USA > Iowa > Adair County > History of Adair County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 22
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FRED S. CAHOW.
Fred S. Cahow, an honored veteran of the Civil war, is living retired in Green- field after being for many years actively identified with the agricultural interests of the county. A native of Ohio, he was born in Akron, August 16, 18.46, of the marriage of Jonathan and Louisa (Merriam) Cahow. His parents, who were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Connectient, became early residents of Ohio and there their marriage occurred. They continned to reside in the Buekeye state until 1855, when they removed to Bureau county, Illinois, which remained their home for three years. They then went to Henry county, that state, where they resided until 1873, in which year they came to Adair county, Iowa. Both passed away in this county. Three of their twelve children are still living.
Fred S. Cahow began his independent eareer when fifteen years old and when but sixteen enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, for service in the Civil war. He was at the front for about a year and was then mustered ont at Chicago, after which he returned to Henry county, Illinois. In 1869 he became a resident of Stuart, Iowa, and turned his attention to railroading, beginning as a fireman. He won promotion to the position of engineer and was with the railroad for twelve years. On the 6th of February, 1880, he eame to Adair county and located upon the farm of two hundred and forty aeres in Grove township which he still owns. The place is finely improved and for nineteen years he devoted his energies to its operation, accumulating a competence which now enables him to live retired in Greenfield, where he owns an attractive residence.
Mr. Cahow was married in 1872 to Miss Sarah J. Ewers, who was a native of Ohio and a daughter of Robert and Malinda (Fidler) Ewers. both born in Ohio. They removed to this county in 1855 and here both passed away. They were the parents of seven children, two of whom survive. To Mr. and Mrs. Cahow were born four children: Elmer E., who is farming the homestead; Nellie, who is a graduate of the Greenfield high school and of the Iowa State Teachers College and who for two years followed the profession of teaching; Frank R., who is an alumnus of the Iowa State Teachers College and who is now teaching near Coon
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Rapids; and Ralph R., who attended the State College at Amcs and who is now upon the farm. The wife and mother passed away on the 30th of January, 1915, and was laid to rest in the Greenfield cemetery.
Mr. Cahow is a republican and has held a number of local offices, having served as sehool director and trustee, which office he held for fifteen years. and being at present one of the collateral inheritance tax appraisers. Fraternally he belongs to the subordinate lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. in which he has held all of the chairs, and he is likewise a loyal member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. The period of leisure which he is now enjoying is well deserved and he is one of the valued residents of Greenfield.
A. E. RENNER.
Those who know A. E. Renner-and he has a wide acquaintance-speak of him in terms of high regard. He is a publie-spirited and well known citizen of Summerset township. living on seetion 22, where he has a well improved farm. He has always been a resident of the middle west and his life exemplifies the spirit of enterprise and progress which has dominated the upbuilding of this section of the country. He was born in Tazewell county, Illinois, on the 18th of September, 1853. and is a son of David and Christine (Miller) Renner, natives of Maryland and Kentucky respectively. In early life, however, they removed to Illinois, and were married in Tazewell county, where the father had gone as a young man, while the mother accompanied her parents on their removal to that section. David Renner became a farmer of Tazewell county. where he continued to reside until after the death of his wife. Later he removed to Woodford county, where he passed away a month later.
A. E. Renner was but a young lad at the time of his mother's death. There was a large family of children and the father found a home for our subject with a cousin in northern Illinois, by whom A. E. Renner was reared from his seventh year. There were no schools in the township in which he lived and he did not get to attend school until he was nine years of age. Later he spent about four months each winter in pursuing his studies in the district schools and after he attained his twenty-second year he spent six months as a student in the high school at Lanark, Illinois. The following three years he was employed at farm work. His youth was a period of earnest and unremitting toil but it brought him a knowledge of the value of industry and perseverance and it has been those qualities which have led to his later success in life. While working as a farm hand he not only tilled the soil for the cultivation of erops but also aided in the strenuous task of elearing land and grubbing up the stumps.
