USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74
Politically Mr. Blair is a republican and cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He has served on but one jury during his entire life and that was the first murder trial in Cedar county, on which occasion he and two other young men held out for acquittal for a long time and finally agreed to a verdict of guilty and the prisoner was sent to the penitentiary. His attor- ney later secured a new trial in Muscatine county and won a verdict of acquittal, for on that occasion his innocence of the crime was thoroughly established. Mr. Blair has never sought nor desired office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his private interests. He has always been a strong temperance man and is a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has held the offices of steward and trustee, while in the Sunday school he has been an active worker.
CLINTON M. BUFFINGTON.
Clinton M. Buffington, proprietor of an extensive furniture store in Mechanics- ville, in which connection he is also conducting the only undertaking business in the city, has attained a high position in mercantile circles here, his wise man- agement and well directed efforts bringing him substantial success. A native son of Illinois, his birth occurred in Ogle county on the 7th of August, 1849, a son of Jonas and Emeline (Boddiger) Buffington, natives of Pennsylvania. The father, a carpenter and cabinet-maker by trade, followed that occupation in his native state until 1856, when he removed to Ogle county, Illinois, locating at Brookville. Later he removed to Lanark, Carroll county, that state, and there worked at his trade throughout his remaining days, his death occurring in May, 1908. He is survived by his wife, five sons, and a daughter, the family originally consisting of six sons and one daughter. Of this number one child was born ere the parents left Pennsylvania.
.
355
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
Spending the period of his boyhood and youth in his parents' home in Ogle and Carroll counties, Illinois, Clinton M. Buffington remained a resident of the last named county until eighteen years of age. In the meantime he had ac- quired a common-school education. . In the practical school of experience he also learned many lessons concerning the value of industry, energy and persever- ance, early becoming familiar with the tasks that fall to the lot of the country lad. Later he learned the baker's trade and as a young man of eighteen years came to Iowa, where he followed that trade in Maquoketa, Jackson county, for a time, and also was similarly engaged in Monticello, Jones county, for about two years and six months. He subsequently purchased an interest in a bakery busi- ness in Wyoming, Jones county, and was thus identified with that place until March 4, 1884.
Mr. Buffington was united in marriage May 10, 1882, the lady of his choice being Miss Elva Campbell, of Monticello. She is a native of Wisconsin, how- ever, but was reared and educated at Monticello, where she also taught school for several terms. Her father, J. H. Campbell, was one of the early settlers of Wisconsin.
In the spring of 1885 Mr. Buffington located at Springville, Linn county, there opening up a bakery business, which he conducted successfully for twelve years, when he sold out in January, and February of that year witnessed his arrival in Mechanicsville. Here he purchased a furniture and undertaking business and in this connection has since been identified with the mercantile interests of this city. He has a well appointed store, handling a large stock of all that is latest and best in the furniture line, and in this connection has built up a most envia- ble trade, while as the proprietor of the only undertaking establishment of the place he is also meeting with success in that direction. Realizing that satisfied patrons are the best advertisement, he has ever striven to meet popular demand in every respect, while the policy of the house is such as has inspired the confi- dence and trust of the general public. With keen business discernment, supple- mented by unfaltering energy and unflagging determination, he has utilized the innate talents which are his and made the best of the opportunities that have come to him, and thus with the passing years has built up a business which in its extent and importance ranks him among the enterprising and successful business men of Mechanicsville.
Nor have Mr. Buffington's efforts been directed toward the accomplishment of individual success alone, for he has ever been a most public-spirited citizen, cooperating in many measures which have been of material benefit to the com- munity at large. He was one of the promoters of the local telephone company and a stockholder and director of the same since its organization, while he was likewise a promoter of the savings bank of Mechanicsville, of which he is also a stockholder. A stalwart champion of the cause of education, he served for some years as a member of the school board and was president of that body at the time of the erection of the new school building.
