USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 38
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
On the 14th of November, 1869, Mr. Walshire was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Fisher, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Mathias Fisher, who followed farming in Fairfield county, that state. Unto our subject and his
460
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
wife were born seven children, namely: Edward F., an agriculturist of Fre- mont township; David E. and Lewis J., who are still under the parental roof ; and A. T., who passed away in January, 1908, leaving a son, Arthur. The lat- ter, a youth of sixteen, makes his home with his grandparents. They also lost three children in early youth, George F., who died at the age of twelve years; William Allen, when nine years of age; and Eva, who passed away in infancy.
When national questions and issues are involved Mr. Walshire supports the democracy but at local elections votes independently. He was formerly a re- publican, however, and in 1868 cast his first presidential ballot for General U. S. Grant, whom he again supported in 1872. Later, when Grover Cleveland was nominated for the presidency, he cast his ballot for the democratic candidate. He acted as township trustee for two years and has been secretary of the school board for twenty years, still serving in the latter capacity. Reared in the Catholic faith, he has always remained a communicant of that church. He still maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his member- ship in the G. A. R. post at Mechanicsville. In every relation of life he has commanded the trust and confidence of his fellowmen, possessing those ster- ling traits of character which in every land and clime win recognition and regard.
HENRY W. FIELDS.
Henry W. Fields, a retired farmer and merchant, whose success resulted from close application, perseverance and intelligently directed effort, is now numbered among the venerable and respected citizens of Tipton, having passed the seventy-eighth milestone on life's journey. Mr. Fields is of foreign birth, the place of his nativity being Lincolnshire, England, and his natal day February 2, 1.832. When but two years of age, in 1834, he was brought by his parents, John and Sarah (Foster) Fields, who were likewise natives of Lincolnshire, to the new world, their destination being Huron, Ohio, fourteen miles east of Sandusky, where they landed on the 4th of July of that year. The parents re- sided in Marion county, Ohio, throughout the remainder of their lives, the father passing away there in 1890, when he had reached the ripe old age of eighty-five years, while the mother died in 1892 when seventy-nine years of age. The father worked as a laborer and a farmer all his life and on the home place in Marion county reared his family, which numbered ten children. The record is as follows: Henry W., of this review; Mrs. Sarah Boyce Mitchell, who died in Linn county, Iowa; Mrs. Mary Parker Underwood, who died in Ohio; John, who passed away at the age of six years; Mathew, who died while serving his country in the Civil war as a member of the Sixty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; Pauline Harriff, who died in Ohio; Mrs. Elizabeth Whalen, a widow, now residing in Marion, Ohio; George, a resident of Caledonia, Marion county ; and Rosella, the wife of Andrew Hines, of Marion county, that state.
Henry W. Fields spent his youthful days on the old home farm in Marion county and the district schools afforded him his educational privileges. Upon
HENRY W. FIELDS
463
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
reaching mature years, in 1855, he made his way to Lee county, Iowa, but a year later removed to Waterloo, this state, and in the spring of the following year went to Linn county, where he worked as a laborer for some time. He was em- ployed on the construction of the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad in Linn county but after a few weeks went to Lisbon and worked on the division of the line running from Mount Vernon to Rock Creek. For two years he acted as fore- man of the grading and was with that company until the completion of the line to Cedar Rapids in 1859. Later he assisted in cutting and setting the telegraph poles along the line of that road, now the Northwestern Railroad, from Clarence to Cedar Rapids and also strung the wires on the poles. He was next employed on a construction train but in the fall of 1859 went to Arkansas on a prospecting trip. During the winter he cut wood in order to meet the expense of living and in the spring of 1860 returned to Iowa and was married in Cedar county.