On the 7th of February, 1878, Mr. Renner was united in marriage to Miss Caroline V. Clay, of Carroll county, Illinois, and in 1880 he came to Adair county, Iowa, spending the first year after his arrival in Casey. during which time he looked over the country for a favorable location. In July of that year he purchased his present home farm to which he removed in April, 1881, so that he has now resided thereon for more than a third of a century. He owns one hundred and fifteen acres, which he has brought under a high state of cultivation, adding many modern improve-
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ments to his place and annually gathering therefrom good crops as a result of the practical methods which he employs in tilling the fields.
To Mr. and Mrs. Renner have been born two children: Roy A., who operates the home farm in connection with his father; and Clara A., who assists her mother in the household tasks. The family is widely and favorably known and they have a large circle of warm friends in their part of the county. Mr. Renner is a member of the Church of God, while his wife holds membership in the Congregational church. Politically he is a stanch republican, giving unswerving support to the principles of the party. He has never held political office but has done excellent work as a school official, serving for twelve years on the school board, half of which time he was president. From his boyhood advancement has been his watch- word and he has steadily progressed both in a business way and in his identification with public interests. He has ever displayed sterling traits of character and his many good qualities have brought him the friendship and kindly regard of all with whom he has been associated.
IRA AMOS WIMMER.
Ira Amos Wimmer, a representative and successful agriculturist of Union town- ship, residing on section 34, is the owner of eighty acres of rich and productive land which he cultivates with excellent results. His birth occurred in Decatur county, Indiana, on the 3d of September, 1856, his parents being Flemmon and Abigail (Davis) Wimmer, who were married in Indiana. The father, a native of Virginia, removed to the Hoosier state in an early day and in 1868 came to Adair county, Iowa, both he and his wife here spending the remainder of their lives. To them were born twelve children, three of whom reside in Iowa but only one, Ira A., in Adair county. Three of the sons served in the Civil war.
Ira A. Wimmer was twelve years of age when he accompanied his parents to this county and has resided within its borders continuously since. He has devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits throughout his entire business career and following his marriage purchased a farm in Union township which he operated for two years. On the expiration of that period he traded the place for a farm of eighty acres on section 34, Union township. the cultivation of which has claimed his time and energies continuously since and which he has improved until it is now a valuable and attractive property. Mr. Wimmer is totally blind, having lost his eyesight in a runaway accident twenty-five years ago, yet he still performs the active work of the fields and has not allowed his misfortune to discourage or seri- ously handicap him.
On the 2d of December, 1880, Mr. Wimmer was united in marriage to Miss Alice Haynes, by whom he has six children, all of whom reside in Iowa with the exception of Bruce Wimmer, who is a Baptist minister of prominence in the city of Chicago. Some of the children are college graduates and all have been teachers. Mrs. Wimmer and her daughters belong to the Christian church and are faithful workers in the cause of Christianity. He has now been a resident of this county for a period of forty-seven years and has long been numbered among its substantial agriculturists and highly esteemed citizens.
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Charles S. Wimmer, son of Ira A. Wimmer, was born in Adair county, Iowa. November 4, 1891, and supplemented his common-school education by a course of study in the college at Pella and the Western Normal College at Shenandoah. He is a prosperous and energetic young farmer, now owning and cultivating one hundred and sixty aeres of land within two miles of the old homestead. On the 10th of September, 1913. he wedded Miss May Chieken, who came to Iowa from Nebraska with her parents in 1895. They are a popular young couple of their home com- munity. enjoying the esteem and regard of all who know them.
FRANK W. RAASCH.
