USA > Iowa > Story County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Story County, Iowa > Part 61
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400 pounds of creamery butter. In 1884 he also engaged in merchandising at that place, and since 1889 he has been postmaster. He has held several township offices, and is re- garded as a thoroughly upright and conscien- tious citizen. His marriage to Miss Alice Banks, a native of New York State, occurred in 1869, and four children have blessed this union George, Florence, Raymond and Frank. Socially, Mr. Wortman is a member of the I. O. O. F.
Milton P. Webb, attorney, Slater, Iowa. Prominent among the successful legal lights of the county stands the name of Milton P. Webb. He is a native-born resident of the State, his birth occurring on October 4, 1849, and is the youngest of seven children who are named as follows: Porter J. (is engaged in farming in Sioux County, Iowa, and married Miss Margaret Kelsey, a native of Iowa), Granville D. (a farmer of Nebraska, married Miss May Allen), Abbott K. (attorney by pro- fession, held the county judgeship of Greeley County, Kas., for some time; he married Miss Fannie Van Wechel), Margaret J. (married Stephen B. Baird, a farmer, and is now resid- ing in Sioux County, Iowa ), Mary E. ( married James W. Donahue, a farmer, and now resides in Story County), and Martha A. (married John Q. Moore, a farmer, and resides in Story County ). Nathan Webb, the father of the above mentioned children, was born in West Virginia in 1808, and can remember the War of 1812. He was a farmer by occupation, and was an early settler of Story County, where he built the first flouring mill. The mother was also a native of West Virginia, and died when about fifty-four years of age. Milton received his early education in the common schools and afterward attended Cornell College, Linn County, Iowa, where he took a scientific course of two years. Later he entered Simp-
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son Centenary College, at Indianola, Warren County, Iowa, attended there about two years, and then for two years was in the State Uni- versity of Iowa, the law department, from which lie graduated in 1875, in a class of about 110 graduates. He was at once admitted to the bar of Iowa, and is now a valuable legal practitioner of Story County. He is a busi- ness-like and painstaking lawyer, is concise in argument and well read, and has a large and constantly increasing practice. He married Miss Frances Seal, a native of Iowa, who re- ceived her education in the common schools of that State, and two children were born to this union: Cecil D. and Ralph C. Mr. Webb has always been identified with the Republican party, and cast his first presidential vote for Gen. U. S. Grant, during his second adminstra- tion. He has always been a stalwart Repub- lican in principle and is active in his county. He has prosecuted the true principles of Re- publicanism with vigor, and has aided very materially in the elevation of local politics in his place of residence. Mr. Webb is well and favorably known throughout his county, and in adjacent counties as a rising, aggressive, ener- getic and capable gentleman. He is the pres- ent nominee for county attorney of Story County, and received the unanimous nomina- tion at the county convention on June 14, 1890, which is practically an election, since Story County is overwhelmingly Republican. His legal practice extends over Story and Polk Counties, and he is highly endorsed by his friends and brother attorneys in Story Coun- ty. Mr. Webb is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Nevada Lodge No. 99, and is also a member of Slater Lodge, No. 384, I. O. O. F., at Slater, Iowa. He has occupied all the different chairs in the lodge, and was. the representative of District No. 77, to the Grand Lodge during the years of 1888-89. Mr. and
Mrs. Webb are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have always contributed of their means to the support of all laudable and benevolent institutions which have been presented for their consideration. Mr. Webb emigrated to Story County from Polk County in the year 1853, when the country was in its primitive state of development and very sparsely settled. He related that when he first came to this county he could almost count the settlers by name, so few in number were they, and many and rapid have been the im- provements made since then. The great de- velopment of the county, Mr. Webb says, is attributable to the great agricultural resources, the excellent system of drainage and farming which have been inaugurated by the farming community. He has a valuable law library of 175 volumes, making a very excellent, com- plete and practical library. He has a nice home in Slater, Iowa, and surrounded by an intelligent family, and with his vigorous, pro- gressive duties, lives in the enjoyment of peace and contentment.
