USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 15
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F. M. Gray, our subject's father, continued a resident of Cedar county throughout life and was the owner of the farm upon which his son now resides besides a section of land in the state of Washington, where he spent three win- ters. He was a stanch supporter of the republican party and its principles and for six years most effectively served as county supervisor. After a useful and well spent life, he passed away on the 26th of April, 1907. In early manhood he married Miss Ella Blanchard, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, but came to Cedar county, Iowa, shortly after the Civil war. Here she died September 19, 1908. She was the daughter of Abraham and Lydia (McClunn) Blanchard, both of whom died in Ohio. Our subject is the younger of the two children
MARIAH
F.M. Gray.
Mrs. F. M. Gray
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born to his parents, the other being Harry B., who is now the owner of a sec- tion of land which his father possessed in the state of Washington and also has a homestead which he entered there.
Charles O. Gray was only three years of age when the family removed to the farm in Iowa township in the spring of 1879, their home being about five miles southeast of Springdale, but after 1881 they returned to the old home- stead in Gower township now owned and operated by our subject. In January, 1890, however, they removed to Springdale, but after residing there for a few months settled on his grandfather's old home farm. In March, 1897, Charles O. Gray with his parents and brother again located on the farm which he today owns and occupies and has since given his entire time and attention to its oper- ation. He received a good district school education and also attended the Springdale schools for a time and took a course at the Iowa City Commercial College. He is a progressive and up-to-date farmer and is meeting with excel- lent success in the operation of his land, consisting of three hundred and thirty acres on sections 25, 26 and 27, Gower township. He has made many excel- lent improvements upon the place and in connection with general farming carries on stock-raising to some extent.
On the 10th of May, 1905, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Gray and Miss Elma Leech, who was born December 4, 1877, on a farm in Johnson county, Iowa, southwest of West Branch, her parents being John and Miriam (Walker) Leech of that place. This union has been blessed by three children, Francis Marvin, Eleanor and Howard. Mr. Gray is one of the prominent and representative citizens of this community and those who have known him from boyhood are numbered among his stanchest friends, a fact which indicates an upright and honorable career.
NICHOLAS J. CROCK.
That the life history of Nicholas J. Crock is a record of success is due to the persistent effort and intelligently directed industry which he has displayed through the years of his connection with agricultural interests in Cedar county. A native of Ohio, he was born in Noble county, near Harriettsville, on the 26th of April, 1872, a son of Joseph and Mary (Shott) Crock, both natives of the Buckeye state, where the father now resides, actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. The mother passed away in 1895 at the age of forty-five years. Their family consisted of ten children, of whom our subject was third in order of birth, the others being: Edward, of Noble county, Ohio; Jasper, residing in Jones county, Iowa; Henry and Lois, making their home in Noble county; William, of Cedar county, Iowa; Rosa, who passed away at the age of five years; Sophrona, the wife of Ed Yahoning, of Noble county, Ohio; Anna, who died in 1908; and Leo, also residing in Noble county.
No event of special importance came to vary the routine of life for Nicholas J. Crock during the period of his boyhood and youth, which was spent on the home farm in Ohio, and in the district schools of that state he acquired his edu-
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cation. He also gained much practical knowledge concerning the best methods of farming, for when not engaged with his text-books he assisted his father in the work of the fields and early learned lessons concerning the value of industry, energy and perseverance. He remained at home until 1897, when he began work- ing as a farm hand, continuing in that capacity for one year.
In February, 1897, Mr. Crock came to Cedar county, Iowa, and was here em- ployed by others for two months, when, taking up agricultural pursuits on his own account, he rented a farm, which he operated for four years. At the ex- piration of that time, by means of hard work and strict economy, he accumulated sufficient capital to invest in property of his own, and in September, 1902, became the owner of his present farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres located on the northeast quarter of section 26, Cass township. The place, known as Pleasant Ridge Mule Farm, is a well developed property and indicates in its well kept appearance and carefully tilled fields the systematic and progressive methods of the owner. He also has ten acres of good timber land located on section 19, Cass township. He not only carries on general farming but raises high grade stock of all kinds, giving especial attention to the breeding of mules, and the excellent quality of both grain and stock insure high prices and ready sale upon the market. His interests are wisely and carefully managed and con- sequently are a source of gratifying annual remuneration.