Following this event Mr. Fields returned to Marion county, Ohio, where he had been reared and while residing there, in October, 1862, enlisted as a sub- stitute in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company D, Sixty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. During his nine months' service he took part in no engage- ments, and on the expiration of that period he once more came to Cedar county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming until 1866, when he took up his abode in Tipton and has since been a resident of this city. During the intervening years his efforts were not entirely fruitless from a financial standpoint, for he man- aged to save a sum of money that enabled him at that time to purchase a stock of groceries and engage in business in Tipton. For twenty-eight years he was thus identified with the grocery trade of this city, being numbered among its pioneer merchants. In 1873 he erected a substantial building in which he placed his stock of goods and as the years passed he prospered, investing his money in two hundred and forty acres of land in Center township, about four miles south- east of the city. In 1894 he retired from business, the store now being owned by his son, W. R. Fields, who is an enterprising merchant. Mr. Fields still retains possession of his farm, which returns him a good annual income. He was one of the original stockholders and is yet a stockholder in the Cedar County State Bank, and his various financial interests bring him a good profit. In former years his was a useful, active and energetic career and the rest which he is now enjoying is well merited.
Mr. Fields has been married three times. His first marriage was in 1860 when Miss Rosetta Archer became his wife. She was born in Ohio and came to Cedar county in 1856, where her death occurred on the 11th of May, 1864. This union was blessed with two sons: John, who died when but three years of age; and W. R., who was born in Cedar county in 1863 and is now engaged in the grocery business in Tipton. Mr. Fields' second wife was Mrs. Fannie Dick- lot, who was born in Germany. There were no children by that union but by a former marriage Mrs. Fields had a daughter. She died in 1881, and Mr. Fields was married on the 3d of June, 1885, to Mrs. Sarah E. Kaiser. She was born in Tipton on the 2d of January, 1855, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Adams, her birth having occurred in a house which stood on the lot where Mr. Fields erected a fine modern home in 1904 and where he and his wife have since resided, although they spend the winter months in California.
464
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
Deeply interested in political affairs, Mr. Fields has always supported the men and measures of the democracy where national issues are involved but at local elections votes independently. For two years he served as a member of the city council, also acted as township trustee, and for three years was a member of the board of education. His fraternal relations connect him with Manitou Lodge, No. 8, I. O. O. F., of which he became a member in 1875. Like most men, he has had to overcome many obstacles in his path, for he started out in the humble capacity of a laborer, working at anything that would yield him an honest living. He had a firm purpose, however, and was bound to succeed. He seemed well fitted to conduct mercantile pursuits for from the time of his en- trance in the business world in 1866 he gradually worked his way upward, ad- vancing from year to year, until today, crowned with wealth and years, he re- ceives the respect and veneration which should ever be accorded to one who has lived an honorable and upright life.
RUDOLPH STROPPEL.
During early life Rudolph Stroppel followed blacksmithing but for the past ten years has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits and is now the owner of a fine farm on section 25, Gower township. His early home was on the other side of the Atlantic, for he was born in Baden, Germany, March 23, 1859, his parents being Thomas and Katherine Stropple. The father was a lifelong resident of Baden and was a blacksmith by trade. He died in his na- tive country, but the mother came to the new world in 1885 and passed away here in 1902. There were only two children in the family, the younger being Olive, now the wife of Richard Wagner, of Jersey City, New Jersey.
In the land of his nativity Rudolph Stroppel grew to manhood and under the direction of his father learned the blacksmith's trade. Prior to coming to the United States he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Rist, who was also born in Baden, March 25, 1859, a daughter of John Rist. This union has been blessed by the birth of the following children: Thomas, now a resident of South Dakota; Anna, the wife of Willis Diehl, of the same state; John, also of South Dakota; Katharine, who is engaged in teaching school in Cedar county ; George, Clara and Charles, all at home; and Mary, who died in infancy.
In 1883 Mr. Stroppel, in company with his wife and only son, crossed the ocean and took up his residence in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he obtained work as a mechanic in the railroad shops, remaining there from March until November of that year. In the latter month, however, he proceeded westward and settled in Cedar county, Iowa, where he was engaged in blacksmithing until about ten years ago, when on account of ill health he retired from that occupation and has since engaged in farming. He had charge of the construc- tion work of all the machinery at the Cedar Valley quarries and continued to carry on a blacksmith and machine shop for several years. He then purchased his present farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres on section 25, and eighty acres on section 4, Gower township, and to its improvement and cultiva-
465
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
tion he has since devoted his energies. When he located thereon there was not a fence upon the place, but he has erected good substantial buildings, has divided the farm into fields by good fences and has placed the land under a high state of cultivation. In connection with general farming he has also en- gaged in the raising of high grade stock of all kinds and has met with success in this occupation. The democratic party finds in him a stanch supporter of its principles and he is now serving as township trustee in a most creditable and acceptable manner. Religiously he holds membership in St. Joseph Catholic church at Cedar Valley.