Dr. A. S. Welch, first president of the Iowa Agricultural College, died at Pasadena, Cal., March 14, 1889. He was born in East Hampton, Conn., April 12, 1821, and at the age of eighteen years emigrated to Michigan, where he prepared himself to enter the uni- versity of that State at the academy at Romeo. He was admitted to the university in 1843, and graduated in 1846. During the last two years of his course he had charge of the preparatory department of the univer- sity, where by successful work he laid the foundation of his great reputation as a teacher. In 1847 he was elected principal of the school at Jonesville-the first union or graded-school established in Michigan. So marked was his success in the conduct of this school, and so strongly did he impress him-
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self upon the public-school system of the State, that in 1851 he was offered and accepted the principalship of the State Normal School, at Ypsilanti, Mich. He remained at the head of this institution for fifteen years. In the management of its affairs he displayed an ex- eentive power and an ability as an instructor and disciplinarian which placed him in the front rank of educators. He rendered service of the highest value in the general upbuild- ing of the educational system of Michigan. He conducted teacher's institutes and lectured on education in all parts of the State; he or- ganized the State Teachers' Association, serv- ing as its first president, and being for many years prominent in its management. As trus- tee of the Michigan Agricultural College, he became greatly interested in industrial educa- tion. Leaving the Normal School in 1865, be- cause of impaired health, he removed to Florida, seeking rest and renewed strength in a change of climate. He was elected to the United States Senate from that State in 1867, but ter- minated his senatorial career the following year in order to accept the presidency of the Iowa Agricultural College. The charter and seal of the institution were formally delivered into his hands March 17, 1869, but he had already outlined a course of study and pre- pared a plan of organization which had been submitted to and approved by the board of
trustees. Able, faithful, vigilant, he proved himself thoroughly competent to guide the in- stitution safely through the difficulties and vi- cissitudes of its early years. His cultured taste projected its beautiful grounds, his execu- tive ability organized its departments, and his far-seeing wisdom planned its courses of study. The fifteen years of his presidency saw the college advanced to the front rank of industrial institutions. Resigning the presi- deney in 1884, he was in the following year
elected professor of psychology and history of civilization, which position he continued to hold with pleasure to himself and great profit to the institution until his death. Dr. Welch received from the University of Iowa in 1873 the degree of Doctor of Laws, and in 1878 the University of Michigan conferred upon him the same high honor. He was the author of several educational works, among which are: "An Analysis of the English Sentence," "A Treatise Upon Object Lessons," "Talks on Psychology," and " Psychology for Teachers." Dr. Welch was a born executive, a ripe scholar, a natural educator. His well-rounded char- acter and generous, kindly disposition won the respect and confidence of his associates, and the love and reverence of his students. For the great work he wrought in the upbuilding of this institution, his name will be held in grateful and lasting remembrance.
John M. Wells, farmer, Nevada, Iowa. Like so many of the representative citizens of this county and township, Mr. Wells is a native of Illinois. He was born near Rochelle on June 2, 1852, and is the son of Chester and Mary (McLain) Wells. The father was born in Chit- tenden County, Vt., on the 5th of May, 1815, and the mother's birth occurred on the 12th of February, 1821, in Bedford County, Penn. The parents came to Story County, Iowa, on the 16th of October, 1861, and here the father died in 1872. The paternal grandfather, Peleg Wells, was a native of the Green Mountain State, and there received his final summons. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. John M. Wells, the third of four children, came with his parents to this State, in 1861, and received his primary education in the public schools of Story County. In 1869 he entered the State Agricultural College at Ames, where he paid his way by teaching during the winter months, and working at the college while attending,
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and graduated with the first class in 1872. After this he spent two years in Chicago as book- keeper, and in the employ of the North-West- ern Railroad, in the engineering department, and for two years was a teacher in the schools of Illinois. He then returned to Story County and since then has been engaged in agricult- ural pursuits, owning at present 300 acres of excellent land. In politics he has always been rather retiring, but in the fall of 1889 he was nominated by the Independent Republicans, for Representative of the county. He was de- feated by only 178 votes, in a county which gave Hutchison 1,258 Republican majority for governor. Although never very active in poli- tics, he has always affiliated with the Republican party. He was married on the 18th of Septem- ber, 1879, to Miss Alzina E. Loring, a native of Illinois, born at Marseilles, on the 1st of Janu- ary, 1856, and one child, Reine G., is the result of this union. Mr. Wells is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Nevada Lodge No. 99, and is also a prominent member of the Farmers' Al- liance of the county. Quiet and unobtrusive, at the same time Mr. Wells possesses strong personal characteristics; he is one of the self- made men of the county, and is thoroughly , Maggie and Lulu B. Mr. Wherry came to posted on all the current topics of the day.
