USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 17
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RICHARD JACKSON, JR.
One of the most attractive and best improved farms of Linn township is that owned and occupied by Richard Jackson, Jr., on sections 2 and II, comprising three hundred and twenty acres of valuable and productive land. He dates his residence in Cedar county from 1865, being only two years old when brought to this state by his father, Richard Jackson, Sr., of whom extended mention is made in connection with the sketch of William A. Jackson on another page of this volume.
Mr. Jackson was born in Rock Island, Illinois, on the 24th of February, 1863, and was reared in this county. As soon as old enough he began to assist in the operation of the home farm and remained with his father until his marriage, which was celebrated in Fremont township, March 23, 1892, Miss Margaret Moir becoming his wife. She is a native of that township and a daughter of John Moir, who came to Cedar county in 1866. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have been born two sons and three daughters, namely: Allen D., Harry R., Bertha M., Mina May and Nancy A., all of whom are at home.
RICHARD JACKSON, JR.
MRS. RICHARD JACKSON, JR.
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After his marriage Mr. Jackson commenced farming in Fremont township, where he made his home until 1896, and then removed to his present farm in Linn township. Here he owned four hundred acres of land, but has since disposed of an eighty-acre timber tract. Upon his farm he has erected a large two-story residence, a good barn and other substantial outbuildings, and to the further improvement and cultivation of his place he devotes his entire time and ener- gies. In connection with general farming he carries on stock-raising and fattens about a carload of cattle for market and from one hundred to two hundred head of hogs each year. He was one of the promoters and is a stockholder in the Mechanicsville Savings Bank and is regarded as one of the most reliable and progressive business men of his community. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise he has voted with the democratic party and has been called upon to serve his fellow citizens as township trustee and member of the school board. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian church at Mechanicsville and occupy an enviable position in social circles. Mr. Jackson is a man of recognized ability and is widely and favorably known throughout the county, where almost his entire life has been passed.
JACOB STOUT.
Jacob Stout, a prominent and progressive agriculturist and representative citizen of Cedar county, was born on the farm which is now his home on the 10th of June, 1855, a son of John and Elizabeth (Miller) Stout, natives of Ohio and Virginia respectively. The father came to Cedar county in 1840 and was here married in 1844. He was an agriculturist by occupation and that he was suc- cessful in his chosen life work was indicated by the fact that at the time of his death he was one of the extensive property holders in his section, possessing five hundred and seventy acres of rich farming land all in one body and also one hundred and ninety-four acres of timber land. One hundred and sixty acres of this property, located on section 36, Cass township, he had entered from the government and upon this tract he made his home. He passed away at the age of seventy-nine years, six months and twelve days, while his wife was seventy- nine years and two days old when she passed away in November, 1885. In their family were seven children, as follows: William, who was drowned in the Cedar river when sixteen years of age; Mary Ann, the wife of William Tevis, of Buchanan; James H., of Cass township; George W., who resides in Tipton ; Sarah E., who wedded Fred Buch, of Tipton; Jacob, of this review ; and Charles, who has also passed away, leaving a widow and two children.
Upon the home farm Jacob Stout was reared, and there his entire life has been spent. He attended the district schools near his home in the acquirement of an education, and, when not busy with his text-books, assisted in the work of the fields, early becoming familiar with the various tasks that fall to the lot of the farmer boy. Upon attaining his majority he began business life independ- ently as a farmer and has never sought to enter other fields, but has confined his efforts and attention to that line of activity in which he has met with a creditable
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degree of success. His farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres, lying on sections 36 and 35, Cass township, has, under his wise management, been brought to a high state of cultivation, for his labors have ever been thorough and system- atic and his methods practical and up-to-date. He has planted the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, has practiced rotation of crops, and the success which has attended his efforts is but the logical result of a life characterized by energy, industry and perseverance.
It was on the 18th of December, 1888, that Mr. Stout was united in marriage to Miss Della Jane Wagaman, who was born in Darke county, Ohio, on the 22d of April, 1868. Her parents, Josiah and Sarah (Marker) Wagaman, were reared and married in Ohio and came to Iowa in 1870, where the father has since passed away. The mother still survives and makes her home in Cass township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stout have been born eight children, all of whom are still under the parental roof. They are as follows : Fred, Sadie, Frank, Ralph, Essie, LeRoy, Glenn and Jesse.
