USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 20
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On the 12th of January, 1871, Mr. Mathews was united in marriage to Miss Maria Ingman, who was born in Ohio, November 3, 1845, and when a little maiden of eight years was brought to Cedar county by her parents, George P. and Martha (Johns) Ingman. Her father was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, May 17, 1815, and at an early age became connected with the dry-goods business.
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He dated his residence in Cedar county, Iowa, from 1855 and became prominent in community affairs, serving as clerk of the courts for one term and as county treasurer for three terms. In the fall of 1870 he went to Villisca, where he car- ried on the dry-goods business until 1877. He afterward served for two terms as county supervisor, discharging his duties in such a prompt and capable man- ner that his service was altogether satisfactory to his constituents and to the general public. For sixty-six years he was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church and from 1848 was an exemplary representative of the Masonic fraternity. In 1838, in Kenton, Ohio, he wedded Miss Martha Johns, and unto them were born five children. The wife and mother died in 1852 and in 1854 Mr. Ingman wedded Miss Harriet Farnam in Akron, Ohio, who passed away in 1878. The following year he married Miss Harriet J. Wheeler of Patoka, Illinois, who survives him. The death of Mr. Ingman occurred July 14, 1894, when he was seventy-nine years of age. He was a man of fine mental ability, of marked literary tastes, and possessed of considerable artistic talent as dis- played in oil paintings.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mathews have been born four children: Martha is at home, Hulda is the wife of John Holton, Jr., who resides four miles south of Tipton, and they have two children, Dorothy Louise and Roger Mathews. Lewis W., who was educated in the Tipton schools and a commercial college at Cedar Rapids, was employed in the City National Bank of Tipton for two years and is now operating the home farm. Mary died in childhood.
Mr. Mathews has led the life of a quiet, industrious farmer and with the pass- ing years success has crowned his efforts and rewarded his labors until he is now numbered among the prosperous citizens of the community and honored by all for the straightforward methods by which his success has been won.
CHARLES CRAWFORD.
Cedar county has no more honored pioneer than Charles Crawford, who has made his home here continuously since the 11th of June, 1836, and is today the oldest living settler within its borders. He was born near Fort Wayne, Indiana, on the IIth of April, 1836, and is a son of Andrew and Maria (Krofft) Craw- ford. The father was a representative of a good old Scotch family, being con- nected with Sir William Wallace, as the latter's mother was a Crawford. Our subject's paternal grandfather was James Crawford, who for many years made his home in the north of Ireland but came to this country with his wife and six children at an early day. He had two daughters and four sons, the latter being Hugh, Christopher, Robert and Andrew.
Andrew Crawford, of this family, was born in the north of Ireland in 1795 and was only ten years of age on the arrival of the family in New York. They first settled near Schenectady, where he made his home until reaching manhood and where he was married. He then removed to the western part of New York state and continued to reside there for some years. During the war of 1812 he joined a New York regiment and was stationed at Sacket Harbor for three
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CHARLES CRAWFORD
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
months. Later he removed to Michigan and settled on an island in the Detroit river, where he engaged in farming on shares for Captain Brooks for three years. At the end of that time he removed to Indiana, owing to differences with the Canadians, who found out that he had fought in the war of 1812. He had been very successful in his farming operations upon that island and had given considerable attention to the raising of fine cattle in partnership with Captain Brooks. He subsequently owned and operated a farm near Fort Wayne, Indiana, and continued to reside thereon until his removal to this state. It was in May, 1836, only one month after the birth of our subject, that the father came to Iowa in search of a location, and in June the mother with her children followed, ar- riving on the IIth of that month, carrying her son Charles on her lap most of the way and traveling in a wagon drawn by a team of oxen. They crossed the Mississippi at Rockingham, Scott county, where a ferry was then run, and after spending a few days at that place proceeded on their way to Cedar county. The