USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 22
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After being mustered out Mr. Berry remained in Ohio until 1865, when he again came to Cedar county, Iowa, where he has since lived. For a year he culti- vated a rented farm and then removed to Henry Grove, where he carried on farming for two years. He afterward worked at farm labor in the employ of others for several years but now lives retired. He owns a comfortable home in Springdale and also has a pension. The family has been represented continu- ously in this county for forty-four years and Mr. Berry is widely known.
HUBER M. MOFFETT.
Huber M. Moffett is a worthy representative of one of the pioneer families of this county and was born on his present farm May 18, 1886, his parents being Wilfred W. and Emma (Huber) Moffett. His paternal grandfather was John M. Moffett, who was born in Kentucky on the 2d of August, 1804, and from his native state removed to Miami county, Ohio, at the age of ten years, being one of the early settlers of that locality. There he grew to manhood and was married November 17, 1836, to Miss Sarah Stephenson, of Ohio. In the Buckeye state they continued to make their home until 1852, which year witnessed their arrival in Iowa. The journey across the country was made by teams. For several months they made their home in Linn county, but in Febru- ary, 1853, took up their abode in this county, where the grandfather engaged in farming and stock-raising for many years. He brought the first blooded cattle to Cedar county from Ohio and was the owner of a white shorthorn bull. Dur- ing the early days he drove hogs to Rock Island, Illinois, a distance of about fifty miles, and also drove cattle as far as Chicago. Throughout his active busi-
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ness life he continued to engage extensively in the raising and feeding of stock. He became well known throughout this part of the state as Uncle John. His useful and well spent life was ended on the 8th of October, 1876, and he left to his eight children a large estate of over six hundred acres, all in Red Oak town- ship. His wife died in Tipton in 1890. Their children were: George J., of Jones county, Iowa ; James S., of Missouri ; Samuel C., deceased; Wilfred W., the father of our subject; Horace C., who died in Missouri; Charles C., also deceased; Kittie, who died in Missouri ; and Laura, a resident of that state.
Wilfred W. Moffett was born in Piqua, Miami county, Ohio, on the Ist of February, 1848, and was but four years of age when brought by his family to this state, where he grew to manhood, obtaining his education in the early schools. He is now the owner of a part of his father's estate, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of very valuable land on section 9, Red Oak township, and for many years he successfully engaged in its operation, but is now living retired, making his home in Stanwood. In early manhood he married Miss Emma Huber, who was born in Tipton, Iowa, September 28, 1860, a daughter of Irving and Mar- garet (Byrley) Huber. Two children blessed this union: Huber M., of this review ; and Hazel M., at home.
Huber M. Moffett was reared on the home farm and acquired his education in the local schools. As soon as old enough to be of any assistance he com- menced work in the fields and since his father's retirement, in the spring of 1910, he has had charge of the farm, which he is now successfully operating in con- nection with the raising of stock. Upon the place is a fine large residence, built in 1903, and the barns and outbuildings are in harmony therewith. Mr. Moffett was married December 1, 1909, to Miss Prudence Gertrude Waddell, who was born in Andrew, Jackson county, Iowa, March 18, 1885, her parents being James and Eliza (Elkin) Waddell, still residents of Andrew. The young couple have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances in this county and are held in the high- est esteem by all who know them.
FRED S. PHILLIPS.
Farming and stock-raising claim the attention of Fred S. Phillips, who makes his home on section 22, Dayton township, where he is cultivating a farm of ninety-two acres, lying partly within and partly adjacent to the village of Clar- ence. Cedar county numbers him among her native sons, for he was born De- cember 6, 1890, on the farm where he now resides. His father, Frank E. Phil- lips, was born in Ohio about 1856 and was a son of Edmond Phillips, also a native of the Buckeye state, whence he removed to Iowa, settling in Cedar county among its pioneers. This was in the year 1853. For a brief period, however, he returned to Ohio, where he was living at the time of the birth of his son, Frank E. Phillips, and when the latter was an infant the family returned to Iowa, establishing their home near Clarence.
