USA > Iowa > Adair County > History of Adair County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 36
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Mr. Kading is now serving for the fourth year as school director in that district, where, as a boy, he was himself a student and where his children are now pursuing their education. He is a democrat in his politieal faith and he and his wife are members of the German Lutheran church of Casey. Both are representatives of oldtime German families and are connected with families who were pioneer residents of Walnut township. The work which the fathers instituted has been carried on by the younger generation and William F. Kading is today aeeounted one of the sneeessful and progressive agrieulturists of his township. He is widely and favorably known and many substantial qualities have gained for him the regard of all with whom he has been associated.
FRANK E. LOWDEN.
Frank E. Lowden is a practical and progressive agriculturist who owns an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty-seven acres on section 25, Harrison town- ship. His birth occurred in Madison county, Iowa, on the 16th of May, 1867, his parents being Edward and Margery (Cochran) Lowden, both of whom were natives of Ohio. They came to Iowa in the fall of 1865, loeating on a farm in Madison county, which the father improved and on which he spent the remainder of his life, dying when seventy-one years old. The mother of our subject is still living in Winterset at the age of seventy-six years. To them were born six children, four of whom yet survive, those besides our subject being: William, who lives in Grand River township, Adair county; J. J., living in Jackson township, Madison county ; and Ada, the wife of Fred Bowlsby, of Winterset.
MR. AND MRS. FRANK E. LOWDEN
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Frank E. Lowden was reared to manhood under the parental roof and attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education. After attaining his majority he operated a rented farm in Madison county for three years and on the expiration of that period took up his abode on his present place in Harrison township, Adair county, erecting good buildings on the property and making other substantial improvements. Later he extended the boundaries of his farm by additional pur- chase until it now embraces one hundred and sixty-seven acres on section 25, and in the cultivation of the fields he has won well deserved success. He also makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock of all kinds and owns a fine stallion and a jack.
In 1889 Mr. Lowden was united in marriage to Miss Addie M. Garrett, a native of Adair county, Iowa, and a daughter of Solomon and Sarah (Spoon) Garrett, both of whom are deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Lowden were born three children, namely: Osa M., a native of Madison county, who gave her hand in marriage to Don Dunn and resides in Minnesota ; Alma C., born at the present home; and Mamie E. The wife and mother died on the 26th of April, 1910. and her remains were interred in the Roberts cemetery.
Politieally Mr. Lowden is a staneh republican and his fellow townsmen, recog- nizing his worth and ability, have called him to positions of public trust. He has served as school director, supervisor and constable, making a most ereditable record in these capacities. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, the teachings of which he' exemplifies in his daily life. The period of his residence in Adair county covers about a quarter of a century and his record is that of one of its representative agriculturists and highly esteemed citizens.
ARDON B. COMLY.
Ardon B. Comly has wrought a marked transformation in his farm sinee taking possession of the place, which comprises one hundred and twenty acres on seetion 29. Walnut township. He was born in Brooklyn, Poweshiek county, Iowa, July 29, 1874, a son of Jesse R. and Alice M. (Buek) Comly, natives of Pennsylvania and of Ohio respectively. In the year 1871 the father came to Iowa and began farming in Poweshiek county, where he lived until 1876, when he removed to Adair county and for two years rented land. He then purchased forty peres of the place now owned by his son Ardon and at once began improving it. To his original purchase he kept adding from time to time, thus extending the boundaries of his farm until it comprised three hundred and sixty aeres. He continued its cultiva- tion throughout his remaining days, his death occurring November 15, 1898. His widow survives and now makes her home in Grinnell, Iowa. At the time of the Civil war Jesse R. Comly responded to the country's eall for troops and joined the boys in blue of Company K, Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry, with which he served for about a year, taking part in a number of hotly contested engagements. In all matters of citizenship he was loyal and in his business affairs displayed marked enterprise.