As the years passed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Buffington was blessed by the birth of two daughters. Ruth, the elder, is a graduate of the high school and also pursued a course of two years in Coe College. She is now employed in
356
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
Chicago, Illinois. The younger daughter, Beulah, is a high-school graduate and is now at Coe College. Mrs. Buffington and her daughter Ruth are members of the Presbyterian church and are also identified with the Order of the Eastern Star, while in his fraternal relations Mr. Buffington is a member of the blue lodge and chapter of Mechanicsville; of the commandery at Anamosa; and the Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Cedar Rapids. Politically he is a republican where national issues are involved, but in local elections he casts an independent ballot, supporting the men and measures which in his opinion are best adapted to conserve the public welfare. The honors and emoluments of office have never had attraction for him, as he has preferred to concentrate his time and energies upon the development of business interests. With him perseverance, diligence and integrity have constituted the guiding posts of life, bringing him to the hon- orable position which he now occupies in the opinion of his fellow citizens, and he has won his success as the legitimate and logical result of intelligence and well directed effort.
WILLIAM P. RATE.
William P. Rate, a substantial and representative agriculturist of Cedar county, owns four hundred. and fifty acres of valuable land on section 19, Fremont township, adjoining Mechanicsville. There are two sets of buildings on the property, which is well improved in every particular and is known as the Pleas- ant Ridge Farm. Mr. Rate was born in Johnson county, Iowa, on the 18th of May, 1857. He is a son of William S. Rate, whose birth occurred in England in 1821 and who left that country when a lad of twelve years in company with his father, William Page Rate. The latter settled in the state of New York in 1835 and later took up his abode near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, there pur- chasing several hundred acres of land. In 1840 he located in Knox county, Illinois, and there resided for some years.
In that county his son, William S. Rate, was married to Miss Margaret Ditto, a native of Germany, the ceremony taking place on the 2d of July, 1848. Subsequently William Page Rate removed to Johnson county, Iowa, where he purchased and operated a farm in association with his son, William S. The latter there remained with his father for seventeen years, on the expiration of which period he came to Cedar county, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of raw prairie land in Linn township. To the development and improvement of that property he devoted his time and energies throughout the remainder of his active business career, bringing the land under a high state of cultivation and erecting good buildings. His demise, which occurred on the 20th of December, 1906, was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for he had won an ex- tensive circle of warm friends here. His widow, who still survives, resides on the old home farm with two daughters.
William P. Rate, whose name introduces this review, was reared under the parental roof and assisted his father in the operation of the home farm until he was married at the age of forty years. Following that important event in
W. P. RATE AND DAUGHTER
MRS. W. P. RATE
-
361
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
his life he located in Fremont township, purchased two hundred and forty acres of his present farm and began improving the place. He erected a substantial resi- dence and a large barn and surrounded the entire place with a woven-wire fence. After residing there for five years he bought an adjoining tract of two hundred and ten acres near the corporation limits of Mechanicsville, where he has since made his home. He is building a new barn at the present time and in fact everything about his place indicates the supervision of a practical and progressive owner. For many years he has been well known as a breeder of and dealer in high grade Aberdeen Angus cattle and has also raised Chester White hogs, fat- tening and shipping both cattle and hogs on an extensive scale. Alert, energetic, and enterprising, he has won a gratifying measure of prosperity in both his farming and live-stock interests and has long been numbered among the leading agriculturists of the community.
On the 22nd of September, 1897, in Tipton, Iowa, Mr. Rate was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Herbst, a native of Cass township, this county, and a daughter of Henry and Johanna (Buhister) Herbst, both of whom were born in Germany. The father crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1840, first locating in New York and later in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The year 1848 witnessed his arrival in Cedar county, Iowa.' He was a weaver by trade and followed that occupation successfully. Mr. and Mrs. Rate are the parents of a daughter, Ruby Velma.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Rate has supported the men and measures of the democracy. The honors and emoluments of office have never had any attraction for him but he has always been stanch champion of the cause of education and served as secretary of the school board for about six years. He has spent practically his entire life in Cedar county and enjoys a wide and favorable acquaintance within its borders.
