USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 39
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
Since starting out in life for himself Mr. Waters has made a specialty of the breeding of stock, devoting his attention principally to Percheron horses and Chester White hogs, of which he has some of the finest in the country. At the head of his drove are Chickasaw Chief, New Hampton King and O. K. Repeater, and among his sows are Maud, the grand champion at the Illinois State Fair in 1908; Better Girl, the grand champion at the Nebraska State Fair in 1908; Lillian W., a prize winner at the Iowa State Fair of 1908; and New Hampton Queen, a prize winner at the Iowa Fair of 1908, besides other prize winners such as Marie No. 2, Orange Blossom, Iowa Bell, Brilliant Star and Mary. In fact, he has about one hundred and fifty head of registered hogs upon his farm. His horses have also become noted throughout the country. Brilliant D. standing at the head of his herd, is a three year old, weighing twenty-three hundred and sixty pounds, which won the grand championship in the three year old class both home bred and open class of Percherons of any age at the Iowa State Fair, the Nebraska, Wisconsin and Illinois State Fairs and also the International Stock Show at Chicago in 1908. Among his other fine horses is Morse, one of Besique's greatest sons, and he now has sixteen head of stallions upon his place. His father being interested in the stock business, Mr. Waters was practically born and reared in the same and there is probably no man in this part of the country who is more familiar with the business or is a better judge of stock than he. He started with an imported mare about thirteen years ago and his business has steadily grown until it has now reached exten- sive proportions and his stock is famed throughout Iowa and the surrounding states. At present he raises no crops, his whole farm being devoted to meadow and pasture land.
On the 25th of February, 1902, Mr. Waters was united in marriage to Miss Anna G. Rummells, a native of Johnson county, Iowa, born near Downey, and a daughter of Henry Rummells. They now have five children, namely: Irene Elizabeth, Verda Edmonia, Leslie E., Vesta E. and Ora E. Since the spring of 1909 the family have resided upon their present farm and they are people of prominence in the community, having a large circle of friends and acquaint- ances.
HARRY P. MATTISON.
Harry P. Mattison, who is devoting his time and energies to general farm- ing on section 27, Gower township, was born July 15, 1875, on the place which he yet makes his home. In fact, he has always resided here, so that it is en- deared to him through the associations of his boyhood and of later manhood as well. His father, Philip Mattison, was born in London, England, in Novem- ber, 1837, and was six years of age when he came to America with his parents, who settled near Massillon, Ohio. There the grandfather of our subject died, and the grandmother came with her family to Iowa in 1855, taking up her abode in Springdale. In 1857 Philip Mattison was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Sullivan, a lady of Scotch-Irish lineage, who was born in Dublin, Ireland,
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
August 15, 1835, and came to America while in her teens, arriving in Spring- dale, Iowa, in 1854. In 1863 they located on a farm in Gower township, four miles northeast of West Branch, where Mrs. Mattison still resides with her son Harry. She has been called upon to mourn the loss of her husband, who died in 1898, honored and respected by all who knew him. In the family of this worthy couple were six children, namely: Anna M., who is now the widow of William S. Enlow and a resident of West Branch; Nellie M., who is the wife of Dr. J. M. Mingus, of Iowa City ; Charles, a prominent lawyer of Butte, Montana; Edwin, a druggist of Omaha, Nebraska; Clara, who died in infancy ; and Harry P., of this review. The family have long been connected with the Society of Friends.
In his boyhood days Harry P. Mattison was a pupil in the public schools and there laid the foundation for his later success. He was thoroughly trained in farm work so that he was able to take charge of the property and success- fully continue the cultivation of the fields. He is now engaged in the culti- vation of a valuable tract of land of two hundred and forty acres, situated on sections 27 and 33, Gower township.
On the 21st of December, 1898, Mr. Mattison was united in marriage to Miss Anna Barkhurst, who was born in Iowa township on the 5th of March, 1876, and is a daughter of Thomas and Ella (Doty) Barkhurst. Their home has been blessed by the birth of an interesting little son, Philip. Mr. and Mrs. Mattison are both well known in this county where they have spent their entire lives and where they now have a large circle of warm friends.
WILMER A. HIRST.
