February 7. 1859, and is a son of George C. and Ann B. (Murray) Clark. The father was born in the same house in which occurred the birth of our subject, his natal day being September 26, 1827. Thom- as Clark, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Sherman Valley, Pennsyl- vania, born in 1782. Emigrating westward, he located in Ohio, in 1810, taking up his abode in the midst of a heavy forest, where he developed a farm and reared his family. He married Eleanor Black, of Pennsyl- vania, and they had a family of two sons
and six daughters, of whom two daughters yet survive, namely : Susanna, who is now the widow Murray, of Highland county, Ohio; and Mrs. Nancy Ellen Fernow, who is also a widow and resides in Marion, Lynn county, Iowa. The grandfather of our sub- ject served as a first lieutenant in the war of 1812. In religious faith he was a Pres- byterian and was well known as a minister of the gospel in that denomination. He passed away in Ross county, Ohio, in 1846, and was laid to rest in the cemetery in Greenfield, in Highland county.
George Clark, the father of our sub- ject, was reared on the old family home- stead, where he remained until he was forty years of age. His educational privileges were limited, for the country was new and unsettled and the work of development was scarcely begun. On the Ist of March, 1854, he was united in marriage to Miss Ann B. Murray, who was born in Ross county, Ohio, on the 12th of December, 1832. a daughter of William and Elizabeth ( Stew- art) Murray, of Kentucky. They, too, were farming people. Unto the grandparents of our subject were born five daughters and three sons. Those living are: Elizabeth J., who resides in Greenfield, Ohio; and Mar- garet, who is now Mrs. Smalley, a widow, living at Stockton, Kansas, where she has a family of children. In January, 1868, George C. Clark, the father of our sub- ject, removed from Ohio to Iowa, arriv- ing in Fremont county in January. In March of that year he purchased two hun- dred and forty acres of land, for which he paid thirty dollars per acre, and took up his abode on his new farm. He sold his two- hundred acre farm in Ohio for fifty dollars per acre, and was thus enabled to meet
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the payments on the new place. He has al- ways carried on agricultural pursuits, mak- ing a specialty of the raising of grain and hogs. Enterprising and wide-awake, his diligence and perseverance have brought to him a very gratifying degree of prosperity. Unto him and his wife have been born the following named: Elizabeth Mary, who was born in 1855, became the wife of Milton Murphy, a farmer of Sidney township, Fre- mont county, and died November 14, 1891. at the age of thirty-six years, leaving two of their four children; Robert J. is the next of the family: and Eleanor Myrtle, born in 1865, died June 16, 1884, while pur- suing a course of music in Tabor, where she was stricken with typhoid fever. She was especially gifted in the art of music, and gave great promise of future develop- ment along that line.
Robert J. Clark, whose name forms the caption of this article, pursued his education for one term in the schools of Ohio and then came to lowa, where he continued his studies in the district schools and later spent four terms in Tabor College. Throughout his entire life he has remained on the old homestead. assisting his father in the culti- vation and development of the land, and during the past eleven years he has been extensively engaged in the stock business, feeding cattle and hogs for the market. He has his stock on the north eighty acres of the farm and keeps a splendid grade of Hereford cattle. He also buys other cattle, which he feeds for the market, shipping from one to five car-loads of cattle and sev- eral car-loads of Poland China hogs each year. He is a young man of marked energy. keen business ability and resolute will and his honorable dealing has ever won him the
respect and trust of all with whom he has come in contact.
Both Mr. Clark and his father are stal- wart Republicans in their political faith, but have never held or desired office. The parents and their sons are also Presbyterians, and the father was an elder for some years in the church in which they hold meriver- ship. Both George Clark and his wife are active workers in the church and are people whose many excellent characteristics have gained for them high regard. In 1890 their present residence was erected, and in March, 1891, they removed from the old home in- to the new. The family is one of promi- nence in the community and the name is in- separably interwoven with the history of agricultural interests in southwestern lowa. The success which has attended the efforts of father and son is the merited reward of earnest labor.
GEORGE R. COOK.
George R. Cook is a prosperous young farmer of Indian Creek township, Mills county, where he owns eighty acres of land. His possessions have been acquired entirely through his own efforts and his success would be creditable to a man many years his senior. He was born in Mills county in 1861, his parents being William G. and Elizabeth (Cox) Cook. The father was a native of Chautauqua county. New York. and represented one of the old families of the Empire state, whose people followed agri- cultural pursuits. His father, Daniel Cook, removed from New York to Valparaiso, In- diana, and there spent his remaining days. A number of years afterward he went from that state to Missouri and in 1858 came to
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Mills county, Iowa. His children were Remington. George, Edward, Mrs. Dora Kee and Nicy, the wife of A. J. Wearin.
William G. Cook accompanied his par- ents on their removal to the Mississippi val- ley and in Missouri was joined in wedlock to Miss Elizabeth Cox, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Fillingham) Cox, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. They removed to southern Indiana about 1840, and there the mother of our subject was born. Later her parents went to Missouri, where she was reared, remaining under the parental roof until she gave her hand in mar- riage to William G. Cook. Her father was a soldier in the Mexican war and three of her brothers, Alfred, Daniel and George, were Union soldiers in the Civil war, the last named having been killed in the service. In 1858 William G. Cook came with his family to Mills county, Iowa, where he pur- chased land, afterward adding to his posses- sions until he became one of the most exten- sive realty holders in this portion of the state. He died about eight years ago at the age of fifty-six, but his widow is still living and now makes her home in Hastings. Their children are Daniel M., who is living with her mother; and George R. of this re- view. The last named, having spent most of his life in Mills county, has long been ac- quainted with the history of its progress and development and has ever borne his part in the work of advancement and improvement. If it were possible to look into the past, we would find him, after the manner of most farmer boys of the period, pursuing his edu- cation in the district schools throughout the winter months, while in the summer he as- sisted in the work of cultivating the home farm. In early life he started out for him-
self. In the fall of 1861 his parents went with their family to Missouri and thence to Indiana, returning to Mills county in the fall of 1869, where the father purchased land. About ten years ago our subject lo- cated on his present fine farm of eighty acres. His fields are well tilled and promise golden harvests. He also engages in stock- raising and this branch of his business like- wise proves a profitable source of income. He has substantial buildings upon his place and all modern accessories and conveniences, indicating his energetic nature and his dili- gence.
On the 29th of January, 1885, as a com- panion and helpmate on life's journey. Mr. Cook chose Miss Nevada Smith, a daughter of James F. and Sarah (Cooper) Smith, both natives of Laporte county, Indiana, where their marriage was celebrated. They emigrated to Iowa twenty-three years ago and are prominent people in Pottawattamie county. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Cook has been blessed with five children, namely : Bertha, Marion, George, Clara and Ruth. Mr. Cook is an Odd Fellow in his social relations, a Democrat in political faith, and for seven years has served as school director. He is a young man with steadiness of purpose, enterprising spirit and sterling worth, and is generally admired and respected for his many excellencies of char- acter.
JACOB KOCHERSPERGER.
One of the farmers of Mills county, Iowa, is Jacob Kochersperger. His career is a striking example of the triumph of en- ergy over adverse circumstances, of indomit- able will over disheartening poverty, and of
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success at last, gained through legitimate channels. Our subject was born in the state of New York, in 1841, a son of Martin and Margaret ( Plow) Kochersperger, both of whom were born and died in New York. Hle was reared on a farm, his school op- portunities being of the most meager descrip- tion, and when he came to Mills county, lowa, in 1870, he was a poor man, who had seen little of life but toil and self-denial.
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