USA > Iowa > Adair County > History of Adair County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 27
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Mr. Morgan was united in marriage on the 16th of April, 1893, to Miss Eva Morrison, a daughter of William and Sarah (Hunchback) Morrison, natives respect- ively of Wisconsin and England. The father, who was a farmer, came to Adair county with his family in 1872 and purchased land near Fontanelle, which he oper- ated for a considerable time. At length he sold out and removed to Fontanelle, where he worked at the wagon maker's trade during the remainder of his life. His wife is also deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have become the parents of three children : Blanche, who is attending college at Cedar Falls, Iowa; Mabel, in school ; and Sylvia, deceased.
Mr. Morgan casts his ballot in support of the candidates and measures of the republican party, and he has served for a number of years as a member of the school board, of which he has been president for the last four years. Fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his religious faith is
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indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. He is guided by high standards of ethies and his influence is always on the side of right and justice. He is well and favorably known throughout the county and has made many warm personal friends.
AUGUST FERBER.
Among those who are successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising in Prussia township is August Ferber, who owns and operates an excellent farm on section 14. A native of Iowa. his birth occurred in Guthrie county on the 16th of August. 1875, and his parents are William and Wilhelmina (Blohm) Ferber, both natives of Germany. They emigrated to America in 1875 and settled in Guthrie county. where the father. who was by occupation a farmer, rented land for a time. In 1880 they came to Adair county and located on an eighty aere tract in Prussia township which the father purchased. He has added to his holdings from time to time and now owns two hundred and eighty aeres in that township, on which he and his wife still reside.
August Ferber attended the public schools of Prussia township in the acquire- ment of his education and remained at home. giving his father the benefit of his labor. until he was twenty-seven years of age. He then purchased eighty aeres near the homestead and cultivated his land for five years, after which he sold that place and removed to his present farm, which comprises one hundred and sixty aeres on sec- tions 14 and 23. Prussia township. He gives his entire attention to agricultural work and his energy and practical methods insure him of a good annual return from his land.
On the 5th of November, 1902, occurred the marriage of Mr. Ferber and Miss Iney Hofmann. a daughter of Nieklas and Barbara Hofmann, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Ferber have been born six ehil- dren: Harley, born February 13, 1905; Louis, born June 19, 1906; Harry, whose birth oceurred on the 13th of December, 1908; Ida, born October 14, 1909; Oscar, July 21, 1911 ; and Edna, January 3, 1913.
Mr. Ferber is a demoerat in his political belief and for two terms served as school director of distriet No. 1, of Prussia township. His religious faith is that of the German Lutheran church, of which he is a member and whose teachings form the guiding principles of his life. His genuine worth has gained him the sincere respect of those who have come in contaet with him, and he has made and held many warm personal friends.
GEORGE D. WHITTUM.
George D. Whittum, a prosperous and highly esteemed citizen of Adair county, has lived on his home place on seetion 19, Lineoln township, for the past forty-six years and is now in possession of more than eight hundred aeres of valuable land in Jefferson and Lincoln townships. His birth oeeurred in Lewiston, Maine, on the
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12th of March, 1840, his parents being Daniel and Betsey (Statson) Whittum, who spent their entire lives in the Pine Tree state.
George D. Whittum acquired his education in the district schools, and after attaining his majority worked as a farm hand by the month until 1869, when he left his native state and came west to Iowa. In Adair county he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of raw prairie land in Lincoln township and on this property he has resided continuously to the present time, giving his attention to its cultivation and improvement. In later years he has augmented his holdings by additional purchase from time to time until he now owns over eight hundred aeres of land in Lincoln and Jefferson townships-the most fertile and richest section of the county. Mr. Whittum has cultivated the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and has also been extensively engaged in stock-raising, now making a specialty of Black Polled Angus cattle. His undertakings have been attended with a highly gratifying and well merited measure of prosperity.
