USA > Iowa > Adair County > History of Adair County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 14
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RALPH B. FARQUHAR.
Ralph B. Farquhar, cashier of the Orient Savings Bank, and a progressive and enterprising young business man of the town of Orient, was born in Webster township, Madison county, Iowa, on the 23d of January, 1885, a son of Hugh B. and Katie C. (Hamm) Farquhar. During his youthful days, which were spent in his parents' home, he acquired a public-school education, completing his studies in the Orient high school and in the Capital City Commercial College at Des Moines, whereby he was trained for the practical and responsible duties of a business career. After completing his commercial course he entered the Winterset Savings Bank as bookkeeper, remaining in that position two years. He resigned later, however, and on the 14th of February, 1910, entered the Orient Savings Bank as cashier, in which capacity he has since continued. Thus throughout his entire business ex- perience he has been identified with banking and has gained comprehensive and accurate knowledge of the different phases of the business. He is ever a courteous and obliging official, doing everything in his power to accommodate customers, while at the same time he carefully safeguards the interests of the institution which he represents.
On the 12th of June, 1907, Mr. Farquhar was united in marriage to Miss Grace B. Smith, of Orient, and to this union has been born a daughter, Irma Rea. Mr. Farquhar exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party. Two days after he had celebrated his twenty-first birthday he was initiated into Masonry and is now a member of Cypress Lodge, No. 539, F. & A. M., of which he served as master in 1913-14. He is also a member of Lebanon Chapter, No. 11, R. A. M. of Winterset. He is now serving as treasurer of the school board and is active in various plans and measures for the upbuild- ing and improvement of the town, cooperating heartily in all those things which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride. He has a handsome home in Orient and he and his wife occupy an enviable social position.
W. S. KRAMER.
W. S. Kramer carries on general farming on section 27, Lee township and is meeting with the substantial rewards of earnest and intelligently directed effort. He was born in Polk county, Iowa, on the 6th of July, 1867, his parents being Frederick and Anna (Kramer) Kramer, both of whom were natives of Germany. They remained in the fatherland until they came to the United States in young manhood and womanhood. They were married in Quincy, Illinois, and subse-
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quently removed to Polk county, Iowa. In 1875 they came to Adair county, living in Grand River township and also in Orient township for a number of years, but about five years prior to his demise Mr. Kramer went to Creston, Iowa. where he died in 1895.
With a distriet-school education to prepare him for life's practical and re- sponsible duties and also with thorough training in the work of the fields upon the home place. W. S. Kramer started out in business life for himself at the age of twenty. working as a farm hand by the month. He was industrious and euer- getic and recognized the faet that suecess must ultimately result from persistent, earnest and honorable labor. He continued working by the month until 1893, when he began farming on his own account. renting land for four years. In 1897 he pur- chased eighty acres lying across the road from his present home farm, which he owned and farmed for six years. He then sold and bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 27, Lee township, adjoining his present farm on the south. There he lived for four years, at the end of which time he made investment in one hun- dred and sixty acres in Richland township, where he continued to reside for two years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and purchased his present place of one hundred and sixty aeres. His farm is conveniently situated and as the soil is naturally rich and arable, he is able to raise large erops. He grows the cereals best adapted to elimatic conditions and annually gathers good harvests. He places no fietitious values upon life. He realizes that industry and perse- verance are the qualities that win and it is through the employment of those qual- ities that he has gained a place among the well-to-do agriculturists of Adair county.
In February, 1895, oeeurred the marriage of Mr. Kramer and Miss Mina MeClain, of Orient township, a daughter of Harrison MeClain. This union has been blessed with four children, Earl, Ima. Wanda and Audrey. Mr. Kramer's study of the politieal questions and issues of the day has led him to support demo- eratie principles. He has served for several years as a member of the school board and the eause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. He believes in the improvement of the schools in order to meet the demands of the times. Mrs. Kramer is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Kramer is a stoekholder in the Fair Association and he cooperates heartily in many plans and measures which have to do with the benefit and upbuilding of the district in which he lives. He sees the possibilities for progress here and has taken an active part in making Adair one of the prosperous counties of the state.
