USA > Iowa > Keokuk County > A genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa > Part 11
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where he remained until 1856. He then removed to Keokuk county, locating on a farm of two hundred and thirty acres, which he pur- chased. It was raw prairie land at that time, but soon his labors wrought a transformation and the tract became well improved and pro- ductive. Upon the farm he remained until 1885, when he removed to What Cheer, Iowa, there making his home until within a short time prior to his death. He died at the home of his daughter in What Cheer, in February, 1894, when eighty-three years of age. A mem- ber of the Democratic party, he kept well informed on political issues, but was never an office-seeker. At one time he held membership in the United Presbyterian church.
Charles F. Kendall was only two years of age when his parents became citizens of Louisa county, lowa, and there he remained until about sixteen years of age, when he accompanied them to Keokuk county, in February, 1856. He continued to assist in the cultivation of his father's land until eighteen years of age, when on the 21st of October, 1861, he responded to his country's call for aid, enlisting in Company D, Thirteenth Iowa Infantry, being mustered in at Daven- port. He served for three years and nine months as a loyal defender of the old flag and the cause it represented and was mustered out on the 4th of July, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky. He had participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, Atlanta, Nashville, and Kingston in North Carolina. He was wounded three times, but was not disabled for any great length of time. He was mustered out as seventh cor- poral. He had command of Company A, First Battalion, Second Brigade, of the Army of the Tennessee, was in command about six months and during that period his company was engaged in the bat- tles of Nashville, Tennessee, and Kingston, North Carolina. His
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company was captured, but he being wounded at that time was pre- vented from being with his company and he thus escaped a term of imprisonment in Andersonville prison. After receiving an honorable discharge, having faithfully performed every duty devolving upon him! in army life, he returned to his home and resumed the occupation of farming. He purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Washington township, Keokuk county, which he cultivated and in- proved, and the well tilled fields yielded to him in return rich and abund- ant harvests.
On the 29th of December, 1868, Mr. Kendell was united in mar- riage to Miss Hattie Vickrey, a native of Keokuk county, and a daugh- ter of Cyrus Vickrey, a pioneer settler of Keokuk county, who was born in Highland county, Ohio, February 21, 1827. His father was of Scotch and his mother of English descent, tracing their ancestry to the family of Sir Walter Raleigh. Mr. and Mrs. Kendall became the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter, as follows : Cyrus G., now residing in western Colorado: William Franklin, who is living in Warren township; Sarah Adelade, the deceased wife of F. A. Black: and Freddie X., at home with his parents. Mr. Kendall resided upon the farm which he improved for eleven years. He then sold it and went to Colorado, where he engaged in teaming for about four years. On the expiration of that period he returned and located on a farm in Warren township. This farm comprised nine hundred acres, which he purchased. He still owns of this eight hundred and forty-five acres. all under a high state of cultivation. He resided upon this farm until about 1899. He then built the attractive and sub- stantial home in Delta where he now resides. He is sixty years of age and his wife is fifty. His careful supervision of his farming interests
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has brought him splendid returns and he is one of the influential men of his community, where he is also honored and respected for the good he has accomplished, the many acts of kindness shown toward those in need, and his well spent life, which has been spent in strict accord with the principles of truth and right.
He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Delta, Chicago Lodge No. 385, and is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, whereby he maintains pleasant relations with his old comrades who, with their hearts filled with love and honor for their country, wore the blue upon southern battlefields and fought so nobly for the preservation of the Union. Mr. Kendall is a Demo- crat in his political views and indicates his religious faith by member- ship in the Christian church of Delta, his wife also being a member of this church. He and his wife have many friends in the community where they reside and both are valued and respected citizens.
JOSEPH B. JACOBS.
