USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 31
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"As a rule we expect to find men in possession of the characteristics of mind that William P. Wolf possessed, something of a lack of courage and that qual- ity which we somewhat vulgarly call nerve. But William P. Wolf was the bravest of the brave. He fought for his country and almost gave his life for it. He really did not know what fear was, and had we needed evidence additional that his courage was sublime, it has been furnished us during the long weeks and months that he has faced death. He has looked into his open grave for many days without a shudder, without a murmur. It was characteristic of him that on one of his last days of consciousness, when speech had almost failed him, he called his wife, after a barber had finished shaving him and whispered to her, 'Give this young man a basket of grapes and some other fruit to take home to the children.' His generosity never knew any bounds. It overflowed his capacity for being generous and actually made him unjust to himself.
"Others have or will speak of his great qualifications as a lawyer and as a judge. We speak of him only as a man, tender, just, true and brave. A man
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whom it was an inspiration to have known, and who, as he lies there dead, ex- emplifies again that old truth that 'neither riches nor power, nor high honor count for much after all, when we take the measure of stalwart men,' and proves again that, 'alone the actions of the just smell sweet and blossom in the dust.'"
SPENCER G. FRINK.
Spencer G. Frink, cashier of the Cedar County State Bank and thus well known in the financial circles of Tipton, was called to his present position in 1885 and the fact that he has continued therein to the present time is indicative of his thorough understanding and capability in the discharge of his duties as well as of the confidence reposed in him by the other officers of the institution and his popularity with the general public.
One of Cedar county's native sons, he was born in Dayton township on the 6th of January, 1861, his parents being Homer C. and Helen M. (Jobes) Frink. The Frink family is of English descent and was founded in Massachusetts, whence representatives of the name went to Connecticut and later to New York. The parents of our subject are both in good health, although the father is now eighty-six years of age. He was born in Albany, New York, March 5, 1824, and in 1848, when a young man of twenty-four years, became a resident of Little Rock, Kendall county, Illinois, while in 1854 he came to Cedar county, Iowa. The mother was born in Erie county, New York, March 25, 1837, and went with her parents to Kendall county, Illinois, in 1839. In 1859 Mr. Frink re- turned to Illinois and was married, and the same year came again to Cedar county, settling on section 1, Dayton township, where he entered two hundred acres of wild and unimproved government land. Year after year he carefully cultivated and developed the farm until he sold it March 1, 1908. Among those who entered land from the government he was the last in Dayton township to dispose of his homestead. In 1900 he removed to Clarence, where he and his wife now reside, and in 1909 they celebrated their golden wedding. Both are active and faithful members of the Wesleyan Methodist church. Mr. Frink is a prominent republican and was a delegate to the first convention of his party in Cedar county. He held various township offices, the duties of which he always discharged with promptness and fidelity. In his family were five children, of whom Spencer G. is the eldest. The others are: Sarah, the wife of Fred Decker of Dayton township; Homer and Howard, twins, who since 1907 have been resi- dents of Alberta, Canada; and Alice, at home.
Spencer G. Frink has been a life-long resident of Cedar county and remained upon the home farm with his parents until he attained his majority. He pursued his education in the public schools and at Carthage College, Carthage, Illinois, which he attended for one year. He engaged in teaching school for three win- ter seasons, while the summer months were devoted to farm work. On the expiration of that period he came to Tipton and served as county auditor under
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E. M. Elliott in March, 1882, filling the position until November, 1883. He then worked in the treasurer's office under O. H. Helmer until January, 1885, when he was called to the office of cashier of the Cedar County Bank. He is a popu- lar official, always courteous and obliging to the patrons of the bank, and at the same time most loyal to the institution which he represents.
On the 8th of September, 1887, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Frink to Miss Blanche A. Dean, who was born in Tipton in December, 1863, and is a daughter of F. P. and Georgiana Dean. Their children, four in number, Helen, Gale, Margery and Lillian, are at home.