Frank E. Phillips, therefore, was reraed upon the home farm and was here married to Miss Capitola Schaaf, who was born in this county and is a daughter
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of Jacob Schaaf, one of the early settlers, arriving here in 1853. His daughter Capitola was reared and educated here and in early womanhood gave her hand in marriage to Frank E. Phillips. As the years passed her husband prospered in his farming operations, carefully conducting his business affairs so that suc- cess rewarded his efforts. Year after year he diligently tilled the fields and his perseverance and industry brought him financial advancement, while his reli- ability and integrity gained for him the respect and confidence of all who knew him. He was an exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity and at his death, which occurred June 22, 1908, he was buried with Masonic honors. He was identified with the democratic party from the time that age conferred upon him the right of franchise, and he served in several local offices of honor and trust. He filled the position of township assessor for one or more terms and received the nomination of his party for representation in the state legislature, on which occasion he was accorded a very flattering vote-a fact indicative of his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens.
Since the death of her husband Mrs. Phillips has taken charge of the farm and business and has proven herself a lady of excellent business qualifications and keen discernment. She has erected a substantial and attractive residence and altogether has a neat and well improved farm.
Fred S. Phillips remains with his mother and attends to the actual work of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He also raises and feeds stock. He is a well educated young man of good business ability and exemplary habits. He has an elder brother, E. J. Phillips, who is well educated, having pursued a five years' course at Ames, where he made a specialty of civil engineering, and he now holds a responsible position at Gary, Indiana, and makes his home in Chicago.
Frank E. Phillips was one of the prominent and well known citizens of Cedar county, progressive and public-spirited. He not only belonged to the Masonic fraternity but also to the Modern Woodmen and in his life exemplified the benefi- cent spirit on which those orders rest. Mrs. Phillips is a member of the Pres- byterian church and her life is in harmony with its teachings. She has always lived in Cedar county, where she is widely and favorably known, having an ex- tensive circle of friends here.
ANDREW PIERCE.
For the long period of fifty-six years Andrew Pierce has now been a resident of Cedar county and with its agricultural development and improvement he was actively identified for many years, but has now laid aside all labor and is living retired in Tipton. A native of Ohio, he was born about twelve miles south of Mansfield, in Richland county, July 7, 1834, his parents being Dennis C. and Mary (Pollock) Pierce, also natives of the Buckeye state. At an early day the family came to Iowa and the father died near Le Claire about forty years ago, having contracted cholera while away from home hunting horses. The mother's death occurred near Carson in Pottawattamie county when nearly ninety years of age.
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in their family were eight children, of whom Andrew is the eldest. "Elizabeth, the second in order of birth, married George Williams and is now deceased. Hannah M. is the widow of George Bolton, of Pottawattamie county, Iowa. James and Aaron are twins. The latter, who is a resident of Woodbine, Har- rison county, Iowa, served in the Civil war as a member of the Eleventh Iowa Infantry and for eight months was confined in Andersonville prison. James died about a year ago at Stuart, Iowa. Sarah J., deceased, was the wife of Andy Bolton. Ann is the wife of Alfred Long, of Tiffin, Iowa. Dennis K., of Polk county, Nebraska, completes the family.
In the state of his nativity Andrew Pierce spent the first nineteen years of his life and on leaving there in 1853 removed to Bloomington, Illinois, where the following year was passed. It was in 1854 that he accompanied the family on their removal to Tipton, Iowa, and he has since been a resident of Cedar county/ His father died in the summer of 1855 and, being the oldest of the family, he had to assist his mother in caring for the children. Up to the time of the Civil war he engaged in farming, working for others by the month for some time.
Feeling that his country needed his services Mr. Pierce enlisted August 8, , 1862, at Tipton, becoming a member of Company C, Twenty-fourth Iowa Vol- unteer Infantry, and after three years spent at the front was honorably dis- charged at Davenport, May 4, 1865, at which time he was serving as orderly ser- geant. He had received, however, a second lieutenant's commission but, owing to a lack of men, was not mustered in as such. He received a gunshot wound in the right hip at Cedar Creek, Virginia, October 19, 1864, and was in the hospital when he received his discharge. Being home on recruiting service one winter, he missed one engagement in which his company took part, but participated in all others, being wounded at the last battle in which they took part. He was in the Vicksburg campaign and accompanied Banks to New Orleans and on the Red River expedition. He was also with Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley and was always found at his post of duty.