CHARLES L. HANNON.
Charles L. Hannon is busily engaged in the operation of an excellent and well improved farm of one hundred and twenty aeres which he owns on seetion 20, Union township. His birth occurred in Columbiana county, Ohio, on the Ist of July, 1865, his parents being George W. and Mary (Miller) Hannon, both of whom were natives of Ohio and were married in Alliance, that state. The father came to Iowa in 1875, locating first in Brooklyn, Poweshiek county, where he worked at the trade of wagon making. Subsequently he bought a quarter section of land in Union township. Adair county, the cultivation of which claimed his attention until 1881, when he removed to
CHARLES L. HANNON
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Kansas, and in that state purchased a farm which he operated for several years. He then settled in Illinois, where he spent the remainder of his life, passing away in 1910. To him and his wife were born nine children, seven of whom still survive.
Charles L. Hannon acquired his edueation in the common schools and early beeame familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agrieulturist as he assisted his father in the work of the fields. He has made farming his life work and is now the owner of a valuable property embracing one hundred and twenty acres on section 20, Union township, and also the home place on section 8, com- prising one hundred and sixty acres, having in all two hundred and eighty acres. A number of substantial improvements give evidence of his thrift and enterprise, and his well directed labors have been rewarded with gratifying success.
On the 30th of July, 1895, Mr. Hannon was united in marriage to Miss Eliza- beth King, who was born in Madison county, Iowa, June 17, 1873. To them have been born four children, namely: Delbert D., Nellie M., Charles Lloyd and Donald C.
Politically Mr. Hannon is a stanch republican and for ten years has served as assessor of Union township, while for four years he held the office of township clerk, making a most creditable record in both capacities. He is a stoekholder in the Union Telephone Company and enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the progressive and public-spirited citizens of his community. Fraternally he is identified with the Woodmen of the World, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church, to which his wife and children also belong. He has many friends and never fails to command the esteem and regard of all who come in contact with him.
E. P. SHEPHERD.
E. P. Shepherd, who for the past few years has been successfully engaged in the livery business in Fontanelle, is a native of Iowa, born in Warren county, on the 13th of February, 1869. His parents, Jesse A. and Rachel Shepherd, both of whom were natives of Ohio, came to Iowa in 1857, locating in Warren county. Later they spent six years in Madison county, this state, while they lived for a similar period in Hardin county, subsequently taking up their abode in Adair county, where they spent their remaining days. Their family numbered eleven children but only nine of the number survive.
E. P. Shepherd accompanied his parents on their various removals and acquired his education in the common schools of the different localities in which the family home was established. He remained under the parental roof until he had attained the age of twenty-seven, when he engaged in farming. At the end of three years, however, he abandoned that pursuit and removed to Fontanelle, where for a time he engaged in the restaurant business. Later he conducted a barber shop for some time and then purchased a farm, which he operated for twelve years. On the expiration of that period he disposed of his land and onee more took up his abode in Fontanelle, where he has since successfully conducted a livery. He has a most up-to-date establishment, keeping on hand automobiles and also from twelve to
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fourteen head of driving horses, so that he is well prepared to take care of the traveling public.
It was in 1896 that Mr. Shepherd established a home of his own by his mar- riage to Miss Minnie L. George, who is a native of Michigan, and a daughter of William and Emma ( Baker) George, both of whom were born in England. They emigrated from their native land to America in an early day and established their home in Michigan but later removed to Adair county. where the mother passed away. The father is still living and makes his home in this county. Mrs. Shepherd is one of a family of eight children born to her parents, of whom six survive, and by her marriage she has become the mother of six children: Arthur G .; Sylvia A .; Bernice M .; Olin G .; Idris B., deceased, and Grace M.
