USA > Iowa > Keokuk County > A genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa > Part 17
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DEIDRICH HENRY STROHMANN.
D. H. Strohmann, one of the oldest settlers and prominent fariners of Keokuk county, Iowa, whose fine farm is located in section 31, Ger- man township, was born in Hanover, Germany, on February 18, 1851, and is the second child and the second son of Deidrich and Dorethe ( Backhaus) Strohmann, both of whom were natives of the same part of Germany. The father died July 9, 1883, aged sixty-four years, and the mother resides with our subject and is eighty-three years old. These parents emigrated to America in 1856 and came to Keokuk county, Iowa, when the young Deidrich was not quite six years of age.
Our subject's education was obtained in the German schools of the Evangelical association and in the district schools, and he assisted his father on the farm until the date of his marriage. On February 24. 1880, he was united in marriage with Henrietta Kracht, who was born at St. Louis, Missouri, January 14, 1857, and is a daughter of Emil and Lucetta Klett) Kracht, both of whom were natives of Germany, and after coming to America located at St. Louis. Mrs. Strohmann was seven years of age when her parents moved to Keokuk county and she is the fourth member of her parents' family of five children. Her mother died July 19, 1881, aged sixty-four years, and her father died May 4, 1900, aged eighty. The family of Mr. Strohmann consists of himself, wife, and daughter Emma, born January 5. 1884, the latter being a very intelligent student in the public schools.
In 1877 Mr. Strohmann located on his present farm, where he erect- ed a comfortable residence and a commodious and substantial barn. This farm comprises one hundred and twenty-five acres and it has been developed into one of the very finest estates in this neighborhood
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through the industry and excellent agricultural methods employed by its owner. In politics he is a Democrat, but a liberal one, and endeavors to secure the best man for the offices, irrespective of politics. Mr. Stroh- mann is regarded with feelings of respect and esteem in his locality, his position before his neighbors always demonstrating his integrity and reliability. He takes a great interest in public matters, especially those pertaining to his township, and is always ready to do his part in making improvements.
R. S. MARTIN.
Among the many worthy enterprises of the stirring little city of Hedrick, Keokuk county, Iowa, none are more deserving of commenda- tion than the one which is being conducted by the above genetleman and his sons, who are editors and proprietors of the Hedrick Journal, a newspaper which has done very valuable service in bringing the develop- ment of the youthful city to the attention of the capitalists of the east. Mr. R. S. Martin is a native of Licking county, Ohio, born February 4, 1836. He was the son of Daniel and Sara E. (Hagan) Martin, na- tives of Pennsylvania. After marriage they removed to Ohio, where he became a prominent and influential citizen, having been judge of the court of common pleas in Licking county. In 1854 the family removed to Iowa and located at Steady Run township, Keokuk county, where the father continued to reside until his death at the advanced age of ninety-one years. He was a man of very fine mold of character, and during his life time spread an influence for good in every community in which he resided. The parents of Mr. Martin had a family of eleven
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children, ten of whom grew to maturity, Mr. Martin being the seventh child and fourth son.
He remained at home until his majority, coming to Iowa with the family. The first active work he engaged in was the teaching profession, which he followed for two or three years previous to the war. In 1861, however, he put aside all considerations of business and was found a loyal citizen who valiantly espoused the cause of the Union. He was among the first to enlist, entering the army in 1861 as a private soldier of Company D, Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. In this company he served three years, and passed through some of the most hotly con- tested battles of the army of the Cumberland. The first of these battles was Shiloh, then came the sieges of Corinth and Vicksburg; after which he was on the Atlanta campaign and in other minor engagements. At the battle of Shiloh he received a bullet wound, but it did not incapaci- tate him for duty. He was also wounded in front of Atlanta. He received an honorable discharge from the service on the Ist of Novem- ber, 1864, and returned to his home with the consciousness of having served his country faithfully and well. After the war he continued in the teaching profession until 1886, when he in company with his sons, WV. D. and C. J., established the Martinsburg Journal. This plant they conducted until 1889, when they removed to Hedrick and consolidated it with the Hedrick Enterprise, the name of the paper since that time having been the Hedrick Journal. This enterprise has been very suc- cessful, the paper having one of the largest circulations in the state and being a power in the moulding of public opinion in its various depart- ments. Mr. Martin and his sons also do a very large business in job printing.