On the 8th of October, 1872, Mr. Whittum was united in marriage to Miss Emma Easton, a daughter of William H. Easton, who came to this county from Illinois in 1855 and took up his abode in Jefferson township. He is now a resident of Okla- homa. To Mr. and Mrs. Whittum have been born five children, as follows: Charles D. and Alton S., both of whom are deceased; Fred S., who operates his father's half-section farm in Jefferson township; Arthur H., who cultivates the home place; and Clara E., at home.
Mr. Whittum cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln and has since supported the men and measures of the republican party, believing firmly in its principles. He has never sought nor desired the honors and emoluments of office, but has ably served as township trustee and member of the school board. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is also a consistent and valued member. He has now passed the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey and his career has ever been such that he is numbered among the most respected and leading citizens of his community.
JOHN M. BUTLER.
A farm of two hundred acres on section 5, Eureka township, pays tribute to John M. Butler for the care and labor which he bestows upon it. He has been a resident of Iowa from the age of ten years, his birth, however, having occurred in Pennsylvania on the 9th of February, 1857. His parents, William and Jane A. (Allott) Butler, were natives of England and on coming to America in 1848 the father settled in Pennsylvania. He was a coal miner and also engaged in mining iron ore. He worked in the mines of the Keystone state until 1867, when he arrived in Iowa, taking up his abode in Jasper county, where he purchased a tract of land and began farming-an occupation in which he had previously had no experience. He continued to cultivate his land until 1882, when he sold out and came to Adair county, becoming owner of farm property in Eureka township. His remaining days were given to its further development and cultivation and to his place he added many modern improvements, making it very attractive in appearance. He died in March, 1896, while his wife survived until September, 1900. They were the parents
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of six children, of whom four are deceased: Robert A., William L., Alta M. and Joseph W. The living are: Sarah, now the wife of William Rater, residing in Summit township; and John M.
The last named spent the first ten years of his life in his native state and then accompanied his parents to Iowa. The education which he had begun in the schools of Pennsylvania was continued in the publie schools of Jasper county. He started out to earn his own living by working in a coal bank in Jasper county, spending the winter in that way, while the summer seasons were devoted to farm work. He has earned his own living since a youth in his teens. In 1878, when twenty-one years of age, he removed to Phillips county, Kansas, where he secured a claim which he held for three and a half years. Abandoning this, he came back to Iowa, where he farmed for one year and then removed to Adair county with his parents, after which he engaged in farming with his father until the home place was paid for. At that time John M. Butler rented land which he continued to cultivate for several years. He next purchased forty acres of land on seetion 5, Eureka township, and has since bought two additional eighty acre traets on the same section, so that he now has a farm of two hundred aeres there. This he has since cultivated and improved. with the exception of six years spent in the hardware business at Adair. He works hard, nor is he afraid of that close attention to detail so necessary as a factor in suceess. He also owns eighty acres of the old homestead on section 4.
In November, 1894, Mr. Butler was united in marriage to Miss Clara E. Gaines, a daughter of Darius and Vashti (Cherrington) Gaines, who were natives of Ohio but beeame residents of Adair county, easting in their lot with its citizens in the spring of 1886. Mr. Gaines was a farmer and devoted his remaining days to the enltivation of land in this eounty. He died in April, 1908, but his widow survives.
To Mr. and Mrs. Butler have been born four children: Edith, William, Irene and Robert. The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist church, and in politieal belief Mr. Butler is a republican. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and high and honorable principles govern him in all of his relations with his fellowmen. In business affairs he has never been known to take advantage of the necessities of others, but has ever been found thor- oughly reliable in all of his undertakings. He leads a busy life in the eare and development of his place. Early spring finds him at work in the fields, and he is busily engaged until crops are harvested in the late autumn, his work bringing to him a success which is the reward of earnest, persistent effort intelligently direeted.
WILLIAM ROBERT LEWIS.