Andrew D. Wherry, farmer and stock-raiser, Ames, Iowa. Mr. Wherry has been a resident of Story County since 1879, and during this time has been actively and successfully engaged in tilling the soil, the occupation to which he was reared, and has done much to promote the agricultural and stock-raising interests of the county. A long experience in the business has rendered him well acquainted with every detail connected with it. He owes his nativity to Guernsey County, Ohio, where his birth oc- curred in 1837, and was the seventh of nine children born to John and Catherine ( Bonnell) Wherry. John Wherry was born in 1800, and
was one of seven children, the result of the marriage of David Wherry. They were named as follows: James, David, Joseph, Ann ( wife of William McBurney), Sarah (wife of Mr. Patterson ), and Mary (wife of M. Meltain). The brothers and sisters of our subject are named as follows: David, Isaac, Mary (de- ceased, wife of Hamilton Hicks, of Marion, Grant County, Ind.), Samuel, Harriet (now Mrs. Burton Fuller, of Seward, Neb. ), John of Greene County, Iowa), Matthew (of the same county ), and Sarah (now Mrs. John Shannon, of that county also). Andrew D. Wherry re- mained in Ohio until 1854, after which he came with his father's family to Jones County, Iowa, where he was married, in October, 1862, to Miss Mary Hubbard, of the Buckeye State. ; Four children were the fruits of this union: Lloyd (at home), Lida (now Mrs. William Templeton, of Story County ), Lilly (deceased), and Levie (now Mrs. Charles Goodyear, of Medina County, Ohio). Mrs. Wherry died in September, 1872, and he was again married, in 1873, to Miss Eliza McCool, who died in 1874. Two years later he married Miss Emma J. Bailey, and they have two interesting children: Story County in 1879, located on Section 35, where he owns eighty acres, and is also the owner of a farm in Section 36. He has good buildings, and his farm is considered one of the best in the part of the county where he resides. He is a man of judgment and sound practical sense, and a citizen esteemed by all acquainted with him. In politics he is a stanch Democrat. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Ames.
Thomas Whitaker, farmer and stock-raiser, Nevada, Iowa. It is a fact unnecessary of de- nial that a person is better fitted to follow the occupation with which he became familiar in early life than to engage in an undertaking
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learned in later years. This truth is borne out by the career of Mr. Whitaker, who from a boy has known all the details of agricultural life. His parents, Samuel and Keziah (Jones ) Whitaker, were both natives of Pennsylvania, the father dying on November 26, 1876, at the age of seventy-four years, and the mother in Story County on May 24, 1888, when eighty- six years of age. Thomas Whitaker, the eld- est of four children, was born in West Vir- ginia on March 29, 1836, and emigrated with his parents to Iowa in 1855. They settled in Polk County, and in the spring of 1857 came to Story County, where our subject has since resided. He is now the owner of 127 acres of land six miles from Nevada, and is a wide- awake, thorough-going farmer. He was mar- ried on February 17, 1859, to Miss Harriet McConnell, a native of Allen County, Ohio, born on July 27, 1841, and to them were born the following children: Lonisa (born in 1859), Mary (born in 1861), Hattie (born in 1867), Frank (born in 1871), Kate (born in 1875), and Maggie (born in 1882). Mary, the sec- ond daughter, was married, on March 17, 1886, to Carleton W. Tichenor, who was born Feb- rnary 19, 1862, in Story County, and died October 29, 1888. One child was born to this union, viz .: George L. George, the third child of our subject, was born February 12, 1865, in Story County, and died April 25, 1888. He was married on January 20, 1887, to Miss Laura J. Golden, who bore him one child, Georgia. The parents of Mrs. Whit- aker were natives of Ohio, and came to Story County in 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker are members of the Evangelical Church.