The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Shepherd is serving as a steward, while he is likewise seeretary of the official board. His political support is given to the republican party. Having spent mueh of his life in Adair county he is well known in this seetion and the honorable and straightforward methods which he follows in his business dealings has brought him well deserved success.
J. FRED WESTPHAL.
Although he has been a resident of Adair eounty for less than a decade, J. Fred Westphal has gained a substantial place among her best eitizens and is now busily engaged in the operation and management of a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Summerset township. He was born in Germany. June 25, 1869, a son of Frederick and Frederika (Greenwald) Westphal, who, upon emigrating to the United States in 1870, established their home in La Salle eounty, Illinois. In 1883 the family continued their journey westward and settled in Cass county, Iowa, where they lived for about twenty years, subsequent to which time. or about 1903, they removed to Adair county, the father purchasing one hundred and twenty aeres of land in Jackson township, which he still owns although for the past five years he has lived retired in Bridgewater.
J. Fred Westphal was but an infant at the time the family made the voyage from Germany to this country and he was a youth of fourteen when the removal was made to this state. He was reared to farm life and acquired his education in the distriet schools of Illinois and Iowa. When twenty-two years of age he and his brother Herman purchased two hundred and forty aeres of land in Cass county, although they cultivated their land separately. In 1895 he made further arrange- ments for having a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Martha Pfundheller. of Adair county. The young couple took up their abode upon Mr. Westphal's farm in Cass county, where they continued to reside until March, 1906, when he disposed of his property there and purchased one hundred and sixty aeres in Summerset township, this eounty. In 1911 he made an additional purchase of eighty acres, located across the road from his previous holdings, so that he now owns two hun- dred and forty aeres of well improved and valuable land. He is now devoting his entire time to cultivating his land and is meeting with substantial sueeess in his endeavors. He is ably assisted in his work by his five sons, Osear, Ralph, Lloyd,
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Frank and Clyde. In addition to his farm property Mr. Westphal owns stock in the Fontanelle Lumber Company and in the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company.
Mr. Westphal's study of the political questions and issues has led him to give stalwart support to the republican party. He has, however, never taken active interest in public affairs, the only office he has ever filled being that of school director. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Epis- copal church, to which his wife also belongs. They are people of the highest worth and respectability and their many friends are always sure of a hearty welcome in their hospitable home.
CHRISTIAN W. DIERS.
Christian W. Diers is one of the excellent citizens whom Germany has given to Adair county and the success which he has achieved is doubly creditable in that. he had no capital when he arrived in this country and was also unfamiliar with its language and customs. He owns an excellent farm on section 2, Jackson town- ship, and derives a good income from his agricultural labors. His birth occurred in Hanover, Germany, on the 25th of November, 1857, and his parents, Peter N. and Maggie (Strohsal) Diers, passed their entire lives in that country.
Mr. Diers was reared under the parental roof and attended the public schools in the acquirement of his education. In 1876, when nineteen years of age, he decided to take advantage of the opportunities offered ambitious young men in the United States and accordingly emigrated to this country. After spending a year in New York city he came to Adair county, Iowa, and for three years worked as a farm hand. In 1880 he began farming for himself on a small scale, boarding with a farmer from whom he rented land. In 1882 his marriage occurred and he and his bride began their domestic life upon a farm in Summerset township which Mr. Diers leased. Subsequently he removed to Jackson township, where he operated rented land until 1902. By that time his financial circumstances were such that he bought his present farm, which comprises a quarter section of land in Jackson township. He has since resided there and is devoting his time and thought to the cultivation and improvement of his property. He has met with gratifying success as a farmer and stock-raiser and by reason of his thrift and good management his resources are steadily increasing. He also owns stock in the Fontanelle Lumber Company of Fontanelle.