CYRUS A. McCORMICK.
Cyrus A. McCormick, living upon a farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 6, Linn township, has been a lifelong resident of Cedar county, in fact he is one of the native sons of the township in which he still makes his home. He was born November 27, 1869, and is a son of James A. and a brother of H. C. McCormick, in connection with whose sketch on another page of this volume the family history is given.
On the old homestead Cyrus A. McCormick was reared and his youthful days were devoted to the work of the farm and the acquiring of an education. After attending the district schools he continued his studies in Mechanicsville and later attended the Northern Indiana Normal College at Valparaiso, Indiana, where he pursued a business course that qualified him for life's practical duties.
On the 14th of January, 1896, Mr. McCormick was married in Johnson county, Iowa, to Miss Nettie Slater, who was born and reared in that county and is a daughter of Samuel Slater, who came from Pennsylvania to Iowa when
362
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
this was still a pioneer district, the work of improvement and development being yet in its infancy. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McCormick located upon the farm where they now reside. Not long afterward he erected an at- tractive and comfortable residence. He has also built two good barns together with outbuildings for the shelter of grain, stock and farm machinery. These include corn cribs, sheds and a hog house and his fields are enclosed with a woven wire fence. Altogether the place is a well improved farm lacking in none of the modern accessories, equipments and conveniences. In the early days the set- tlers of Iowa devoted their attention to breaking the sod and the raising of crops, but as the land has become rich and productive so that there is a large yield to the acre, the tendency has been to use a portion of the different farms for stock- raising. This course Mr. McCormick has pursued and now feeds and fattens from four to six car loads of cattle, hogs and sheep each year. He is a breeder of and dealer in shorthorn cattle, to which he has given his attention for some years. He has made exhibits and won premiums at the county fairs and is well known in this connection. He and his brother, H. C. McCormick, go west each fall and buy sheep, which they ship to their farms in Linn township, here feed- ing and fattening them for the market.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. McCormick has been blessed with two daughters, Helen May and Josephine E. The parents are well known in this locality and have a large circle of warm friends. Politically Mr. McCormick is a democrat and his value as a citizen is demonstrated in the fact that he has several times been called to local office, serving for three years as township trustee and for four years as township clerk. He has also served on the grand jury. He belongs to the Masonic Lodge in which he has taken the Master degree and he is widely and favorably known in Tipton and throughout Cedar county as one who belongs to that class of substantial citizens who are ever ready to uphold the legal and political status of the community and promote public progress along lines of substantial improvement and development. There is no sham or pretense in his nature. He is thoroughly genuine and reliable at all times and his friends re- joice in what he has accomplished in a business way.
LEONARD HINES.
Leonard Hines, who as mayor of Mechanicsville is now occupying the high- est office to which his fellow citizens can elect him, is proving himself most capa- ble and efficient in the discharge of the duties devolving upon him in con- nection therewith and is entirely worthy of the honor bestowed upon him in his selection to the office of chief executive. He also has large farming and stock- raising interests near Mechanicsville and although he makes his home in the village he gives personal supervision to his agricultural interests which, carefully conducted, are bringing to him a most substantial and gratifying success.
He is a native of Iowa, his birth occurring in Fremont township, this county, on the 16th of August, 1862, and is a son of Leonard R. Hines, who was born in 1821 in Ohio, where he was reared and educated. In 1843 he removed to
363
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
Illinois and there resided for about twelve years, after which he came to Iowa in 1855, locating in Fremont township, Cedar county. He engaged in general farming for a number of years, his home farm consisting of four hundred acres, while he also owned another tract of ninety-three acres in Story county. He is . yet living at the ripe old age of eighty-nine years and makes his home in Me- chanicsville. In Huron county, Ohio, in 1843 he was united in marriage to Miss Abigail Dymon, who was born in Pennsylvania, and unto them were born seven children: Henry, Frank, George, Ellen, Myron, Leonard and Charles.