J. H. FITZPATRICK.
From pioneer days down to the present the Fitzpatrick family has been prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Cedar county and have ever borne their part in the work of development and improvement. Upon his present farm on section 24, Gower township, J. H. Fitzpatrick was born November 5, 1863, a son of Henry and Mary (Harley) Fitzpatrick, both na- tives of Ireland, the former born in Queens county and the latter in County Donegal. It was about 1839 that his grandfather, Daniel Fitzpatrick, emigrated to the new world and came to Iowa, since which time numerous representa- tives of the family have borne their part in the prosperity of this section of the state. The grandfather was one of the honored pioneers of Cedar county, becoming the owner of a farm in Gower township on which our subject now resides and when he took up his residence thereon his nearest markets were the Mississippi river towns. Soon after locating here Rochester was made the county seat. In his family were several children. John, the fifth in order of birth, died while the family were crossing the ocean. The others are as follows : Daniel and Edward, both of whom died in Cedar county; Eliza, who became the wife of James McGee and also died in this county; Mary, who married James Fitzpatrick (not a relative), and she also died in this county; Thomas, who died here; Margaret, who married Thomas Nolan and died in South Da- kota; and Henry, the father of our subject. With the exception of John and Daniel all reached years of maturity, were married and reared families of their own, some of them having several children.
Henry Fitzpatrick, the father of our subject, came to Cedar county about a year or so after his father located here. He was married in Iowa City to Miss Mary Harley, who came to the United States with her brother, James Harley. She died in this county upon the home farm, but her husband was killed by a runaway team. By a former marriage he had two sons and one daughter, namely: Daniel and Thomas, both residents of Woodbury county, Iowa; and Margaret, who died when young. The four children by his second marriage are: Edward, now a resident of South Dakota; Charles, who died when young; J. H. of this review; and Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Mead of Howard county, Iowa.
466
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
Upon his present farm J. H. Fitzpatrick grew to manhood, his literary education being acquired in the local schools, and while assisting in the labors of the home farm he early acquired an excellent knowledge of agricultural pursuits. He has always resided upon the home farm and is today the owner of two hundred and eighty-three acres on sections 24 and 25, Gower township. It is one of the best improved places of the community and owing to its ex- cellent cultivation produces good crops. Mr. Fitzpatrick was married November 16, 1894, to Miss Catharine Forrestel, who was born in Johnson county, Iowa, in 1867, her parents being Thomas and Johanna Forrestel, both natives of Ire- land, who were married after coming to this country. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick are: Henry, Mary, Genevieve, Thomas, Charles, Agnes and Bernadine.
Since the family was established in the United States its male representa- tives have all voted the democratic ticket and the family have always been com- municants of the Catholic church. Our subject today holds membership in St. Joseph's Catholic church of Cedar Valley and is a man who commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he is brought in contact, either in busi- ness or social life.
WILLIAM CAHILL.
William Cahill is one of the prosperous farmers of Cedar county, owning four hundred and forty acres of land in Cass and Gower townships, all of which he has acquired through his own labor, save a tract of eighty acres, which was a part of his father's homestead. In matters of business judgment he is seldom if ever at fault and his industry has constituted the foundation upon which he has built his prosperity. He was born in Davenport, Iowa, in September, 1860, and is a son of James and Margaret (Martin) Cahill, both of whom were natives of County Tipperary, Ireland. Their youthful days were spent on the Emerald isle, but they were married at Rock Island, Illi- nois. Coming to Iowa, they lived for many years in Cedar county, both pass- ing away on the old homestead farm, to the development and improvement of which Mr. Cahill had long devoted his time and attention. He was about sixty years of age at his death which occurred on the 19th of February, 1881, while his wife passed away December 12, 1872, at the age of fifty years. They were people of the highest respectability and enjoyed the warm friendship of the many with whom they were associated. Their family numbered four children : Sarah, now the wife of Thomas Wall of Johnson county, Iowa; Margaret, the wife of John Hanson, living in South Dakota; William; and Mary, the wife of Herbert Flannery of South Dakota.
