USA > Iowa > Keokuk County > A genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa > Part 5
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branch of his business has added very materially to his income, and he is one of the most substantial men of his community, as well as one of its most honored and highly esteemed citizens. The Republican party has always found in him a stanch supporter of its principles, and he takes a commendable interest in public affairs.
GEORGE W. AXMEAR.
The subject of this personal narrative is one of the most successful and progressive farmers within the borders of Adams township, where almost his entire life has been passed. He is a native of West Virginia, however, born on the 17th of April, 1858, and is the youngest son and fifth child in the family of John Axmear, Sr., who is represented above in this work. George W. Axmear was only four years old when the family took up their residence in Keokuk county, and with its develop- ment and upbuilding they have since been prominently identified.
Our subject passed the days of his boyhood and youth upon the old homestead in Adams township and is indebted to the district schools of the neighborhood for his educational advantages. He labored in field and meadow, assisting in the operation of the farm for five years after liis marriage, which important event in his life was celebrated in 1885 in Adams township. The lady of his choice was Miss Rosa Lane, who was born in Wisconsin in 1866 and was very young when brought to Iowa by her parents, Hiram and Jane (Bennett) Lane, early settlers of Keokuk county, where Mrs. Axmear was reared, remaining under the parental roof until her marriage. Her father, who was a farmer by occupation, died in Woodbury county, Iowa, in 1897. Unto our subject and his wife have been born six children, one son and five daughters,
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namely : Lulu, Gale, Pearl, L. V., Bertha and Neva, all born and reared on the old homestead.
As previously stated, Mr. Axinear continued to engage in farming upon the old home place with his father and brothers for five years after lis marriage, and in 1890 began farming alone upon four hundred and twenty-eight acres of the old homestead, a part of which he cleared, and he made a number of improvements thereon. He continued to reside upon that place until 1901, when he removed to his present home on a separate farm of one hundred and twelve acres of land, it being a rich and valuable tract under a high state of cultivation. Here he has built a nice home and good barns and other outbuildings, which stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. In fact, he has made all of the improvements on the place, which ranks among the best farms of the neighborhood. In connection with general farming he also carries on stock raising with good success. He is a stockholder of the Farmers Savings Bank of North English and is one of the most reliable business men of his community. Both Mr. and Mrs. Axmear are members of the Methodist Protestant church of Adamis township, and since attaining his majority he has always affiliated with the Republican party, taking quite an active interest in public affairs, as every true American citizen should.
HENRY FOLLMAN.
Henry Follman, a well-to-do farmer and old settler of Lancaster township, in this county, is a born worker and a man of remarkable push and energy. Losing his father at an early age in a foreign land, he came to this country when quite young, and not only took a hand at
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earning his own living but also assisted in the maintenance of his mother and sisters. Deciding to follow farming and shunning no hard- ship, he bravely pushed west and in this way came into possession of some of the best land our country had to offer. Mr. Follman was born in Germany, July 7, 1839. and is the son of Frederick and Frances Foll- man, both natives of Germany. The elder Mr. Follman was reared and educated in Germany, and there married and made his home. To him and his wife were born in that country four children-Frederick. Henry, Lucilla and Louisa. Mr. Follman died in his native land. After the death of the father the family came to this country and settled in Illinois, where Mrs. Follman spent her last days.
Henry Follman was but twelve years old when he came to this country. In spite of his youth, however, he took up the active duties of life like a man, hired out at anything he could turn his hand to, and in this way purchased a farm, where he with his mother and her other children resided for many years. As the land was new and mostly un- broken, with determination he set to work and assisted in clearing it, and made it in time the equal of any in the vicinity. In 1856 he and his brother left their mother and sisters in possession of the farm they had worked so hard to earn, and in an emigrant train started to the newly settled state of Iowa, there to make their own fortunes. After some looking about Mr. Follman settled upon a fifty-acre traet in Lancaster township, a little west of his present farm, now known as the Barlow place. Here he remained eight years elearing and cultivating the land and making many improvements upon it. In 1877 he purchased his present farm, a splendid one hundred and seventy-five acre tract, which, however, needed considerable clearing and breaking. This work ex- perience had enabled him only too well to do, and in time he had one
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of the best farms in his vicinity. By observation and the exercise of good judgment he has acquired the knack of making his place yield large and excellent crops, and he is looked upon as a man who thoroughly understands his work.