Wilmer A. Hirst, widely known as a successful and enterprising farmer and stock-raiser of Springdale township, was born on the place where he now re- sides, his natal day being May 21, 1881. His paternal grandparents, John and Maria Hirst, both passed away in this county, while the maternal grandparents, Austin and Edith McConnell, died in Ohio and Iowa respectively. Thomas and Susan (Marsh) Heald, the great-grandparents of our subject, passed away simply from old age within forty-eight hours of each other and their remains were interred in a double grave in the Hickory Grove cemetery of Springdale township.
Wilson C. and Mary Anna (McConnell) Hirst, the parents of W. A. Hirst of this review, were both natives of Ohio. The father was born in Belmont county on the 21st of October, 1846, while the mother's birth occurred in 1842. Wilson C. Hirst came to Cedar county, Iowa, with his parents when sixteen years of age and in 1868 wedded Mary Anna McConnell, who had come to this county with her widowed mother. Here she followed the profession of teach- ing prior to her marriage at the little school house known as Yankee Corner, having sixty pupils, to whom she imparted clearly and readily the knowledge that she had acquired. She was also an active and valued member of the Hick- ory Grove "Friends Meeting" and passed away in that faith in 1892. Follow-
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
ing his marriage Wilson C. Hirst began operating the farm which is now con- ducted by our subject, being actively and successfully engaged in its cultivation until 1907. On first becoming identified with agricultural interests he rented land but a few years later bought a tract of eighty acres. As his financial re- sources increased, owing to his untiring industry and capable management, he added to his land holdings from time to time until they now embrace two hun- dred and fifty acres on section 10, Springdale township. In 1896 he was again married, his second union being with Rachel H. Taber, whose birth occurred near Mount Pleasant, Ohio. They now make their home near Barnesville, Ohio, having returned to the Buckeye state in 1907. By his first wife Wilson C. Hirst had the following children: Luella M., the wife of John Fritchman, of Hughson, California; Lura, who passed aawy at the age of nine years; John S., who in 1907 fell from a tree on frozen ground and was instantly killed; Wilmer A., of this review; Emmor G., a resident of South Dakota; and Mary L., the wife of Harvey I. Branson, of West Branch in Springdale town- ship.
Wilmer A. Hirst has always remained on the farm where he was born with the exception of about a year and a half spent in a machine shop and the work of the fields has claimed his time and energies. He operates the two-hundred- acre tract belonging to his father on section 10, Springdale township, the fields being under a high state of cultivation and improvement. In connection with the tilling of the soil he devotes considerable attention to the raising of stock, meeting with success in both branches of activity.
On the Ist of May, 1907, Mr. Hirst was united in marriage to Alice C. Barker, of Chester, Pennsylvania, her father being Calvin S. Barker. W. A. Hirst is a member of the Friends Society and exemplifies its teachings in his daily life. A young man of upright and honorable principles, he well merits the regard and esteem which are uniformly accorded him in the community where his entire life has been spent.
JAMES DWIGANS.
James Dwigans, deceased, was one of the honored early settlers of Cedar county and for over sixty years he made his home within its borders, the greater part of that time being devoted to agricultural pursuits, though his last days were spent in retirement in Tipton, where he passed away on the 22d of June, 1903. He was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, February 27, 1827, and was a son of Callihan and Sarah (Coleman) Dwigans, who were natives of Maryland and Ohio respectively and died in this county.
Our subject, who was the eldest of their nine children, was about ten years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Rock Island county, Illinois, where the family resided for two years. It was in the spring of 1839 that they came to Cedar county, Iowa, and located upon a farm near Tipton, where he grew to manhood. In the spring of 1850 he went to California and was engaged in mining for a period of three years. At the end of that time,
JAMES DWIGANS
MRS. JAMES DWIGANS
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
however, he returned to Cedar county, where throughout the remainder of his life he followed farming and milling. In December, 1869, he purchased a farm three miles west of Tipton in Center township and upon that place he resided until his removal to Tipton, devoting the greater part of his time and attention to its cultivation and improvement. Being of a mechanical turn of mind, he was greatly interested in machinery and, as he could not secure a millwright, he planned and erected the stone mill which he owned and conducted for several years. In his business undertakings he prospered and at his death left four hundred acres of land, two hundred and forty of which his widow still owns. Having acquired a comfortable property, he finally removed to Tipton in 1902 and there spent the remainder of his days in ease and quiet, enjoying the fruits of former toil.