Vol. II-18
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Ardon B. Comly was reared and educated in this county, having been but two years of age when brought by his parents from Poweshick to Adair county. He attended school at Dexter and at Casey and he remained with his parents. assist- ing in the work of the home farm, until his father's death, which occurred when he was twenty-four years of age. When the property was divided among the heirs, Ardon B. Comly received as his share one hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land situated on section 29, Walnut township. He has made wonderful improvements upon the place. the work of transformation resulting in converting this into one of the splendidly improved farms of the district. There were three children in his father's family, of whom one died in infancy, while his brother, Troy F., who was born December 7, 1882, lives upon the farm adjoining that of Ardon B. Comly. In addition to tilling the soil the latter has other business concerns, being a stockholder in the Farmers Creamery Company at Casey and a stockholder in the Casey Lumber Company. He is a man of good business judgment, persistent and energetic in carrying forward his plans to successful completion, and his intelli- gently directed efforts have brought him to a creditable and enviable position among the representative farmers of the district.
On Christmas Day of 1901 Mr. Comly was married to Miss Algia E. Allen, a daughter of Harlan and Jemimah J. (Young) Allen. Three children have been born to this union : Aleta W., twelve years of age; Thaddeus A., who died in March, 1912, at the age of four years; and Alice J., now four years of age. The political views of Mr. Comly are in accord with the principles of the republican party. He and his wife hold membership in the Methodist church and they are highly esteemed in the community where they live, the hospitality of many of the best homes being freely accorded them.
MRS. MINA WHITTUM.
No history of Adair county would be complete without extended reference to its public school system, at the head of which is now found Mrs. Mina Whittum, who is filling the position of county superintendent of schools. A native of Henry county, Illinois, she is a daughter of Josiah B. Carnes, who was born in Ohio and became a teacher and farmer of Illinois. Twenty-one years ago he removed to Greenfield, Iowa, and there followed the carpenter's trade until his death, which occurred in 1913. In early manhood he wedded Louisa J. Hayden, a native of Indiana, who still resides in Greenfield. They were the parents of four children and having received a college education themselves, they realized the importance of giving their children good educational advantages. They were faithful members of the Metho- dist church and brought up their family to be active workers in the church.
Their daughter. Mina, graduated from the Greenfield high school, and also from the Iowa State Teachers College at Cedar Falls. She entered the profession of teaching and taught successfully in the schools of Adair county. After teaching a few years she was married to Charles D. Whittum, a native of Adair county, and a son of George D. Whittum mentioned elsewhere in this work. His death occurred shortly after their marriage and since that time Mrs. Whittum has given her atten- tion to school work. She broadened her experience by teaching in Minnesota and
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New Mexico, and also in Des Moines. She was elected county superintendent of schools in the spring of 1915, and entered upon the duties of that position in Sep- tember of the same year.
Her sister Lulu who was for several years engaged in newspaper work is now at home with her mother, and is an active helper in home and church work.
Goldie, the third child of the family, was educated in the Greenfield public schools and is a graduate from the Iowa State Teachers College. She taught for some time in the rural schools of the county, and for several years has been employed in the grades of the Greenfield schools.
The youngest daughter. Elsie, was also a teacher. After graduating from the Greenfield high school and teaching for a short time, she also entered the Teachers College and completed the course in home economics. She is now the wife of Professor William H. Davis, head of the department of agriculture of that institution.
HENRY RAMSBOTTOM.
Henry Ramsbottom, who has lived in Adair county for four decades, now resid- ing on section 19. Union township, owns abont five hundred aeres of valuable land and is widely recognized as a leading and enterprising agriculturist of the com- munity. His birth occurred in Wanshara county, Wisconsin, on the 18th of March, 1859, his parents being John and Ellen (Foster) Ramsbottom, both of whom were natives of England. They emigrated to the United States in young manhood and young womanhood, locating in Rochester, New York, where they were married. A short time later they removed to Wiseonsin and took up their abode among the Indians in the virgin forest, the father having purchased government land at a dollar and a quarter per aere. In 1875 they came west to Adair county, Iowa, locating on seetion 20, Union township, where John Ramsbottom bought one hundred and sixty acres of land and spent the remainder of his life. When he passed away in February, 1903, the community mourned the loss of one of its substantial agri- enltnrists and esteemed citizens. His wife was called to her final rest on the 5th of September, 1905.