Joseph B. Jacobs, a retired farmer and old settler of Warren town- ship, Keokuk county, was born in Johnson county, Indiana, February 28, 1836. His father, Austin Jacobs, was a native of Kentucky and in that state spent his childhood days and acquired his education. His natal day was October 21, 1803, and he remained with his parents throughout the period of his minority, removing with them to Wayne county, Indiana. He was married in Wayne county to Susan Borz- worth, a native of Preble county, Ohio, in which state she remained with her parents until her marriage. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs were born seven children, four sons and three daughters, as follows: Dru-
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silla, now deceased; Bennett; Nancy; Henry, also deceased; John, who died in infancy; Joseph, and Ruth, who also died in infancy. The mother of these children passed away in 1840 in Indiana, and the same year the father was again married, his second union being with Hannah Walker. They, too, had seven children, namely: Whitcomb, Saralı Frances, Austin, Hannah, Frank, Perry and Anson. The second wife died in 1853. Five years previous to this Mr. Jacobs had brought his family to Iowa, locating in Keokuk county, near Lancaster. He purchased a farm of seven hundred acres, which was partially im- proved, and made his home thereon until 1870, when he traded his property for the Goodhart mill and turned his attention to the milling business. On the 24th of December, 1861, he was badly injured in the mill, his clothing being caught in the machinery so that he was thrown into the works and badly crushed, but he recovered and lived until October 21, 1873, when he was called to his final rest, being at that time seventy years of age. His death occurred at his home near the mill and was keenly regretted by many friends. He was always : member of the Democratic party and also of the Baptist church.
Joseph B. Jacobs spent his early childhood days in Indiana and at the age of twelve years accompanied his father to Iowa. He re- mained at home until twenty-two years of age and on the 24th of De- cember, 1858, made preparations for having a home of his own by his marriage to Mary H. Vittetoe, a native of Morgan county, Indiana. where she spent her early childhood, coming with her parents to Iowa when a maiden of seven summers. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs was blessed with six children. four sons and two daughters. These were: William Chester, who died in infancy; Isabelle and Luella. both deceased: Edson M .; James and John, who
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are deceased. The mother died August 2, 1869, at her home three miles south of Delta, and on the 2d of February, 1870, Mr. Jacobs was again married, his second union being with Mary A. Coble, a native of Morgan county, Indiana. They are the parents of four chil- dren, two sons and two daughters: Joseph, Florence, John, all de- ceased; and Minnie, the wife of Jolin Hasty, Jr. The mother of these died September 16, 1883, and September 24, 1884, Mr. Jacobs married Mrs. Sarah Frazer, nee Bass.
After coming to lowa Mr. Jacobs resided upon his farm until the death of his first wife. Since 1884 Mr. Jacobs has resided in Delta. He has led an agricultural life and gained a comfortable competence, whichi now enables him to put aside business cares. He is a staunch advocate of the Prohibition party and has been honored with a number of political positions of trust and responsibility. In 1884 he was elected a member of the board of county supervisors and filled that position for three years. He has also held all the township offices and was a men- ber of the town council of Delta, of the school board and was 'mayor of the town. He holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church of Delta and gives an active and earnest support to every measure and movement which he believes will contribute to the general good. For more than a half century he has lived in this county and well deserves to be numbered among its honored pioneer citizens.
ELLIS FRITZLER.
Ellis Fritzler, who is an enterprising farmer and a native of Keokuk county, was born in Washington township, January 13, 1845. His father, Andrew Fritzler, was a native of Germany, born near Berlin,
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May 8, 1815, and was thirteen years of age when in 1827 he came to the United States in company with his parents, the family being es- tablished in Miami county, Ohio, where he remained until he came to lowa, in 1842, and settled in Henry county, near Winfield. He was married in Ohio, the lady of his choice being Polly Ellis, a native of the Buckeye state. They were the parents of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, and is a remarkable fact that the band of children still remains unbroken by the hand of death. These children are : Henry, Albert, Ellis, Hannah, John A., Thomas J., Andrew L., Anna M., Alfred W. and Barbara B. All of the children were born in Iowa with the exception of the eldest. As above stated, the father came to this state in 1842, taking up his abode upon a farm in Henry county, where he remained for about a year. He then removed to Keokuk county and located in Washington township, where he entered a farin. All was raw land upon which not a furrow had been turned or an im- provement made, but soon the track of the shining plow was seen across the prairie. He continued the work of improvement and development until his place became very valuable. He afterward sold the farm and purchased another tract of land in the same township, retaining this in his possession until a few years prior to his death, when he sold it and removed to Springfield, in the same township, where his remaining days were passed. He departed this life December 20, 1894, at the age of seventy-nine years, seven months and twelve days. He was a member of the Democratic party and a leading and influential member of his community, enjoying the respect of his fellow-men by reason of his genuine worth.
