USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 24
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JOHN W. ARGO AND FAMILY
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age of eighty-three years. His family numbered four sons and eight daughters, all of whom reached years of maturity.
Of this number Jeremiah Argo, the grandfather of John William Argo, was third in order of birth and the last survivor. He was born in Lucine township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, June 21, 1791, about twelve miles from Union- town, and died April 13, 1881, at the age of ninety years, two months and twenty-seven days. He was fifteen years of age when his father removed to Jefferson county, Ohio, settling about three miles south of the village of Warren. Later he became a resident of Belmont county, Ohio, settling at Wheeling Creek, about three miles from Wheeling, West Virginia. In September, 1812, when in his twentieth year, he attended a camp meeting eighteen miles northwest of Steubenville, Ohio, and was there converted. It was while at that meeting that his mother arrived on the ground, having ridden twelve miles on horseback to inform him that he had been drafted for six months' service in the army. He went into camp at Hiram, Ohio, three miles from Lake Erie, under the com- mand of General W. H. Harrison, and assisted in the construction of Fort Meigs, where he remained until he became ill of camp fever and was discharged twenty days before his term expired. He was married August 26, 1813, to Anna Oxley, a daughter of Britton Oxley. Her death occurred October 17, 1855, when she was sixty-eight years of age. It was in December, 1825, that Jeremiah Argo removed with his family to Muskingum county, Ohio, where he cleared a farm and built a home in the midst of the forest. In 1857 he left the old homestead, where the greater part of his life had been spent, and with one remaining daughter removed to Springfield township, Cedar county, Iowa, where two of his sons and three of his daughters had preceded him. He arrived Octo- ber 22, 1857, and here continued until his death. His family numbered three sons and six daughters.
Coming to Iowa in 1855, Mr. and Mrs. John Wesley Argo spent the greater part of their lives on a farm in Springfield township and thence removed to Clar- ence, where Mrs. Argo died in 1868 at the age of fifty-nine years. Mr. Argo after- ward removed to Lyon county, Iowa, where his death occurred in 1887 when he was sixty-eight years of age. In their family were seven children: Elisha, now deceased; Sabria, the wife of W. M. Ross of Washington; Margaret Jane, the wife of W. H. Green of Little Rock, Iowa; Anna, the wife of Jesse Monk of Missouri; John William, of this review; Jeremiah A., deceased; Nancy, the widow of Henry Hatch of Little Rock, Iowa.
Brought to this country in his early boyhood days, John William Argo pur- sued his education in the public schools and aided in the work of the home farm in Springfield township until sixteen years of age. He then began farming on his own account, at first renting land, while later he purchased eighty acres in Fairfield township and lived there for thirteen years. He then sold that prop- erty, after which he invested in a quarter section on section 35, Fairfield town- ship. That farm continued to be his home throughout the following decade, at the end of which time he sold the property and bought his father-in-law's place of two hundred and eighty acres on sections 33 and 34. Later he purchased one hundred and twenty acres in Center township and in time became the owner of
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four hundred acres which he cultivated until his retirement. He afterward rented a farm for a time and on removing to Tipton sold both places. He has resided in the county seat since February, 1902, and is recognized as one of its prominent and influential citizens. At one time he also owned considerable Dakota land but lately has disposed of all of this. He is still the owner of four dwellings in Tipton beside the one which he now occupies. Since taking up his abode in the city he has engaged in buying and shipping live stock. Whatever he undertakes seems bound to succeed, for he is extremely energetic and per- severing, and those qualities will largely overcome all difficulties and obstacles that one may meet.