Frank W. Raasch, a well known stoek-raiser who owns an excellent quarter sec- tion of land in Jackson township, was born in La Salle county, Illinois, on the 13th of October, 1875, a son of Frederick and Carolina (Reinke) Raaseh, more extended mention of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
Our subjeet remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority and then began his independent career, renting the homestead and also operating eighty aeres which he owned. Subsequently he purchased the home place and now holds title to one hundred and sixty acres of fine land on sections 20 and 21, Jaek- son township. He has made a number of improvements sinee the property eame into his possession and in his work utilizes the results of seientifie investigation. He confines his attention chiefly to raising stoek and derives a gratifying income from the sale of hogs and cattle.
In February, 1900, Mr. Raasch married Miss Ida L. E. Bower, who was born in Lee county, Illinois, of the marriage of Martin and Katherine (Roos) Bower. Her mother has passed away but her father survives. To their union were born seven children, of whom six are living. Mr. and Mrs. Raasch have four children, namely: Regina J., Irna K., Lyle W. and Norvin N.
Mr. Raaseh is a staneh republican in polities and has served his township ably as trustee. Both he and his wife are identified with the Methodist Episcopal church and ean be depended upon to do their share in promoting the spread of its influence. He ranks among the progressive and enterprising farmers and stock-raisers of this county, and his personal characteristics are such that he has won and retained the friendship of many.
E. E. WARREN.
E. E. Warren, founder of the Warren Dry Goods Company of Greenfield, of which he is general manager, is one of the foremost business men of Adair eounty and is an important factor in the commercial expansion of his eity. His birth occurred in New London, Henry county, Iowa, on the 31st of March, 1862. His father, Henry Webb Warren, who was a native of Indiana, became a pioneer of Henry county, Iowa, where he was prominently identified with agricultural interests for a number of years. During the Civil war he served as a member of Company E,
MR. AND MRS. FRANK W. RAASCH
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First Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, and while at the front received injuries which eventu- ally caused his death. He passed away in New London.
E. E. Warren passed the period of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof and at the usual age entered the public schools of New London. After com- pleting the course there offered he became a student in the New London Academy, a private school, and on leaving that institution he clerked in a general store in New London for a short time. In 1879, when seventeen years of age, he came to Greenfield and entered the employ of A. P. Stephens & Company, with whom he was associated for two years. He was then transferred to Mr. Stephens' store at Creston, where he remained for two years, but in 1883 he became Mr. Stephens' partner in the ownership of the latter's Greenfield store, the firm style becoming Fuller, Warren & Company. About 1886 our subject and his brother, F. C. Warren, acquired the business and the firm name was changed to Warren Brothers. In 1889 our subject purchased the interest of his brother and conducted the business alone until 1910, when he sold out and for three years thereafter he gave his attention to the management of his farm lands in North and South Dakota and in Canada. In 1913 he and his brother repurchased the Greenfield store, which is now con- ducted under the name of the Warren Dry Goods Company. Our subject has charge of the business and it has prospered under his able management. He carries a complete and well selected stock and follows the policy of giving full value for money received. He is progressive and astute and his integrity is unswerving. He has other financial interests as he owns the Warren Opera House block and a number of other properties in Greenfield.
In 1884 occurred the marriage of Mr. Warren and Miss Eva Viers, of Fonta- nelle. He is a republican in politics but has never had time to take a very active part in public affairs. Fraternally he is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, belonging to Des Moines Consistory, No. 3, A. & A. S. R., and being also identified with Crusade Lodge, No. 386, A. F. & A. M., and St. John's Chapter, No. 73, R. A. M. The religious faith of both he and his wife is that of the Presbyterian church and they can be counted upon to further all movements seeking the moral advancement of the community. Mr. Warren has gained a gratifying measure of success, which is the natural result of his enterprise and business ability, and he is one of the valued citizens of Greenfield.
E. S. SHAD.
E. S. Shad, who has spent his entire life in Adair county and has always devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits, is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land on section 6, Richland town- ship. His birth occurred on the 11th of April, 1866, his parents being John G. and Charlotte V. (Smith) Shad. The father, a native of Germany, emigrated to the United States in an early day and first settled in Illinois, while subsequently he took up his abode on a farm in Adair county, Iowa, here spending the remainder of his life. His widow, who still survives, is well known and highly esteemed throughout the community. To them were born twelve children, nine of whom are vet living.