In 1864 Mr. Follman married Esta Maxwell, who was born in Indiana, and who when rather young came with her parents, J. W. and Mariah Maxwell, to this county, where they afterward resided. Mr. and Mrs. Follman have had eight children, all of whom have been born and reared in Lancaster township: William H., Frederick E., John A., Lucy, Fulton, Stella, Elsie and Minnie. As one of the highly respected old settlers of the township. Mr. Follman has always had his say in the management of local affairs. He is exceedingly popular and has filled with marked ability several offices in the township. In politics hie affiliates with the Democrats.
EUGENE DOGGETT.
One of the prominent farmers in Keokuk county, Iowa, resides on section 27. Lancaster township, and was born on the farm which he now owns and operates on December 8, 1856. He is a son of A. J. and Mary (Gilliland) Doggett, who for many years were most highly respected residents of this county. Early in the settlement of Keokuk county, when no more than nine families had yet dared the certain privations of pioneer life in what was then a wilderness, Presley Dog- gett came from his Kentucky home and located a small claim on a tract adjoining our subject's present farm. Here he built his cabin and cleared his fields, rearing a family and offering a welcome to the faithful preacher who made his circuit through the woods on his mis- 8
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sion, for Mr. Doggett was one of the founders of the Baptist church in this locality. His life did not extend over fifty-seven years. The father of our subject, son of this early pioneer, was sixteen years old when he came to Keokuk county, and he later located on our subject's present farm, where he engaged in extensive stock raising, buying and selling the same also, and shipping more than almost any other resident of the township at that time. He died at the age of seventy years to the day. In politics a strong Democrat, he was equally stanch in his adherence to the tenets of the Baptist church.
The mother of our subject was born in Indiana and was reared there until the age of fifteen years, when she accompanied her parents to Keokuk county, Iowa. She is a daughter of James and Susan Gilli- land, both of whom were natives of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Doggett had born to them a family of twelve children, eight daughters and four sons, of these, six daughters and our subject alone survive.
Eugene Doggett received his education in the common schools of Lancaster township and grew to manhood, assisting on the farm and gradually becoming financially interested in the handling and shipping of horses. He now owns a large and productive farm, comprising four hundred and sixty acres of well cultivated land, and is justly re- garded as one of the leading men of substance in this locality. He carries on a general line of farming, does some stock raising and rents a portion of his land.
On January 26, 1889, Mr. Doggett was married to Phronia Myers, who was born in Keokuk county, Iowa, and was a daughter of Asa and Rachel Myers, a family of early settlers. Mrs. Doggett died May 9, 1898, leaving a family of three children, namely : Myrtle, Bruce and Blanche. The second marriage of our subject was to Mary Jackson,
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who was born in Jackson township, Keokuk county, and to this union have been born two sons. Howard and Homer. Mr. Doggett has spent his whole life in Lancaster township and is widely known as a man of reliability and uprightness. He has been a life-long Democrat, but he has never sought office, his large agricultural interests engaging his time and attention.
LOUIS FOLLMAN.
Louis Follman, a prominent farmer of Lancaster township, Keokuk county, Iowa, was born February 26, 1858, and is a son of Frederick and Frances ( Lefler ) Follman, both of whom were natives of Germany. Frederick Follman was but a small boy when his mother brought him to America and settled for a short time in Missouri. The mother later took him to Illinois, where he grew up, working on various farms, and later came to Iowa. He settled on a farm in the western part of Lancaster township, only renting the land, as he was a skilled stone- mason and soon found plenty of employment in his line. Finding conditions favorable, Mr. Follman later bought a small farm of forty acres, selling it, however, in 1878. He is now engaged in business as a book agent at Martinsburg. He is a Democrat in politics and has at various times very efficiently filled a number of the local offices. His marriage took place in Illinois to Frances Lefler, who also came to America from Germany when quite young, accompanying her parents. Four children were born to this union, namely: Louis, our subject ; Frank J .; Louisa; and Adeline, deceased. All of these children were born and reared in Lancaster township.