In 1870, Mr. Argo was united in marriage to Miss Ida Jane Walters, who was born near Rochester, this county, June 24, 1850. In 1852 her parents, Henry and Mary (Thompson) Walters, crossed the plains to California with ox-teams and spent four years in that state, after which they returned by way of the isthmus route to New Orleans. When they landed at Panama they found that all of the white people who had landed from the ship that had just previously completed the voyage to that port had been killed by the natives. Mr. Walters was born in Clinton county, Pennsylvania, October 19, 1821, and on attaining his majority left home and found employment on a canal boat plying between Lock Haven and Philadelphia. He afterward removed to Carroll county, Ohio, where he remained for three years, and in the spring of 1846 he arrived in Cedar county, Iowa. On the 27th of January, 1848, he married Mary Thompson and his funeral was conducted on the forty-seventh anniversary of his wedding day. His wife's mother, Mrs. Catharine Thompson, was a daughter of John and Barbara Birely, and was born at Valley Mills, Frederick county, Maryland, March 13, 1805. She was married there to Thomas Thompson on the 3d of De- cember, 1830. Two years later she became a member of the Lutheran church and was ever afterward a consistent Christian. In 1823 she and her husband and one child removed to Germantown, Montgomery county, Ohio, and there Mr. Thompson also joined the church. In the fall of 1843 the family came to Cedar county, Iowa, settling at Pedee in Iowa township. In March, 1854, the health of Mr. Thompson becoming impaired, they removed to Tipton, where he lived re- tired until his death, on the Ist of November, 1863. His widow afterward re- sided with her youngest son, P. W. Thompson. She was always interested in the work of the church, in the missionary cause and in the cause of temperance and was actively identified with the Women's Christian Temperance Union. She died while visiting at the home of her eldest granddaughter, Mrs. Gaige, December 30, 1892, at the age of eighty-seven years, nine months and seven days. It was her daughter who became the wife of Henry Walters in 1848. In 1852, as previously stated, they went to California, and after their return to Cedar county, four years later, Mr. Walters engaged in farming. Possessed of more than an ordinary amount of energy and industry, he accumulated prop- erty rapidly and several years prior to his death, retired from active labor with a handsome competency. He loved his home and family and made liberal pro- vision for their interests and comforts. For two years he survived his wife, whose death was his most severe loss. He was a good citizen, kind friend and
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neighbor, and enjoyed the respect and confidence of all who knew him. Unto him and his wife were born thirteen children: Sarah, now the wife of Robert Gaige of Tipton; Mrs. Argo; John and Robert, both of Tipton; George, living at Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Turner, a resident of Galva, Iowa; Abbie O., the widow of James Fegley of Oregon; Luella, the wife of Frank Gay of Corvallis, Oregon ; Harry, living in Galva, and four who died in childhood.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Argo was blessed with eight children: Mary Elizabeth, who is the wife of Howard Sissel and resides two miles south of Tipton; Nellie, who died at the age of three and one-half months; Anna, the wife of Isaac Weaver of Tipton; Edith Viola, the wife of John Blair of Rice- ville, Iowa; Oral L., the wife of Omer Tracht of Riceville; Otis H., of Riceville, who was a twin brother of Oral and married Grace D. Gay; Walter W., of Tip- ton, who married Lydia A. Spear ; and Vern Earl, who married Eva Shoestall.
In his political views Mr. Argo has long been a stalwart republican, giving unfaltering support to the men and measures of the party. For the past six years he has served as justice of the peace and has discharged his duties with promptness and fidelity. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian church and in its work take an active and helpful part. Mr. and Mrs. Argo spent the summer of 1909 on the Pacific coast, attending the Seattle Fair and Exposition and visiting other points of interest. As one of the pioneer settlers of the county, Mr. Argo is widely known here. He has witnessed the greater part of the growth and development of this section of the state as the work of general improvement and progress has been carried forward. He relates many interesting incidents of the early days and rejoices in what has been accom- plished, at all times having borne his part in the tasks that confronted the early settlers in their efforts to reclaim this region for the purposes of civilization.
J. H. WHARTON.
J. H. Wharton has spent almost his entire life in Cedar county and is today the owner of the old Wharton homestead in Inland township. He was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, on the 21st of July, 1857, and is a representative of an old and honored family, his grandfather, James Wharton, Sr., having been a soldier of the war of 1812. He was born August 28, 1792, and accompanied the family on their removal to this county, making his home with his son James until his death, which occurred on the 10th of November, 1862. He was a very religious man and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Ellen B. Quimby, was born August 14, 1796, and died in Ohio, December 21, 1860.