On the 24th of April, 1901, Mr. Crock was united in marriage to Miss Mary Kadera, who was born November II, 1877, in Bohemia, and was but a year old when brought to the United States by her parents. She was one of a family of five daughters and four sons born unto Joseph and Katharine (Cerveny) Ka- dera, who were also natives of Bohemia and came to the new world in 1878, lo- cating in Cedar county, Iowa. The father passed away in the following year, while the mother still survives and makes her home with our subject. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Crock has been blessed with one child, Elma May.
The parents are communicants of St. Mary's Catholic church of Mechanics- ville, while in his political faith Mr. Crock is a democrat. A life characterized by continuous activity in agricultural lines has been his record and as a result of his well directed efforts he has attained a degree of success which ranks him among the prosperous and progressive farmers and stock-raisers of his section of the county.
W. J. MOORE.
Honored and respected by all, no man occupies a more enviable position in financial and business circles in Tipton than W. J. Moore, president of the City National Bank. In this connection he has bent his energies to administrative direction and executive control and has made the bank one of the safe, reliable institutions not only of the county but of the state. Moreover, his record proves that success is not a matter of genius, as held by some, but is the result of clear judgment, experience and indefatigable industry.
Robert Lee Moore
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Mr. Moore was born in Fairfield township, Cedar county, about five miles north of Tipton, on the 19th of January, 1862, and spent his youthful days in the home of his parents, Robert Lee and Elizabeth (Johnston) Moore. The father was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1828, and came to America in 1849 when a young man of twenty-one years, landing at New Orleans, whence he made his way up the river and established his home in Cedar county, Iowa, in July, 1850. For half a century he resided on the farm on which the birth of W. J. Moore occurred.
On the 28th of June, 1858, Robert L. Moore was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Johnston, a native of Ohio, who came to Iowa with her parents. She died June 29, 1867, at the age of thirty-six years, while Mr. Moore long sur- vived her and passed away April 21, 1904. In their family were six children : John Milton, now a resident of Kossuth county, Iowa; Hannah May, who is the wife of C. A. McCune of Davenport; David, who died at the age of twenty-one years; a son who died in infancy ; W. J., of this review, and Mrs. C. P. Carl, of California. The father was again married, his second union being with Mary Peterson, a native of Ohio, now deceased. By that marriage the following chil- dren were born: A. L., a resident of South Dakota; Mrs. P. A. McMillen, of Carrington, North Dakota; S. W., of Fort Collins, Colorado; Anne, of Carring- ton, North Dakota; L. C. and Robert, living on the old homestead in Fairfield township ; and Thomas, of South Dakota.
The youthful experiences of W. J. Moore were those that usually fall to the farm lad. He remained upon the old homestead with his parents until 1883 and, having mastered the branches of learning taught in the district schools, he attended the Tipton high school. Believing that he would find commercial pur- suits more congenial and profitable than work along agricultural lines, he came to Tipton on attaining his majority, securing a clerkship in the dry-goods store of William Dean, with whom he remained for nine months. He afterward en- gaged in the grocery business on his own account for a year. In 1893 he was elected cashier of the First National Bank, serving in that capacity until the bank surrendered its charter, June 3, 1903, and when the business was reorganized under the name of the City National Bank Mr. Moore again became its cashier. In the spring of 1904, however, he was elected to the presidency and has since remained as chief executive officer, devoting his time largely to the active man- agement of the bank, which during the past-six years has made a remarkable showing, becoming recognized as one of the strong financial institutions of the state. The other officers are F. D. Wingert, vice president; Charles Swartz- lender, cashier; F. J. Beatty, assistant cashier. The bank is capitalized for fifty thousand dollars and has a surplus and undivided profits of fifty-three thousand four hundred and seventy-three dollars. A general banking business is conducted and the institution has proven a valuable asset in the business circles of Cedar county. Mr. Moore is also a stockholder and director in the Tipton Lighting & Heating Company and a director of the Tipton Canning Company.
