USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 67
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In the family of Mr. and Mrs. John T. McBurney there were eight children, five sons and three daughters : Mrs. Lavisa Ball, Mrs. J. M. Albright, Asaph G. McBurney and John E. McBurney, all residents of Marion, Linn county, Iowa ; Mrs. Benjamin Long, deceased, who was a resident of Central City, Linn county ; William B. McBurney, of this review ; Rev. D. A. McBurney, a Methodist minister of Fort Dodge, Iowa, who is now serving as presiding elder; and Dr. George F. McBurney, a practicing physician of Belmond, Iowa.
William B. McBurney spent the first five years of his life in Marion and for seven years thereafter was upon a farm in the vicinity of that city. He then went to live with his maternal grandfather, R. B. McKinnie, at Goshen, Ohio, where he remained until 1886. At the age of sixteen years, he secured a position as clerk in a dry-goods store and was thus employed until he removed to the
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west, settling in Des Moines county, Iowa. For four years he engaged in clerk- ing at Mediapolis, Iowa, after which he entered into business on his own ac- count in Tipton, Iowa, in 1890. All through the days of his clerkship, he was actuated by the ambition of one day engaging in business on his own account and to this end he carefully saved his earnings until he felt that his capital was suffi- cient to justify him in establishing a store of his own. For twenty years he has remained at the same location in the Rowell building next to the City Na- tional Bank and he now has the largest exclusive dry-goods store in Cedar county, carrying an extensive and attractive line of goods, while his six clerks are em- ployed to serve the wants of the customers. His business has steadily increased owing to his fair dealing, his reasonable prices and his earnest desire to please his patrons. His success is due to the fact that he has closely applied himself to the conduct of the enterprise, has carefully watched the indications of trade and has employed only legitimate methods to build up an extensive dry-goods trade.
Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. McBurney was married in 1894 to Miss Elizabeth Ellen Storks, a native of Louisa county, Iowa, born February II, 1869. She is the only child of John W. and Nancy Jane (Swank) Storks, na- tives of Ohio and Indiana respectively. The father died in Tipton, February 20, 1901, and the mother now lives with Mr. and Mrs. McBurney. Mr. McBurney is a member of the Presbyterian church and belongs to Cedar Lodge, No. 11, A. F. & A. M., and Siloam Chapter, No. 19, R. A. M., of Tipton. He is inter- ested in the craft and its purposes and exemplifies in his life its beneficent teach- ings. For twenty years he has now been numbered among the prominent and progressive citizens of Cedar county and has cooperated in many of the move- ments for the development and progress of the city. His connection with any undertaking insures a prosperous outcome of the same, for it is his nature to carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. He has earned for himself an enviable reputation as a careful man of business and in his dealings is known for his prompt and honorable methods which have won him the de- served and unbounded confidence of his fellowmen.
LINDLEY HEALD.
Lindley Heald, now living retired in West Liberty, was for many years iden- tified with farming interests in Cedar county. He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, March 25, 1848, and there made his home until he came to Iowa in 1866. His parents were Israel and Rebecca (Hole) Heald, also natives of. Columbiana county, the former born in 1807 and the latter in 1813. Israel Heald was a son of William and Sarah (Wilson) Heald. William Heald was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, and when five years of age accom- panied his parents on their removal to Uniontown, Pennsylvania, where he resided until after his marriage, when he became a resident of Columbiana county, Ohio, which county, however, had not been organized at that time. His principal occupation was surveying and he did much government work of that
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character. He took his corps of assistants into the woods, where they would not see a white man all summer. He crossed the state on horseback to Cincinnati in the fall to get his pay at the land office there. On one occasion he was paid thirteen hundred dollars in silver. Many nights he spent in the woods with his saddle for a pillow. His work constituted an important factor in the develop- ment and improvement of the state. In the fall of 1866 he came with his family to Iowa and died in the spring of 1867 at the very remarkably old age of one hundred and one years, three months and twenty-four days. He was a Quaker in religious faith and a regular attendant at the church services. He had a large family, of whom his son John came to Cedar county in 1852 and settled two miles west of Springdale. Most of the children of William Heald or their children came to Iowa, and when he celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of his birth at Damascus over seventy of his descendants were present. The next day he surveyed a town lot and the survey was found to be accurate. The ma- ternal grandparents of Lindley Heald were Charles and Hester (Hanna) Hole. The latter was connected with the family of which Mark Hanna was a repre- sentative. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hole died in Ohio.