The marriage of Mr. Martin occurred in Keokuk county, Iowa, on
William E Harding
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15th of January, 1865, when he led to the altar Martha J. Hampton. This lady is a native of Tennessee, from which state her family removed to Kentucky and in 1856 to Iowa. To the union of Mr. ands Mrs. Mar- tin three children were born, Walter D. and Charles J., both in business with their father, and Anna who is the wife of A. A. Buck, of Fremont, Nebraska. The Martin family has been a very prominent one in this section of the state of Iowa ever since their removal here. The father, Daniel Martin, leaves his name to posterity in the name of the town of Martinsburg, Iowa, which he laid out in 1855. He was a man of much public spirit, which he bequeathed to his son, who has a live interest in every movement affecting the welfare of his fellow-townsmen and advo- cates and assists to the extent of his ability every measure which in his judgment tends to the advancement of the interests of his county and state.
WILLIAM E. HARDING.
One of the prominent farmers and resident citizens of Adams town- ship is William E. Harding, whose home is on section 7. A native of the Buckeye state, he was born in Morrow county, Ohio, on the 25th of September, 1859, and is a son of J. H. Harding, whose birth occurred January 8, 1821, in what was then Richland county, Ohio, but is now Morrow county. The paternal grandfather was Mordica Harding, who was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, November 18, 1796, and died March 21, 1870. At an early date he removed with his parents to Richland county, Ohio, becoming one of the pioneer settlers of that locality. His father was Amos Harding, who was of English descent. In his family were seventeen children, Mordica being the ninth in order 29
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of birth. This family was prominently identified with the early devel- opment of Richland county, Ohio. The maternal grandmother of our subject was Julia Flint, born May 14, 1790, and died in May, 1862. His grandmother was Susan Harding, born March 24, 1794, and died March 30, 1851.
In the state of his nativity J. H. Harding, the father of our sub- ject, grew to manhood and was united in marriage to Miss Emily .1. Flint, who was born at Mansfield, Richland county, her parents having located in that place when the town consisted principally of a block house built for the protection of the early settlers from the Indians. In 1862 Mr. Harding left Ohio and came west, taking up his residence in Prairie township, Keokuk county, lowa, but two years later he removed to Adams township, where he continued to make his home thoughout the remainder of his life, his death occurring there November 15, 1892, when he was seventy-one years of age. His wife passed away at the age of seventy-three on August 11, 1897. She was a daughter of Eliphalet Flint, born June 6, 1782, and died in March, 1860; he was of Welsh de- scent and became quite a prominent man of Richland county, Ohio. In religious faith J. H. Harding was a Baptist, holding membership in that church for many years. His political support was given the Republican party and he was called upon to fill a number of local offices of honor and trust. For about eleven years he served as president of the Farm- ers Mutual Insurance Company and was a man widely and favorably known throughout Keokuk county. His family consists of four sons and two daughters, one of whom died at the age of two and one-half yeais and another at the age of seventeen; Rosella Pine, wife of Wil- liam Pine, died April 30, 1891; she was the widow of Francis M. Brown, whom she married in 1867; two sons by her first husband
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are living, Howard and Berton R. Those of the family still living are O. C., a resident of Keswick; Harriet, widow of Reuben Davis of Oskaloosa, Iowa; and William E., of this review.
Mr. Harding of this review is the youngest of the family and was but four years old when brought by his parents to Keokuk county, where he spent the days of his boyhood and youth in much the usual manter of farmer boys and early acquired an excellent knowledge of all the duties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. When lie located upon his present farm, which is the old homestead, it was all wild prairie and he assisted in the arduous task of transforming the land into rich and productive fields. His education was obtained in the district schools of the neighborhood, and during his youth he expe- rienced many of the hardships and privations which fall to the lot of the pioneer. As a boy he herded sheep until fifteen years of age and has since given his attention exclusively to agricultural pursuits.