William Cahill on leaving the city of Davenport took up his abode in John- son county, but after two years came to Cedar county, arriving in 1865, when the subject of this review was but five years of age. He has since resided upon the place which is now his home. It is situated on the old stage route to the "Side Hill" postoffice. At present Mr. Cahill is the owner of four hundred and
467
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
forty acres of excellent and productive land of which two hundred and one acres is situated on section 31, Cass township, while the-remainder is on sec- tions 5 and 6, Gower township. It is all in one body, however, and is known as the Glendale Stock Farm. Mr. Cahill is actively engaged in the raising of Hereford cattle, Shire horses and Duroc Jersey hogs. Eighty acres of this farm was part of his father's homestead, but the remainder has been acquired by Mr. Cahill and his possessions are the visible evidence of his life of thrift and industry. The farm has been well improved by him and is lacking in none of the accessories or conveniences of the model farm. He also has interests in Oklahoma.
On the 26th of March, 1883, Mr. Cahill was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Dwyer, who was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, on the 15th of March, 1860, and was taken to Johnson county, Iowa, in 1861 by her parents Michael and Mary (Peters) Dwyer, both of whom were natives of County Tipperary, Ireland, where they were reared although married in the United States. They now reside in Cedar township, Johnson county, upon the farm where they originally located. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cahill have been born eight children : Margaret, who is the wife of T. F. Lynch of Cedar Valley and has two chil- dren, William and John; Michael, at home; James; Maurice; William; Mary ; and John and Francis, twins.
In his political views Mr. Cahill is a democrat and for the past four years has served as one of the trustees of Gower township. At the present time he is a school director, filling the position for six years. He belongs to St. Bridget's Catholic church in the Nolan settlement and is interested in all that pertains to the material, intellectual and moral progress of the community. His forcefulness and his resourcefulness in business are indicated in the excellent success which he has achieved, making him one of the prosperous farmers of Gower township.
WALTER L. HARDEN.
One of the leading agriculturists of Gower township is Walter L. Harden, who owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and sixty-eight acres on sections 8 and 17. He has spent his entire life in this township, his birth oc- curring January 8, 1862, and he is a worthy representative of one of the hon- ored pioneer families of Cedar county. His parents were Henry and Hannah (Grewell) Harden, both natives of Stark county, Ohio. They came to Cedar county, Iowa, with their respective parents, the mother being about seventeen years of age at the time of her arrival and the father twenty. Here they were married and continued to reside until the father passed passed away in 1875. He made farming his life occupation and at his death was the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of well improved land. The mother is still living and continues to reside in Plato, Gower township. She is a member of the Society of Friends, to which her husband also belonged. To them were born the fol- lowing children: Aaron, who died at the age of thirteen years; Walter L. of
468
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
this review; Brent T. of North English, Iowa; Ida, the wife of Ed Hoffman of Gower township; Dora, the wife of N. C. Butler of West Branch, Iowa; and Henry, who is living with his mother in Plato. She is a daughter of Aaron and Bethsheba Grewell, both of whom died in Cedar county. Our subject's paternal grandparents were Richard and Abigail Harden, the former of whom died in Ohio, while the death of the latter occurred in this county.
Upon the home farm Walter L. Harden grew to manhood, receiving a good practical education, and he has continued to reside in Gower township with the exception of three years spent in Muscatine, Iowa, after his marriage. He is a most progressive and up-to-date farmer and upon his place has recently erected a good ten-room residence, modern and up-to-date in its appointments, and he also has good barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock.