Israel Heald spent his youthful days in the Buckeye state, there pursued his education and was reared to the occupation of farming. Having arrived at years of maturity he married and had two sons. After losing his first wife he wedded Rebecca Hole and unto them were born seven children, four of whom reached years of maturity, namely : Ezra, who is living in West Branch; Mary Ann, the wife of Samuel Emery, a resident of Whittier, Iowa; Lindley, of this review; and Cynthia, who has now passed away.
Lindley Heald was a youth of eighteen years when he left Ohio and came with his parents and their family to Cedar county, Iowa, a location being made in Springdale township, where he lived with his father and mother until 1871. He was then married and began farming for himself in Gower township, two miles east and two miles north of West Branch. As the years passed he pros- pered and at one time was the owner of two hundred and forty acres of rich and valuable land, which he brought under a high state of cultivation and to which he added many modern improvements, such as are always found upon a model farm of the twentieth century. His time and attention were devoted to the raising of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, and in his farm work he was quite successful. He was also interested in the elevator at Centerdale at one time, but in the spring of 1909 he put aside business cares and removed to West Liberty, where he is now living retired, enjoying a well earned rest.
On the 6th of December, 1871, Mr. Heald was united in marriage to Miss Nancy L. Fritchman, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1850 and when five years of age went to Rock Island county, Illinois, with her parents, Adam and Margaret Ann (McGrew) Fritchman, who were natives of Pennsylvania. After living in Illinois for about twelve years the family came to Iowa in 1867, settling in Bloomington township, Muscatine county, but both Mr. and Mrs. Fritchman died in Cedar county, spending their last days in the home of their daughter. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Heald were born three daughters: Edith L., now the wife of Louis W. Emmons, of What Cheer, Iowa; Margaret Ann, at home; and Lydia Alice, the wife of Roy R. Sheets, of Iowa township, Cedar county. .
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Forty-four years have passed since Mr. Heald became a resident of this county, and his wife has lived here for almost as long a period. They are both well known and throughout their entire lives have displayed traits of character which have gained for them the friendly regard of those with whom they have been associated.
JOEL FAIRES.
That the efforts of Joel Faires during a long and active business career proved resultant forces in the acquirement of success is indicated by the fact that, after about a half century of energy, industry and perseverance along agricultural lines, he has been able to put aside active business cares and, in the evening of life, enjoy in well earned rest the fruits of former toil.
One of Ohio's native sons, he was born in Morgan county, December 10, 1837, a son of Thomas T. and Mary (Gifford) Faires. John D. Faires, the grandfather of our subject, was of Scotch parentage and married Miss Jane Besse, a native of Pennsylvania and of German lineage. Their home was established in Ohio, and in that state both passed away. The maternal grandfather, Alexander Gif- ford, who was born in Maine, was of English descent. He followed the sea during his lifetime and on one trip off the Greenland coast froze all of his fingers.
The parents of Joel Faires were natives of Ohio, the father's birth occurring in Guernsey county, May 9, 1809, and the mother's in Morgan county on the 27th of July, 1815. The former passed away on the 29th of July, 1887, while the latter survived until October 5, 1889. She had come to Cedar county, Iowa, with her son Joel in 1868, and after a residence of a few years here removed to the western part of Iowa, and later to Andrew county, Missouri, where she passed away at the home of her son. By her marriage to Mr. Faires she had become the mother of nine children, as follows: Lydia Osborn, deceased; Charity, the wife of Isaac Murphy, of Morgan county, a brother of Mrs. Joel Faires; Joel, of this review; Patience, the deceased wife of Thomas Chappelear; Pearl, who passed away in early life; Ruth, who also died young; Olive, the widow of LaFayette Hunicutt, residing in Clay county, Nebraska; Esther, who wedded Neri Smith, of Clay county, Nebraska ; and R. M., a resident of Andrew county, Missouri.
