USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 65
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one hundred and thirty-five acres of land. He is progressive and enterprising in his work and is meeting with gratifying success.
Mr. Heabner was married in 1890 to Miss Emma J. Baker, who was born on the 12th of June, 1870, in Rochester township, a daughter of John and Sarah Elizabeth (Howe) Baker, the former born in Pickaway county, Ohio, Septem- ber 18, 1822, and the latter in Lawrence county, Indiana, April 18, 1828. They were successful farming people of Cedar county, the father here passing away January 6, 1892, when seventy years of age. The mother still survives and at the age of eighty-six years is making her home with her son F. M. Baker in Cedar county. In connection with his sketch on another page of this work full mention of the Baker family is made.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Heabner have been born two sons, Elwood and Merle. Mr. Heabner is a Mason, belonging to the lodge at Rochester, and he also be- longs to the Knights of Pythias order in Wilton. He is methodical in the con- duct of his business affairs, and all with whom he comes in contact have for him warm esteem and regard.
GUY M. LANGLEY.
Guy M. Langley, who is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits on sec- tion 14, Sugar Creek township, is a native of New York, born on the 9th of March, 1870, in Rose, Wayne county. There his parents, Samuel and Maggie (Brisbane) Langley, have spent their entire lives. The father was engaged in farming until his retirement from active labor. Their family consisted of three children, of whom Guy M. is the oldest, the others being Eugene, now a resident of Rochester, New York, and Lillian, the wife of Earl Barnes of North Rose, New York.
In the city of his nativity Guy M. Langley passed his minority, there re- ceiving a good practical education and early acquiring an excellent knowledge of agricultural pursuits. In 1893 he came west and, after spending some time at the World's Fair in Chicago, proceeded to Cedar county, Iowa, where he has since made his home. He has made farming his life occupation and is to- day operating a tract of eighty acres on section 14, Sugar Creek township, which is a part of his father-in-law's estate. He has met with success in the cultiva- tion of the soil and is a progressive and up-to-date farmer.
In 1895 Mr. Langley was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Rorick, who was born on the 29th of September, 1861, and by her marriage has become the mother of five children, namely: Mabel, William, Frank, Edith and Irwin. William Rorick, the father of Mrs. Langley, was born in Hanover, Germany, December 25, 1818, but at an early age crossed the Atlantic and became a resi- dent of Ohio in 1837. Five years later he was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Wise, who, after a short married life, died leaving two small children. In the spring of 1851, in company with his children, he came to Iowa and was here married June 20, 1852, to Miss Julia Pirkey, who passed away on the 14th of July, 1892. He survived her about three years and died April 9, 1895, at the
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
age of seventy-six years, three months and fourteen days. His children were: Lucinda, the wife of William Allen of Jefferson, Iowa; John, a resident of Iowa City; James, of Inland township, Cedar county; William, who was resid- ing on the old homestead in Sugar Creek township at the time of his death, which occurred October 7, 1909; and Mary E., now Mrs. Langley. Mr. Rorick became one of the prosperous farmers of his locality, owning at the time of his death four hundred acres of fine farming land on sections 10, II and 14, a por- tion of which he had entered from the government. He was a man of exem- plary habits and was an earnest Christian. At the age of fourteen years he united with the Lutheran church but soon after coming to Iowa joined the Meth- odist Episcopal church, of which he continued a member throughout the re- mainder of his life. He took an active part in all church work and was a man honored and esteemed wherever known.
W. J. LEECH.
W. J. Leech is a prosperous farmer and representative citizen whose home, known as Meadow Brook Farm, is located on section 28. He was born upon that place the 30th of September, 1874, his parents being James Harvey and Mary E. (Evans) Leech. The birth of the father occurred in Rockbridge county, Virginia, but at an early day he came to Iowa and entered land in Cedar county, where he continued to make his home, his time and attention being given to agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in September, 1878, when he was sixty-one years of age. He was twice married, his first wife being Mary (McCrosky) Leech, by whom he had five children, four daughters and one son, but only two daughters are now living. For his second wife he wedded Mary E. Evans, a native of Sugar Creek township, who is now living in Wilton. Unto them were born three sons, namely: John B., of Sioux City, Iowa; James H., who had just graduated from the Northern Indiana Normal College at Val- paraiso when his death occurred; and W. J., of this review.