In December, 1863, Mr. Dwigans was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary (Ives) Leabhart, whose birth occurred in Muskingum county, Ohio, on the 5th of March, 1841. Her father, Stephen Ives, was born in New Hampshire in August, 1803, and on reaching manhood was married in Vermont, January 18, 1836, to Miss Sarah Nutt, a native of that state, whose birth occurred in June, 1812. Coming west in 1840, they first located in Muskingum county, Ohio, and later removed to Coshocton county, that state. It was in 1855 that they brought their family to Cedar county, Iowa, and located on the place where the stone mill now stands. At the early age of nine years Mr. Ives entered a woolen factory and throughout the remainder of his life followed the occupation of carding and cloth dressing, owning and operating a small factory in this county until his death, which occurred March 30, 1857. His second wife survived him for many years, dying in Tipton in December, 1896. By his first marriage he had two sons : Victor, who was drowned at the age of eight years; and Orange, now a resident of Denver, Colorado. His second union was with Sarah Nutt and to them were born four children: John N., now of Boulder, Colorado; Mary, now Mrs. Dwigans ; William, who died in 1900; and Emma, the wife of Justus Keller, of Emmettsburg, Iowa.
Mrs. Dwigans was only fourteen years of age when brought by her parents to this county, and after reaching womanhood was married in February, 1858, to Solomon Leabhart, who was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, Feb- ruary 20, 1835, and died in West Liberty, Iowa, in July, 1862. He was a con- tractor and house finisher, employing several men. By that union there was one son, William O., who was born in West Liberty, March 1, 1859, and now resides with his mother in Tipton, while he operates the home farm. He married Miss Fannie Barnes, of West Liberty, and their only child is Charles Herman, now sixteen years of age, whom Mr. Dwigans especially loved. There was one child, Charles C., born to our subject and his wife, but he died in 1884 at the early . age of nineteen years, when life seemed to hold so much of promise for him. This was one of the greatest sorrows of Mr. Dwigans' life.
On his removal to Tipton in 1902 Mr. Dwigans purchased and remodeled the house on Mulberry street, near the northern limits of the town, where his widow still resides. In his political affiliations he was a republican, taking active and prominent part in local affairs, and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and'
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ability, called upon him to fill various township and school offices. For over thirty years he was an earnest and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church at West Bethel, having united under the pastorate of Rev. George Metz- gar, and on the Sabath day he was always found in the house of worship, nothing but illness keeping him away, and his life was ever in harmony with his profes- sions. In business and social relations he ever held to high standards and en- joyed in large measure the confidence and trust of those with whom he was brought in contact in every relation of life.
TILLMON TODD.
Tillmon Todd, of Springdale, who, since 1883 has been engaged in the prac- tice of law, was born in Chesterfield, Ohio, and as a small boy came to Iowa in 1852 with his parents, Elisha and Sally (Smith) Todd, who were residents of Columbiana county, Ohio. The mother was born near Barnesville, Ohio. The parents were married in Columbiana county and afterward removed to Morgan county, Ohio, locating there at an early day when there were many deer still to be found in that locality. In 1852 they came to Iowa and spent their re- maining days in Cedar county and here they also shared in the hardships and experiences of pioneer life as the father developed and improved a new farm. He was an active supporter of the cause of abolition and assisted in maintain- ing a station on the underground railroad both in Ohio and in Iowa. He was defeated when a candidate for the legislature in Ohio owing to his strong anti- slavery principles. Throughout his business career his attention was given to general farming and he became the owner of two hundred acres of land in Cedar county and a tract of equal extent in Linn county. Both he and his wife were members of the Society of Friends and took an active part in its work, Mrs. Todd acting as clerk of the Friends meeting in Ohio and in this county, while Mr. Todd was overseer of the meeting in Ohio. Later he did not adhere so closely to the teachings of that sect but became more liberal in his religious views. He died in 1882 at the age of seventy-five years, while his wife passed away at the age of seventy-eight years.