William Robert Lewis, a young and successful farmer residing on section 31. Prussia township, is a native of this eounty. his birth having oceurred in Jackson township on the old Lewis homestead, December 6, 1882. He is a son of Truman L. and Julia D. (Taylor) Lewis, natives respectively of the state of New York and of Wisconsin. The father is of French and English deseent and the mother eomes of Seotch ancestry. They were married in Jackson township, this county, and there resided until 1899. when the father retired from agricultural pursuits and they removed to Fontanelle, where they are still living.
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William R. Lewis attended the common schools in Jackson township and the high school in Fontanelle and during his boyhood and youth also helped to farm the home place. Following his marriage in 1905 he rented the Niek Ritter farm in Prussia township for one year, and then for two years operated the Brown estate farm in Eureka township. In 1909 he purchased eighty acres on section 31, Prussia township, and removed to the Halsey homestead, which adjoins his land. He still lives upon that place and operates both farms and an additional one hun- dred and forty acres, making three hundred acres in all. He carries on general farming and also gives considerable attention to the raising of high grade shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs for the market.
Mr. Lewis was married on the 20th of December, 1905, at the Halsey homestead by Rev. W. H. Doyle, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church of Fontanelle, to Miss Gladys P. Halsey, a daughter of Albert and Frances (Pope) Halsey. Her father, who was born in Ohio, removed to Adair county in 1870 and purchased the farm in Prussia township upon which our subject now resides. Mr. Halsey con- tinued to operate that plaee until 1909, when he retired and removed to Fontanelle, where he and his wife are still living. She is a native of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have two children: Florence, born February 8, 1907, who is a pupil in the District No. 3 school of Summerset township; and Albert, who was born July 24, 1911.
Mr. Lewis is a republican and takes the interest of a good citizen in the affairs of local government. He is an Odd Fellow, and both he and his wife belong to the Rebekah lodge at Fontanelle. Both are also identified with the Methodist Episcopal church at that place. He is an energetic and progressive young farmer and the gratifying measure of success which he has gained in his chosen occupation is due entirely to his ability and industry.
WILLIAM WALTER LANE.
The farming interests of Prussia township find a worthy representative in William Walter Lane, who is operating the old Lane homestead comprising two hundred and forty acres and is also renting an additional tract. He is a native son of this township, born May 1, 1888, of the marriage of Josiah and Sarah (Lowe) Lane, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of North Carolina. In an early day the father came to Adair county and purchased land in Harrison. town- ship, but after remaining there for some time he disposed of his holdings and purchased land in Prussia township, his possessions comprising two hundred and forty aeres on seetion 27. This land he improved and, with the exception of three years' service in the Civil war, he was continuously engaged in agricultural pur- suits until 1900, when he retired and removed to Greenfield, where he has since made his home. While at the front he received injuries which left him a eripple for life.
William Walter Lane was reared on the home farm and was early trained to the tasks that fall to the lot of the farm lad. He supplemented the knowledge he had gained in the rural schools by four years' attendance at the Greenfield sehools and on completing his studies he rented his father's land and has since been engaged
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in farming. The home place comprises two hundred and forty acres, and in addi- tion he rents fifty-five acres near by, so that he is farming on an extensive scale. He follows modern methods of agriculture and annually gathers abundant crops as a reward for his labors.
On the 21st of December, 1910, occurred the marriage of Mr. Lane and Miss Dora Hepler, a daughter of Stuart and Mary (Harris) Hepler, who were pioncer settlers of Adair county, where the father engaged in farming throughout a long period. He passed away here in 1895 but the mother survives and now makes her home in Fontanelle. To Mr. and Mrs. Lane have been born three children: Mildred H., three years of age; Loretta C., two years old; and Evelyn D., but a few weeks old.
Politically Mr. Lane is a democrat. He is a young man of enterprise and business ability and has a host of friends in the county where his entire life has been spent, and all who know him either in business or social relations have for him the warmest regard.
JULIUS PETERS.