The last named has spent his entire life upon the old homestead and has always engaged in farming, being now the owner of two hundred and ten acres of highly cultivated and well improved land on section 28. One hundred and thirty acres of this constitutes the home place. He received twenty-nine acres from his father and purchased the remaining one hundred and eighty-one acres, for he has met with success in his farming operations and is today one of the well-to-do and substantial citizens of his community. All of the improvements upon the farm have been placed there either by himself or his father, and his place is one of the most attractive in the locality. General farming and stock- raising have always claimed his attention, and he is today making a specialty of the breeding of Percheron horses.
Mr. Leech was married in 1900 to Miss Etta Weaver, also a native of Cedar county, born in Sugar Creek township in 1878 and a daughter of John and Mar- garet (Kiser) Weaver. Her mother is now deceased but her father is still
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living and makes his home in Wilton. The children born to our subject and wife are Herbert R., John Harvey and Charles Hilbert.
Mr. Leech takes quite an active interest in fraternal organizations and is today a prominent member of the Prairie Bell Grange, of which he has served as master. He also belongs to Wilton Lodge, No. 167, A. F. & A. M., and to Washington Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M., of Muscatine, Iowa. His political support is ever given the men and measures of the republican party and although he has never cared for office, he takes an interest in public affairs and is regarded as one of the leading and public-spirited citizens of his community. His father served as the first judge of Cedar county, being appointed to that position before the day of the district judge. The family has always been one of prominence in the community.
HARRY S. AND WILLIAM L. SMITH.
Harry S. and William L. Smith, proprietors of the Sunnyside Farm, located on section 4, Red Oak township, are well known as progressive and enterprising agriculturists of Cedar county. Their father, James Smith, was born in Aber- deenshire, Scotland, on the 7th of November, 1825, and on his emigration to America, in 1852, came direct to Cedar county, Iowa, where soon after his arrival he purchased the farm now owned and occupied by his sons. Upon this place he continued to reside until called to his final rest April 26, 1901. He was the only one of his family to come to the new world but here he prospered and never re- gretted his determination to locate in America. Throughout his active business life he continued to engage in agricultural pursuits, first buying eighty acres of land, to which he added as he found opportunity until he became the possessor of three hundred acres on section 4, Red Oak township, and twenty acres of timber land on section 10. He had to break his land and place it under cultivation, and all the buildings were erected by him. For about two years he engaged in break- ing land for others and put under cultivation six hundred acres near Clarence, Iowa.
It was on the 2d of May, 1855, that James Smith was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Lindsay, who was also born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on the IIth of October, 1832, and came to the United States on the Ist of May, 1844. She made the voyage in the sailing vessel Niagara, which was six weeks in making the trip from Glasgow to New York, and it was seven weeks later before she ar- rived in Iowa. After the death of her husband she went to Minneapolis, Minne- sota, to make her home with a daughter and died in that state on the 30th of Sep- tember, 1905. She was the mother of the following children: Susie E., now the widow of Frank B. Dickey and a resident of Mechanicsville; Matie B., the wife of H. P. Thomas of Cedar Rapids; Hattie H., who is engaged in teaching school at Minneapolis; William L., residing on the home place; Anna M., also of Minneapolis ; and Harry S. The father was a stanch supporter of the repub- lican party and filled the office of justice of the peace for many years. He also served as secretary of the school board of Red Oak township for thirty-seven
JAMES SMITH
MRS. JAMES SMITH
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
years and took a very active and commendable interest in public affairs. He was a consistent and prominent member of the Presbyterian church of Mechanics- ville, in which he held the office of elder for twenty years.