father first secured a tract of land on Sugar creek, his quarter section adjoining the borders of the town of Centerville, which was finally abandoned owing to the lack of water, and upon his farm he erected a cabin. The land had not at that time been placed upon the market and was not for sale until 1841 .. As Cen- terville did not prosper, he decided to abandon that claim and removed to another quarter section of land on Sugar creek, mostly covered with timber, and there he continued to make his home until called to his final rest March 13, 1857, when sixty-two years of age. He came to this region with the permission of the In- dians, who at that time were beginning to move farther west, and at one time he employed a young chief to guide him while looking over the country in search of a location. They went as far as the Iowa river and found a good place, but finally returned to Sugar creek as the Indians preferred to have him locate there. He was undoubtedly the first settler of Cedar county, but a few days after his arrival James Burnsides located on an adjoining tract of land and was soon followed by Robert G. Roberts, who left his team with Mr. Crawford while he went in search of a location. During his first year here Mr. Crawford planted one acre in corn and a half acre in potatoes, while in the spring of 1836 he raised some turnips and broke four acres of land for wheat the next year. In 1837 he harvested forty bushels to the acre of wheat and all his crops proved equally good. In the winter of 1837, which was particularly severe, the provisions of the family became scarce and the father was obliged to go to Rockingham for supplies. On his return he was caught in a blizzard and walked about twenty-four hours before he finally reached shelter and food. He had both feet badly frozen and had to have his toes amputated, leaving him a cripple for the remainder of his life. He was a man of great vitality, however, and he materially aided in the development and improvement of this section of the state. There are today a number of relics in the museum of the State University which were brought to Iowa by him. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Maria Krofft, was a native of Connecti- cut and from that state removed to Cooperstown, New York, with her parents at an early day. There she grew to womanhood and was married. Her death occurred on Sugar creek in Center township, this county, in December, 1873. Our subject is today the only member of the family now living.
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Reared upon the frontier, Charles Crawford early became familiar with all the privations and hardships which fall to the lot of the pioneer. As he became old enough he materially assisted in the early development of this region and ever bore his part in the work of progress and advancement. His education was obtained in the pioneer schools and the work of breaking the land and cultivating the fields was an arduous one at that time. His entire life has been devoted to farming and for the past ten years he has lived on his present place, a tract of one hundred and fifty-two acres on section 25, Rochester township.
In 1858 Mr. Crawford married Miss Phoebe Whitmore, a native of Ohio, who came to this state in 1848 in company with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Whitmore. She died here November 8, 1884, at the age of forty-two years. Of the children born to them George is now a resident of Woodbury county, Iowa ; Frances is the wife of George A. Moomaw, of Seattle, Washington; Douglas died when young; William, who was a school teacher, is also deceased; John, a teacher and attorney, went to Oklahoma when the strip was opened and was drowned there in the Vertegris river; Catharine is now the wife of Marion Camp- bell, of Muscatine, Iowa; Lucy is the wife of Frank Kensinger, of Tipton; Peter is at home with his father ; Lillie is deceased; Laura is the wife of Arthur Smith, living in Minnesota ; Charles is deceased ; and Mary completes the family.
Mr. Crawford has been identified with many enterprises which have proved of public benefit, being one of the organizers and first trustees of the White Pigeon Mutual Fire Insurance Company, with which he has since been identified; it being a fire insurance for farmers only. Politically he is a populist but lately voted with the progressive republicans, and he has been honored with various township offices, the duties of which he has most capably discharged. For twenty- two years he was a member of the Church of God, but is now connected with the Freewill Baptist church. He well remembers when this region was a vast wil- derness, when Indians were far more numerous than white settlers and when wild game could be found in abundance, and he certainly deserves prominent mention among the honored pioneers and worthy residents of Cedar county.
FRANCIS L. SHELDON.