James Wharton, Jr., the father of our subject, was also a native of Guern- sey county, Ohio, his birth occurring May 11, 1820. In the Buckeye state he was reared and educated and continued to make his home there until the '50s, when he came to Cedar county, Iowa, and purchased four hundred acres of land in Inland township, paying seven and a half dollars per acre. The place at that time was slightly improved and to its further development and cultiva-
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tion he devoted his time and energies for many years. He continued to reside upon this farm until called to his final rest in 1895, at the age of seventy-two years. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal church and took an active part in its work. For several years he served as township school treasurer and gave his support to all measures which he believed calculated to promote the moral or material welfare of his community. On the 5th of May, 1847, he married Miss Jane Ballou, who died on the 10th of November, 1862, and he was again married August 6, 1868, his second union being with Rachel Young, now deceased. The children by his first marriage were: John S., who was born February 9, 1849, and died in Milwaukee; Charles, who was born July 24, 1850, and died in Ohio, May 15, 1855; Mary Amanda, who was born November 12, 1854, and married Andrew Sleeth, of Cedar county, and is now deceased ; and J. H., of this review. There was one child by the second union, Anna Bell, now the wife of J. E. Harris, of Inland township.
J. H. Wharton accompanied his parents on their removal to this state and in Cedar county he passed the days of his boyhood and youth in much the usual manner of farm lads. He always remained under the parental roof and came into possession of the old homestead upon the death of his father. He was married February 5, 1885, to Miss Clara Bell Parker, a native of Scott county, Iowa, and a daughter of Jackson and Elizabeth Parker. Her father is now deceased but her mother is still living at the age of eighty-nine years and makes her home with our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Wharton have five children, namely : John E., Andrew F. and James William, all at home; Carrie Bell, the wife of Clyde Ayres; and Wave Elizabeth, at home.
JOHN MONAHAN.
John Monahan, deceased, was for many years one of the prominent farmers of Cedar county, where he had made his home for a long period. His birth oc- curred in County Mayo, Ireland, but at the age of fourteen years he came to the United States with his parents who located in Vermont. There he grew to manhood and was married on the 3d of October, 1857, to Jane McCormick, also a native of County Mayo, Ireland, who was born on the 15th of August, 1837, and was brought to the United States when sixteen years of age, her family also locating in the Green Mountain state. It was in 1858 that Mr. Monahan and his wife came to Iowa and located on a farm four and one-half miles south of Clarence in Fairfield township, where he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land, retaining the same up to the time of his death. Later, however, he purchased the Jacob Snyder farm near Tipton, comprising a quarter section, and upon that place continued to reside until called to his final rest April 7, 1891, at the age of fifty-nine years. At that time he was the owner of four hundred acres of very valuable and well improved land, all of which was ac- quired through his own untiring efforts, for on starting out in life for himself he was without capital and was compelled to make his way in the world unaided. In connection with general farming, he was also considerably interested in the raising and breeding of fast horses.
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Monahan were born ten children, of whom George is now a resident of Tipton and John of Chicago, while Elizabeth, the wife of John Early, makes her home in Davenport. Michael R. attended a school of telegraphy at Janesville, Wisconsin, and at the age of sixteen years was given the position of telegraph operator and station agent. A few years later he was sent to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he was cashier in the railroad office of the Wisconsin Central and later became auditor in the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad office at Chicago, but at the time of his death was at the head of a railroad agency in the latter city, where he passed away at the age of twenty- nine years. Charles, the next of the family, is now a resident of Des Moines, Iowa. Anna married John Dean, a resident of Ottawa, Kansas, who died Octo- ber 5, 1903, and she now makes her home in Tipton, owning and occupying one of the finest residences of the city. She has two children, Evangeline K., now a student ot Notre Dame, near South Bend, Indiana, and Genevieve, who is attending school in Tipton. Frank lives on the home farm in Fairfield town- ship. William is a resident of Kansas City. Harry makes his home in Tip- ton. Mary is the wife of Henry Lohman of Clarence, Iowa. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Monahan has lived in Tipton and has become widely and favorably known here.