In 1886 Mr. Moore was united in marriage to Miss Mary Coutts, who was born in Red Oak Grove, Cedar county, January 8, 1862, and died in California, December 23, 1903. Her death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret for she was a lady whose many estimable qualities and kindly spirit endeared
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her not only to her immediate family but also to many friends. She was a daugh- ter of William Coutts, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Moore was born two children: Mary Louise, who is now a student at Winnetka, Illinois; and Wallace Bandeen, a student in New York City.
Mr. Moore belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and is a public- spirited citizen. He manifests a deep interest in everything pertaining to the welfare and progress of the community, cooperating in many measures for the public good. He has been watchful of all the details of his business and of all indications pointing toward prosperity, and from the beginning has had an abid- ing faith in the ultimate success of the enterprise. He has gained prosperity, yet it was not alone the goal for which he was striving, for he belongs to that class of representative American citizens who promote the general good while advancing individual interests.
SAMUEL SMITH ROWSER.
Samuel Smith Rowser was born in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, August 24, 1826. In 1844 he removed to Davenport, Iowa, with his parents. He learned the trade of a blacksmith there. In 1850 he returned to Bedford county, Penn- sylvania, where in 1852 he married Frances Drollinger. The children born unto them were as follows: Annie E., now the wife of James Rhodes, of Saxton, Pennsylvania ; John M., of Red Oak township, Cedar county, Iowa; A. W .; Nannie J., also of Red Oak township; Ella, the wife of D. W. Rhodes, of Sax- ton, Pennsylvania; W. I. and Charles H., of Gunnison, Colorado; Dr. E. E. Rowser, of Clarence, Iowa; Mabel, the wife of Oscar Speer, of Dysart, Iowa; and George D., who died in infancy.
Mr. Rowser returned to Davenport in 1855 and in 1857 moved to Red Oak Grove, where he established the first and only permanent blacksmith shop in Red Oak township and for nearly fifty years worked at his trade, being known throughout the country as an excellent workman in both iron and wood. The wife and mother died in 1902. Mr. Rowser lives with his daughter Nannie in the house that he built more than fifty years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Rowser were members of the United Brethren church and helped to establish and maintain the Red Oak Grove United Brethren church, which for many years had a large congregation at this place.
GEORGE H. ESCHER.
The farming and stock-raising interests of Cedar county have no more worthy representative than George H. Escher, now residing on section 19, Red Oak township. He is proprietor of the well known Outlook Stock Farm, two miles north of Tipton, and he is widely known throughout the state as a stock-dealer. A native of Cedar county, he was born on the 12th of May, 1862, three miles
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MR. AND MRS. SAMUEL S. ROWSER
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
south of Tipton in Center township and resided there until three years of age, when he accompanied his parents, Jacob and Fredericka (Grabb) Escher, on their removal to his present farm. Here he grew to manhood, receiving a good education, attending first the country schools near his home and later the Tipton high school, while for one year he was a student at a college in Naperville, Illi- nóis.
Mr. Escher remained with his parents until his marriage and then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land five miles west of Tipton, whereon he lived for four years, but at the end of that time returned to the old homestead, which now comprises seven hundred and twenty-four acres of very productive land, three hundred and twenty-one acres being on sections 9, 10 'and 12, Red Oak township ; four hundred and three on sections 19, 18 and 24, the same township ; and thirty-four acres in Fairfield township. All are well improved and under a high state of cultivation. In 1903 Mr. Escher erected upon his farm a beautiful twelve-room residence, at a cost of ten thousand dollars, and he has also built three modern barns, up-to-date in all their appointments, one being forty-six by eighty feet in dimensions; the second forty by eighty feet; and a third sixty- three by one hundred and two feet. He also has two hog houses, one twenty-two by sixty feet and the other twenty by forty-eight feet, and three sets of double corn cribs, one thirty-six by sixty feet and twelve feet high; another twenty-six by forty-four feet and the same height ; and the third thirty-two by twenty-four feet and ten feet high. He operates in all seven hundred acres of land and in connection with its cultivation is quite extensively engaged in stock-raising, feed- ing on an average about nine carloads of stock annually. He employs six men in the operation of his land and has twenty-five head of good work horses, used in the cultivation of his fields. He makes a specialty of the breeding of Shire horses, polled Angus cattle and Poland China hogs, while his wife gives partic- ular attention to Buff Orphington and Plymouth Rock chickens, being a member of the Cedar County Poultry Association.