Henry Ramsbottom acquired his early edneation in the distriet schools of Wis- eonsin and after the family home was established in this county attended school here during two winter terms. In order to secure the capital necessary that he might start out as an agriculturist on his own aeeount, he was engaged in breaking prairie for about six years, breaking as high as two hundred acres a season and being paid from two to two dollars and a quarter an aere. When twenty-two years of age he bought his first land, coming into possession of an eighty-aere tract on seetion 29, Union township, on which he built a small frame house and kept bachelor's hall for two or three years. In the spring of 1888 he disposed of that place and bought a farm of two hundred and forty aeres on section 19, Union township, which he has operated continnonsly since and the boundaries of which he has extended by addi- tional purchase from time to time until it now embraces about five hundred acres of rich and prodnetive land. He has every reason to feel gratified with the sueeess which has come to him, as it is in every way highly ereditable and a tribute to his enterprise and energy.
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On the 30th of October, 1886, Mr. Ramsbottom was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Nelson, her father being William Nelson, who came to Adair county from Ontario, Canada, in 1872 and located on the farm which is now in possession of our subject. Mr. Ramsbottom purchased the property from his father-in-law and the latter now makes his home in Santa Monica, California. To Mr. and Mrs. Ramsbottom have been born ten children, eight of whom survive, as follows: Ethel, who is the wife of W. A. Henry, of Creston, Iowa; Lyda, who gave her hand in marriage to R. W. Johnson and resides in Alberta, Canada ; and Ida, Harry. Elbert, Earl, Maud and Mildred, all at home. In his political views Mr. Ramsbottom is a democrat, exercising his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of that party. He has won an extensive acquaintance throughout the community dur- ing the long period of his residence here, and the circle of his friends is a wide one.
WILLIAM CHRISTIAN ZELLMER.
William Christian Zellmer is living on section 33. Walnut township, where he is extensively engaged in stock-raising, being one of the foremost stock breeders of Adair county. Suecess has attended his efforts in large measure and has come as the legitimate and logical sequence of indefatigable energy and keen business sagacity. He belongs to that class of citizens who have made Iowa the great commonwealth that it is today. His birth occurred in Pottawattamie county on the 23d of December, 1879. his parents being William and Louise (Wendland) Zellmer, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father came to America in 1864, settling in Wisconsin, where he rented a farm for a time. In 1870 he removed to Nebraska. where he purchased land. He lived in that state for three years, but was driven out by the grasshoppers and, abandoning his land, for which he had paid two dollars and a quarter per aere, he went to Pottawattamie county, Iowa, and started in business life anew. There he purchased a small traet of land. upon which he resided for four years. He next removed to Cass county, Iowa, living four miles west of Atlantic until 1902, when he retired and took up his abode in that city, where his remaining days were passed. He spent about eleven years in the enjoyment of well carned rest and was called to his final home on the 19th of Jannary, 1913. His widow survives him and makes her home in Atlantic.
William C. Zeller was reared upon the home farm to the age of twenty-two years, his time being divided between attendance at the schools of Cass county and work in the fields. After reaching man's estate he rented one of his father's farms and engaged in its cultivation for three years. He next purchased three hundred and twenty aeres of land in Audubon county, Iowa, and resided upon that place for five years. He then sold out and took up his abode in Walnut township, Adair county, where he purchased the farm of two hundred aeres on seetion 33 on which he now resides. He at onee established his home thereon and has since occupied the place, which, under his care and supervision, has undergone a marked transformation. In addition to his home place he has become the owner of other desirable and valuable property, having now three hundred and twenty aeres in Prussia township and three hundred and sixty aeres in Guthrie county. He rents the latter, together with one half of his land in Prussia township, while he personally
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cultivates one hundred and sixty acres in Prussia township in addition to his home place. He carrie's on general farming and stock-raising and is regarded as one of the most successful among the young agriculturists and stockmen in this part of the state. In 1913 he began breeding registered Hereford cattle. In 1907 he under- took the breeding of Percheron horses and now owns a fine imported stallion, Keota Frendman, No. 10921, which was imported from France. He likewise breeds registered Poland China hogs and the extent and importance of his business in these connections makes him one of the foremost breeders of Adair county. He is regarded as an excellent judge of stock, his opinions being accepted as authority by many.