The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church, in which the parents hold membership and in the work of which they are deeply interested. Mr. Frink has served as superintendent of the Sunday school and does all in his power to promote the various lines of church work. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party, has served as a member of the city council, and for the past eleven years has been president of the board of education, during which time the interests of the schools have been greatly promoted. In all matters of citizen- ship he manifests a public-spirited devotion to the general good that has brought him the high regard that is uniformly entertained for him.
PERRY WAYMAN MOFFETT.
Perry Wayman Moffett, a well known and prosperous farmer of Center town- ship, whose home is a half mile east of Tipton, was born on the 21st of August, 1871, in Rome township, Jones county, Iowa, and is a son of Samuel C. and Drusy A. (Wilkinson) Moffett. The birth of the father occurred near Piqua, Miami county, Ohio, in 1841. He was a son of John and Sarah (Stevenson) Moffett, natives of Virginia and Ohio respectively. The last years of the grand- parents of our subject were spent in Cedar county, Iowa. In their family were nine children of whom seven lived to maturity.
Samuel C. Moffett began his education in his native state but was only eleven years old when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Cedar county, Iowa, in 1852. They located in Red Oak township, where he spent the greater part of his life, though for a time he lived in Jones county. He always fol- lowed the occupation of farming and became the owner of a rich and valuable tract of four hundred acres in Center township. He was a faithful member of the Presbyterian church and his death, which occurred in Tipton, November 9, 1906, was deeply mourned by all who knew him. In early manhood he mar- ried Drusy A. Wilkinson, who was born in Center township, Cedar county, Iowa, in 1844 and is still living. She is the daughter of Philip and Elizabeth Wilkin- son, early settlers of this region. Her father was a native of Indiana and on coming to Cedar county, entered three hundred acres of land south of Tipton, which is now in possession of our subject and upon this place he spent the re- mainder of his life with the exception of the few years he resided in Stanwood. His death, however, occurred on the old homestead farm which he had entered from the government. Only two of his children lived to maturity, while four
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died in infancy. Unto Samuel C. Moffett and his wife were born three chil- dren, namely : Elizabeth, now the wife of Wendell Willer of Center township; Perry Wayman, of this review; and Wilkinson, who died at the age of twelve years.
Perry Wayman Moffett spent the first thirteen years of his life on the home farm and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Tipton, where he resided for four or five years. At the end of that time they located on a farm four and one-half miles south of that city in Center township, and upon that place our subject continued to make his home until the 30th of November, 1909, when he purchased his present place one-half mile east of Tipton, where he owns twenty-nine acres of land. He at once took up his residence in the brick house standing thereon and now makes that place his home. In connection with its operation he is also engaged in the cultivation of the old home place south of Tipton, which he owns, comprising four hundred and thirty acres, and besides this property he has a farm of one hundred and twenty acres two miles north of there. He devotes considerable attention to the raising and feeding of stock, having one hundred and fifteen head of cattle at the present time, about five hundred hogs and forty-one head of horses, mostly Percherons, being a breeder of that stock. In connection with his brother-in-law, Wendell Willer, this branch of his business is proving exceedingly profitable, and in all of his under- takings he has met with marked success, being progressive, energetic and indus- trious, and carrying forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
In his political affiliations Mr. Moffett is an ardent republican and served one term as justice of the peace. His religious connections are with the Presbyterian church of Tipton, and fraternally he is an honored member of the Knights of Pythias; the Modern Brotherhood of America; the Knights of the Maccabees; and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is also connected with the Bankers Life and the Highland Nobles. He is now serving his second term as president of the Cedar County Fair Association and is also president of the Cedar County Poultry Association, being the second to fill that office. He is a member of the Cedar County Pure Bred Cattle Association and takes a very active part in promoting the stock interests of this section of the country. Public-spirited and progressive, he does all in his power to advance the welfare of the community in which he has so long made his home and no man stands higher in public esteem here than Perry Wayman Moffett.
JOHN GREIG.
Prosperity has attended the efforts of John Greig, who in the conduct of his farming and stock-raising interests manifests sound judgment and keen business discernment. He has lived in Dayton township for a long period and is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land, constituting a well improved and valuable farm. In 1864 he arrived in Cedar county, being at that time a young man of about eighteen years. His birth occurred near Toronto, Canada, on the 17th of August, 1846.