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E. S. Shad attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority. He then secured employment as a farm hand and at the end of five years rented a tract of land which he cultivated for seven or eight years. On the expiration of that period, having accumulated the necessary capital by dint of untiring industry and careful expenditure, he purchased a farm of two hundred and forty aeres on section 6, Richland township, which he has operated continuously to the present time and has improved until it is now a valuable property. He devotes considerable attention to the raising of hogs and both his farming and live-stock interests return to him a gratifying annual income. The success which he now enjoys is all the more creditable by reason of the fact that it is attributable entirely to his own efforts, for he started out in the business world empty-handed and has sinee worked his way upward to a place among the prosperous and representative agriculturists of Richland township.
On the 8th of February, 1906, Mr. Shad was united in marriage to Miss Anna Mueller, a native of Germany and a daughter of Herman and Fredericka Mueller, who were likewise born in that country, emigrating to America in 1900. The father is still living in this county, but the mother has passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Shad have one son. Willis H .. whose birth occurred on the 29th of November, 1906.
At the polls Mr. Shad supports the men and measures of the republican party, believing firmly in its principles. His life has been above reproach in all relations and he is widely recognized as one of the substantial and esteemcd citizens of his native county.
OSCAR J. SULLIVAN.
Osear J. Sullivan, a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 34, Jackson township, is well known throughout the county as a breeder of graded Percheron horses. He was born in the house which is still his residence on the 27th of February, 1879, a son of Jahu B. and Margaret J. (Roberts) Sullivan. At the usual age he entered the public schools and he and his brothers and sisters all went to school to James Pierson, one of the most widely known teachers of early days. Subsequently our subject attended the schools taught by his two brothers and two sisters and after completing his public-school course he entered Drake University and there continued his study. When twenty years of age he began teaching but after devoting his time to that profession during two winter terms he turned his attention to farming and stock-raising, in which he is still engaged. He owns two hundred acres of land but in addition to that operates two hundred and eighty aeres of leased land, his labors returning to him a gratifying annual income. He specializes in breeding graded Pereheron horses and is the owner of the Percheron stallion, Bengal Edgewood. He has at present twenty- eight graded horses upon the farm, all of which he has raised. In addition to his agricultural interests he owns stoek in the Bridgewater Savings Bank and is a director of that institution.
In 1903 Mr. Sullivan married Miss Hannah J. Warrior, a daughter of Thomas Warrior, one of the well known citizens of Bridgewater, who is now living retired.
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To Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan have been born three children, Euclid J., Richard R. and Thomas H.
Mr. Sullivan easts his ballot in support of the candidates and measures of the democratic party and is now serving as a member of the school board. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Christian church and contribute of their means to the support of its work. The success which he has attained is the natural result of his industry and progressiveness, and he is justly ranked among the enterprising farmers and stock-raisers of Adair county.
JOHN EDMUND HOWE, M. D.
Dr. John Edmund Howe, a physician and surgeon of Greenfield, is a man of widespread prominence not only in his profession but in other connections and at the present time is serving as a member of the state board of parole. He was born near Washington Court House, in Fayette county, Ohio, August 1, 1847, a son of John and Nancy (Waln) Howe, both of whom were natives of the Buckeye state, the birth of John E. Howe occurring in the same house in which the father was born. It was the home of the grandfather, John Howe, who had taken up his abode there no his removal froni Virginia. John Howe, the father, followed farm- ing during his active life and in 1869 removed westward to Iowa, settling in Madison county, where he purchased a tract of land, on which he took up his residence. He continued to live thereon to the time of his death, which occurred when he was eighty-one years of age. He was quite successful and acquired a large farm prop- erty, from which he derived a gratifying annual income.