Julius Peters lives on section 14, Jefferson township, and has long occupied this farm. A beautiful grove of maple trees of his own planting is one of the attractive features of the place and various improvements indicate the care and progressiveness with which he has carried on his farm work. He was born in North Peoria, Illinois. February 17, 1843, and is a son of James and Alice (Giles) Peters, the former a native of England and the latter of Wales. They came to America when young and were married in Peoria county. Illinois. The great-grandfather was at one time a soldier of the English army, the grandfather on the maternal side was one of the soldiers that guarded Napoleon I at St. Helena, and the grandmother washed Napoleon's clothes there. The father engaged in brick making in Peoria for some time after his arrival in the new world, but subsequently settled upon a farm in Peoria county, and still later purchased a farm near Princeville, which he occupied for several years. Eventually he took up his abode in the village of Princeville. where both he and his wife spent their remaining days. In their family were eleven children, of whom the following survive: James, now a resident of Adair county ; Julius ; George, who makes his home in Des Moines, Iowa; Mary, who for twenty years has been a missionary in China and is now superintendent of day schools there; Sarah, who has devoted thirty years of her life to missionary work in China ; William, who is engaged in farming near Sac City, Iowa; and Thomas, who makes his home upon a farm near Ravenswood, Missouri.
Julius Peters spent his youthful days in the home of his parents. and after attaining his majority began farming on his own account on a tract of rented land in Peoria county, Illinois. He was thus engaged until he enlisted for service in the Civil war. becoming a member of Company H. Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, respond- ing to the last call. He served for seven months and was with Sherman on the cele . brated march to the sea, being mustered out at Leavenworth. Kansas, following the close of hostilities. He then returned to Peoria county and in the following spring removed to Adair county, settling on the farm on which he now resides on section
MR. AND MRS. JULIUS PETERS
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14, Jefferson township. He has greatly improved the place upon which he lived for a number of years, but at length he sold out and returned to Illinois, where he con- tinued for a year. At the end of that time, however, he once more came to Adair county and took up his abode upon the farm which is still his home. He has made excellent improvements, rebuilding fences, erecting substantial buildings and setting out trees, while the work of the fields has been carefully and systematically carried on, with the result that good crops have annually rewarded his labors.
Mr. Peters returned to Illinois for his bride, being married in 1873 to Mrs. Antoinette (Alford) Robinson, who was born in Peoria county, Illinois, a daughter of Moses and Almira (Wells) Alford, both of whom were natives of Connecticut. In early life, however, they removed westward to Peoria county and settled on a farm, where their remaining days were passed. In their family were eight children, three of whom survive. To Mr. and Mrs. Peters was born a son, Myron Julius, whose birth occurred on the homestead farm in Jefferson township, November 3rd, 1876. He lived with his father until he reached man's estate and then took charge of the old homestead. He and his father now own the property together, comprising three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, constituting one of the finest farms in Jefferson township. In 1905 he married Miss Jennie Viola Starr, a native of Washington county, Iowa, and a daughter of George W. and Maria T. (Hyatt) Starr, the former a native of Indiana, and the latter of Ohio. They became resi- dents of Washington county, Iowa, at an early period in its development and after- ward removed to Shelby county, this state, where the father carried on agricultural pursuits for a considerable period. Later he retired and removed to Stuart, Iowa, where he passed away, but the mother is still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Myron J. Peters have been born three children: Velma Leola, Carl Frederick and Ruth Gwendolyn. Mrs. Julius Peters passed away in 1911 and was laid to rest in the Jefferson Center cemetery, her death being the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for she had many warm friends throughout this part of the county.
In his political views Julius Peters has been a stalwart republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, but he has never sought nor desired public office. He has served as school director and the cause of education finds' in him a stalwart champion. He has always been a consistent and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church and his has been an active and useful life guided by honorable principles and fraught with good results.
C. W. GARNER.
C. W. Garner, who resides on section 14, Washington township and owns and operates three hundred and eighty-seven acres of excellent land, is a native of that township and was born on the 28th of November, 1876. His parents, Peter L. and Martha (Boswell) Garner, were natives respectively of eastern Iowa and of Illinois. The mother accompanied her parents to Iowa when a child and the family home was established in Adams county. Mr. and Mrs. Peter L. Garner were married in that county but soon afterward removed to Adair county, where he had come with his parents as a boy of about seven years, the Garner family being one of the first to settle in Washington township. He continued to farm in that township, with Vol. II-14
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the exception of one year, until 1897, when he removed to Bridgewater, where he still makes his home.