No event of special importance came to vary the routine of life for Leonard Hines during the period of his boyhood and youth, which was spent on his father's farm in Fremont township. He acquired a good education, completing the course of study offered in the Mechanicsville schools, and the periods of vaca- tion were given to the work of the farm, with which he early became familiar. He remained on the old homestead until twenty years of age, when he established a pleasant home of his own by his marriage, in April, 1882, to Miss Vesta Melton, who was born and reared in Fremont township, Cedar county. She is a daughter of Robert W. Melton, who was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, in 1846, and as a lad of ten years came to Cedar county, Iowa, where his youth was passed. In 1864 he married Nancy Zimmerman, a native of Penn- sylvania, and they became the parents of five children, Vesta, George Orion, LeRoy, Lewis and Miles. The father was a substantial farmer of Fremont township for a long period but is now a resident of Cedar Rapids, having retired from agricultural life.
-
Following his marriage Mr. Hines began farming upon a tract of land be- longing to his father and when his capital justified the step he purchased eighty acres of land near Mechanicsville, established his home thereon and gave his attention to the cultivation of the soil and to raising, buying and shipping stock. In connection with a partner he shipped more than three hundred carloads of stock per year, the business thus reaching a considerable volume. He also raises and feeds stock on his farm but since November, 1908, has made his home in Me- chanicsville, in which year he purchased a residence there.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hines have been born three children: May, at home; Carrie, the wife of Robert Smith, a resident farmer of Fremont township; and Forest, who occupies a position in a mercantile house in Cedar Rapids. The fam- ily occupy a prominent social position and their own home is the abode of a generous and warm-hearted hospitality.
Mr. Hines is a worthy exponent of Masonry, holding membership in the lodge of Mechanicsville, while both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. The family attend the Presbyterian church and are interested in vari- ous projects for the welfare, upbuilding and improvement of the community. Mr. Hines gives his political endorsement to the republican party and has held several local offices. He has been elected and served as school treasurer and for twelve years was officially identified with the schools, acting for some time as trustee. In April, 1910, he was elected mayor of Mechanicsville and is the present official chief executive of the city, devoting much of his attention to the duties of the office, which are discharged in such a manner as to leave no doubt concerning his public spirit and his devotion to the public good. He brings to
364
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
bear in this connection the same sound judgment, systematic methods and hon- orable principles which characterize the conduct of his private business affairs, and his fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth, have written his name high on the roll of Cedar county's representative and honored citizens.
JOHN B. PARK.
John B. Park, residing on section II, Linn township, was born in this county, January 6, 1849. He is a son of George W. and a brother of Enos and George Park. His father was born in Ohio and in his youthful days accompanied his parents to Tennessee, where he remained until sixteen years of age. At that time he came to Cedar county, Iowa, arriving in the spring of 1837. He drove a team much of the way but in order to lighten the load walked by the side of the team. He found here an undeveloped region, the land just as it came from the hand of nature. Only a few settlements had been made within the borders of the county, showing that the seeds of civilization had been planted. Mr. Park turned his attention to breaking the prairie, which he followed for several seasons and in different counties. About 1843 he went to Indiana and in Tippecanoe county, that state, was married. He afterward returned with his bride to Cedar county and became closely associated with the farming interests of this part of the state.
John B. Park was reared upon the old homestead farm and in Mechanics- ville where the family spent four years. He continued to assist his father in the cultivation and development of the fields until the death of the latter, when he inherited a part of the estate, this being divided between the three brothers. John B. Park received as his share the one hundred and twenty acre tract of land upon which he now resides. It was covered with brush, which he cleared away, preparing it for the plow. After breaking the sod he planted the seed and in due course of time gathered rich harvests. He has made the farm what it is today, erecting in its midst a good house together with a substantial barn and outbuild- ings. The farm is divided into fields of convenient size by a woven wire fence, which protects the crops from the stock. He raises and feeds considerable stock and both branches of his business are proving profitable. The place is situated on section II, Linn township, and as the years have passed he has met with well merited success, being justly and honorably earned.