JOHN GREIG
MRS. JOHN GREIG
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His father, James Greig, was a native of Scotland and came to the new world with his parents when a youth of eleven years. He was reared to man- hood in Canada and was there married to Jeannette Chisholm, also a native of Scotland. He followed farming in Canada and also engaged in importing and dealing in horses for a number of years. In 1864 he crossed the border into the United States and made a permanent location in Cedar county, Iowa, purchasing land in Dayton township. He became the owner of an extensive and valuable tract of six hundred acres and not only raised large crops but also continued an importer and dealer in horses for a number of years. He was a successful business man and farmer and was well known in Jones and adjoining counties. He died in Dixon, December 20, 1907, having previously removed to that town, in which he lived retired for a few years prior to his demise. His wife survived him for several years. Their family numbered three sons and five daughters. Of the brothers Dr. Greig and John Greig are the survivors, while another brother, James, grew to mature years and passed away in 1873. All of the sisters are yet living, namely: Mary, the wife of William Shearer of Clarence ; Jean, the wife of David Grace of Scott county, Iowa; Elizabeth, the wife of A. D. Claney, a business man of Stanwood; Anna, the wife of W. H. Hart of Sac City, Iowa, and Jeannette.
After coming to this county, when a young man of about eighteen years, John Greig assisted in opening up and carrying on the old home farm, giving his father the benefit of his services until he had attained his majority and started out in life on his own account. He was twenty-one years of age when in Red Oak Grove on the 17th of December, 1865, he wedded Maggie Ferguson, who was born in Cedar county and was a daughter of John Ferguson, a native of New York, who arrived in this county in October, 1836, being one of the first settlers in this portion of the state. He had been married in New York, his first wife being Isabelle Starack, a native of Scotland.
At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Greig established their home on a farm in Dayton township, beginning with one hundred and sixty acres of land. In addition to this he also rented and cultivated other land and subsequently made other purchases until he became the owner of a large and valuable tract of three hundred and twenty acres. The place is fenced with woven wire which protects his crops from the stock. He raises and feeds considerable stock and also breeds and deals in draft horses. In 1899 he removed to Clarence and pur- chased a residence near the schoolhouse. Later he sold that property and bought where he now resides in the vicinity of the business portion of the town.
Unto. Mr. and Mrs. Greig have been born five children, but on the 26th of November, 1909, they suffered deep grief in the loss of their elder son, James F. Greig, who met death from an accident on that date when thirty-four years of age. Another son, John W., is now carrying on the home farm. Jeannette Isabelle is the wife of E. B. Hoyman, who is mentioned elsewhere in this vol- ume. Margaret J. is the wife of George A. Sylvester, a farmer of Dayton town- ship. Mabel completes the family.
The family are members of the Presbyterian church at Clarence, in which Mr. Greig is serving as an elder, while he and all his family take an active interest
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in the church and Sunday-school work. He has voted with the republican party since casting his first presidential ballot for General Grant in 1872, never failing to support each presidential candidate from that time to the present. While on the farm he served as road supervisor, was also officially identified with the schools for a number of years and was township trustee for nine years. He was a member of the town council for four years and for one term has served as mayor of the city, in which connection he faithfully performed the duties of the office so that progress and improvement were conserved and necessary reform work was done. He has been a delegate to numerous city, county and state conventions and has served on both the petit and grand juries. Judged by the consensus of public opinion Mr. Greig deserves to be classed with the prominent and representative citizens of Clarence and of Cedar county, where his genuine personal worth has gained him the high regard and lasting friendship of those with whom he has come in contact.
GEORGE S. FINDLAY.