It was on the 12th of February, 1885, that Mr. Escher was united in mar- riage to Miss Carrie Fraseur, who was born in Center township, this county, December 5, 1866, a daughter of Montgomery Fraseur, of whom mention is made on another page of this work. Of the children born of this union Earl M. J. is the eldest. He received a good education, attending the public schools of Tipton for some time and later a business college at Cedar Rapids. After leav- ing that institution he entered the Agricultural College at Ames and on completing his studies there returned home. He now assists his father in the operation of the farm, in the work of which he is greatly interested, and is one of the model young men of the community. Ernest Lee is now a student in the high school of Tipton, while Edna June is attending the same institution.
Mr. Escher is a republican in politics but does not care for political honors. He is a director of the Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank of Tipton and also of the Cedar County Fair Association. In business he has shown excellent abil- ity and sound judgment in investment and as the years have gone by has won substantial success that now numbers him among the men of affluence in his community. So worthily has his prosperity been gained that the most envious
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cannot grudge him his success. He is one of the leading members of the Lu- theran church of Tipton, with which his family is also connected, and he is now serving as elder of the same, having succeeded his father in that office. During his long residence in this county he has enjoyed the respect of his fellowmen be- cause his life has been an honorable and upright one.
JOHN LANGMANN, SR.
John Langmann, one of the well known residents of Bennett, has retired from active labor upon his three hundred and twenty acre farm and now rents that property, while he occupies the residence property he has owned in Bennett for some time. He is a native of Germany, his birth having occurred in Mecklen- burg, March 19, 1833, and is a son of John and Sophia (Tappendorf) Lang- mann, also natives of Mecklenburg. His parents emigrated to America with their family of children in 1851 and lived in New Orleans for three years, arriv- ing in Davenport, Iowa, in 1854. Misfortune overtook the little family when first they came to this state as cholera was then raging throughout the west and the husband and father was stricken down. With her young children encum- bering her, the brave German mother set about to make her way in this new and strange country which had claimed her natural protector. Her sons, fortunately, were grown into young manhood. Readily they undertook the task of support- ing mother and sisters and secured work right away.
John Langmann of this review worked as common laborer that his mother and sisters might not want, and for nearly three years the family leaned upon him for support, which he did not fail to give. He had received a fair schooling in Germany, but it availed him little at that time, for labor was the only com- modity which he carried that had any price. With his mother he remained until he was twenty-seven years old. He was then married and made his home in Davenport until 1866. He engaged in farming in Scott county and finally came to Cedar county.in 1874, buying one hundred and sixty acres of improved land in Inland township. Here he farmed and raised stock until 1903, when he re- tired and moved to Bennett, where he now resides. In addition to owning the farm he first purchased in Cedar county, Mr. Langmann owns another tract of similar size, making his estate three hundred and twenty acres in extent. All his land is highly improved and equipped with the most modern farm appliances.
In Davenport, Iowa, on the 16th of November, 1860, Mr. Langmann wedded Miss Mary Schmeto, native of Mecklenburg, Germany, and a daughter of Carl and Sophia (Hamp) Schmeto. Her father, having died in Germany before the mother and daughter came to America, the mother married a second time and lives in Davenport. Mrs. Langmann was born June 25, 1841, and had made her home in Davenport since her childhood.
Our subject and his wife have become the parents of eleven children, five of whom are deceased. Amelia, the wife of William Goettsch, of Rock county, Minnesota, is the eldest of those living; Charles is a resident of West Liberty, Iowa; Emma is the wife of Carl Hass, of Mason City, Iowa; Albert is engaged
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in farming in Inland township; John makes his home in Scott county, Iowa; Mat- tie is the wife of P. M. Kettelsen, of Inland township. Those dead are: Fred, who passed away at the age of twenty-four years; Otto, who was married and the head of a family when he died aged forty-five years; John, who died aged one year and seven months; Barnhardt, who was married and had reared a fam- ily in Inland township, where he died three years ago; and Herman, who was also married and living in Inland township, where he died three years ago.