The political support of Mr. Stout has been given to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, and he is a strong advocate of all measures which tend to upbuild and promote the welfare of the community. He is now serving as president of the township school board and the cause of education finds in him an especially warm friend. His has been a life of con- tinuous activity, characterized at all times by honorable methods and high ideals, while his life-long residence in this locality has made his list of friends a long one, all of whom entertain for him high regard and esteem.
PETER WILLER.
Iowa ranks among the first of the great agricultural states of the Union and Cedar county is one of its richest sections. The wealth of the state comes mostly from its farming and stock-raising interests and among its most progressive citi- zens are those who are promoting activity along these lines. One of the most pro- gressive farmers of Center township is Peter Willer, who now lives on section 31, where he owns a fine farm and has erected thereon a beautiful new ten-room residence. He has a wide acquaintance in this county, for he has lived here since his first year and, since attaining manhood, has been actively identified with its farming and stock-raising interests.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Willer was born near Pomeroy, Meigs county, De- cember 1, 1864, his parents being George and Julia Willer, of whom extended mention is made on another page of this volume. As before stated, it was dur- ing his infancy that he was brought by his parents to Cedar county in the spring of 1865 and the family located in Center township. He remained under the parental roof until his marriage and for two years afterward he engaged in the operation of his father's farm. He then purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Fairfield township, to which he has added until its bounda- ries now comprise four hundred and forty acres on sections 34 and 35. This he has improved by the erection of good and substantial buildings and has placed
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under a high state of cultivation. Upon that property he continued to reside until February 3, 1910, when he located upon his present farm, just outside the corporation limits of Tipton. Here he owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, which is also well improved and highly cultivated. Throughout his active business career he has given considerable attention to the raising and feeding of stock and besides operating his present farm he is also engaged in the cultivation of his old place in Fairfield township in partnership with another.
Mr. Willer was married on the 4th of April, 1889, to Miss Mary Birk, who was born in this county, June 28, 1869, her parents being Adam and Emeline (Shaffer) Birk. They now have four children, namely: Edith A., Forest B., Vera L. and Edwin P.
Mr. Willer is a prominent and influential member of the Reformed church of Tipton, in which he is now serving as deacon, and in his social relations is connected with the Odd Fellows lodge of that place. He is a stockholder in the Cedar County Fair Association and as a public-spirited and progressive citizen gives his support to all measures which he believes will promote the moral and material welfare of his adopted county. Throughout his entire life he has man- ifested those individual characteristics which in every land and clime awaken con- fidence and good will.
DOMINICK SUCHOMEL.
Among the prosperous farmers of Cedar county who owe their success in life entirely to their own efforts is Dominick Suchomel, who now owns and operates an excellent farm of five hundred acres lying partly in Graham town- ship, Johnson county, and Cass township, Cedar county, his home being on sec- tion 32 of the latter township. He was born in Netolizt, Bohemia, on the 4th of August, 1858, and is a son of Albert and Catharine (Michael) Suchomel, who spent their entire lives in the old country. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, died when our subject was only five years old, and of the nine chil- dren in the family only five reached years of maturity, Dominick and his brother Thomas being the only ones to come to the United States.
It was in 1871 that out subject crossed the broad Atlantic and proceeded on his way to Cedar county, Iowa, where he joined his brother Thomas, who was then renting the farm on which our subject now resides. He has since made his home in this neighborhood, his time and attention being devoted to agricultural pur- suits. As he had nothing on his arrival here he worked by the month for five years and then commenced farming on his own account upon rented land, being thus engaged during the following four years. His first purchase consisted of a tract of eighty acres, which he operated for five years and then sold, buying two hundred and twenty acres. As time has passed and his financial resources increased, he bought two farms, together consisting of one hundred and seventy- eight acres in 1903 and 1904. In 1909 he sold his two hundred and twenty acre farm and bought other land until he now has five hundred acres in Johnson and Cedar counties, all of which he now operates himself, being engaged in general
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farming and stock-raising and making a specialty of high grade stock of all kinds. Upon his land are three sets of good farm buildings, and he has placed the land under a high state of cultivation.