Ellis Fritzler spent his early youth upon the home farm in Wash- ington township, remaining with his parents until his marriage. That
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important event in his life occurred November 4, 1866, the lady of his choice being Miss Martha McNabb, a native of Keokuk county, where she was born and reared. They were the parents of but one child, Andrew, who is now deceased. Soon after his marriage Mr. Fritzler purchased a farm in Warren township comprising three hundred and twenty acres, the greater part of which was still in its primitive condition, but he at once began to clear and cultivate the land and in course of time the well tilled fields returned to him golden harvests. He sold that farm in 1879 and purchased another near Delta, and the latter property he still owns, his attention being given to its further cultivation with excellent results.
In 1872 Mr. Fritzler was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife, who died on the roth of May of that year, at the home of her husband's father, in Delta, being at the time twenty-four years of age. On the 24th of November, 1876,Mr. Fritzler was again married, his second union being with Nancy McNabb, a sister of his first wife and at that time the widow of George Clubb, formerly of Van Buren township. She was the first white female child born in Warren town- ship, May 17, 1844, and has always lived in this county, being a representative of one of the honored pioneer families. By her first husband she had two children, Susie Clubb, and Georgia, deceased. Mr. Fritzler is a staunch Prohibitionist in politics and he and wife are members of the Christian church of Delta. Temperance and morality have always received his support and he is ever found as the friend of all measures calculated to uplift mankind and to promote the welfare and progress of the community of which he is a resident.
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JACOB S. HAWK.
In this publication, which has to do with those who have been in the past or are to-day prominently concerned in the business, profes- sional, political and social life of Keokuk county, we are gratified to give a specific consideration to Jacob S. Hawk, of Martinsburg, for his life has been one of activity and he is widely known throughout the county. He is a native of the Buckeye state, where he was born in Jackson township, Madison county, September 28, 1827. He comes of an old Virginia family, his father, William Hawk, having been born there, and reared and educated. Upon arriving at maturity he moved over into Ohio with his father, Jacob Hawk, and the rest of the family. Here our subject's father married and began his life as a farmer in Madison township. In the year 1853 he joined the great wave of emigration that was setting in toward the west and located in Keokuk county, where he took up land in Steady Run township. Here he continued to cultivate his farm until 1855, in which year he died at the age of fifty-eight years. He was a staunch Republican in politics and is remembered to have been a very worthy citizen of that section of the county. The mother of our subject was Leah Switzer, also a native of the Old Dominion state. She died in 1840 at a comparatively early age, being the mother of nine children, four sons and five daugh- ters, all of whom grew to maturity, and seven of this family being still alive. The whole family came to Keokuk county in 1853.
Mr. Hawk was reared to farm life, and given a fair education. He assisted his father on the farm until the date of his marriage, Sep- tember 6. 1849, when he set up an establishment of his own, continu- ing in the agricultural life to which he had been reared. His wife was 19
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Electa J. Henson, who was a native of Jackson county, Ohio. Upon arrival in Keokuk county Mr. Hawk took up land in Steady Run town- ship, where he engaged actively in farming until 1890, at which time. having by thrift and economy acquired a fair competence, he retired from active business, and purchasing a home in Martinsburg has since that time resided in that city. He retained his farm of one hundred and sixty-six acres up to the year 1900, when he sold out. Mr. and Mrs. Hawk had five children, three of whom are living: William. residing at home ; John, at Martinsburg; M. J., wife of Millard Parish, residing in Oregon City, Oregon.