Our subject, Louis Follman, acquired an excellent common school
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education and remained with his father until twenty-one years of age. He then joined a government survey expedition and went to California, where he remained for five years, coming back to the old home in 1884. Ar. Follman then engaged in farming on the farm he now owns, com- prising eighty acres, about one-half of which he cleared himself and on which he has made the excellent improvements. In the spring of 1884 he was married to Cynthia Childs, who was born in Van Buren township in 1864 and was about twelve years old when her parents moved to Lancaster township. Her father, Aaron Childs, was born April 28, 1826, in the state of New York, where he lived until his marriage to Fatima Marsh, who was also born and reared in New York. Some time in the forties they came to Keokuk county, Iowa, and here Mr. Childs died in December, 1896. A family of six children was born to Mr. and Mrs. Childs, namely : Florence, Alvin M. and Florence C., deceased : O. W. ; Cynthia ; and Myrtle E. The three survivors were born in this county. The children born to our subject and wife are the following : Patti, Fatima, Floy, Ruth and Jean, all of whom were born on the old homestead.
Mr. Follman now owns a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which is productive and very valuable. In politics he is a Demi- ocrat and has very efficiently served the township in many positions, and is now its capable clerk. He has been connected with the order of Odd Fellows in Sigourney for many years and is a liberal contributor to the support of the Methodist church, of which his family are members.
EDWARD SCHILTZ.
There is probably no more enterprising citizen in the township of Lancaster than this prominent young agriculturist residing on his care-
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fully cultivated and attractive farm in section 29. Besides managing his own affairs with the wisdom and science that would do credit to a man of twice his years, he takes a leading hand in all public doings and is one of the most prominent lodge men in the vicinity. His high intellectual endowments and energy and push, which have thus brought him to the front, he has undoubtedly inherited from his good German ancestors.
His grandfather, John Schiltz, possessed to a remarkable degree these same traits, added to a dauntless courage, which made him bold to undertake what to other men would seem the impossible. He was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1821. Desiring when a youth of nineteen to seek his fortune in America, though possessed of scarcely money enough to pay his passage, he bravely ventured forth and upon landing in New York had but twenty-five cents in his pocket. Undismayed, however, he wisely set to work and soon found what was equivalent to money to him, a good position in a flouring mill, whose owners, two brothers, also possessed a large elevator. Here he remained for a con- siderable time, acquiring a knowledge of milling of great value to him in later years. After a few years, however, he left New York and went west, locating at Peru, Illinois. Here he purchased a mill and engaged in business for himself for awhile. Though successful, he finally sold out and came to the new territory of Iowa, settling first in the vicinity of Solon. Purchasing a water-power mill near by, he conducted an extensive manufacturing industry for a short time, which proved highly profitable. Seeing, however, a better opening for his business at Riverside, lie soon disposed of his Solon property and moved there, purchasing at the same time another large mill. This he managed with more than his usual good fortune, and kept it in
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operation for many years. Later, in 1857, while residing in this same place, in company with a Mr. Steavenson, he built what has been widely known as the Black Hawk Mill, on North Skunk stream, in Clear Creek township, Keokuk county. The mill is a large one, was then run by water power, and proved as a business venture the crowning success of his life. He continued to run it to the time of his death, which oc- curred in 1869. While residing in Peru, Illinois, Mr. Schiltz married Josephine Wendling, who was born in Germany. She died at River- side, in 1857, and some years later, after moving to Keokuk county, Mr. Schiltz married Anna M. Baker, who was also born in Germany. She survived her husband many years. By the first marriage there was one child-Frank, who is mentioned below. By the second marriage there were five children. Mr. Schiltz's eminently successful career commended him to the confidence and respect of all who knew him, and his influence was felt far and near in any community in which he happened to reside. To his children he left not only a large inherit- ance of brains, but also considerable property as a stepping stone to suc- cess in life.