No event of special importance came to vary the routine of life for Joel Faires during the period of his boyhood and youth, which was spent in the Ohio home of his parents, the common schools of that district affording him the educa- tional advantages which he enjoyed. There he grew to manhood and, having obtained thorough and comprehensive training in the work of the farm under the direction of his father, took up agricultural pursuits as an independent venture, making that occupation his life work. He remained a resident of his native state until the year 1868, when with his family, which then consisted of his wife and four sons, and accompanied by his mother, he came to Iowa and took
MR. AND MRS. JOEL FAIRES
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up his abode in Iowa township, Cedar county. From that time until 1909, cover- ing a period of more than four decades, he was closely identified with the farming interests of this section of the state and left the impress of his individuality not only upon agricultural interests but also upon the public life of the community in which he resided. His home farm consisted of one hundred acres on section 20, Iowa township, and later he acquired eighty acres on the northeast quarter of that section, while subsequently he purchased, in connection with his son eighty-seven and a half acres on the county line. He never sought to extend his efforts into other channels or divide his time among other interests but con- centrated his attention upon agriculture and to this fact is doubtless due in large measure his success. He carefully cultivated his fields, made a close study of soil conditions, knew the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and learned by experience the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting, and with the passing of years he prospered in his undertaking. He studied modern methods of agriculture and adopted those which in his estimation were most feasible, and as time passed his keen discernment and practical course became factors in the attainment of a success which makes it possible for him to enjoy in well earned retirement all of the comforts and many of the luxuries. Having dis- posed of all of his property holdings save the old homestead farm, preparatory to seeking the advantages offered by city life, on the Ist of April, 1909, he re- moved to West Liberty and there purchased his present comfortable and attractive residence at the corner of Columbus and Sixth streets.
Ere his arrival in Iowa Mr. Faires was united in marriage, in Morgan county, Ohio, to Miss Ursula Murphy, the cermony being celebrated on the 20th of January, 1859. She is a native of Morgan county, where her birth occurred on the 29th of January, 1840, and is one of a family of four sons and five daughters born unto John and Jane (Boylan) Murphy. The parents, who were both born in Ohio, the father on the 10th of November, 1789, and the mother on the 25th of July, 1807, have passed away, the death of the former occurring December 20, 1884, and the latter March 22, 1886. While still residents of Ohio four chil- dren were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Faires, as follows: Ira, at home; Owen residing in Muscatine county, Iowa, where he is engaged in general farming; Elmer, of Iowa township, Cedar county; and Clark, living in Lone Tree, Iowa, where he is conducting a jewelry establishment. After their arrival in Iowa six children were added to the family, namely : Minerva, the wife of William Crees, of Iowa township, Cedar county ; Maleta, the twin sister of Minerva and the wife of W. W. Cheadle, of Johnson county; Lena, who married Arthur Deal, of Des Moines, Iowa ; Viola; Purley ; and Myrtle, the wife of F. R. Horn, operating the old Faires homestead in Iowa township, Cedar county.
During his residence in his native state Mr. Faires saw active military service as a member of the state militia, serving as first lieutenant of a company of one hundred and eighteen men, known as Squirrel Hunters, called out during Mor- gan's raid. He has been a stalwart republican since the Fremont campaign, and, being a man of strong opinions who possesses the courage of his convictions, his position upon any question or issue has never been an equivocal one. The key- note to his career has been progress and patriotism, and it is a well known fact that he has at all times taken a firm stand in support of all matters pertaining to
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the political and moral welfare of the community. He has already passed the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten and can look back without regret upon a past that has ever been characterized by high ideals and noble principles, while he can look forward to the future without fear.
CHARLES DANIEL STOTLER.