George S. Findlay, a progressive, energetic and enterprising farmer and stockman residing on section 35, Fremont township, is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of well improved and valuable land. He is numbered among the worthy native sons of Cedar county, his birth having here occurred on the 16th of March, 1868. His father, James Findlay, who was a native of Scotland, emi- grated to the United States in early manhood, settling in Connecticut. He was a weaver by trade and followed that occupation in the Charter Oak state, where he wedded Miss Martha Hamilton, who was likewise born and reared in Scot- land. About 1860 he came west to Cedar county, Iowa, and here purchased land, opening up a farm. He became well known and highly esteemed as a prosperous and representative agriculturist and as his financial resources in- creased added to his holdings by additional purchase until he owned two hun- dred and forty acres of rich and productive land. He passed away here about 1891, having for some years survived his wife. They were the parents of two daughters and four sons, as follows: Mrs. Agnes Griffin, a widow residing in Hayward, Iowa; Millie, the wife of James Speer, a farmer of Red Oak town- ship; James and John, both living in Shelby county, Iowa; George S., of this review ; and William, living in Stanwood.
George S. Findlay was reared on the home farm and after his father's death operated the place in association with his brother William for two years. The two young men purchased the interests of the other heirs and subsequently our subject sold the property to his brother and bought the farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Fremont township where he now resides. He has placed many substantial improvements on the property and has added to and remodeled the residence, which is an up-to-date and modern structure, heated by a furnace and lighted by gas. In addition to his home place he owns a near-by farm of eighty acres in Red Oak township. In connection with the tilling of the soil he devotes considerable attention to the raising and feeding of high grade stock, including
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thoroughbred shorthorn cattle. He fattens from four to five carloads of cattle and hogs annually and in recent years has bought and fed one or two carloads of sheep each winter. He has met with success in all of his undertakings and is widely recognized as one of the substantial and respected citizens of his native county.
On the 8th of April, 1891, in Center township, Cedar county, Mr. Findlay was united in marriage to Miss Ruth E. Rickard, who was born and reared in this county. Her father, William Rickard, was one of the honored pioneer settlers here and participated in the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Findlay now have five sons and three daughters, namely: Marion, James, Clarence, Leland, How- ard, Genevieve, Agnes and Helen.
Mr. Findlay is a republican in politics and has served as assessor for one term. He is an active worker in the local ranks of the party and was sent as a delegate to the county convention. Fraternally he is a Master Mason and belongs to the blue lodge at Mechanicsville. His wife is a devoted and con- sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have spent their entire lives in Cedar county and are widely and favorably known within its borders, having ever displayed those sterling traits of character which in every land and clime awaken confidence and regard.
EDWARD F. WALSHIRE.
Edward F. Walshire is engaged in the cultivation of a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in the home place and also cultivates one hundred and sixty acres of land elsewhere. He makes his home on section 20, Fremont township, and the qualities which he displays in carrying on his business have gained him recognition as one of the representative farmers of this locality. He has lived in Cedar county since 1878, and has therefore been a witness of its growth and development for almost a third of a century. He was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, July 10, 1872, and is a son of John Walshire, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. His youthful days were spent upon his father's farm, where his time was divided between the work of the fields, the duties of the schoolroom and the pleasures of the playground. He mastered the elementary branches of learning in the district schools and afterward attended the high school at Mechanicsville and was graduated therefrom with the class of 1891. After attaining his majority he determined to make his life work the pursuit to which he had been reared, and rented land, which he cultivated and improved.
It was on the 2Ist of February, 1900, in Mechanicsville, that Mr. Walshire was united in marriage to Miss Cecelia O'Malley, who was born, reared and educated in Mechanicsville. After their marriage Mr. Walshire rented land and began farming near his father's place. In 1909 he purchased his present place and took up his abode thereon in March, 1910. Here he has one hundred and twenty-two acres of land, together with a farm of one hundred and sixty acres elsewhere, which he cultivates. The work of plowing, planting and harvesting is carefully done by him and from time to time he has made further improvements
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upon his property, enhancing the productiveness of the soil by tiling, protecting his crops by fences and whenever needed, making repairs. He has a neat and well improved farm and in addition to its cultivation raises and feeds stock. He breeds and deals in Aberdeen Angus cattle of a high grade, and now has a herd of about fifty head upon his place. He also makes a specialty of Duroc Jersey hogs and usually fattens from three to five carloads annually. He also sells about two carloads of fat steers each year.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Walshire have been born two children, William John and Edward Marvel. The parents are members of the Catholic church. In his political views Mr. Walshire is a democrat but has no time nor inclination to seek public office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs in which he is meeting with good success. The greater part of his life has been passed in Cedar county and at all times he has cooperated in the movements for its upbuilding and improvement, at the same time carefully controlling his in- dividual interests whereby he is winning substantial success in his farming operations.