C. W. Garner entered the distriet sehools at the usual age and there acquired his education. Following his marriage in 1897 he began farming for himself, rent- ing the homestead for two years. At the end of that time his finanees were in such condition that he was able to purchase one hundred and forty-nine aeres of land on section 14. Washington township, and later he acquired title to an adjoining quarter section. In 1912 he traded eighty aeres of this farm in on his present home farm and he now holds title to three hundred and eighty-seven aeres of rich land. He has gained financial independence and aside from his landed holdings in this county he owns a eity residenee and two town lots in Moosejaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, where he spent the summers of 1906-07 and the winter intervening. He likewise owns stoek in the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company.
Mr. Garner was married December 29, 1897, to Miss Sarah P. Steward, of Washington township, a daughter of Horatio Steward, who is now living retired in Greenfield. To this union have been born nine children, eight of whom survive, namely: Charles O .. Cleo. Martha May, Phylis Emma, Wilbur Alexander, Seth, Pearl Elizabeth and Hartford Augustus.
Mr. Garner is a loyal republiean and has served for three years as a member of the school board, while for the past four years he has been assessor of his town- ship. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and its teachings form the guiding principles of their lives. Through his energy and well directed industry Mr. Garner has gained a gratifying measure of financial sueeess but he has also found time to cooperate in movements seeking the public advancement and his personal qualities are such that he has won the warm friend- ship of many.
JOHN WEINHEIMER.
Among the progressive and well-to-do farmers of Prussia township is John Weinheimer, who owns two hundred acres of excellent land on seetion 26. He was born in Bureau county, Illinois, on the 17th of May, 1879, and is a son of Fritz and Elizabeth (Decker) Weinheimer. The father, who was born in Germany, emigrated to the United States when seventeen years of age and made his way to Bureau county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming until 1884. In that year he came to Adair county, lowa. and in the spring purchased two hundred aeres of land in Prussia township. Later he added one hundred and twenty acres to his hold- ings and for a number of years operated the entire three hundred and twenty acres, all of which he brought to a high state of cultivation. At length he retired from active life and he and his wife took up their residence in Fontanelle, where he passed away April 1, 1912, at the age of seventy-two years. Mrs. Weinheimer now makes her home with her daughter.
John Weinheimer received his education in the common sehools and remained under the parental roof. assisting his father until he was twenty-four years of age. In 1903 he began his independent business career and purchased the two hundred aere farm on seetion 26, Prussia township, where he has sinee resided. The place
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is well improved and the land is naturally productive and is in a high state of culti- vation. He grows the usual crops and also raises cattle and hogs for the market. He is energetic and progressive and is meeting with a gratifying measure of success in his chosen occupation.
Mr. Weinheimer was married February 24, 1904, to Miss Matilda Lenthauser, a daughter of John Nicholas and Annic M. (Wedemeyer) Leuthauser, both natives of central Germany. The father was born on the 6th of December, 1853, and in 1868, when about fifteen years of age, emigrated to America. He first located in Bureau county, Illinois, whence he removed to Prussia township, Adair county, Iowa, where he still lives. His wife came to America with her parents, Jacob and Katharine (Ernest) Wedemeyer, in 1869. The family located in Guthrie county, Iowa, but later removed to Audubon county, where Mr. and Mrs. Wedemeyer passed away. Their daughter, Mrs. Leuthauser, is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Weinheimer have two children: Edward, who was born June 20, 1907; and Florence, whose birth occurred May 21, 1913.
Mr. Weinheimer gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and mani- fests a commendable interest in public affairs but is not an office seeker. Both he and his wife hold membership in the German Lutheran church and take an active part in its work. He is well known throughout the county and those who have been most intimately associated with him are his sincerest friends, which is proof of his genuine worth.
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