William L. Smith was born April 25, 1866, on the farm where he now resides. After attending the public schools of that locality he turned his attention to farming and has continued to follow that occupation throughout his active busi- ness career. Harry S. Smith was also born on the old homestead March 21, 1871, and on attaining manhood formed a partnership with his brother, which connec- tion has since continued. They are wide-awake, energetic business men and their farming operations have proved profitable. On the 12th of August, 1902, Harry S. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Adda M. Wasser, who was born in Fair- field township, this county, on the 28th of November, 1878, a daughter of J. S. and Sarah Alice Wasser. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1850, and during his youth came with his parents to this county, where he grew to man- hood and was married. About nine years ago he removed to California, where he now resides but his wife, who was born in Cedar county, died September 26, 1891, at the age of thirty-six years, two months and eleven days. She was a daughter of Nicholas and Nancy Ann (Fillon) Kaiser, early settlers of this county from Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Smith have two children, Donald W. and Kenneth L.
Besides the old homestead, the Smith brothers now own and operate a quar- ter section of land near Garden City, Kansas. They are very sociable and hos- pitable people, and their home is the favorite resort of many friends. Politically they are both identified with the republican party and William L. Smith has taken a very prominent and influential part in public affairs, serving as township clerk for two terms of two years each and assessor for the same length of time. He is now secretary of the township school board, which office he has filled for seven years, and the secretary's books have been in possession of the family for about forty-five years, as his father held the same position before him. With the de- velopment and improvement of Red Oak township the Smith family has now been identified for over half a century and the position they occupy is one of prominence.
JAMES P. WALTON.
The life record of James P. Walton is a credit to the history of a family that has long figured conspicuously and honorably in connection with the agricul- tural development of Cedar county. He was born in Sugar Creek township on the 22d of June, 1861, and was second in a family of six children whose parents were James C. and Caroline (Copeland) Walton. The father, now deceased, was a son of the first white settler of the county. The mother is still living and makes her home with her children.
The associations of boyhood as well as of manhood have brought James P. Walton into close connection with the interests of Sugar Creek township, for he has always resided within its borders. Here he enjoyed the sports in which youths of the period indulged, and in the public schools he acquired a knowledge
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that fitted him for life's practical duties. He was also trained in the work of the home farm and continued with his father until his marriage, when he started out in life on his own account. In the second year after his marriage he came to his present home, which is an excellent tract of land of two hundred and forty acres on sections 24 and 25-originally a part of his father's estate. It is known as Elm Grove Farm, so named because of a grove of trees, mostly elm, that is near the house. The home commands a fine view of the surrounding country and, looking to the south, one is able to see for a distance of twenty miles. The place is situated on the Iowa City and Davenport state road, which was the old stage route. Here Mr. Walton carries on general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of Percheron horses, of which he has about thirty head. all of high grade. He is also engaged quite extensively in raising hogs and his live- stock interests are an important and profitable feature of his business. He has just completed a beautiful fourteen-room modern dwelling, has good outbuild- ings upon his place, and his well improved property is indicative of his progress- ive spirit, for all of the buildings are new and have been erected by him.
In 1888 Mr. Walton was united in marriage to Miss Clara Port, who was born in Sugar Creek township in 1868 and is a daughter of Theodore and Su- sannah (Doerr) Port. They are an old Cedar county family, having come here in the '50s, and they now reside in Wilton. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Walton have been born seven children : Clarence P., Harry C., Vernon C., Franklin T., George D., William P. and James E., who are all at home. In his business affairs Mr. Walton manifests a determined spirit that brings success where a man of less resolute spirit would fail. He watches carefully every detail of the business and as the years pass by is making substantial and gratifying progress. In politics he is a republican and has served as commissioner of his township for some years.
FRED WALTER.
Fred Walter, a successful and prosperous farmer residing on section 33, Sugar Creek township, was born on the 25th of March, 1854, in Berne, Switzer- land, in which country his parents, Jacob and Barbara (Egley) Walter, spent their entire lives. Surrounded by the beautiful Alps he grew to manhood and was given good educational advantages. At the age of eighteen years he emi- grated to the United States and came direct to Cedar county, Iowa, with his uncle, Ludwig Egley, who lived in Sugar Creek township. The latter had re- turned to his native land on a visit and on again coming to America had brought our subject with him, and he has since made his home in Sugar Creek township. For fourteen years he was in the employ of his uncle and on Mr. Egley's death was willed eighty acres of land where he now resides. He has since purchased another eighty-acre tract on section 34 of the same township and to the im- provement and cultivation of his property he now devotes his entire time and attention with most excellent results, for he is a progressive farmer and thor- oughly understands the occupation in which he is engaged.