On the 3rd of August, 1881, Mr. Harding married Miss Jane C. Orr, a native of County Down, Ireland, who came to America with her parents, John and Eliza (Dunnin) Orr, when about eight years old. The family first located in Illinois, but afterward came to Iowa and settled in Iowa county. Though born in Ireland her parents were of Scotch descent, the family being originally from the land of the heather. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Harding, namly: Clela M., J. Harvey and Harry F. The older son is now attending school at Oskaloosa, Iowa, and the others are still at home. Mr. and Mrs. Harding began their domestic life upon a farm on section 8, Adams township, where they made their home for nine years, but in 1889 they returned to the old homestead, to the cultiva- tion and improvement of which he has since devoted his attention, and
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Mr. Harding is now the owner of two hundred acres of well improved and valuable land. In connection with general farming he carries on stock raising. For forty years Mr. Harding has been identified with the interests of Keokuk county and has ever borne his part in the work of up-building and improvement. Politically he is identified with the Republican party and socially is connected with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the lodge at Thornburg. As a citizen he ever stands ready to discharge any duty devolving upon him and justly merits the high regard in which he is held.
JOHN S. STOUTNER, M. D.
Dr. John S. Stoutner, of Keota, has passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey and is now living in honorable retirement from labor. His life record has been characterized by many of the sterling qualities of upright manhood, and wherever known he has won the respect and good will of those with whom he has been associated. Now in the even- ing of life he receives the veneration and esteem which should ever be accorded to those who have advanced far on life's journey. He is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in Bedford county on the 5th of April, 1822. His father, Benjamin Stoutner, was born in Maryland and there spent his boyhood and youth. The grandfather, John Stoutner, was also supposed to be a native of Maryland and was of German descent. On leaving his native state Benjamin Stoutner took up his abode in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, where he carried on blacksmithing. He was married in Pennsylvania and several years later located in Richland county, Ohio, where he spent his remaining
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days, dying when eighty-four years of age. His life was in consistent harmony with his profession as a member of the Lutheran church and in politics he was always a stanch Democrat. His wife bore the maiden name of Catherine Shertzer, a native of Pennsylvania, where she was reared. She also died in her eighty-fourth year. Her father, Jacob Shertzer, was born in the Keystone state and was of German lineage. To the parents of our subject were born ten children, four sons and six daughters, all of whom reached adult age with the exception of one son who died when ten years old.
Dr. Stoutner is the eldest of the family. He was reared in the place of his nativity until seventeen years of age, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Richland county, Ohio, remaining with them until he had attained the age of twenty-two years. He then went to Massilon, Ohio, and took up the study of medicine under the direc- tion of Dr. John Shertzer, who directed his reading for two years and ten months. He afterward pursued a course of study at Willough- by college, Ohio, twenty miles east of Cleveland. When he had become well qualified for the active practice of the profession he located in New Washington, Crawford county, Ohio, where he opened an office and was there in practice for five years, during which time he acquired a good patronage. He then went to Ganges, Richland county, where he remained for one year, after which he came to the west. It was in 1854 that he made his way to Iowa, locating in Washington county at a place called Paris. For nine years he prac- ticed successfully there and at the end of that time abandoned his profession in order to give his attention to agricultural pursuits. He purchased two farms in Washington county and on selling that land bought property in township 76 of Washington county, becoming the
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owner of three hundred and twenty acres upon which he located, devoting liis energies to its development and improvement. His labors wrought a transformation in the place so that it became a very val- uable and attractive farm, and thereon he continued to make his home until 1890, when he retired from farm life and purchased a residence property in Keota. He had added to his land until he was the owner of seven hundred and ninety acres of as rich land as can be found in the country. He gave to his son, Oliver, a tract of eighty acres. a similar amount to his son William, and they are now prominent farmers of Washington county.