In their family were eight children: Emily, who was married three times and died at the age of sixty-nine years; Lydia, who became the wife of Joshua Smith but both are now deceased; Shannon, a twin brother of Lydia and a resident of Springdale; John, who died at the age of twenty-two years; Sabilla, the wife of Harry Beeson of West Liberty; Lindley, who died at the age of eighteen years; Maria, the widow of Elza Maxon and a resident of Springdale ; and Tillmon, of this review.
As previously stated, Tillmon Todd was but a small boy when he came with his parents to Iowa. They made the journey with four covered wagons, three teams and one single horse and on reaching Cedar county settled in Springdale, where Mr. Todd has resided continuously since the spring of 1853. He was reared upon the home farm and early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. After the loss of his first wife, he
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resumed his education, attending the Springdale Seminary. Later he engaged in teaching school for several years and subsequently entered the law office of Wolf & Landt, attorneys, at Tipton, the partners being Hon. W. P. Wolf and S. B. Landt. After a thorough course of liberal reading Mr. Todd was ad- mitted to the bar in 1883 and has since been engaged in the general practice of law. He prepares his cases with great thoroughness and presents his cause in a strong and logical way. He has also been identified with agricultural inter- ests and has one hundred and eighty acres of valuable land in Cedar county and two hundred acres in Wisconsin. He likewise has mining interests in Colorado and in his various business enterprises is meeting with a subtantial and grat- ifying meaure of success. He was one of the instigators of and is now actively engaged in the promotion of the Iowa City & Davenport Interurban Railroad, extending from Iowa City through Springdale to Davenport.
Mr. Todd was married first in 1865 to Miss Mary Gifford, a native of Ches- terfield, Ohio, who came to Iowa with her parents in 1854 and died in 1870. The two children born of that marriage are now deceased, Lettie having passed away at the age of two and one-half years, while Tyna became the wife of C. E. Boss and died October 1, 1909, leaving two daughters.
In 1882 Mr. Todd was again married, his second union being with Miss Lou Andre, who was born near Mechanicsville in Cedar county and has resided here all her life. She is a lady of superior ability, well known as a practicing physi- cian. After pursuing her literary education in the schools of this county, she took a four years' medical course, spending two years as a student of medicine in Iowa City and two years at Keokuk, Iowa. She received her M. D. degree in the spring of 1903 and has since engaged in the general practice of medicine, being accorded a liberal patronage. Her skill and ability are manifest in the excellent results which have attended her efforts and she is a member of the county, state and national medical associations. She is also an active member of the Self-Culture Club. By her marriage she has become the mother of one son, Carr, who is his father's partner in farming and stock-raising.
Mr. Todd has one of the finest parks on the Cedar river, known as Todd's Park, adjoining Gray's ford. Upon the place is a fine spring, the water coming out of the solid rock seventy-five feet above the level of the river. The park includes one hundred and twenty acres and upon it there is much hard maple, oak, hickory and basswood. Attractive natural scenery is furnished in cliffs. rocks, hills and valleys. The place borders the river for three-quarters of a mile and Hares creek also runs through it. The park was established by Mr. Todd in 1883, in which year he threw it open to the public, since which time many picnics are held there annually and it is a favorite resort with pleasure- seekers. Mr. Todd is a graduate of the Weltmer School of Healing, of the class of 1903, and has cured hundreds but gave up the work owing to the con- dition of his health. He acts as correspondent for a number of daily and local papers and is interested in all that pertains to the welfare of the community. He has served as a member of the school board for twelve or fifteen years and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he has served as a member of the central committee. He was reared in the Friends church but is not aggressive in either
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politics or religion. He believes in according to every individual the right of thinking for himself and is recognized as a broad-minded man who is actuated by the spirit of justice and truth in all that he does. Both Mr. and Mrs. Todd have a wide acquaintance in the county and their many excellent qualities have gained them the warm regard and favorable recognition of all who know them.
HOWARD W. REICHERT.