Mr. Langmann was reared in the Lutheran faith, although not actively iden- tified with the church in the United States. His political beliefs are of the demo- cratic kind and he has held all the township offices within the gift of the electors. School director for twelve years, township trustee trustee and road supervisor, he has occupied all these positions and has filled the offices to the entire satis- faction of his constituents, as is proven conclusively by his constant reelection. He is among the older members of the Odd Fellows of the state, having joined the Davenport lodge in 1865. Thoroughly honest and entirely self-made, he has gained friends by the score and is esteemed by all with whom he has come in contact.
CHARLES STOUT.
Charles Stout, deceased, was throughout life identified with the interests of Cedar county and at the time of his death was successfully engaged in agricul- tural pursuits on section 36, Cass township. He was born in that township on the 28th of November, 1857, a son of John and Elizabeth (Miller) Stout. He was the youngest of their seven children and was reared and educated in much the manner of farm boys of his period. On starting out in life for himself he chose the occupation with which he had become familiar while aiding in the work of the home farm, and eventually became the owner of a well improved place of eighty acres on section 36. Cass township, besides a valuable tract of twenty- three acres of timber land on section 7.
On the 31st of December, 1884, Mr. Stout married Mrs. Eliza C. Edwards, who was born in Darke county, Ohio, August 9, 1862. Her father, Josiah Wag- aman, was also a native of that county, his birth occurring on the 12th of De- cember, 1841. He was the eldest child of John and Eliza Wagaman, the others being: David, deceased; Alexander and John Calvin, both residents of Darke county. He continued to reside there until his removal to Cedar county, Iowa, in November, 1869, at which time he settled at Cedar Bluff, which remained his home until his death, May 7, 1873. At the age of sixteen years he began learn- ing the carpenter's trade and continued to follow that occupation throughout life and at the same time worked at the shoemaker's trade during the winter months. His home was in the village of Cedar Bluff, Cass township.
It was on the 15th of August, 1861, that Mr. Wagaman was united in mar- riage to Miss Sarah Marker, who was also born in Darke county, Ohio, August 13, 1841, her parents being Eli and Catharine (Epard) Marker, natives of Mary- land and Pennsylvania respectively, though the greater part of their lives was
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passed in Darke county, Ohio. In 1864 they came to Cedar county, Iowa, where both died. There were fourteen children in their family, of whom three died in infancy and one at the age of seventeen years, while the others all reached years of maturity, married and reared families of their own. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wagaman are: Eliza Catherine, now the widow of Charles Stout; Mary Ann, the wife of Henry Miller, of Cedar Bluff ; John Eli, who resides with his mother and is engaged in farming in Cass township; Della Jane, the wife of Jacob Stout; William Alexander, a resident of Cass township; and Cora Ar- minta, the wife of James Johnson, of Pioneer township.
For her first husband Mrs. Stout married David Edwards, a native of John- son county, Iowa, where his death occurred in 1881. By that union there were two children : Abbie May, the wife of Ed Lehman, of Cass township; and Enoch Calvin, who died in infancy. By her second union Mrs. Stout had five children, but two died in infancy, the others being Alice Ethel, now the wife of James Elliott, of Cass township; Clarence Melvin, at home; and Millie, who died at the age of two months.
Politically Mr. Stout was a stanch supporter of the republican party and its principles and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, called upon him to serve in school and road offices, the duties of which he faithfully per- formed. He was an honored member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Tipton and was a man of worth and ability, who commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he was brought in contact either in business or social life.
J. H. ONSTOTT.
Military experiences have been the theme of song and story from the earliest ages and as long as the American people cherish their history they will hold in grateful remembrance the soldiers who fought for the preservation of the Union in the darkest hour of our national existence. Among this number was J. H. Onstott, who marched with the Iowa troops to the defense of the old flag. He was, however, no more loyal to the stars and stripes through the period of the war than he is at the present time, for Cedar county numbers him among her public-spirited citizens. He is now living retired in Mechanicsville and, moreover, is numbered among the early settlers of Cedar county, dating his residence here from the fall of 1851. His birth occurred in Muskingum county, Ohio, near Zanesville, October 23, 1844.
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