Charles Daniel Stotler has become well known as a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Iowa township, where he has resided throughout the greater part of his life, his efforts along those lines having been crowned with well merited and substantial success. He is a son of Henry and Amanda (Hoy) Stotler, natives of Wayne county, Ohio, whence they removed to Illinois in 1855, and he was only four years of age when the family took up their abode in Cedar county, Iowa. Here, with the exception of ten years spent in Linn county during the period of his boyhood, he has since continued to make his home, devot- ing his entire time to agricultural pursuits. On the home farm he early acquired a thorough knowledge of farming in its various phases and remained under the parental roof, giving his father the benefit of his assistance, until attaining his majority when, crossing the threshold of the business world, he entered into partnership with his brother, J. P. Stotler, in the purchase of one hundred and sixty acres of land, which they continued to operate for several years. They prospered in their undertaking and later were able to add to their original pur- chase, being the owners of two hundred and eighty acres at the time of the dissolution of the relationship in 1885.
Since that year Charles Daniel Stotler has carried on farming alone, own- ing a place of one hundred acres on section 9, Iowa township, which has been his home for the past twenty-three years. This is a highly cultivated property known as Maple Grove Farm, most of the improvements thereupon having been instituted by Mr. Stotler. He has made a careful study of soil conditions, has practiced rotation of crops, and his fields under his careful and wise management have responded with abundant harvests to the care bestowed upon them. In addition to tilling the soil he is also engaged in raising live stock of all kinds, con- fining his attention, however, to high grades, and this branch of his business is proving most remunerative, the excellent quality of his product demanding ready sales and high prices upon the market. He has placed his dependence upon the safe and substantial qualities of energy and wise management-qualities which have ever been salient elements in his career-and his sound business judgment has proven a potent force in the success which is now crowning his efforts.
It was on the IIth of May, 1889, that Mr. Stotler was united in marriage to Miss Lottie Alice Harden, who was born in West Liberty, Iowa, on the 26th of April, 1867, a daughter of William and Kate (Daum) Harden. Both parents were natives of Ohio, where they were reared and married. The mother passed away when the daughter was but seven years of age, and later the father again mar- ried, making his home at the present time at West Liberty. By his first mar- riage were born three sons and three daughters, while by his second wife he
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had three sons. Mr. and Mrs. Stotler became the parents of two children, Charles Henry and William Harold, aged eighteen and thirteen years respectively.
Interested as all 'American citizens should be in the political situation of the country, Mr. Stotler has thoroughly informed himself concerning the questions and issues of the day and, believing the principles and platform of the republi- can party to be most conducive to good government, has given stalwart sup- port to that organization since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He served as township trustee for five years, was school director for fifteen years, the cause of education finding in him a warm champion, and in all things that are matters of civic virtue and civic pride he has been deeply interested, at all times upholding those measures which, in his opinion, tend toward the upbuilding and development of the community. Actuated at all times by a public-spirited loyalty, he possesses those qualities which speak for good citizenship and win for him the respect, confidence and good-will of his fellowmen.
AMOS E. KIMBERLY, JR.
Amos E. Kimberly, Jr., needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for the name Kimberly has been well known in Cedar county for almost a half century. He was born near his present place of residence in Iowa township, May 25, 1881, and has always lived in this locality, his home being now on section 30, where he owns and cultivates one hundred and seventy-two and one- half acres of rich and productive land. He is the son of Amos E. and Mary (Wilson) Kimberly, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this volume. His father was one of the most extensive farmers and leading stock- raisers of this section of the state. No better blooded horses or shorthorn cattle could be found than were seen upon the Kimberly farm and at one time his father kept about four hundred standard bred trotting horses upon his place. He was the owner of over twelve hundred acres of land on sections 19 and 30, Iowa township. It is a part of this farm which Amos E. Kimberly now owns.
The youthful days of the son were spent in the usual manner of farm lads. He attended the public schools and as his age and strength permitted assisted more and more largely in the work of the farm. At length the father retired from active business life and left the property in charge of his two sons. Amos E. Kimberly has displayed marked business ability and enterprise in carrying on his work and the excellent appearance of his place indicates his practical and progressive methods. He has erected new buildings, including his house, which was built in 1909. He carries on general farming and stock-raising, making cattle and sheep a special feature of his place. Upon the farm was a kite-shaped mile track with a half-mile regulation track for speeding horses.
On the 28th of February, 1908, Mr. Kimberly was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Klein, who was born in Moscow, Iowa, in 1882, and is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence T. Klein. Her father now resides in Little Rock, Arkansas, but the mother is deceased. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kimberly are well
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known in this county and their circle of friends is coextensive with that of their acquaintances. Mr. Kimberly is a man of excellent business ability and keen discrimination, and whatever he undertakes seems to bring him success because of his unremitting diligence.