Mr. Park was married in Linn county to Miss Emma C. Shank, who was born in Red Oak township, Cedar county, and is a daughter of Henry Shank, now a resident of Tipton. After their marriage the young couple took up their abode on the old homestead, Mr. Park cultivating the place for four years and after the estate was divided they settled at their present place of residence. Mr. Park has improved both places to a considerable extent and now has a well de- veloped property that indicates his careful supervision, practical methods and progressive spirit.
Unto him and his wife have been born seven children, who are yet living:
365
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
William R. and Henry Earl, who are engaged in farming in South Dakota; H. N., an expert mechanic, who is operating a sawmill in Mason's Grove; Archie L., who operates the electric lighting plant at Mechanicsville ; Homer V., who is cultivating the home farm; Carl B., who has started out for himself ; and Chester G. Mr. and Mrs. Park also lost four children. They have triplets of whom two died in infancy, while Henry Earl, mentioned above, was the third. The other two children also died in infancy.
The republican party finds in Mr. Park a stalwart supporter for he believes that its principles are best calculated to promote the interests of good govern- ment. He is a public-spirited and progressive citizen and has been called to office, serving as road supervisor, while for two or more terms he was township trustee. He has also been a school official for a number of years and believes in the maintenance of good schools and the employment of competent teachers. A lifelong resident of the county, he has seen some of its best farms developed and has personally assisted in improving two farms, the attractive appearance of his place indicating an active and well spent life.
CHARLES W. JOHNSON.
Charles W. Johnson, who is familiarly called Will by his friends-and they are legion-is one of the successful business men, financiers and agriculturists of Cedar county, owning a neat and well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres adjoining the corporation limits of Mechanicsville. That he is among the older of the native sons of the county is indicated by the fact that he was born in Mechanicsville on the 18th of April, 1858. His father, Isaac B. Johnson, is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Reared in his native city, Will Johnson began railroading when a young man in the tax department of the Northwestern Railroad Company, entering the service as an employe under his father. He continued in that position for twenty-five years with headquarters at Mechanics- ville and his connection with the company, covering a quarter of a century, indi- cates clearly his fidelity to duty and his accuracy and promptness in the dis- charge of the tasks which were assigned him.
On the 26th of March, 1884, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Johnson, a native of Massachusetts, who spent her girlhood days and was educated in the Bay state, where later she engaged in teaching. Her father, Alpheus Johnson, was born at Hardwick, Massachusetts, and represented one of the early families of that state. He was a wheelwright by trade and followed that business in New England. He married Fanny Maria Turner, who was born and reared at Hardwick, and, following their marriage, they continued their residence in Massachusetts until 1878, when they came to Cedar county, Iowa, and settled on a farm near Mechanicsville, where both passed away some years later.
Following their marriage Will Johnson and his wife took up their abode in Mechanicsville, his connection with the Northwestern Railroad Company con- tinuing until his removal to the farm in 1903. He has since remodeled the house
366
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
and now has a pleasant, modern residence. His well kept fields and the high grades of stock which he raises and feeds indicate his progressive spirit and his practical methods. His labors have at all times been attended with a measure of success that is indicative of unremitting diligence and intelligently directed ef- fort. As the years have gone by the family home has been blessed with three children. Professor Graden W. Johnson, who is a graduate of Cornell College and is now principal of the schools of Sac City, Iowa, has made for himself an enviable reputation in educational circles. Recently he has received the nomina- tion at the primaries for the position of county superintendent of schools of Cedar county. The daughters of the family are Helen and Mildred, the former a graduate of the Mechanicsville high school of the class of 1908.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.