Returning home, Mr. Pierce resumed farming on York Prairie and continued to engage in that pursuit until two years ago, when he retired from active life and removed to Tipton. In his farming operations he met with excellent success, becoming the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Fairfield town- ship, but on his removal to Tipton disposed of half of that property and purchased his present home on the east side of Court Square. He was an energetic and progressive farmer and in his business affairs was always upright and honorable.
It was on the 3d of July, 1865, that Mr. Pierce was united in marriage to Miss Julia M. Lyle, who was born in Greene county, Ohio, August 25, 1846, but was only three years of age when brought to Cedar county, Iowa, by her parents, John C. and Clarissa (Brealey) Lyle. Her father was a native of Virginia and her mother of Ohio and both are now deceased. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Pierce are as follows: Jessie May, who died in infancy; Franklin, who is living two miles and a half west of Tipton; Charles K., whose home is near Springdale; Bessie R., at home; William, who lives on his father's-farm five miles northeast of Tipton; Clarissa B., the wife of Brice Hagerty, of Tipton ; and William and one other who died in infancy.
Son trips - Ras e piscones
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In his political affiliations Mr. Pierce is an ardent republican, having always supported that party since he attained his majority. Religiously he is connected with the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally is an honored member of William Beaver Post, No. 110, G. A. R. During his long residence in this county he has made a host of warm friends and wherever known is held in the highest esteem.
OLIVER S. JOHNSON.
Oliver S. Johnson, well known as a successful auctioneer and progressive farmer, is the proprietor of Forest Place on section 17, Red Oak township. His entire life has been passed in Cedar county, for he was born on the 8th of Novem- ber, 1871, two and one-half miles south of Mechanicsville in Pioneer township, his parents being among the early settlers of this region. His father, John Thomas Johnson, was born in Warren county, Ohio, May II, 1838, and was a son of Elijah and Ann (Collins) Johnson, both natives of Delaware, though they were married in Ohio. In 1850 they brought their family to this state and settled on a farm three and one-half miles west of Tipton in Cedar county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Their children were: Sarah Eliz- abeth, now the widow of Solomon Mowry and a resident of Tipton; Margaret Ann, who married Jackson Fraseur and died in California; John Thomas, the father of our subject; Mary Jane, the deceased wife of Silas Hoon; Elijah and William H., both deceased; and several children who died in childhood.
On starting out in life for himself, John Thomas Johnson commenced farm- ing, to which he ever afterward devoted his attention, with the exception of sev- enteen months spent in Idaho during the Civil war. He started out with eighty acres of land in Pioneer township, upon which he continued to make his home until his death, which occurred on the 19th of November, 1896. At that time he was the owner of four hundred and fifty-six acres of well improved and valuable land. He was married in 1858 to Miss Susan Mowry whose birth occurred in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, January 28, 1833. It was in 1856 that she ac- companied her parents on their removal to this state, the family locating three miles west of Tipton. She continued to reside on the home farm for three years after the death of her husband but now makes her home in Tipton. Her parents were George and Margaret (Fair) Mowry, natives of Pennsylvania and Mary- land respectively. Her mother died in the Keystone state and her father sub- sequently remarried. His death also occurred in Pennsylvania, but his second wife died in Kansas. He had eight children by the first union, of whom six lived to years of maturity, and one son by his second wife. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are: Tanny, the deceased wife of Milton Miller ; Albert, a stock-buyer of Mechanicsville; Wilson, of Cedar Rapids, who is connected with the Cedar Rapids & Iowa City Interurban Company ; Oliver S., of this re- view; Frank G. and James H., both residing on the old homestead in Pioneer township ; and one son who died in infancy.