AMOS E. KIMBERLEY.
The tales of fiction present no more interesting story than the life record of the self-made man-the man who seizes his opportunity and uses it to the best advantage, who is the builder and architect of his own fortunes and while working for personal gain does not lose sight of his obligation and his duty to his fellowmen. Such is the history of Amos E. Kimberley who, devoting his life to the basic industry of agriculture, became one of the wealthiest residents of Cedar county and one of the best known men in eastern Iowa. For almost half a century he was a resident of this portion of the state, making his home on one of the finest farms in Iowa township.
A native of Ohio, he was born December 21, 1837, at Austintown, Ohio, and passed away in West Liberty, Iowa, April 21, 1910. His parents were Samuel and Mary Minerva (Lantimer) Kimberley, who spent their entire lives in the Buckeye state. The father owned extensive mining interests and factories in both Ohio and Pennsylvania, together with gold mines in the Black Hills and in Mexico. Much of his life was devoted to the development and management of those properties. In the family were three sons : Amos, of this review ; German, now deceased; and Peter Lantimer, who was a very brilliant business man, extensively engaged in mining, with interests all over the United States. He died in June, 1905, and his estate was valued at ten million dollars. It was said he never forgot the minutest detail of a business transaction nor did he have to refer to any books or data, for he possessed a remarkable memory.
Amos E. Kimberley was reared in Ohio and in 1857 was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Flick, by whom he had five children, one of whom died in infancy. the others are : Charles W., a resident of Los Angeles, California ; Nellie Sankey, of Kittaning, Pennsylvania; Viola D. Lantimer, of San Francisco, California ; and Samuel O., a resident of Washington, D. C.
Four years after his first marriage Mr. Kimberley came to this state and took up his abode upon a farm in Iowa township, Cedar county. As the years passed by he prospered and became one of the most extensive land owners of this section of the state. He had over five hundred acres in his home place and at one time was the owner of more than one thousand acres of fine farm land in Iowa town- ship. The Kimberley farm was noted throughout the west because of the fine thoroughbred horses and shorthorn cattle there raised. No better stock was produced in this state. Mr. Kimberley dealt heavily in both and during his life- time undoubtedly handled more money than any other man who has ever resided in or near West Liberty. During the long years spent on the farm the old home- stead was practically a country inn where all callers, regardless of their standing or station in life, were entertained with a lavish hand for any length of time they
Mary Kimberley -
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might desire to remain. About twelve years prior to his death financial reverses compelled him to relinquish his magnificent home. Undaunted, however, he built another and began to accumulate another fortune. When his second resi- dence was destroyed by fire in 1908 he left the farm to the care of his sons and came to West Liberty to spend his declining days. He then purchased the Eli Elliott property on the corner of Fifth and Clay, thoroughly remodeling it and adding to its equipment until he had the finest residence in the town.
After losing his first wife Mr. Kimberley was married in 1877 to Miss Mary Wilson, who was born in Ireland in 1849, and when seven years of age went to Scott county with her parents. After residing there for about eighteen years the family settled on a farm three miles northwest of West Liberty and upon that place both the father and mother, David and Jane E. (Wilson) Wilson, passed away. Unto the second marriage of Mr. Kimberley there were born seven children, three of whom passed away ere the father's death. David Wilson, who was born August 6, 1878, in the Black Hills while his parents were there super- vising their mining interests, has always resided in Iowa township. He was educated in the high school of Springdale, and the Chicago Business College, and the high school at Des Moines, and has since carried on farming, his home being now on section 14, where he has over two hundred acres of the old homestead property. He married Elsie King, of Chicago. Amos E., born May 25, 1881, is represented elsewhere in this volume. Peter Lantimer, born June 13, 1883, was graduated from the Springdale high school and was a student of the State Agricultural College at Ames, when he was killed in a railroad accident on the 25th of October, 1902. Wilson C., born December 24, 1886, resides with his mother, and Mary Marie, born October 15, 1889, is also at home.
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