John W. Will, merchant, Iowa Centre, Iowa. Mr. Will is a native of West Virginia, born in Buckhannon, Upshur County, on December 1, 1844, and the general mercantile business that this gentleman carries on is a thoroughly rep-
resentative one. His father, James S. Will, is a native of New Market, Shenandoah County, Va., where he was reared and where he married Miss Levina Heavner, a native of Buckhannon. Upshur County, W. Va., where the father fol- lowed his trade, that of tailor, until 1858, when he moved to Iowa and located at Iowa Centre in June. He now resides in Maxwell, whither he moved soon after that town started, and is now working at his trade. His wife died in Virginia, and he afterward married again in West Virginia. John W. Will came with his parents to Iowa Centre and received a good practical education in the common schools. He began clerking in 1860 for Mr. Baldwin, at that place, and continued with the firm in that capacity for twenty years. After this, or in 1880, he began business for himself on a small capital, but now carries a large and complete stock, and is doing a good business. He owns his store building, a nice residence property with twenty acres of land, and good substan- tial out-buildings. Mr. Will was married in this county in April, 1872, to Sina Maxwell, daughter of G. W. Maxwell. She died in August, 1872, and in 1881 Mr. Will led to the altar Mrs. Hattie E. Maxwell, a widow, and the danghter of H. A. Higly, Sr. Mrs. Will was born in Hiram, Ohio, and was there reared and educated. Two children were the fruits of this union: Leon H. and Ina H. Mrs. Will has two children by her former marriage to C. B. Maxwell: Edwin H. and Veva H. Mr. Will is a Mason, belongs to Nevada Chap- ter No. 99. R. A. M., and the Blue Lodge at . Maxwell, and is also a member of the Good Templar lodge.
Henry Wilson, Jr., clerk of the district court, Nevada, Iowa. Every life has a history of its own, and although in appearance it may possess little to distinguish it from others, yet the political career and experience of Mr. Wil-
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son, as well as his popularity as a citizen, have contributed to give him a wide and popular acquaintance with nearly every resident in the county. He was born on February 4, 1841; was reared in Chelsea, Mass., and there resided until he entered the army. On May 23, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, First Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and served three years, being mustered out in Boston, on May 25, 1864. He served as a private, except the last year, when he received a corporal's warrant. His father served in Company H, Forty-third Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry, for nine months, and a brother served in the same company and regiment as the father, but later enlisted in the First Massachusetts Cav- alry and was killed in battle at Weldon Rail- road, near Petersburg, Va., in the fall of 1864, when he was a little less than eighteen years of age. On his return from the army, Henry Wilson Jr., started out in business as a clerk for the Chelsea Oil Company, and continued in their employ until he moved to Ames, Iowa. in August, 1878. He was married in January, of that year, and his wife died in January, 1883, at Ames. Mr. Wilson was in the grain business at Ames and other points almost con- tinuously uutil January, 1887. He was twice elected mayor of Ames, and held that position from 1881 to March, 1883. He has been act- ive in all good work for the improvement of the place which he has made his home, and as a citizen, is highly esteemed. He is an ardent Republican in politics, and an active G. A. R. man, having been chief mustering officer one year, and a member of the Council of Admin- istration, Department of Iowa, G. A. R., two years at different times. He has been a mem- ber of the Elsworth Post, at Ames, from shortly after its organization in 1881, and also was its commander one year. He has also been captain of J. L. Geddes' Camp 58, Sons
of Veterans, of Ames, joining shortly after its organization. He was very active in military circles in Massachusetts, and was captain of Company H, First Massachusetts Infantry (militia), over three years, and was also a member of it in various capacities as officer and private, fourteen years. He is at present clerk of the district court of Story County, his second term expiring on the first Monday in January, 1891. He was married, the second time in June, 1888. Mr. Wilson has been the owner, in part, of the Ames Intelligencer since January 1, 1890. He is always inter- ested in military and fraternity matters, and is one of the public-spirited citizens of the county. In the different official positions he has held, he is recognized as a faithful incumbent, and his successful career in the different capacities has been heartily endorsed by all. He is posi- tive and aggressive in everything with which he is connected, but he always concedes those who oppose him the same honesty of purpose - which marks his own character.