On the 28th of October, 1847. the Doctor was united in marriage to Mary Ann Keith, a native of Richland county, Ohio, born January 5, 1824, and a daughter of Michael and Margaret Keith, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. In their family were two sons and five daughters, and death did not sever the family tie until after they had reached mature years. Mrs. Stoutner is the youngest of the children and was reared and educated in her native place. By her marriage she has become the mother of six children : Margaret, now deceased; Oli- ver, a resident farmer of Washington county: Naomi, the wife of Warren Stewart, a stockman of Keota; William, also a farmer of Wash- ington county ; Edward, deceased; and Nettie, the wife of Squire H. S. Statler, of Keota.
The Doctor is a stanch Democrat, having firm faith in the prin- ciples of the party, which he also supports by his ballot and his influence. He is a member of the Christian church, in which he has taken an active part, doing all in his power to promote its growth and upbuilding. In his business affairs he has prospered and is to-day in comfortable financial circumstances, whereby he is enabled to enjoy many of the luxuries as
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well as of the necessities of life. He is a well preserved man of eighty years, for nature is kindly to those who abuse not her laws. His life has in many respects been highly commendable and his example is therefore well worthy of emulation.
CURTIS CRABB.
Curtis Crabb, who carries on general farming on section 9, Lafay- ette township, was born in Carroll county, Maryland, on the 22d of April, 1857. His father, George Crabb, was a native of the same local- ity and was a blacksmith by occupation. The year 1872 witnessed his arrival in Keokuk county, Iowa, and he located on a farm which is now the home of our subject, making it his place of residence until his death, which occurred in his sixty-first year. He was a member of the Wine brennerian church. He wedded Susan Winters, also a native of Carroll county, Maryland, and she, too, died in her sixty-first year. They were the parents of two children, a son and a daughter.
Curtis Crabb is now the only living member of the family, his sis- ter, Elizabeth, having died when a small child. He was about thirteen years old when he came to Keokuk county, Iowa, and here in the public schools he continued his education, which had been begun in the common schools of his native county. When but a small boy he had to begin work to provide for his own support, and he cared for his father and mother in their later years, thus repaying with filial love and attention the care which they had bestowed upon him in early youth. In 1890 he was united in marriage to Miss Clara McVay, a daughter of John and Abigal (Moon) McVay.
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Mr. Crabb is the owner of an excellent farm of eighty acres and carries on general farming and stock raising with a fair degree of success. He is recognized as one of the progressive men of the township. In politics he is an earnest Democrat, and on the ticket was elected to the office of assessor, but did not serve on account of physical disability. He belongs to Adelphi Lodge. No. 353 of Keota, and is true to its teachings and its tenets, for in his life he closely follows the principles of the craft.
ALEXANDER WARNOCK.
Alexander Warnock, a prominent farmer and representative of Adams township, Keokuk county, was born on the 20th of April, 1845, in county Down, Ireland, and is a son of John and Mary (Campbell) Warnock, who were also natives of the Emerald Isle, the former born March 23, 1820, and the latter on the 18th of June 1815. Mary Camp- bell was a direct descendant of the long famous house of Argyle. Both parents were reared and educated in their native land and there continued to reside for several years after their marriage, four of their eight child- ren being born there, while the birth of the others occurred after the emigation of the family to America. By occupation the father was a farmer. It was in 1849 that the family crossed the broad Atlantic and. took up their residence in Rock Island, Illinois, where the father accept- ed a position on the Enterprise, a steamboat plying on the Mississippi. He was thus employed the first summer after coming to this country and then began work for the firm of Bailey & Boyle, who owned and operated a sawmill, in which he worked for about two years. He then rented the property and ran it on his own account for some time, after which
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the family removed to the country in the spring of 1854, and he broke and improved one hundred and sixty acres of land. He afterward lived on several other farms in Rock Island county and continued to engage in agricultural pursuits until life's labors were ended in death on the 27th of August, 1887. In politics he was a stanch Republican and took an active interest in public affairs. He was an earnest and consistent member of the United Presbyterian church in Rock Island county and was a man highly respected and esteemed by all who knew him. His children were: Margaret : William, deceased; Alexander ; David ; James C., John, deceased ; Hugh and Janet.