Frank Schiltz, the well known proprietor of the Sigourney Rolling Mills, even surpasses his father as an efficient business man, has also been eminently successful as an agriculturist, and now owns two large farms in Keokuk county. He was born in Riverside, Johnson county, Iowa, May 31, 1855, being but two years old when the family came to Keokuk county, where he has resided most of his life. In his youth, however, he spent considerable time with his maternal grandparents, who were residents of Iowa City, and there in the public schools received a good practical education. While in that city he also worked for some time in a mill as a preparation for the business he intended
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to pursue in life. Having some means with which to start in life, in 1874 he purchased one-third interest in the Black Hawk Mill, in which his father had taken a hand in building, and he remained with the firm for about three years, earning for himself a large income. After sell- ing out he purchased a farm in Lafayette township, which he carried on for five years, meeting with the most gratifying results. Having by this time, March, 1886, saved considerable money, he purchased a two-third interest in the Black Hawk Mill, and here again carried on a flourishing business for five years, that is, until 1891. Then selling out his interest, he once more turned to agriculture, this time in Lan- caster township, where he purchased another large farm. Applying both science and practical experience to his efforts, he caused his place to yield large and valuable crops, and gained the reputation of being one of the most successful agriculturists in the vicinity. In November, 1897, he came to Sigourney and purchased the Rolling Mills, of which he has since been the proprietor. He has conducted here a large and increasing business, giving employment to many men, and deriving for himself good profits. He has done well in all his business ventures, and is now a large property owner, possessing among other real estate the two farms already referred to.
In 1875 Mr. Schiltz married Elizabeth Stein, born in Keokuk county, of German descent, and they had seven children. Mr. Schiltz has always been an influential man in the community in which he hap- pened to reside, and his large business interests have greatly benefited the county. He is an influential member of the Catholic school.
Edward Schiltz, son of Frank, was born in Black Hawk Mills, in Clear Creek township, September 9, 1876, and was the oldest of his parents' seven children. In the district schools of his neighborhood
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he received his early education, and later attended the Bloomfield Nor- mal School for a while and the Normal Institute of Keokuk county, where he prepared himself for teaching. After leaving school he taught for two terms in Keokuk county, giving excellent satisfaction. Deciding, however, to turn his attention to agriculture, in 1899 he rented the old Reynolds farm in section 29, Lancaster township, where he still resides. This place is a large one hundred and thirty-five acre tract, is well improved and here he carries on general farming and engages in some stock raising. An excellent manager and possessed of a large capacity for work, he is meeting with splendid results, and is looked upon as one of the most progressive and yet practical agriculturists in his county. Mr. Schiltz has recently purchased the old Mintur farm, consisting of sixty acres and situated a mile and a half southeast of Sigourney, on which he intends to make his future home.
In 1898 Mr. Schlitz married Alice Utterback who was born in Lancaster township, daughter of Corbin and Jane ( Lippard ) Utterback; she received her education in the common schools of the neighborhood. Though quite young, Mr. Schiltz's remarkable capacity for leadership has commended him to the confidence of the people, and he is exceedingly prominent in the public affairs of his community. As a stanch Re- publican he is now serving as chairman of the central committee of the township, and has in other ways made his influence felt. He is one of the most prominent members of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, has completed every degree, and filled all the chairs of the order. A man of brilliant social attainments, he is well known throughout the county, and has many warm friends.
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NANCY MARTIN HART.