In 1879 Mr. Suchomel was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Zemisek, who was born in Johnson county, this state, on the 21st of December, 1860, but her parents, Albert and Anna (Kodl) Zemisek, were both natives of Bohemia. They came to the United States about 1855 and settled in Johnson county, Iowa, where the father has since died, but the mother is still living and continues to reside there. Mr. and Mrs. Suchomel have six children, all born in Cedar county, namely : Anna, now the wife of Michael Boxa of Cass township; Catharine, the wife of George Chalupsky of Tama county, Iowa; and Amos, Jerry, Frank and Mary, all at home. In the community where they reside they have many warm friends and wherever known are held in the highest esteem.
HON. ALEXANDER MOFFIT.
Hon. Alexander Moffit, who was a member of the sixteenth general assembly and has many years been known as a representative farmer and breeder of thoroughbred Hereford cattle in Cedar county, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, April 24, 1829. His parents were William and Elizabeth (Armstrong) Moffit, also natives of the Emerald Isle. The former was born June 21, 1779, and the latter on the 12th of November, 1774. They became the parents of ten children, all of whom were born in Ireland and emigrated to America, namely : Andrew, born in 1805, died July 2, 1851 ; Robert died in Philadelphia, July 10, 1869; Margery, born in 1812, became the wife of William Neely, her death oc- curring in Tipton, October 22, 1886; William died in Philadelphia, as did Eliz- abeth Armstrong; Mrs. Lucinda Hardacre, born March 1, 1816, died near Tipton, Iowa, April 1, 1888; Thomas, born November 5, 1821, died near Tipton, Jan- uary 18, 1867; Francis, born January 21, 1824, died March 16, 1901 ; Mrs. Mar- garet Smythe, born October 21, 1826, died March 28, 1904; and Alexander com- pletes the family.
William Moffit, the father, emigrated from Ireland with his wife and five youngest children in 1840, making his way direct to Cedar county, Iowa. They left their home near Ballinamallard near the north line of County Fer- managh on the Ist of April and took passage at Liverpool on a sailing vessel which was six weeks in reaching the harbor of Philadelphia. The elder children had already come to America and some of them were located in that city. The first to leave Ireland was Robert Moffit, who came in 1828. Andrew followed in 1835 and came to Cedar county in 1839. He located the claim that was the family homestead on a creek near the south side of Mason's Grove in Cass township. The land was not then open to entry and in fact was not upon the market until the spring of 1840.
After visiting for a brief time in Philadelphia, the family proceeded to Pitts- burg and thence to Muscatine, Iowa. The passengers on the boat brought the news of the election of President Harrison. In those days few newspapers were
MR. AND MRS. ALEXANDER MOFFIT
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published and communication was by word of mouth from travelers. The Moffit family arrived at Muscatine early in November, where the household goods and the women of the party were loaded in a wagon, while the men walked. They proceeded thus to Cedar county, arriving on the 20th of November. They spent the first night in this county with the family of Henry Buchanan but in a short time were installed in their own little home.
Alexander Moffit lived at home on the farm with his father except in the winter seasons when he would avail himself of the opportunity of attending school anywhere in this part of the state where a school was in session. The first school he attended was in the Smythe neighborhood about two miles south- west of Mount Vernon. In the spring of 1852 with his brother Francis, he started overland for California with five yoke of oxen and a pony. They were four months in making the trip over the plains, the long stretches of hot sand, and through the mountain passes. Because of ill health Francis Moffit returned at the end of a year. Alexander remained in California until 1857, making but one visit home during that time. On the return trip he proceeded by water to the Isthmus of Panama, after crossing which he again boarded a vessel bound for New York.