Alexander Warnock was only four years old at the time the family came to the new world and in Rock Island county, Illinois, he passed the days of his boyhood and youth in much the usual mannar of farm boys, no event of special importance occurring to vary the routine of farm work during that time. On leaving home in 1868 he came to Keo- kuk county, lowa, and settled upon his present farm in Adams town- ship, which consists of one hundred sixty acres of rich and arable land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and improved with good and substantial buildings. In connection with general farm- ing he gives considerable attention to the raising of a high grade of pedigreed stock, making a specialty of short-horn cattle, of which he has a fine herd upon his place.
At Oskaloosa, Iowa, on the 9th of March, 1869, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Warnock and Miss Agnes McCracken, who was also a native of Ireland, born on the 25th of December, 1847; her parents being James and Elizabeth (McCormick) McCracken, both natives of the same country. In 1849 she was brought by her parents to the United States and the family became early settlers of Keokuk county. 30
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Her father, who was a prominent farmer, died in 1887. Mrs. Warnock was reared and educated in Rock Island county, Illinois, and by her marriage to our subject became the mother of seven children, four sons and three daughters, who in order of birth are as follows: John, born in the fall of 1869; Elizabeth, September 19, 1871; James M., September 10, 1873; Mary, in 1875; Jefferson Clarke, in 1879; William, December 8, 1881; and Gertrude, April 3, 1894. All were born on the home farm.
In his political affiliations, Mr. Warnock has been a life-long Dem- ocrat and has taken quite an active interest in local politics, while relig- iously he is a member of the United Presbyterian church and is a man who commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact, either in business or social life.
WILLIAM W. GWIN.
It is now our privilege and pleasure to trace the life of one of Keota's most honored citizen from the time his grandfather came to this country over a century ago, until the present, when the grandson after a successful life is spending his remaining days in peaceful con- templation of the past and hope of the future. Isaam Gwin, grandfather of William W. Gwin, was a native of Ireland; his wife was Mary Can- teberry; he left the land of his birth when very young, and settled with his wife in Tennessee about the time it became a state. By trade he was a miller and by profession a Baptist preacher. Although a slave holder, the practice was abhorrent to his nature, and in 1820 he freed his slaves and moved to Indiana, that he might be in a state op- posed to slavery, and in this state he died. He was the father of ten
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children, the father of our subject being the ninth child and the youngest SOIl.
R. W. Gwin, the father of William W., and an early settler of Iowa. was born on his father's homestead in Tennessee on January 30, 1804, and there his boyhood was passed, and he received such educa- tional advantages as were then to be had. He was not yet twenty years old when his father removed to the free state of Indiana. There he was married when twenty-one years of age and five years later moved to Illinois and occupied a farm of one hundred and sixty acres east of the Illinois river. In 1831, crossing the Illinois, he settled on another farm of one hundred and sixty acres and remained there about five years. His next move was across the Mississippi into Des Moines county, Iowa, where he lived for two years; then for five years he was in Louisa county, and in 1843 he bought, in Washington county, four hundred acres of land from the government, which he improved and cultivated until 1858. Then emigrating with part of his family to Kansas, he settled on five hundred acres of partly improved land, on which he built a house and made many improvements ; about 1878 he moved further south to Montgomery county, Kansas, purchasing a fine farm and town property in Independence, and here in 1885 he ended his long and useful life. He was a Republican in politics and a member of the Sons of Temperance. His wife was Nancy Watkins, born in 1807 in Kentucky, where she was reared and educated ; her parents were John and Mary Watkins, who removed to Indiana about the same time Mr. Gwin's father did. Mr. and Mrs. Gwin were the parents of fifteen children, five boys and ten girls. One child died in 1843, and from then on until 1885 the family was unbroken by death. The children are as follows: Mary (deceased), William W., Jane, Sarah,
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