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Oliver S. Johnson spent the first twenty years of his life on the home farm and then removed to his present place, which was owned by his father and which he operated on shares for some time, but since 1897 it has been in his possession. Here he has one hundred and ninety-six acres of very productive and highly cultivated land on sections 17 and 18, Red Oak township, and upon the place he has made many substantial improvements, including the erection of a beautiful home in 1906. All of the buildings are good, substantial structures, erected at a recent date and there being a fine grove upon the farm, Mr. Johnson has given it the name of Forest Place. During the summer season he devotes his attention largely to general farming and stock-raising but throughout the winter is engaged in auctioneering and during the past season sold over a mil- lion dollars' worth of property, mostly farm land and live stock. He was one of the earliest advocates of the split log drag and was one of the first to drag the roads in his locality. He is very progressive and public-spirited, taking a com- mendable interest in the affairs of his township and county, and exercises a wide influence for the benefit of the community.
In 1892 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Johnson and Miss Susan E. Yule, a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Porter) Yule, both now deceased. Her father was born in Scotland, while her mother was a native of England. Mrs. Johnson, whose birth occurred in Red Oak township, June 6, 1870, died on the 8th of June, 1909, leaving three children, namely : George Frederick, Alexander Oliver and Esther May.
Spending his entire life in this county, Mr. Johnson has materially aided in its progress, especially along agricultural lines, and is widely recognized as a man of exceptional business ability. His enterprising spirit enables him to care- fully direct all the details of his business and to give to each its due importance.
FRED K. WALLICK.
Fred K. Wallick, who has lived in honorable retirement at Mechanicsville for the past eleven years, was long numbered among the substantial and well known agriculturists and extensive landowners of Cedar county, successfully carrying on farming and stock-raising in Linn and later in Cass township. The period of his residence in this county covers fifty-two years, for he took up his abode among the early settlers here in 1858. His birth occurred in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, on the 10th of January, 1830.
His father, George Wallick, likewise a native of that place, there wedded Miss Mary Kuhn, who was born and reared near Chambersburg, Franklin county. The first representatives of the Wallick family in this country came to Pennsylvania from Germany. George Wallick was a blacksmith by trade and followed that occupation in early manhood. Three children were born unto him and his wife while they were still residents of the Keystone state. In 1835 he removed to Stark county, Ohio, driving across the country with a one-horse wagon. Turning his attention to general agricultural pursuits, he cleared and developed a tract of land, erected good buildings thereon and succeeded in
FOUR GENERATIONS OF THE F. K. WALLICK FAMILY
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bringing the fields under a high state of cultivation. Subsequently he took up his abode in Massillon, Ohio, and there engaged in buying and dealing in horses, leaving the farm in care and under the management of his sons. His demise occurred at Massillon in 1848, when he was but forty-seven years of age. His wife, who survived him, was fifty-four years old when called to her final rest.
Fred K. Wallick grew to manhood on the home farm in Stark county and received a good practical education in the common schools. On the 21st of August, 1851, while still living in that county, he was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary P. Magrew, who was born and reared in Ohio. Following that important event in his life he carried on farming in the Buckeye state until 1857, when he disposed of his property and came to Iowa, selecting a location in Linn township, Cedar county. He first bought one hundred and twenty acres of raw prairie land, prepared it for cultivation, erected a small house thereon and became busily engaged in the operation and further improvement of the place. The district was still but sparsely settled and largely undeveloped and he experienced many of the hardships and privations of pioneer existence. As the years passed by, however, he prospered in his undertakings and Linn township remained his place of abode for three decades. He built a commodious and substantial resi- dence, barn and outbuildings and, as before stated, continued to reside there for thirty years, on the expiration of which period he turned the property over to his youngest son and purchased an improved farm of three hundred and twenty acres near Cedar Bluff. To the further cultivation and improvement of that place he devoted his attention until 1899, erecting a nice residence, repairing the barn and otherwise making it a model farming property. During the past eleven years, however, he has been living retired at Mechanicsville, enjoying the fruits of his former toil in well earned ease. He owned nearly eight hundred acres of land at one time but has divided it all among his children with the ex- ception of about two hundred acres.