In 1901 Mr. Zellmer was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Meislahn, a daugh- ter of Christian and Margaret (Kleuver) Meislahm, both of whom were natives of Germany, in which country they were reared and married. At length her father came to the new world and a few years later, or in 1874, he was joined by his wife. They established their home in Effingham county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming until his death in the year 1894. His widow now makes her home with her youngest son, Bernhardt Meislahn, a farmer living in Audubon county, Iowa. Mrs. Zellmer was born in Effingham county, Illinois, May 1, 1882, and by her mar- riage has become the mother of seven children: Fred, who was born April 1, 1901, and is now attending Willow Grove school of Walnut township; Alma, born Decem- ber 13, 1905; Lester, September 14, 1907; William, March 1, 1909; Carl, January 14, 1911; Anie, April 18, 1913; and Richard, December 27, 1914.
The parents hold membership in the German Lutheran church at Casey and Mr. Zellmer is identified with Atlantic Lodge, No. 445, B. P. O. E., of Atlantic. His political views accord with the principles of the democratic party, but he has neither time nor inclination to seek office, for his business affairs make constant demand upon his attention, and it is through his close application, unremitting energy and discriminating judgment that he has gained for himself the creditable position which he now occupies as a leading stockman of Adair county.
DAVID LINT.
It is not the directing force of the single individual or even of several that has made Iowa the great agricultural state that it is today, but the combined efforts of the many farmers, each busily engaged in tilling his own land according to practical and progressive methods. Their work has given Iowa precedence as a great agri- cultural state and their labors largely constitute the source of its wealth. To this class belongs David Lint, of Walnut township, who was born in Pennsylvania June 10, 1845, a son of David and Mary (Burkey) Lint, who were also natives of the Keystone state. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, removed westward to Polk county, Iowa, in 1853 and there purchased and improved land, devoting his remaining days to its cultivation. He died June 10, 1855, and his widow, long surviving him, passed away in March, 1912, at the very remarkable old age of one hundred years.
David Lint was reared and educated in Polk county, where he arrived when a little lad of but seven summers. He remained with his mother until he reached
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the age of eighteen years, when he began working as a farm hand in the neighbor- hood, being thus employed for seven years. At the end of that time he began rent- ing land and after three years removed to Adair county, where he invested his earnings in eighty acres of land on section 36, Walnut township. This he at once began to develop and improve, continuing to operate that tract for seven years. On the expiration of that period he sold his place and bought the Dunbar farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he cultivated for ten years. On disposing of that property he became owner of one hundred and sixty acres on section 34, Walnut township, and at once began the further development of the land. His labors have wrought a marked transformation in the appearance of the farm and in its pro- duetiveness, so that he now annually harvests good crops. He also raises high grade stock and thereby adds materially to his income.
On the 7th of November, 1867, Mr. Lint was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Harrison, a daughter of Lanson and Elizabeth (Kceney) Harrison, who were natives of Indiana, whence they removed to lowa, settling in Polk county in 1852. There the father purchased land, which he cultivated for several years. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted in Des Moines and was for two years engaged in active duty at the front. When his military service was over he again took up farming in Polk county, where he remained until 1874, when he came to Adair county and bought land, which he cultivated for several years, but finally retired from active business life and removed to Greenfield, where his last days were passed. His wife has also departed this life.