Although Mr. Monahan started out in life for himself empty-handed, he always made the best use of his advantages and at the time of his death was regarded as one of the most prosperous farmers of his community. He was able to give his children good educational advantages and he reared a family of which any parent may be justly proud.
WILLIAM FORD.
William Ford, who has continuously resided in Center township for seventy- two years, devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career and is still the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres but has lived retired in Tipton since 1901. His birth occurred in Logan county, Ohio, on the 24th of July, 1831, his parents being Andrew and Jane (Smith) Ford. The father was born in Virginia on the 8th of May, 1803, while the mother's natal day was April 22, 1811. They were married in Ohio and subsequently removed to Indiana, where they spent a year and a half. On the expiration of that period in 1838, they came to Cedar county, Iowa, arriving here in March of that year. They crossed the Mississippi river at Rockingham and made the journey with ox and horse teams, locating three miles south of the present site of Tipton. They experienced all of the hardships and privations of frontier life and were numbered among those sturdy pioneer settlers whose ef- forts contributed to the early development and upbuilding of this part of the state. Andrew Ford spent the last few years of his life in Lucas county, Iowa, passing away on the 16th of February, 1893, when ninety years of age. He was twice married, his second union being with Miss Sarah McCoy, by whom he had three children, namely: Andrew, who is a resident of Kansas City; Sarah,
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living in Chicago; and Eleanor. Unto Andrew Ford and his first wife were born six children, as follows: William, Mary Jane, Robert, Dean, Isabelle and Nancy. All are now deceased with the exception of our subject.
William Ford, who was a lad of seven years when brought to this county by his parents, remained at home until the time of his marriage and then purchased a tract of land east of Tipton, where he carried on his agricultural interests continuously and successfully throughout the remainder of his active business career. He has lived retired in Tipton since 1901 but still retains possession of his farm, comprising two hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land three and a half miles east of the town.
In December, 1859, Mr. Ford was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Mor- gan, who was born in Cedar county, Iowa, on the Ist of November, 1839, her parents being Jonathan and Elizabeth (Mintor) Morgan, natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively. The father came to this county from Indiana in 1836, locating on a farm three miles south of Tipton, where he spent the re- mainder of his life, passing away on the 29th of November, 1863, at the age of seventy-nine years. He won an extensive circle of friends during the period of his residence here and many will long remember his genial countenance. Unto him and his wife were born two children: Mrs. Ford; and Ruth, who is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ford were the parents of the following children : Lewis, who died when two years of age; Ida M., at home; Walter, living in Ida county, Iowa; Herman, likewise at home; and Jed, who is a resident of Ida Grove, Iowa. The wife and mother passed away on the home farm in Center township, her demise occurring on the 27th of September, 1895.
As above stated, Mr. Ford has continuously resided within the borders of Cedar county for more than seven decades and he is therefore largely familiar with its annals from pioneer times down to the present. He witnessed the erection of the first building in Tipton-a little hewed log structure which served as a store. He has now passed the seventy-ninth milestone on life's journey and that his career has been an upright and honorable one is indicated by the fact that the associates of his boyhood and youth are still numbered among his stanch friends and admirers.
JAMES HENRY, FULWIDER.
To the untiring efforts and unfaltering perseverance of her pioneers Iowa owes her transformation from wild prairie land into one of the richest and most productive farming sections of the United States, and prominent on the list of old settlers is the name of James Henry Fulwider, who has been a resident of Cedar county for more than seven decades, and throughout that period has been closely identified with the work of development and improvement which has been car- ried forward within its borders.
One of Virginia's native sons, his birth occurred on the 30th of May, 1832, in Greenbrier county, now a part of West Virginia. His parents, John and Sally (Kincaid) Fulwider, were also natives of the Old Do-
MR. AND MRS. J. H. FULWIDER
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minion, the father's birth occurring in Augusta county in June, 1797, and the mother's in Bath county, March 15, 1801. They were married in Greenbrier county and in 1836 left Virginia and removed to Champaign county, Ohio, where they made their home for nearly three years. They next removed to Missouri but remained only a few months in that state, after which they came to Cedar county, Iowa, arriving in December, 1839, and here their remaining days were spent, the mother's death occurring in 1843, while the father survived until September 24, 1880. In their family were nine children, as follows: Allie, the deceased wife of James Jeffers; Anthony, residing in Sugar Creek township; Elizabeth, the deceased wife of Jacob Ridenour; James Henry, of this review ; Harriet, now deceased; Mary, who wedded Jacob Ridenour after the death of her sister Elizabeth and who has also passed away; Eliza, the deceased wife of Isaac Pletcher; Amanda, who married Silas Hardman of Grandview, Iowa; and Sarah Virginia, who has passed away.