Mr. Wallick, who has been twice married, had five sons and six daughters, by his first wife, of whom three sons and four daughters are now living, one son and two daughters having passed away in infancy. Marshall C., the oldest son, grew to maturity, was married and became a well known farmer and business man. At the time of his death, which occurred on the 15th of January, 1910, he was a resident of Cuba, Missouri. Winfield S. follows farming near Lisbon, Linn county. E. L. is a respected citizen and successful merchant of Cedar Bluff. Elmer is a mechanic and agriculturist of Lisbon. 'Mrs. Emma J. Mar- ker, a widow, makes her home in Mechanicsville. Eva May is the wife of George Gunsolas and resides in San Jose, California. Artie Ann gave her hand in marriage to William Wallick, who is engaged in business at Williamsfield, Knox county, Illinois. Alta is the wife of Edward Brown, who follows farming near Cedar Bluff. The wife and mother was called to her final rest in 1891, her death being the occasion of deep and widespread regret. On the 24th of August, 1899, at Mechanicsville, Iowa, Mr. Wallick was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Sarah Edith Kahler, a daughter of the Rev. David McKay. Mrs. Wallick was reared in this county and first became the wife of Martin Kahler, by whom she had three children, namely: Charles; Ray; and Clara, the wife of Lincoln Risley.
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In 1852 Mr. Wallick cast his first presidential ballot for Franklin Pierce, th democratic candidate. Four years later, in 1856, he voted for John C. Fre- mont and has supported every presidential candidate of the republican party since that time. While living on the farm he capably served his fellow towns- men in various positions of trust and responsibility. Both he and his wife are devoted and consistent members of the Christian church. Mr. Wallick has been identified therewith since early manhood and acted as an elder for many years. There is perhaps no resident of Cedar county who can speak in more compre- hensive and reliable manner concerning events which marked the early pioneer development, characterized the later growth and have fostered the present prog- gress and upbuilding of this part of the state. He can remember when the greater part of the land was still uncultivated but has lived to see it transformed into rich farms, in the midst of which are beautiful homes. Towns and villages have also sprung up and the work of development and improvement has been carried steadily forward. Mr. Wallick has now passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey and well merits the respect, admiration and esteem which are uniformly accorded him.
ALFRED C. LAUBSCHER.
A history of Cedar county would be incomplete and unsatisfactory were there failure to make prominent mention of Alfred C. Laubscher, who has spent his entire life within its borders and has been actively identified with its public inter- ests for many years. He was born six miles west of Tipton, in Cass township, on the 3d of October, 1846, a son of John and Philepena (Stork) Laubscher, both natives of Bavaria, Germany. The birth of the father occurred March 3, 1805, and the mother was born in 1816. They were reared and educated in their native land and on coming to the United States located in Ohio, where they were married and continued to make their home for eleven years. The year 1844 wit- nessed their arrival in Iowa and the remainder of their lives was spent on a farm in Cass township, Cedar county, where both died at the age of eighty-four years. Their children were as follows: John, now deceased; Susan P., the wife of D. A. Diltz of Wyoming; Alfred C., whose name introduces this sketch ; Anna V., who died in January, 1910; Ella L., the wife of J. R. Burroughs of Cedar Rapids ; and Charles, of Buchanan, this county.
During his boyhood and youth Alfred C. Laubscher obtained a good practical education in the local schools and remained on the home farm in Cass township until coming to Tipton in 1887 to assume the duties of county auditor, to which office he had been recently elected. So satisfactorily did he discharge the duties of that position that he was reelected and served for five years, receiving one extra year on his two terms of two years each, owing to a change of law in election to that office. His public duties were always most conscientiously per- formed, and he has ever given his support to those enterprises which he believed would benefit the material or moral welfare of the community. On his retire- ment from office in 1892 he embarked in the hardware business with H. Piatt,
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who three years later sold out to our subject's brother-in-law, N. E. Jacobs, the firm having since been Laubscher & Jacobs. They carry a complete line of shelf and heavy hardware and by fair and honorable dealing they have built up an excellent trade. Mr. Laubscher also has financial interests in Tipton and has been a director of the Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank since its organiza- tion:
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