Francis L. Sheldon, one of the county supervisors, a veteran of the Civil war and formerly one of the enterprising farmers of Cedar county but now living retired, was born in Van Buren county, Michigan, July 2, 1843. His parents, Charles P. and Laura E. (Mantle) Sheldon, were natives of Watertown, Jef- ferson county, New York. The former was of Scotch parentage, while the maternal grandfather of Francis L. Sheldon was of English and the grandmother of German birth. His parents were married in the Empire state and in 1840 removed to Michigan, where Charles P. Sheldon entered land and developed a farm, but in 1855 he came to Cedar county, Iowa, where he made his home until his death in 1880. His wife had passed away in Tipton in 1876. In his farm work Mr. Sheldon was quite successful, his untiring diligence and energy bring- ing him a substantial measure of prosperity. His early political allegiance was
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given to the whig party, but he afterward became a stanch advocate of repub- lican principles. He held all of the township offices and was also county super- visor for three terms. He was likewise officially connected with the schools, and he did all in his power to further the best interests of the community along polit- ical and other lines. His family numbered seven children, of whom Francis L. is the eldest. Edmond, the second son, died in July, 1866, from disease con- tracted in the army. He was a member of Company C, Twenty-fourth Iowa Vol- unteer Infantry, enlisting as a recruit in the last year of the war. Albert is liv- ing in Kansas. Caroline is deceased. Jennie is the wife of M. A. Parsons of Tipton. Dolly is the deceased wife of M. H. Miller, who is represented elsewhere in this volume. Mary is the wife of Emory Collins of Tipton.
Francis L. Sheldon spent the first twelve years of his life with his parents upon the home farm in Van Buren county, Michigan, and then accompanied them on their removal to Cedar county, Iowa, in 1855. They took up their abode five miles east of Tipton, in Center township, and Mr. Sheldon of this review assisted in the cultivation and improvement of the home farm until 1868. The following year he was married and began farming on his own account in Fairfield town- ship on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land, which constituted the southwest quarter of section 36. There he remained until 1881, when he sold out and bought the old homestead of two hundred and forty acres, making it his place of residence until 1909, when he put aside the more active work of the farm and removed to Tipton, where he is now pleasantly located. He has been a life- long farmer and retains eighty-five acres of the old homestead property.
He put aside all business and personal considerations, however, during the Civil war and enlisted at Tipton on the 8th of August, 1862, as a member of Company C, Twenty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three years, or until after the close of the war, being mustered out at Davenport on the 6th of August, 1865. He was holding the rank of sergeant when dis- charged. He took part in all of the engagements with his company except the fight at Cedar Creek. He was wounded in the siege of Vicksburg and also at Winchester, Virginia, sustaining gunshot wounds at both places, being shot through both legs at Vicksburg and in one leg at Winchester. These were flesh wounds and, although quite painful at the'time, did not prove particularly seri- ous, as he was able to rejoin his regiment after four months. He took part in the battles of Port Gibson, Vicksburg, Champion's Hill, Sabina Crossroads and others of lesser importance. He never faltered in the performance of any duty, whether stationed on a lonely picket line or called to the firing line.
On the 9th of April, 1868, Mr. Sheldon was united in marriage to Miss Laura E. Brown, who was born in Cedar county, Iowa, February 14, 1846, and is a daughter of H. D. and Emeline (Patterson) Brown. Her father was a native of Kentucky and came to Iowa in 1836. Here he was married and spent his remaining days, his death occurring in Tipton.
Mr. Sheldon is taking a very prominent and active part in public affairs and is recognized as one of the leaders of the republican party in Cedar county, hav- ing given stalwart support to its principles since attaining his majority. He is now serving for the sixth consecutive year as county supervisor, having been elected to the office for two terms. The county is divided into five districts, Mr
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Sheldon being the representative from the second district. He also held many township offices in Center and Fairfield townships, occupying the position of trustee or clerk almost continuously in Fairfield township. He was likewise school director for about thirty years in the two townships. For forty-two years he has been a devoted and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church and for four decades of that time has served as church steward. He holds mem- bership in William Beaver Post, No. 110, G. A. R., of Tipton, with which he has been identified since its organization. His loyalty to any cause which he espouses is a recognized factor in his career. In business he has ever been found diligent and reliable, and in citizenship public-spirited and progressive, and his many sub- stantial qualities have gained him the high regard of all who know him.
WILLIAM BARTSCHER.