To Mr. and Mrs. Lint have been born three children: Oscar, deceased; and John and George, at home. The sons assist their father in carrying on the work of the home farm. The wife and mother passed away August 9, 1913, after an illness of six weeks, leaving behind her many friends, who esteemed her for her attractive qualities.
In his political views Mr. Lint is a republican, while his religious faith is that of the Methodist church. His Christian belief is the guiding force in his life and has made his course one of uprightness and honor, so that only good words are said of him by the friends and neighbors among whom he has long resided. In a busi- ness way his career too has been most creditable, for he started out to earn his living as a farm hand and has steadily worked his way upward, gaining for himself a creditable position among those to whom success has come as the merited reward of carnest, honest labor.
MADISON M. MACY.
During the past eleven years Madison M. Maey has been busily engaged in the operation of a valuable farm of one hundred and twenty acres which he owns on section 33, Harrison township. His birth occurred in Indiana on the 13th of June, 1858, his parents being Milton and Mary ( Barnett) Macy, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Ohio. They were married in the Hoosier state and in 1867 came to Iowa, locating in Guthrie county on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres which the father purchased near Dexter. Milton Macy later bought one hundred and twenty acres more and there continued to engage in agricultural
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pursuits until within two years of his death. His last days were spent in honorable retirement in Dexter, where he passed away in 1903. He was twice married, having chosen for his second wife Mrs. Letitia Walton.
Madison M. Macy was reared under the parental roof and acquired his educa- tion in the district schools. After attaining his majority he worked for two years as a farm hand and then rented the farm of an uncle near Dexter, operating the place for one year. Subsequently he removed to Avoca, Pottawattamie county, where for one year he was engaged in the furniture business in partnership with Frank Dutton, a brother-in-law. Returning to Dexter, he again turned his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits and continued the cultivation of rented land until 1904, when he purchased his present home farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Harrison township, Adair county, which he has operated continuously since. His farming has been practical and therefore productive of good results, abundant harvests having each year rewarded his care and labor.
In 1883 Mr. Macy was united in marriage to Miss Olive Perdun, of Guthrie county, by whom he has five children, as follows: James, who is a resident of Nevada, Iowa; Laura, the wife of Carl Vonstein, a farmer of Lincoln township; Ward, who follows farming in Harrison township; Leatha, who gave her hand in marriage to Ray Rice, an agriculturist of Harrison township; and Ray, at home. Mr. Macy gives his political allegiance to the republican party, loyally supporting its men and measures at the polls. His wife is a devoted and consistent member of the Christian church. He has many friends and acquaintances, all of whom regard him as a man of exemplary character and high standards.
H. S. WAMBOLD.
H. S. Wambold, one of the venerable and well known citizens of Adair county, was long and actively identified with agricultural pursuits here but is now living retired on his farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 32, Harrison town- ship, which has been in his possession during the past forty-three years. His birth, occurred in Pennsylvania on the 8th of December, 1835, his parents being Henry and Anna (Sces) Wambold, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state. In both the paternal and maternal lines our subject is of German ancestry but both families were established in Pennsylvania in 1730. To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wambold were born four children, three of whom survive.
H. S. Wambold was reared and educated in the state of his nativity and in the spring of 1857, when in his twenty-second year, removed to Wisconsin. In the fall of the same year, however, he made his way to Polk county, Iowa, where he worked at the carpenter's trade until the spring of 1859, when he drove across the country to California by ox team, the journey consuming three months. He remained in the Golden state for six years and then returned to Pennsylvania, where he spent one winter season before again removing to Polk county, Iowa. There he operated a rented farm for four years and was married. In 1872 he came to Adair county, purchasing eighty acres in Harrison township on which he has resided continuously since. Later he added a similar tract to his holdings, thus becoming the owner of a quarter section of fine land. He erected excellent
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buildings on his place and also planted a fine orchard and grove, and in the con- duct of his agricultural interests he met with gratifying success. the well tilled fields annually yielding golden harvests in return for the care and labor bestowed upon them. At the present time. however, he is enjoying well earned rest, leasing his land and leaving the active work of the fields to others.
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