In 1887 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Harden to Miss Della Wymer, who was born in Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1861, a daughter of Solomon and Sarah (Hall) Wymer. Her father is now deceased but her mother is still living and continues a resident of Muscatine. The children born to our sub- ject and his wife are: Ida, Fred M., Gladys, William and Ira. Since age con- ferred upon Mr. Harden the right of franchise he has supported the men and measures of the republican party and has served as assessor of his township for eight years. He is a public-spirited citizen, taking an active interest in public affairs, and keeps well posted on the questions and issues of the day.
ALONZO SEAMAN.
Twenty years' connection with farming interests in Cedar county established Mr. Seaman's right to rank with the leading and highly respected agriculturists of this portion of the state. He is now living retired and makes his home in Clarence, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. For forty-two years he has been a resident of the county, arriving here in 1868. He is now seventy-eight years of age, his birth having occurred in Broome county, New York, on the 2d of February, 1832. His parents were the Rev. George W. and Clarissa (Works) Seaman, both of whom were natives of the state of New York. The father was a minister of the Congregational church and became one of the early preachers of Illinois, going to Ogle county, that state. Later he became a resident of Carroll county and labored earnestly to promote the cause of Christianity. He passed away there in 1845.
Alonzo Seaman was reared in New York and Illinois, being a youth of thir- teen years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to the latter state. In Carroll county he was married on the 21st of October, 1857, to Miss Rebecca A. Rose, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania and was a daughter of Rufus Rose, who became one of the early settlers of Carroll county. Following his marriage Mr. Seaman engaged in farming in Carroll county, having at first sev- enty acres of land which he entered from the government. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made upon the place at the time when he took possession, but he resolutely transformed the wild tract into productive fields.
MR. AND MRS. ALONZO SEAMAN
471
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
Later he sold that property and bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which he cultivated for a number of years. He also built a house and barn and carried on general agricultural pursuits until 1868, when he sold out and came to Cedar county, Iowa. Here he invested in one hundred and sixty acres of land in Dayton township and diligently developed the fields in the cultivation of crops best adapted to soil and climate. He also raised and fed stock, making a spe- cialty of hogs. There he carried on farming until 1887, when he rented his land and purchased four and a half acres in Clarence, where he now resides. He built upon this place a good dwelling, together with a substantial barn and out- buildings and now has a well equipped property. He sold his farm a number of years ago and is now practically living retired. He became one of the first stockholders of the First National Bank and was financially interested in the institution for a number of years.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Seaman have been born four children: George R., of South Dakota, who is married and has one son, Clyde; Emma, the wife of George Kinney, of Clarence, by whom she has two children, Lowell and Edward; Jessie, the wife of John Woods, Jr., of Cedar county and the mother of one daughter, Gracie; and Rose Isabelle, the wife of Morton H. Coppas, a farmer of Dayton township. There are three children of that marriage, Maxwell, Howard and Harland.
Mrs. Seaman belongs to the Presbyterian church at Clarence. Mr. Seaman votes with the republican party but the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him. His life has been one of well directed activity, bringing to him the success which is his and the high regard in which he is uniformly held.
FRED EMERSON WATERS.
Fred Emerson Waters, proprietor of the Edgewood Stock Farm and one of the most successful stock-breeders in this section of the state, his home being on section 29, Springdale township, has spent his entire life in Iowa, his birth occurring in Wapsie township, Muscatine county, Iowa, January 8, 1878.
He is the third from the youngest in a family of twelve children, his parents being Milton B. and Elizabeth (Hendrickson) Waters, who are also residents of Springdale township. He was only five years of age when the family came to Cedar county and he has resided near Downey ever since, his entire life being devoted to farming and stock-raising. His primary education was obtained in the district schools near his boyhood home and he was subsequently graduated from the Iowa City Commercial College on the 5th of June, 1896. He re- mained with his father until his marriage and then began farming on his own account, his first place being a tract of one hundred and twenty acres in Mus- catine county, where he resided for five years. At the end of that time he sold out and removed to his present farm of three hundred and sixty acres on section 29, Springdale township, Cedar county, which is conveniently located only a half mile from Downey. This place was originally the A. B. Cornwall homestead and since he has taken possession thereof he has made many improvements.
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.