William Bartscher is numbered among the prominent and prosperous agri- culturists of Farmington township, where he owns four hundred and eighty acres of rich and arable land. His birth occurred in Waldeck, Germany, on the 6th of October, 1845, his parents being Henry and Catherine Bartscher, who spent their entire lives in that country. He obtained his education in the schools of the fatherland and there remained until a youth of sixteen, crossing the Atlantic to the United States in 1861. He made his way direct to Scott county, Iowa, where he continued his studies for three months and then began working as a farm hand, being thus busily engaged for about ten years.
In 1871 Mr. Bartscher came to Cedar county, first purchasing and locating upon a tract of eighty acres in Farmington township. As his financial resources increased, owing to his unremitting industry and good management, he bought more land from time to time until his holdings in Farmington township now embrace four hundred and eighty acres. The property is all under a high state of cultivation and improvement, and on his home farm Mr. Bartscher has erected an attractive and up-to-date residence, a fine barn and all necessary out- buildings. Here he follows general farming and has also engaged in the raising of stock to some extent. Thrifty and intelligent, unsparing of hard work when necessary, he has found that good harvests have made a rich return for his toil and that his cattle are readily disposed of, thus netting him a substantial in- come.
Mr. Bartscher has been married twice. In 1876 he wedded Miss Rica Kron- berg, by whom he had three children, namely: Henry; William; and Amelia, the wife of Theodore Korthaus, of Bennett, Iowa. The mother was called to her final rest in 1886 and on the 21st of May of the following year Mr. Bartscher was again married, his second union being with Miss Dora Stuehm, a daughter of Fred and Sophia (Thode) Stuehm, both of whom passed away in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Bartscher now have four children, as follows: Alma, who is the wife of William Rohse, of Farmington township; and Theresa, Hugo and Cora, all at home.
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RESIDENCE AND FAMILY OF WILLIAM BARTSCHER
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
In politics Mr. Bartscher is a democrat, exercising his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of that party. He has served as a school director but has had neither time nor inclination to participate actively in polit- ical affairs. He and his family belong to the German Lutheran church and are deeply interested in its work. The period of his residence in this part of the state covers practically a half century and he is widely and favorably known here, the circle of his friends being almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances.
JEROME HART.
The world has ever been charmed with the story of military prowess and individual valor and as long as memory remains to the American people they will hold in grateful remembrance the soldiers of the Civil war who were the defense of the Union in the dark hours in the history of the country. Among this number was Jerome Hart, who is now living retired in Stanwood. He is numbered among the early settlers of Cedar county, dating his residence here from 1860, so that for half a century he has witnessed the transformation of this section of the state.
Mr. Hart is a native of Erie, Pennsylvania, his birth having there occurred November 8, 1832. His father, Ithel D. Hart, was a native of Massachusetts and was married in the state of New York to Miss Emeline Lewis. Subsequently he took up his abode in Buffalo, New York, and in 1835 became a resident of Branch county, Michigan, where he opened up a new farm, continuing its cul- tivation until his death, which occurred in 1849.
Jerome Hart, then a lad of seventeen years, remained with his mother until twenty-five years of age and carried on the farm work for her. He also worked out by the month as a farm hand and contributed to the support of the family, which numbered five sons and three daughters. He came west with his mother to Illinois in 1852, settling in La Salle county, where he purchased an eighty acre tract of land on which slight improvements had been made. There he car- ried on farming for eight years, at the end of which time he sold that property and came to Cedar county, Iowa. During the period of the Civil war, however, he put aside all business and personal considerations and responded to the coun- try's call for troops, enlisting on the 6th of August, 1862, at Tipton, as a member of Company B, Twenty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. With that command he went to the front and was first under fire at Port Gibson, Mississippi, while later he participated in the hotly contested battle of Champion's Hill. He was also in the engagements of Black River Bridge and Vicksburg, being stationed at the latter place for forty-seven days and nights in besieging the city, which he assisted in capturing. Later he took part in the battle of Jackson, subse- quently returned to Vicksburg and was afterward sent down the river to New Orleans. He also went with General Banks on the expedition up the Red river, in which connection he participated in numerous battles and skirmishes. The troops then returned to New Orleans and spent the winter at Madisonville,