Dr. Howe was reared upon the home farm in Ohio, where he remained until he reached his seventeenth year, after which he attended the Leesburg (Ohio) Acad- cmy. Later he became a pupil in the South Salem Military Academy, from which he was graduated with the class of 1868. He then took up the profession of school- teaching and in connection with his educational work began reading medicine, devot ing his leisure hours to that seience. In 1869 he came to Iowa, settling in Madison county, where he continued to engage in teaching and in the study of medicine. In 1871 he entered the College of Physicians & Surgeons at Keokuk and met the expenses of his college course by teaching. He won his professional degree upon his graduation from that institution with the class of 1873, after which he opened an office in Peru, Iowa, where he practiced until August, 1875. He then removed to Greenfield, where he has since engaged in practice, being now the oldest repre- sentative of the profession in Adair county in point of years of practice. He has been very successful and is one of the prominent physicians and surgeons of the state. He has constantly broadened his knowledge and promoted his efficiency by wide reading, study and research. He took post-graduate work in the Chicago Polyclinic in 1896 and in the Post-Graduate School in 1899 and his contemporaries and colleagues entertain the highest respect for his professional ability, his opinions being largely regarded as authority upon many disputed questions. In October, 1909, he was made a member of the state board of parole, in which important posi- tion he has sinee served.
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On the 23d of June, 1876, Dr. Howe was united in marriage to Miss Minerva Wilson, a native of Fayette county, Ohio, and to them were born four children, of whom two are living: Andra Raleigh, a druggist of Greenfield; and Jay Edmund, assistant eashier of the Adair County Bank at Greenfield. Mrs. Howe is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and also takes an active and helpful interest in club and charitable work.
Dr. Howe is a leading representative of the Masonic fraternity, exemplifying in his life the benefieent spirit of the craft. He belongs to Crusade Lodge, No. 386. 1. F. & A. M .; St. John's Chapter, No. 73. R. A. M. ; Bethany Commandery. No. 29, K. T .; and Za-Ga-Zig Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S, of Des Moines, while he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star. Politieally he is a democrat and is well informed on the questions and issues of the day but has never been a politieian in the sense of office seeking. He is a member of the American Prison Association and he takes deep interest in the study of questions relating to the welfare of those who have served prison sentenecs. He believes in giving each individual a chance to reform and he has read widely on the subject, which he has studied from a seientifie standpoint. Along strietly professional lines his member- ship relations are with the Adair County Medical Society, the Southwestern Iowa Medieal Association, the Iowa State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He has been one of the foremost members of the medieal fraternity of Towa sinee the pioneer days when he rode horseback through all the surrounding counties. He has kept in touch with the trend of modern thought and investigation and his ability and long experience as well as his study have acquainted him with the best methods to be followed in the treatment of disease. He has ever been most eonseientious in the performance of his professional duties and his life work is a eredit to his ealling.
THOMAS WARRIOR.
Thomas Warrior is proprietor of a general store in Bridgewater and is also the owner of excellent farm property in Adair county. His life has been aetnated by a spirit of enterprise and progress, and he has never been afraid of that laborious attention to business which must always constitute the basis of sneeess. A native of Canada, he was born September 31, 1856, a son of William and Ruth (Braith- waite) Warrior, both of whom were natives of England. In 1856 they bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for the new world, establishing their home in Canada, but in the fall of the same year they removed to Wisconsin, where they settled upon a farm, continuing their residence in that state until 1871, when they arrived in Adair county, Iowa. They took up their abode upon a farm in Washing- ton township. The father's death occurred in 1896, his remains being interred in the Washington township cemetery. In the family were nine children, eight of whom are still living, and the mother yet survives at the age of seventy-six years.
The youthful days of Thomas Warrior were spent under the parental roof. He was married December 22, 1878, to Marilla Thompson, and they lived on a rented farm for ten years. He then bought a tract of land in Jackson township and resided thereon until his wife passed away in 1893. The sueeccding six years were
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