Orpheus W. Wilson, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, residing on Section 36, Grant Township, owes his nativity to the " Empire State," where he was born in November, 1841, being the first in order of birth of seven chil- dren, all sons, born to his parents. His father was born in New York on the 22d of October, 1818 (his father having been born on the same day of the same month just thirty years previous), and died June 20, 1890, aged nearly seventy-two years. His widow, whose maiden name was Harriett A. Swinning, still survives. She was born in 1821, of German and Yankee origin, and reared the following children: O. W., Charles W. (who died in Wisconsin, leaving a widow and child, who still survive), William (deceased), Alfred (un- married, lives in New York), George E. (mar- ried Miss Frances Brooks, a native of New
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York; he was formerly a merchant, but is now following farming with marked success ), Osman J. (married Miss Stella -, and is now engaged in lumbering near Port Sarnia, in Western Canada), and Williard Frank (mar- ried to Miss Lightfoot, is a resident of New York). Orpheus W. Wilson attained his growth in his native State, obtaining his edu- cation at the classic school of Morristown, that State, Rev. Andrew Phillip, the author of the Analysis of the Bible, being the principal at that time. After leaving school he engaged in teaching, first in Missouri, then in Kansas, Wisconsin and Iowa, for a period of twenty-one terms. His marriage to Miss A. D. Stoddard was consummated on the 24th of November, 1870. She was born in New York on Febru- ary 24, 1844, and was the daughter of Rev. John Stoddard, of the old Black River con- ference of New York, which included parts of four other conferences, and took in the north- ern portion of New York and a part of Canada. Their union was blessed in the birth of two children; H. E. (born on the 17th of January, 1871), and Jay Warren (born on January 7, 1880). The former received a good education, and is now fitting herself to be a teacher, it being her ambition to be a trainer of the little minds; the latter is attending school. On July
28, 1862, Mr. Wilson enlisted in Company B, One IFundred and Sixth New York Volunteers, and after being mustered into the United States service at Ogdensburg, N. Y. (the residence of United States Senator Preston King, who nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency, at Baltimore, Md.), in August, 1862, at Camp Wheeler the command was ordered to Pope's army, but Col. Judd was too drunk to obey orders, and it was sent to West Virginia, and there remained until just previous to the battle of Gettysburg. His regiment was actively engaged in the battles of Wapping Heights and
Mine Run (after which it became identified as part of A. of P.), the Wilderness, Spottsyl- vania, siege of Petersburg, Cold Harbor (in this battle the regiment lost 150 out of 400 men, including Lieut .- Col. Townsend, of the Albany Townsman), Sheridan's Valley cam- paign, Winchester, Cedar Creek, Ricket's Di- vision Sixth Corps, then back with A. P. un- til Lee's surrender, and was finally discharged at Washington, D. C., on June 24, 1865, after having taken part in the grand review in that city. Immediately after his discharge, Mr. Wilson returned to his New York home, but remained there only for a short time, and then went to Wisconsin and engaged in business. This State continued to be his home for about three months, and then he disposed of his interests and went to Kansas, and subsequently to Missouri. After five years spent in this latter State, he returned to New York, and in 1870 he immigrated with his family to Story Coun- ty, Iowa, where they have ever since resided. He has now been identified with the material interests of this county for nearly twenty years, and during this time he has made a good com- fortable home for himself and family, and estab- lished a reputation for honesty, integrity and sterling worth that is unimpeached. He has always been identified with the Republican party, having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has held many local offices of trust, among them being that of justice of the peace, which office he held for seven consecu- tive terms. He is connected with Jason Fer- guson Post No. 31, G. A. R., at Nevada, the lodge numbering about eighty members in good standing, and he also belongs to the Masonic fraternity. He is identified with the Farmers' Alliance, and affiliates with the Jef- ferson Alliance, with headquarters in Union Township. For, the last twenty-five years he has been a worthy member of the Methodist
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Episcopal Church, and he is now steward in his church, and is acting as assistant super- intendent of the Sunday-school, the latter institution numbering about forty in actual attendance.
Hon. William K. Wood, farmer and raiser and breeder of thoroughbred stock, Iowa Centre, Iowa. The political career and experience of Mr. Wood, as well as his connection with the agricultural and stock-raising affairs of this community, have contributed to give him a wide and popular acquaintance with nearly every citizen of Story County, if not personally, than by name. William K. Wood was born in Logan County, Ohio, on April 19, 1823, his parents being John G. and Anna ( Kennison) Wood, natives of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father went to Ohio when a young man, was there married, and followed agricultural pursuits in Logan and Allen Counties until 1840. He then moved to Indi- ana, and there remained some fourteen years. About 1854 he moved to Iowa, and located near where his son William now resides, where his death occurred on January 27, 1870, at the age of seventy-eight years. He served in the War of 1812, and was on the Northern frontier. He was a prominent church man, and a lead- ing member of the Baptist denomination. His wife died about 1844. The paternal grand- father of our subject was a native of England. William K. Wood, the fourth of nine children, four sons and five daughters, all of whom, with the exception of one son, grew to maturity and became the heads of families, was a young man when he moved to Indiana with his parents, and there he received an ordinary education in the common schools. He remained with his parents until twenty-four years of age and then started out for himself, remaining in In- diana up to 1849. In the fall of that year he came to Iowa, and located first in Polk County,
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