Nancy Martin Hart, now residing on her large and attractive farm in section 28, Lancaster township, is one of the old settlers of Keokuk county, having lived here since February, 1854, with the exception of seven years spent in Clarke county, Iowa. She was born in Holmes county, Ohio, July 7, 1833, and is the daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Knox) Martin. Her grandfather, Edward Martin, of German de- scent, was also a resident of Holmes county, Ohio, for many years, hav- ing moved there from Virginia in the early days and settled upon a farm on Martin's creek, a stream namd in honor of his family. Here he engaged very extensively in agriculture, and also conducted for many years a large sawmill. Being an excellent farmer and a judicious busi- ness man he became possessed in time of considerable wealth.
Joseph Martin, born in Virginia, was only a mere child when the parents moved to Ohio, and there in the common schools of Holmes county secured his education. By assisting his father upon the farm in the early days he became well trained to agriculture, and upon reaching manhood followed it as a regular occupation. It was in this same place where he was reared and educated that he married Rebecca Knox, who was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and came to Holmes county, Ohio, when a child, with her father, David Knox, one of the pioneer farmers and saw-mill operators of the county. She died at the age of fifty-one. By this marriage there were eight children. Anna, Eliza and Mary Jane, now deceased; Edwin M., a resident of Shelby county, Iowa; Nancy M., who is mentioned below; Catherine and Louisa. now deceased: and Joseph L., who became a soldier in the Civil war and died during the service. In 1843 Mr. Martin, deciding 9
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to seek his fortune with the pioneers of the rich lands of Iowa, came to that state and settled upon a farm in Van Buren county. Here he remained for eleven years, clearing and breaking the land, and making other improvements, so that the place became in the course of his stay there one of the valuable pieces of property in the county. In 1854 he moved to another farm in Lancaster township, Keokuk county, which he managed with his usual success, and where he remained for the rest of his life, dying there at the advanced age of eighty-nine. He was a man of influence in the community, especially in religious circles. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, took an active part in all the efforts of that denomination, and often officiated as pastor. In politics he was at first a Whig, and later a stanch Republican.
Nancy Martin Hart passed that character-developing period of youth, that is the years between the ages of ten and twenty, in the wild pioneer settlement of Van Buren county. Here in the rather prim- itive schools of the new community she secured her education, which, while limited, afforded training in the essential virtnes of self-reliance and industry, without which no character is complete. When her parents moved to the Lancaster farm in Keokuk county, she came with them, and there a year later, in July, married Samnel Hart, who was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, May 15, 1830, and when a small boy came with his parents to Morrow county, Ohio, where he was reared, and in the common schools received his education. About 1852 he came to Iowa, and locating in Muscatine county, remained there for some time. After their marriage he and Mrs. Hart settled upon a farm in Clarke county, Iowa, where they remained until 1862, when he left home and family at the urgent demands of his country for soldiers, and en- listing in Company F, Sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, went to the
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front as a private. After participating in many a hard fight, May 13, 1864, in the battle of Resaca, he received a mortal wound and died a few days later, May 24. He was buried in the hospital cemetery at Resaca. Mr. and Mrs. Hart had three children: Clark and Mary A. died in infancy. Emma L. married Kline Keaster and they have had five children, four of whom are now living: Joseph B., who is attend- ing Iowa City Medical College; Leonard, who carries on the home- stead for his grandmother, Mrs. Hart : Ella R .; Sidney H .; Carl J. died in infancy. Some time after the death of her husband Mrs. Hart moved to her farm in Lancaster township, where she now resides. Her grandson, who carries on the place, is making a great success of his farming, and Mrs. Hart receives a very comfortable income. She is an excellent business woman and is esteemed as such throughout the community. She is well known all over the county. Prominent in religious circles, she is an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church at Lancaster, of which she is a highly respected member.
JAMES M. SWEARINGEN.
James M. Swearingen, a wealthy agriculturist and extensive stock raiser, now residing at his splendid farm in section 34, Lancaster town- ship, possesses those strong traits of character which would have brought him to the front in any occupation he might have chosen in life. Endowed with foresight, good judgment, self-assertive powers, he might have made a magnificent business man. Or his remarkable executive ability and his large capacity for leadership might have given him prestige in the political field. Content, however, to follow the occupation
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