On the 20th of September, 1859, Mr. Moffit was united in marriage to Miss Martha Jane Poteet, a neighbor's daughter, and as the years passed eleven children were born to them, of whom three died in infancy. The eight that reached adult age are: John T .; Cassius C .; William A .; Albert H .; Edwin B .; Mary L, now Mrs. Ralph M. Reeder; Martha J., now Mrs. C. G. Stookey; and Lulu. All are yet living in Cedar county with the exception of Cassius C., a banker of Brewster, Minnesota. On the 20th of September, 1909, Mr. and Mrs. Moffit celebrated their golden wedding on their farm where they had lived so many years and where their children were born and reared.
For a year after his marriage Alexander Moffit resided near the old home- stead and then removed to the farm which he now occupies near the northern part of Linn township, about three and one-half miles south of Mechanicsville. He is the last surviving member of a large pioneer family that from the earliest development of this section of the state has been closely, actively and honorably associated with its growth and improvement.
Mr. Moffit is one of the really old settlers of Cedar county. There are only a few now who are older than he. He is a regular attendant at, and takes an active part in the Cedar County Old Settlers Association. He is a familiar face at all the annual meetings.
Mr. Moffit has often said, in talking with his friends, that it is hard for the young people of today with automobiles, telephones, rural free delivery, steam-heated and gas-lighted farm homes with bathrooms and water pumped throughout the house and barns and all over the farm with power, to under- stand the changed conditions.
The families in those days, and they were large families, often lived in a cabin that seldom had more than two rooms. These cabins were always built on a creek and near timber. There were no wells or well drilling machinery, no steam wood saws in those days. There were no fences, no roads, no bridges.
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Just a vast expanse of prairie with here and there a settler's cabin on the border of the prairie near water and timber.
The only postoffice in Cedar county was at Rochester. This again shows what comes with the time and changed tide. At that time Rochester had ambi- tions to be a metropolis. It now does not even have a postoffice. In those days mail only came occasionally. Settlers living as far away as Marion often passed the Moffit cabin on foot to get the mail at Rochester for their neighborhood. Letters were luxuries. The postage was twenty-five cents and it had to be paid by the person who received the letter. Twenty-five cents it must be re- membered at that time was considerable money. The Moffits lived in Cedar county fifteen years before a railroad touched its border. Land was here in plenty ; was everywhere to be had for one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, and few people could raise the one dollar and twenty-five cents.
Now a telegram is received at noon advising as to the Chicago market on hogs. The neighbors are called by telephone; they assemble at the meeting place, the hogs are loaded, hauled to the station, loaded on the cars and de- livered at Chicago in the morning at nine dollars and seventy-five cents per hun- dred weight gross. In those days the hogs were butchered at home, and the dressed hogs hauled by wagon thirty-five miles to Muscatine and then sold at two dollars and fifty cents per hundred weight dressed. The teams then returned the next day loaded with lumber. During the winter season Mr. Moffit fre- quently made two trips per week to Muscatine, hauling dressed hogs and grain and returning with lumber and provisions. And there are still people complaining about the hard way they have to get along.
During his residence here Alexander Moffit has continuously carried on farming and stock-raising and has extensively engaged in the breeding of thor- oughbred stock. His business interests are carefully and systematically con- ducted, bringing to him a substantial measure of success. He has ever mani- fested great care in the discharge of public duties, serving as a member of the board of supervisors, and also as a township school officer. Still higher honors, however, were conferred upon him when, in 1875, he was elected to represent his distriet in the sixteenth general assembly. He has ever been loyal to the confidence and trust reposed in him, whether in business, political or social rela- tions and his upright life commends him to the confidence and good will of all.
JAMES H. RIPLEY.