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
In 1887 Mr. Walter was united in marriage to Miss Maria Louisa Kirch- hofer, a native of Cedar county, who died in 1889 leaving one child, Lulu, now the wife of Henry Grunder, living on a farm belonging to our subject. Mr. Walter was again married in 1890, his second union being with Mary Maurer, who was born in Muscatine county, Iowa, and by her marriage has become the mother of two children, Lilly M. and Fred Edward.
Mr. Walter is the second in order of birth in a family of six children but is the only one of the number to come to the United States. He has never re- gretted his emigration to this country, however, for he has found excellent op- portunities for advancement and is today one of the well-to-do citizens of his community. He is the owner of a well improved and valuable farm and stands high in the community as one of its representative and prominent citizens. He holds membership in the Lutheran church at Wilton, to which his wife also belongs, and she is connected with the Royal Neighbors, while he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.
HENRY WILKENING.
Henry Wilkening, a well known and successful farmer and stock-raiser of Springfield township, is the owner of a productive tract of land comprising two hundred acres, which has been in his possession for the past three decades. His birth occurred in Hanover, Germany, on the 21st of May, 1854, his parents be- ing Conrad and Sophia (Emme) Wilkening, who spent their entire lives in that country. The father was a butcher by trade.
Henry Wilkening obtained his education in the schools of his native land and there made his home until a youth of eighteen. In 1872, wishing to test the truth of the many favorable reports which he had heard concerning the oppor- tunities of the new world, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, coming direct to Cedar county, Iowa. Here he worked as a farm hand for eight years, when, having carefully hoarded his earnings, he was enabled to buy land of his own, coming into possession of his present farm of two hundred acres in Spring- field township. On this place he has carried on his agricultural interests con- tinuously since, raising high grade stock in addition to cultivating cereals and making a specialty of shorthorn cattle. He erected a substantial barn and good outbuildings and has brought his fields under a high state of cultivation. Alert, energetic and enterprising, he has won success in his undertakings and has long been numbered among the representative and respected citizens of his com- munity.
On the 6th of March, 1880, Mr. Wilkening was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Miller, a daughter of Louis and Dora (White) Miller, both of whom are deceased. Unto our subject and his wife were born four sons and a daugh- ter, as follows: Julius, whose birth occurred on the 22d of January, 1882; Ed- ward, whose natal day was September 13, 1886; Martha, born June 5, 1888, who gave her hand in marriage to George Miller, of this county; Paul, whose birth occurred on the 16th of January, 1891 ; and Hugo, who was born January 14,
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1893. All are still at home with the exception of Martha. The wife and mother was called to her final rest on the Ist of March, 1893, her demise being the occa- sion of deep and widespread regret.
Mr. Wilkening is a stanch republican in politics but has had neither time nor inclination for public office. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Evangelical church at Lowden. While he still maintains a love for the land of his birth, his interest centers in the United States and he is in hearty sympathy with its institutions, its purposes and its governmental policy.
WILLIAM COUTTS.
On the roll of Tipton's honored dead appears the name of William Coutts, a man whose capability and strong determination enabled him to work his way steadily upward until he became one of the leading agriculturists and extensive land owners of Cedar county. A native of Aberdeen, Scotland, he was born about the year 1810 and resided in that country until after he had attained his majority, spending his youthful days upon a farm. It was about 1834 that he crossed the Atlantic to America, believing that he might have better opportunities in the new world. Making his way to Ohio, he there remained for three years, during which time he worked as a laborer.