Mr. Hawk has been continuously connected with the affairs of Steady Run township for forty-five years. He is a staunch Republican in politics, and has filled some of the minor offices of the township, hav- ing been constable for a period of fourteen years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a Mason, having his membership at Martinsburg; he is also affiliated with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows. It is worthy of note in connection with the record of this worthy gentleman that at the time when his country needed his services he enlisted in Company F, Thirty-third Iowa Vol- unteer Infantry, as a private soldier. In this organization he saw some severe service. During the service he was promoted to the position of sergeant of his company. The life of a soldier, however, was too severe for his constitution, and he was honorably discharged on account of disability.
Mr. Hawk is one of the stockholders and directors of the Martins- burg National Bank, one of the strongest organizations in Keokuk county. Although he is retired from active life as carried on by the farming element, he still keeps up his interest in everything that looks
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to the advancement of the material interests of his county. His ac- quaintance throughout the country is such that his advice is frequently sought in matters of investment by the younger men of the community, who have great confidence in his judgment in matters of land invest- ment. In business Mr. Hawk has attained a very desirable success. Dependent entirely upon his own efforts, he has surmounted the ob- stacles in his path, and the difficulties which he has encountered have served as an impetus to renewed labor. In this way he has advanced steadily to a position of influence and now, having acquired a handsome competence, he is enjoying a well earned rest.
JOHN C. FOSTER.
This prominent and representative citizen of Hedrick was born in Henry county, Illinois, October 27, 1865. He is a young man of push and energy, and a worthy member of a community in which young men take the leading part. His father was M. B. Foster, a native of Illinois, and for long years a prominent farmer in that state. He is now a resident of Colorado. Mr. Foster's mother was Clara L. Weath- erby, now deceased. Mr. Foster is the only living child of their mar- riage. He was educated in the public schools of Chicago, and leaving school at the age of fifteen, began life for himself. He worked on a farm until 1894, when he came to the new town of Hedrick and became connected with the public service, serving a period of eight years as constable. He was then marshal of the city for a period of three years, and for the following four years was night watchman of the city. He is at the present time engaged in the real estate, insurance and loan busi- ness.
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Mr. Foster was married on the 19th of January, 1890, to Miss Minnie B. Koontz, a native of Keokuk county and a daughter of Henry Koontz, one of the pioneers of Benton township. He settled there about 1840, having removed from North Carolina. Mrs. Fos- ter's mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Grimes. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have three interesting children: Belva L., Addie and Vernie. Mr. Foster has always taken a very prominent interest in the public life of the community in which he resides and holds to a marked degree the confidence of his associates. In 1901 he was nominated on the Republican ticket for sheriff of Keokuk county. He made a gallant race, but owing to local complications he was not able to overcome the large majority against him. The vote, however, was very close. For a period of four years he acted as secretary of the board of education. Fraternally he affiliates with the Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 398, the Modern Woodmen of America, No. 1937, in both of which orders he has taken a very active part, and in which he is held in high esteem.
EZRA HAWK.
On section 22, in Steady Run township, in this county, lives the gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph, and who has resided in the same locality for an even half century. He was brought to the county when he was a child, and he and other members of the family have been identified with its agricultural development since that time. He is a son of David Hawk and is a native of the Buckeye state, having been born in what is now known as Vinton county, March 22, 1840. The family comes from old Virginia state, David Hawk har- ing been born in Greenbrier county and having removed with his
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parents at a very early day to Athens county, Ohio. Here he was reared amid the pioneer scenes of the Buckeye state and learned the lessons which later stood him in good stead in carving out for himself a home amidst the pioneer scenes of this western state. He grew to manhood and married in Ohio, and in 1849 came to Keokuk county and entere. land from the government. He did not remain long at that time, how- ever, but returned to Ohio, where he continued farming until 1853. when he brought his family to Keokuk county and settled on the tract of land which he had entered five years previously. He continued to culti- vate this land until 1868, when he moved to the farm upon which our subject's brother Allen now resides. This farm he continued to cultivate until the date of his death, that event taking place at the age of seventy- one years. Mr. Hawk is remembered as being a man of many noble qualities of character, was most industrious and a man of good business judgment. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in the line of politics was a supporter of the old Whig party, and when the Republican party was organized he became a staunch supporter of the principles promulgated by that organization. During the period of his residence in Steady Run township he served in the different local offices with great acceptance. His father before him, Jacob Hawk, had also been a native of Virginia and was one of the pioneers of Athens county, Ohio, having removed there after his marriage in Virginia. which event occurred about 1813. It is remembered as a tradition i: the family that the Hawk Virginia holding was in the same locality as the Washington plantation, and our subject's grandfather had a neigli- borly acquaintance with General George Washington.