WILSON ERVIN.
Wilson Ervin, a successful and well known agriculturist of Springdale town- ship, is the owner of a highly improved farm of one hundred and ninety acres on section 30. His birth occurred in County Down, Ireland, on the 15th of August, 1868, his parents being David and Margaret (Wilson) Ervin, who were likewise natives of that place. The year 1880 witnessed their emigration to the new world and for four years the family home was maintained in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. The father was actively identified with general agricultural pur- suits throughout his entire business career and he passed away in Johnson county, Iowa, in 1894, when sixty-eight years of age. The mother still sur- vives, however, and now makes her home at Downey, this state. Their children were six in number, as follows: David and Alexander, both of whom are de- ceased; Margaret, who lives with her mother; William James, a resident of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; John, who died in infancy; and Wilson, of this review.
The last named was a youth of twelve when he came to the United States with his parents and four years later accompanied them to Oklahoma, where the family resided for about twelve months. In 1885 our subject came to Iowa with his parents, who located on a farm in Muscatine county, situated a mile and a half south of Downey on the Cedar county line. He early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops, and the work of the fields has always claimed his attention. After living in Muscatine county for four years he carried on agricultural pursuits in Johnson county for a period of seven years and then took up his abode on his present farm, to the operation of which he has devoted his time and energies continuously since. The property adjoins Downey on the north and comprises one hundred and ninety acres on section 30, Springdale township. Mr. Ervin has placed many substantial im- provements thereon and has brought the fields under a high state of cultivation.
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In connection with the tilling of the soil he also devotes considerable attention to the breeding of shorthorn cattle and both branches of his business have proved a gratifying source of remuneration to him. He assisted in the organ- ization of the Downey Savings Bank and has since been a director thereof.
In January, 1899, Mr. Ervin was united in marriage to Miss Helena Korthels, who was born in Missouri on the 13th of August, 1874, and was reared in Okla- homa and Kansas. Her parents, Carl F. and Caroline J. (Krage) Korthels, both natives of Germany, came to the United States about 1873 and now reside in Oklahoma. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ervin have been born four children, namely : Carl, Elizabeth, Earl and Wilson, Jr.
Fraternally Mr. Ervin is identified with the Woodmen of the World at Downey and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at West Liberty, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church. Dur- ing his residence in this community he has gained many warm friends, who hold him in high regard because of his true worth and sterling characteristics.
DANIEL MASON.
That one is the owner of an Iowa farm of considerable extent is at once proof of the fact that he is at least in comfortable financial circumstances for in all the United States there is no richer soil than can here be found and none that responds more readily to cultivation. Mr. Mason is numbered among the wide-awake, enterprising and prosperous farmers and stock-raisers of Linn township, owning a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres on section 16. He was born in Linn township, July 20, 1863, and is a son of John Mason, whose birth occurred in Indiana in 1830. The latter's father was William Mason, who removed from Indiana to Iowa about 1836 and took up his abode in Cedar county where he opened up a farm now known as the Samuel Rhoads place. Upon the homestead property John Mason was reared, early becoming familiar with the hardships and difficulties incident to pioneer life and at the same time aiding largely in the development of the home place. After arriving at years of maturity he married Miss Sarah Andre, a native of Pennsylvania, and a representative of one of the pioneer families of Cedar county. Turning his attention to farming as a life work, he established his home in Linn town- ship and as he prospered in his undertaking made further investment in prop- erty until he was the owner of several hundred acres of land in different farms. He reared his family in Linn township and spent his entire life here, becoming well known in Cedar, Johnson and Linn counties as a representative agricul- turist and valued citizen. He died April 10, 1906, and is still survived by his wife who resides in Tipton.
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