On the 12th of April, 1837, he arrived in Cedar county, Iowa, walking the entire distance from Ohio in company with John Chappell. They made their way to the Scotch settlement of Red Oak, there being only three or four families at the grove at that time. In fact it seemed that the seeds of civilization had scarcely been planted in this portion of the state. He took an active part in the early development and progress of the county and has since been numbered as one of its honored pioneer settlers. He secured a claim and entered land when it was placed upon the market. The Indians were here at the time of his arrival and it was not until the following year that they were sent to reservations farther west. After three years Mr. Coutts returned to Ohio and again walked the entire distance, being nineteen and one-half days on the way. Soon he came again to Cedar county and throughout the remainder of his life gave his attention to general agricultural pursuits. He made steady progress in that department of labor and prospered as the years went by until he was numbered among the most successful and progressive agriculturists of this part of the state. He continued to farm at Red Oak until, wishing to give his children better educational ad- vantages, he purchased a tract of land of four hundred acres a mile east of the courthouse in Tipton. There he established a home and the proximity to the city enabled his children to pursue their education in the city schools. Mr. Coutts remained upon that farm until the year prior to his death, when he removed to Tipton. At one time he was the owner of eight hundred acres in Red Oak township. His farm of four hundred acres in Center township was a very valuable property, upon which he made substantial improvements. For his early purchase of three hundred acres he paid one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. He never bought land for speculation but utilized it for its pro-
William Coutts
. Urs. William Coutts
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
ductiveness and thus did much to promote the agricultural development of the county.
Mr. Coutts was married twice. He first wedded Miss Rachel Bandeen, a native of Scotland, who died in 1848, and on the 16th of April, 1850, in Ohio, he married Miss Barbara Bandeen, who was born near Aberdeen, Scotland, April 19, 1828. In 1833 she was brought to America by her parents, John and Janet (Yule) Bandeen, both of whom have long since passed away. Unto William and Barbara Coutts were born seven children: John, the oldest, spent his entire life in this county and died at the age of fifty-three years. He was married but had no children. He served as county treasurer for four years and was president of the City National Bank at the time of his demise; Jane, who became the wife. of Charles Wright and at her death left two children; William, a graduate of the law school of the State University of Iowa at Iowa City, who was engaged in the practice of law at the time of his death when twenty-eight years of age; Sarah, who was the wife of Joseph Bunker and lived at Cedar Rapids; Mary, the deceased wife of W. J. Moore who, since the death of Mrs. Moore, has resided with his mother-in-law, Mrs. Coutts; Martha is at home; and Ida is the widow of Dr. Roscoe Nash and is living in Tipton.
Mr. Coutts was a man of considerable local influence and prominence. He held several school and road offices and always gave his support to the measures and movements which he believed would prove of benefit to the community. In 1876 he made a visit to his native land and other European points and greatly enjoyed looking again on the scenes of his childhood and renewing acquaintance with the friends of his youth. He was a life-long Congregationalist, active in the work of the church and ever loyal to its teachings. He died in Tipton, December 16, 1891, at the venerable age of eighty years, honored and respected by all who knew him. While he left to his family a handsome competence, he also left to them the more priceless treasure of an untarnished name.
MOSES G. WHITMER.
Moses G. Whitmer is the well known proprietor of the Evergreen Stock Farm on section II, Sugar Creek township, which is one of the most beautiful places in Cedar county. The grounds are adorned with all kinds of evergreen trees, which make it especially attractive. These include the arbor vitae, pyra- madalis, the native cedar, the American arbor vitae, the Chinese golden arbor vitae, the superior arbor vitae, the Norway spruce, the white pine, the Scotch pine, the balsam fir, the cut leaf weeping birch, the weeping elm, the weeping mulberry and the Colorado blue spruce, which is very rare in this part of the country and for which he paid five dollars when it was only eighteen inches high. It is now twelve years old, however. Besides these beautiful trees there are many kinds of apples upon the place, including the northwestern greening, which grows as hardy as a hickory here. There are over fifty varieties of trees and shrubs upon the place and Mr. Whitmer has spent much time and money in the adornment of his lawn. There is no farm in Cedar county that now pre-
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