In March, 1882, Mr. Diers married Miss Caroline Hill, who was born in Ger- many, September 9. 1859, and who came to this country a year or two later than Mr. Diers. To their union have been born six children: Minnie, born April 9, 1884, now the wife of Ray Green, of Grove township, this county ; Alda, born Jan- uary 2, 1886, who married William Echington, of Eureka township; William, born February 3, 1887, who is a resident of Jackson township; Chrissie, born July 23, 1890, who is at home; Ernest, born January 17, 1892, who is assisting his father ; and Emma, born December 23, 1896, who is also at home.
Mr. Diers is a republican in politics and has served acceptably as a member of the school board. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Fontanelle Lodge No. 250. Both he and his wife are com-
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. municants of the Lutheran church and its teachings form the guiding principles of their lives. Mr. Diers has gained the unqualified respect of all who have been brought in contact with him and his many friends hold him in the warmest regard.
BYRON DWINELL.
The sterling traits of character which Byron Dwinell displayed throughout an active life were such as endeared him to all with whom he came in contact and caused his memory to be cherished. Predominant among all other traits was his kindly spirit and he shed around him much of the sunshine of life. Therefore his death, which occurred at his home August 17, 1910, came as a great shock to the community in which he lived. On the day prior to his demise he had been about town as usual and few of his friends dreamed on that day that the end was near. Mr. Dwinell was born at Northfield, Vermont, April 5, 1837. He came of a family of French origin, the name being originally De Vinell. When a young man he removed to Cedar county, Iowa, where he was living at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. On the 9th of August, 1862, in response to the country's eall for troops, he enlisted as a member of Company K, Thirty-fifth Iowa Infantry, known as the Veteran Relief Corps, and on the 21th of September of that year he was made a corporal. He served for three years, giving valiant aid to the country, his record being in harmony with the military history of his family, for his father was a captain in the War of 1812, while his grandfather served with the colonial army in the Revolutionary war. In the maternal line he was descended from the Cole family, which was represented in the Revolutionary war by six brothers. The same spirit of patriotic devotion to his country was manifest by Mr. Dwinell through- out his entire life.
After the close of the Civil war he returned to his home in Cedar county, Iowa, and was there married on the 17th of November, 1866, to Miss Ann Eliza Haagen- sen, who was born in St. Thomas, West Indies, and was of Danish descent. In 1871 they removed to Adair county and for five years resided upon a farm, after which they took up their abode in Fontanelle and conducted the old Gibbs House. Subsequently Mr. Dwinell was for many years proprietor of the Fontanelle Hotel, which he conducted with that hospitality and generosity that cheered many travelers on their way and made a comfortable home for many resident guests.
Mrs. Dwinell preceded her husband to the better life, passing away May 29, 1900. She was a member of the Danish Lutheran church and a lady of many admirable qualities. Mr. Dwinell's death occurred when he had reached the age of seventy-three years, four months and twelve days. One of his close friends wrote: "In his death we mourn the loss of one loyal in the defense of his coun- try, true to the community in which he lived, one who loved his neighbor as him- self, one whose devotion to his family will eause them to mourn him not only as a devoted father but as the faithful friend and companion." A friend writing from a distance said: "The Lord didn't make many men like 'By.' Had he made more of them, the old world would have been a better place in which to live." Another said: "His old heart never could distinguish and never tried to distinguish whether
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its charity and esteem were well planned or ill planned, and this made him the likable character he was, such as the world ean ill afford to lose because it has so few.
Sleep the sleep that knows no breaking, Dream of battlefields no more: Days of danger, nights of waking. Soldier rest, thy warfare o'er."