Howard W. Reichert needs no introduction to the readers of this volume for he has always resided in Tipton-his native city-his birth having here oc- curred April 14, 1879, and in the course of years has come to be recognized as one of the leading merchants and financiers of the city. He is a son of the late John H. Reichert, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. His father in the management and control of business affairs became one of the wealthy resi- dents of the city and erected in Tipton one of its finest homes, now occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Peters. The family numbered ten children, namely : Lillian, the wife of Dr. R. A. Peters, of Tipton; Clara, who died in infancy; Walter P., of Canton, Illinois; Margaret, the wife of C. Bennett Chesterman, of Sioux City ; Rose Anna, the wife of L. S. Maxon, of Tipton; Charles Scott, who died at the age of thirty years; Howard W., of this review; Lina, the wife of Frederick Perkins, of Canton, Illinois; John H., who died in infancy; and Bertha H., living in Tipton.
Of this family Dr. Charles Scott Reichert was the first American dentist to receive a license to practice on the Island of Cuba. He had an examination lasting twenty-three days before he was admitted to practice there, but after a short time spent on the island he returned home. At the time of the Spanish- American war he entered the army as a member of a signal corps, which was disbanded at Des Moines. He then became a private of Company F, Forty- ninth Iowa Infantry, and at Savannah, Georgia, became a bookkeeper for Gen- eral Fitzhugh Lee. Soon after arriving in Cuba he was taken ill and was brought home. It was after this that he was engaged in practice in Cuba. He had studied for one year in Iowa City and two years at the Chicago University and was graduated with honors on the completion of the dental course. He died in Tipton, February 17, 1908.
Howard W. Reichert completed his education in the Tipton high school and following his graduation entered business life as a member of the firm of Reichert & Geller. He spent two years in mastering the business and on the Ist of January, 1900, became his father's successor in the firm, which conducted an extensive trade in lumber, coal and building materials. In the spring of 1910 he established an automobile business and livery, selling and repairing motor cars. He is also a director of the Cedar County State Bank of Tipton, succeeding to the position upon the death of his father on the 19th of December, 1907. He is a forceful factor in commercial circles and his ready adaptability and enterprise enable him to successfully accomplish whatever he undertakes.
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
On the 24th of October, 1901, Mr. Reichert was united in marriage to Miss Bertha A. Pfaff, a native of this county and the only child of Peter and Eliz- abeth (Cox) Pfaff. Her father, who was born in Cedar county, May 10, 1847, passed away in Tipton on the 20th of May, 1909. Her maternal grandparents were W. H. and Caroline (Setford) Cox, who were natives of Indiana but were married in Iowa. Both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Reichert have one child, Bernice.
They are members of the Lutheran church, in which Mr. Reichert is serving as deacon, and he belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He is one of Tipton's young but most enterprising business men, resolute and determined, and never fears to advance where favoring opportunity leads the way. He is a prominent representative of a worthy pioneer family and like his father is making for himself a creditable name and gaining a very desirable competence.
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HENRY LETH.
Henry Leth, who obtains a gratifying annual income from his farming and stock-raising interests, is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land in Farmington township. His birth occurred in Holstein, Germany, on the 13th. of February, 1848, his parents being Henry and Bertha (Steffen) Leth, who were born, reared and married in that country. The father, whose natal day was June 9, 1823, wedded Miss Bertha Steffen about 1842 and in 1873 emigrated to the United States. Having lost his wife in 1886, he makes his home with our subject and though now eighty-seven years of age, is still hale and hearty and in possession of all his faculties.
Henry Leth acquired his education in the schools of the fatherland and after putting aside his text-books worked as a farm hand until he had attained the age of twenty years. In 1868, believing that he might enjoy better advantages in the new world, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States and after land- ing on American shores made his way direct to Scott county, Iowa. There he labored as a farm hand for a year and then came to Cedar county, here work- ing as a hired hand for about four years longer. On the expiration of that period he rented eighty acres of land in Farmington township and subsequently purchased a tract of similar size there. Later, by buying an eighty-acre tract adjoining, he extended the boundaries of his farm to embrace a quarter section of land. That property has remained his place of abode continuously since and he has made all of the improvements thereon. His home was destroyed by fire in 1900 but he immediately erected another fine residence. He carries on the work of tilling the soil and also raises stock and his business interests are so carefully managed that annually his sales of grain and stock return to him a good financial reward for his labor.
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