On the maternal side of the family Elizabeth Loveing, our subject's mother, was also a native of the Old Dominion state, where she was
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born in Fluvania county, and was brought to Ross county, Ohio, by her parents when a girl of twelve years of age. She was a daughter of Jolin Loveing, who had joined the great tide of emigration in the early part of the century which had set in from Virginia to Ohio, and he settled in Ross county before the war of 1812, where he continued to cultivate his farm until his death. On the paternal side Mr. Hawk is of mixed Ger- man and Holland-Dutch extraction, while from his mother he gets an English strain of blood. His parents had a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters, eight of whom grew to maturity. Of this family Mr. Hawk is the fourth child and the third son.
He was about thirteen years old when the family came to Keokuk county. He received most of his education in the district schools of Vin- ton county, Ohio, though he remembers instruction in the little old log schoolhouse which is still standing in Steady Run township. He re- mained at home engaged in the hard labor of clearing up a pioneer farm, and no special event of importance occurred to mar the monotony of his existence until that great event which changed the current of the lives of so many of the youths of the country in the sixties-the great Civil . war. Mr. Hawk was reared to principles of intense loyalty to the gov- ernment, and was thus ready at the very outset to give himself, if need be, as a sacrifice for the maintenance of the constitution. He became a member in 1861, of Company I, First Iowa Cavalry, as a private soldier, in which organization he served for a period of three years and three months ; being at his post of duty during all of that time, except a short period which he passed in the hospital on account of sickness. He was promoted during this service to the position of corporal. He participated in the following principal battles, his services being mainly west of the Mississippi river: Black Water, Missouri; Silver Creek;
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Prairie Grove, Arkansas; and he was in at the taking of Little Rock, Arkansas. There were a great many smaller skirmishes in which he participated and an immense amount of scouting service, his command having been for a considerable period detailed to look after the noted guerilla band led by Quantrel. In all of this service he was faithful, and was at his post of duty at all times; he received his honorable dis- charge at Davenport, September 9, 1864. He then returned to his home and took up the thread of life where he had laid it down in 1861, and lias since been engaged in agricultural pursuits within the bounds of the township where he was reared. He owns here a large and well ap- pointed farm of two hundred and ten acres, and is also cultivating another holding on section 27-28 of one hundred and sixty acres. He also has an interest in a tract of one hundred and sixty-seven acres in Steady Run township in company with his brother Elijah.
Mr. Hawk began his family life in 1869, when on the 3d of March he was joined in marriage to Liza A. McGee. This lady was a native of the Hoosier state, having been born in Orange county, June 18, 1851. She was the daughter of Henry and Mary E. ( Ham) McGee. Her father was a native of Kentucky, as was also her mother. They re- moved from the Hoosier state to Keokuk county when Mrs. Hawk was a child of seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Hawk are the parents of seven children, Ida, the wife of Hubert Lewis, a Steady Run township farn !- er ; William H., deceased at the age of eight; Frank, deceased at four years ; Otis, Earl, Clifton; and Raymond; all children at home. Fra- ternally Mr. Hawk is a prominent and worthy member of the Masonic fraternity, having his membership in No. 106 Lodge, at Martinsburg. He, like his father before him, is a staunch Republican and has been honored with several of the local offices during his lifetime here in
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