On of the local papers wrote: "Byron Dwinell will be kindly remembered by all who knew him. He possessed the native instinets of courtesy and was a gentle- man in the true sense of the word, so impressing all with whom he came in contact. He possessed a cheery disposition and his never failing good will made him an enjoyable companion at all times and in all places. His long years of residence in Fontanelle made him a familiar figure who went about with a pleasant word of greeting for all. In his long years of hotel keeping he was more than land- lord; he was in deed and faet the genial 'mine host' of the days of chivalry and he dispensed welcome and hospitality with genuine generosity. With all of his cour- tesy, he was at times blunt and outspoken, saying perhaps truths that ought not to have been said but in a way that left no sting. One of his charming traits was a talent for entertaining his guests and friends with stories whose points he brought out with elearness. He would relate such in most interesting manner, not certify- ing for their eredenee but telling them for the fun that was in them. The world in which he lived was brighter and better for his presence. His last days led in paths of pleasantness and peace, free from the cares and struggle for gain but com- forted and contented with sufficient means to meet his modest wants. After the death of his wife he was surrounded by the care of his surviving daughters, the Misses Emma and Josie Dwinell, and their companionship fulfilled the ideal rela- tions of father and children. The funeral sermon was delivered by Rev. A. Breel- ing from the text: 'Be ye therefore also ready, for the Son of Man cometh in an hour when ye think not.'" He was laid to rest in Fontanelle cemetery, and although several years have sinee come and gone, his memory is yet cherished by all who knew him. Life meant to him opportunity-opportunity not only for the attainment of success but for good deeds, and there are few who make life so sun- shiny and attractive.
CLARENCE M. ARCHER.
Clarence M. Archer, who is meeting with gratifying success in the operation of his fine farm of two hundred and eighty aeres on seetion 26, Washington town- ship. was born in Medina county, Ohio, April 16, 1861. His father. Lester Areher. was born in Ohio, where he grew to manhood and was married to Miss Lucinda Edwards, also a native of that state. In 1865 they emigrated westward, loeating in Polk county, Iowa, where they remained for about seven years. In 1872 they became residents of Guthrie county, locating west of Stuart on the line dividing that county from Adair county. Two years later another removal was made and they settled on a farm in Grove township, this county, where they remained for
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a year. They next went to Cass county, but after living there for two years returned to this county. For one year they resided in Washington township but then removed to Richland township and thence to Kansas. Five years later they returned from the Sunflower state and again located in this county. During the later years of his life the father made his home among his sons and his death occurred on the 11th of May, 1907, when seventy-five years old, in Cass county at the home of a son. The mother now lives with our subject.
Clarence M. Areher was educated in the district schools and remained at home until he was twenty-three years of age, when he began farming for himself as a renter in Washington township, this county. Four years later he purchased eighty aeres of land in Richland township, upon which he resided for two years. On sell- ing that place he bought a quarter section of land in Jackson township. upon which he lived for two years. He then disposed of that property and removed to Massena, Cass county, where he purchased a livery stable, which he conducted for a similar period of time. While residing there he also served as marshal of the town. After selling his stable he returned to Adair county and bought one hundred and twenty aeres in Riehland township, which remained his home for one year. He had gone in debt for the place and as the erops were poor he was unable to make the necessary payments and was therefore unable to retain the farm. He again rented land and after operating leased land for five years he purchased forty aeres m Guthrie county, upon which he lived for two years. At the end of that time he sold that place and purchased his present farm of two hundred and eighty acres of excellent land in Washington township, this county. He carries on general farm- ing and his energy and practical knowledge of agriculture enable him to gain a good income.
Mr. Areher was married in 1881 to Miss Emma Beaver, of Washington town- ship, a daughter of Adam Beaver, one of the early settlers of that township, who is now residing in Wyoming. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Archer, but only four survive, namely : Melvin M., Clyde B., Clem L. and Edna. Beulah M., the fourth in order of birth, is deceased. All of the children are married, save the youngest daughter.
Mr. and Mrs. Archer belong to the Methodist Episcopal church and willingly cooperate in its work. He is an adherent of the republican party and keeps well informed on the events of the day. He is a self-made man, for since beginning his independent career he has been compelled to rely solely upon his own resources and good judgment and. although he has at times met with reverses, he has continued his efforts, and his determination and enterprise have been rewarded. as he is now one of the well-to-do farmers of his township.
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