No history of Tipton would be complete without extended mention of James H. Ripley, who for fifty-six years has here made his home. He has been an interested witness of the growth and development of this part of the state and as far as possible has taken active part in the work of its progress and im- provement. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 8, 1831, his parents being Henry and Mary Ripley, natives of Ireland. The former was born April 5, 1789. They were married in Philadelphia on the 13th of April, 1817, and Mrs. Ripley died in that city, March 17, 1833, at the age of thirty-
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seven years. A year later Henry Ripley wedded Miss Margaret Swaggart, who died in Hardin county, Iowa. They came to this state in 1854 and in the fall of the same year removed to Hardin county, where Henry Ripley lived on a farm instead of following his trades of a carpenter and millwright, until called to his final rest April 10, 1872. He served his country in the war of 1812 under two enlistments and afterward received two land warrants for his services, one for each enlistment. These he located in Hardin county, Iowa. The children of his first marriage were: Susan H., who died at the age of one year; Sarah R., who became the wife of David Swaggart and died in Hamilton county, Iowa, at the age of eighty-six years; John H., who followed carpentering and died in Eldora, Iowa, in 1908; Susan H., who was only a year old at the time of her death; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Samuel Fraser and died in Ohio; and James H., of this review. The children of the second marriage were: Jacob, who was killed in the Civil war October 4, 1862, when twenty-seven years of age, losing his life at the battle of Corinth; Elias P., of Hamilton county, Iowa; Andrew J., now of California, who enlisted from Hardin county and was wounded at the battle of Red river and left on the field for dead, while twice he fell into the hands of the enemy; Louis L., who was taken ill at Fort Donelson while serving in the Civil war and suffered a relapse at St. Louis, which caused his death ; and Mary J., who is living in Eldora, Iowa.
James H. Ripley was nine years of age when his parents removed to Vir- ginia, now West Virginia, settling in the vicinity of Charleston. In 1840 a re- moval was made to Belmont county, Ohio, where the family home was main- tained until 1854, when they came to Tipton, Iowa, where James H. Ripley has resided continuously since. When sixteen years of age he began working at the carpenter's trade with his father, who was a carpenter and millwright, and throughout the entire period of his manhood he has continued in active connec- tion with building pursuits. He worked with his father for one year but not liking the work of a millwright he went to St. Clairsville, Ohio, where he spent four years as a joiner and stairbuilder's apprentice, receiving only his board and clothing in compensation for his services during that time. Since 1854 he has spent most of his time in and around Tipton, although for four years he was at Sioux City, employed in a planing mill, and spent a year and a half in Missouri and Nebraska, where he worked at his trade.
During the Civil war Mr. Ripley enlisted on the 29th of September, 1864, as a member of Company C, Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, under Captain W. G. J. Piepgras. He marched with Sherman to the sea, participated in the Caro- lina campaign and proceeded northward to Washington, where he was present at the time of the grand review. He did not take part therein, however, for he was detailed to look after baggage. At the close of the war he was mustered out on the Ist of June, 1865, and with a creditable military record returned to his home.
On the 10th of November, 1861, Mr. Ripley was married to Miss Lydia Rebecca Johnston, who was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, January 13, 1840, and came to Iowa in 1851 with her mother and family. Four children were born of this marriage: John Charles, who was born October 31, 1862, and died December 22, 1884; William Sherman, who was born July 22, 1864,
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and is living in Omaha, Nebraska; Harry Raymond, represented elsewhere in this volume ; and James Earl, who was born December 7, 1872, and died Decem- ber 12, 1884.
In his political views Mr. Ripley has always been a stalwart republican since the organization of the party and served for one term in the city council at Tip- ton, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity. His fraternal rela- tions are with William Beaver Post, No. 110, G. A. R., and Manitou Lodge, No. 8, I. O. O. F., which he joined June 26, 1856, being now its oldest member. He was also a charter member of Tipton encampment. He is widely known be- cause of his active connection with building operations, although at the present time he is living practically retired, being now in the eightieth year of his age.
ENOCH MAYER.
Enoch Mayer, who has lived retired in Tipton for the past eleven years, was long identified with the agricultural interests of Cedar county and thus won the competence that now enables him to spend his declining years in well earned ease. His birth occurred in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, on the 21st of May, 1831, his parents being John and Katharine (Reed) Mayer, who spent their entire lives in the Keystone state. The father possessed remarkable skill and ingenuity along mechanical lines and worked as a blacksmith, carpenter, wheelwright, millwright, cabinet maker, etc. He also had a wonderfully reten- tive memory and lived to attain the venerable age of ninety years. Unto him and his wife were born thirteen children, four sons and nine daughters, all of whom are now deceased with the exception of two: Enoch, of this review; and. Mrs. Sarah Kline, who is a resident of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania.
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