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Louisiana, and afterward again went to New Orleans. Mr. Hart again went up the Red river under General Banks and later participated in the battles of Sabine River and Pleasant Hill. He next went down the river to Alexandria, where the troops went into camp and subsequently proceeded to New Orleans, where they went on ship board, sailing from the Crescent City to Fortress Monroe, Vir- ginia, whence they were sent to Washington, D. C., and on to Harpers Ferry. From that point they joined Sheridan's forces and participated in the battle of Winchester, later were at Fishers Hill and subsequently in the battle of Cedar Creek. Sent to Baltimore, Mr. Hart there took ship for Savannah, Georgia, where his command joined Sherman's army. They next proceeded to Morehead City, North Carolina, and on to Goldsboro and were with Sherman when Gen- eral Johnston surrendered near Raleigh. They then returned to Morehead City, where they took ship for Savannah, Georgia, and then marched up the Savannah river one hundred and fifty miles. Crossing the river, they went into camp at Hamburg, South Carolina, where they spent ten days, and then marched to Au- gusta, Georgia. Mr. Hart assisted in guarding the arsenal at that point about six weeks and then returned to Savannah, Georgia, where he was mustered out July 17, 1865. From there he proceeded by boat to Baltimore and by train to Davenport, where he was discharged on the 6th of August, 1865, with the rank of sergeant. This brief account to those familiar with the history of the Civil war indicates something of the nature of his arduous services. He met with all of the hardships and privations meted out to the soldiers who took part in active warfare. Well may he be proud of the record which he made as he followed the stars and stripes upon southern battlefields.
Mr. Hart had been married in Tipton, Iowa, on the 30th of January, 1859, to Miss Cordelia Rickard, a native of Massachusetts, who was reared, however, in Cedar county, Iowa. After the war he joined his family and purchased an eighty acre tract of land near Stanwood. This he at once broke and with char- acteristic energy began developing his farm which in due course of time was transformed into productive fields. Later he bought eighty acres more adjoin- ing and had altogether one hundred and sixty acres, on which he erected good buildings. Mr. Hart farmed this place for a number of years, or until 1892, when he rented his land and removed to Stanwood, where he has since lived practically retired. He continued to own the farm, however, until 1894, when he sold out. He was also one of the promoters and stockholders of the Stanwood Bank, has built five residences in the town and still owns two. He bought over five acres of land here, which he has laid out in lots and streets, and the district is now covered with good residences. Thus his efforts have been of value in promoting the wellfare of the community as well as in advancing his individual success.
In 1901 Mr. Hart was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died in October of that year. The news of her demise was received with sadness by many friends, for she was held in high regard by all who knew her. There were four children of that marriage who are still living: Ellis, a business man of Chicago; Janette, the wife of Frank Miller of Portland, Oregon; Zora, the wife of R. A. Claney, who is employed on the Northwestern Railroad at Clinton, Iowa :
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and Tillie, the wife of F. E. Clark, cashier for the Gas & Electric Light Com- pany of Clinton, Iowa. They also lost a son, Fred, at the age of two years.
On the 5th of November, 1902, in Galesburg, Illinois, Mr. Hart was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Katie Rummel, a widow, who was born in Vermont but was reared in Illinois. By a former marriage she had one son, Dallas Rummel, now a resident of Chicago.
Mr. Hart attends the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally is a Mason, holding membership with the lodge in Mechanicsville. He also belongs to the Grand Army Post and has been commander for a number of years. In politics he has been a republican since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln while serving in the army in 1864. He filled the office of township trus- tee for fifteen years and was also officially identified with the schools. He has been a delegate to state and county conventions and at all times, whether along political lines or otherwise, supports those measures and movements which he deems of practical benefit to the community in advancing the best interests of citizenship. He is one of the well known early settlers of Cedar county and is numbered among those who sacrificed personal interests to aid in the defense of the Union, leaving his family that he might do his duty by his country. He participated in many important battles and no one more heartily rejoiced when it was known that the old flag floated over the capital of the Confederacy. His has been a useful and well spent life and for many years he has been closely associated with the growth and development of Cedar county. For a number of years he has lived practically retired and he and his wife are now pleasantly situated in Stanwood in a home where refinement and hospitality are the crown- ing features.
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