James Henry Fulwider was a little lad of seven years when the family arrived in Cedar county and amid the conditions which existed during the pioneer epoch in the history of this county he spent his youthful days. With the other members of the family he shared in the hardships and privations inci- dent to life on the frontier and assisted his father in the difficult task of opening up a new farm. At any early age he began breaking prairie, driving four and. six yokes of oxen, and while thus engaged broke a large amount of land, con- sisting of both prairie and hazel brush. Later he became identified with threshing, operating a thresher for thirty seasons, and in the meantime, in 1854, met with an accident while running the machinery which cost him the loss of his right leg. Nothing daunted, however, by this physical handicap, he continued in the threshing business for some time with most gratifying success. Subse- quently, however, he took up general farming and with the passing years so prospered in his undertakings that he became the owner of four hundred acres of land, all in one body. Much of this, however, he has since given to his chil- dren, and he now makes his home on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres, eighty acres of which is located on section 32, Rochester township, and consti- tutes the old homestead, while the other half lies on section 33, Center township. The place is in excellent condition, the fields having been brought under a high state of cultivation, and all improvements thereon have been made by Mr. Ful- wider. With the energy and perseverance characteristic of the old pioneers he has carried on his agricultural interests, and his well directed efforts during the many years of his connection with farming have been crowned with a success which clearly indicates the ability which he has displayed in this field of activity.
In 1861 Mr. Fulwider was united in marriage to Miss Martha E. Barclay, who was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, on the 18th of August, 1843, a daughter of John and Eleanor (McCracken) Barclay. The parents were also natives of that county, the father's birth occurring on the 9th of February, 1808, and the mother's on May 27, 1811. The latter passed away in Cumberland county when the daughter was but twenty months old, after which the father removed to Medina county, Ohio. There he remained until the daughter was ten years of age, when he went to Mount Vernon, Linn county, Iowa, making that his home for three years. Later he came to Cedar county, where his re-
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maining days were spent, his death occurring in Center township on the 18th of January, 1898. Had he lived until the 9th of February following he would have reached his ninetieth year. He had been a miller in early life, but after his arrival in Iowa he became identified with agricultural pursuits here. He was again married after the death of his first wife, by whom he had six chil- dren, and by his second union were born eight children.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Fulwider was blessed with three children, as fol- lows: Eliza Ella, the wife of Thomas Wirick, of Englewood, California ; John B., a farmer of Rochester township, who, however, is residing temporarily in Mount Vernon, there educating his three sons and three daughters; and Howard Anthony, who married Minnie E. Hestwood and makes his home with his father.
Mr. Fulwider's religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Metho- dist Episcopal church of South Bethel. He has always been a faithful, active worker in the church, serving as trustee and steward, and his life record has ever been in harmony with its teachings. In his fraternal relations he belongs to Golden Rule Lodge, No. 24, A. F. & A. M., at Rochester, and to Alhambra Lodge, No. 8, I. O. O. F., at Tipton, and is in hearty sympathy with the prin- ciples of brotherly love and helpfulness which underlie those orders. Interested as all American citizens should be in the political situation of the country, he has thoroughly informed himself concerning the questions and issues of the day and gives stalwart support to the democratic party. He has filled most of the town- ship offices and has also been called to several county offices, all of which he has declined. Connected with the history of Cedar county since its early formative period, he has ever nobly assisted in establishing and maintaining the material interests, legal status and moral welfare of his community, and his life record has become inseparably interwoven with the history of this section of the state, being numbered among Cedar county's most honored and valued citizens.
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