USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 54
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R. C. FERGUSON.
R. C. Ferguson is well known in Waterloo, where he has long been success- fully engaged in business as a well driller and in the sale of windmills and pumps and their equipments. He maintains a well appointed establishment at No. 708 Independence avenue. His birth occurred in Pennsylvania in 1863, his parents being Edward and Isabelle Ferguson, the former of Scotch ancestry and the latter of Irish descent. In 1866 they came west to Iowa, settling in Bennington township, Black Hawk county, where the father purchased land and followed farming until his demise, which occurred on the 5th of December, 1876. Mrs. Ferguson, however, survives and makes her home in Waterloo, where she is widely and favorably known. She is the mother of six children, one daughter and five sons, as follows: George, who is a member of the firm known as the Ferguson Manufacturing Company of Waterloo; R. C., of this review ; Stephen, Albert and Charles A., all of whom are engaged in business as members of the Ferguson Manufacturing Company ; and Iona, the wife of Jess Noble, who holds the office of postmaster at Manitou, Colorado.
R. C. Ferguson, who was but three years of age when brought by his parents to this county, acquired his education in the public schools of Bennington town- ship and after putting aside his text-books devoted his attention to general agri- cultural pursuits until he had attained his majority. Subsequently he spent two years in California and then returned to Black Hawk county, since which time. with the exception of a period of three years spent in the plant of the Ferguson
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Manufacturing Company, he has been continuously engaged in business at Water- loo as a well driller and in the sale of pumps and windmills. In these connec- tions he has built up an enterprise of extensive and profitable proportions and has gained an enviable reputation as a business man of ability and unassailable integrity.
In 1893 Mr. Ferguson was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Gensert, who was born in Illinois and acquired her education in the schools of Bennington township, this county. Her parents were Frederick and Caroline (Humer) Gen- sert. The father, who followed the stonemason's trade in early manhood, sub- sequently turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and followed farming throughout the remainder of his active business career. His demise occurred in February, 1911, in Waterloo, where he was living retired. To him and his wife were born seven children, as follows: Mrs. Mary Steeley, who is a resident of Brandon, Iowa ; Mrs. Sarah Ferguson; George, living in Chicago, Illinois ; John, who makes his home in Waterloo, Iowa ; and Susie, Frances and William, all of whom are deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson have been born the following children, namely: Berneth, whose husband is a tinner by trade; Floyd, who is associated with his father in business; and Leona, Robert, Marion and Carl, all of whom are attending school.
Mr. Ferguson is a democrat in politics but does not seek nor desire office and does not consider himself bound by party ties, his attitude on all questions of government being that of a liberal-minded and public-spirited citizen. Fra- ternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in Grace Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife and children also belong. The period of his residence in Black Hawk county covers nearly a half century and he has long been numbered among its valued and esteemed citizens.
AMOS A. EYESTONE.
Death ofttimes claims those whom a community can ill spare. It was with the deepest regret that his fellow townsmen learned of the passing of Amos A. Eyestone, who had long been a representative farmer and stock raiser of Mount Vernon township. He lived on section 26, where he owned a good tract of land which he carefully developed and improved according to modern methods. He was born in Ohio and came to the west during the pioneer epoch in the development of Black Hawk county, as is indicated by the fact that it was possible for him to purchase land from the government. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made, but with characteristic energy he began to break the sod and plant his fields. It was not until after he had served in the Civil war, however, that he undertook the task of developing his farm. Following the outbreak of hostilities between the north and the south, his patriotic spirit was aroused and he joined the Union army, becoming a member of Company B, Thirty-first Iowa Regiment, with which he served for three years, after which he was mustered out with the rank of corporal.
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Upon receiving his honorable discharge Mr. Eyestone returned to Iowa and took possession of his farm. He then resolutely set himself to the task of developing the fields and in addition carried on general stock raising, con- tinuing in both lines of business until his death. As the years passed on he prospered in his undertakings and became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of highly improved farm land, constituting one of the best prop- erties of Mount Vernon township. When he arrived in the county all was wild . prairie covered with millions of flowers through the summer months and pre- senting a dazzling, unbroken sheet of snow through the winter seasons. Mr. Eyestone was a resolute man and carried forward to successful completion whatever he undertook.
On the IIth of April, 1867, Mr. Eyestone was united in marriage to Miss Flora McDonald, a native of Scotland and a daughter of Donald and Mary McDonald, who were likewise born in the land of the hills and heather. They came to America when their daughter, Mrs. Eyestone, was but two weeks old and settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, removing at a later date to Iowa. The father purchased land and began farming in Black Hawk county and became well known among the representative agriculturists of his community. He died at the age of seventy-two years, while his wife passed away at the age of fifty-nine years. In their family were seven children: Archibald, Mary, John and Jeannette, all of whom are deceased; Alexander, who is living in the state of Washington; Mrs. Eyestone; and one who died in infancy. The father at the time of his death was the owner of a fine farm which he had developed from the unbroken prairie. His religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church and his life was guided by its teachings.
To Mr. and Mrs. Eyestone were born five children: William S., now living on the old homestead; Mary E., the wife of Seth Gilbert, of Black Hawk town- ship; Ethzelda, who married William Deeming, of Black Hawk county ; W. A., who occupies the old homestead; and Jeannette, the wife of Otis Clinger, of Waterloo. Mr. Eyestone exercised his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and served his township in the position of trustee. He passed away September 25, 1898, and many friends as well as his immediate family mourned his loss. Mrs. Eyestone still occupies the old homestead, which was the property of her husband, and is comfortably situated in life.
S. G. LEVERSEE.
S. G. Leversee, a prosperous and representative farmer and stock-raiser of Black Hawk county, has here resided for more than six decades and is well known as the proprietor of the Hardscrabble Farm, embracing one hundred and eighty acres of land on sections 29 and 30, Mount Vernon township. His birth occurred in Rensselaer county, New York, in 1837, his parents being Dow and Catherine Leversee, who were likewise natives of the Empire state. Removing to Illinois, they purchased land near Freeport but subsequently disposed of the property and Vol. II-27
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went to Wisconsin, in which state Dow Leversee followed farming for a few years.
In 1853 he brought his family to Cedar Falls, Black Hawk county, lowa, pur- chasing and locating on a tract of land three-fourths of a mile north of the city. Later he sold the place, however, and took up his abode on section 29, Mount Vernon township, where our subject now makes his home, being there actively engaged in agricultural pursuits until his demise in March. 1872. Prosperity attended his undertakings and he accumulated four hundred and eighty acres of . valuable land in this county. For many years he conducted a blacksmith shop in connection with his farming interests and also devoted considerable attention to stock-raising. He gave his political allegiance to the democracy and held a num- ber of local offices, including that of justice of the peace in Mount Vernon town- ship, in which connection he won a most enviable reputation. His wife, who survived him for more than a quarter of a century, passed away at the home of her son, S. G., in 1898. To them were born seven children, as follows: One who died in infancy ; S. G., of this review : Austin W. and Charles, both of whom are residents of Mount Vernon township, this county : Mrs. Emma J. Pattee. living in South Dakota ; Darwin, who is deceased ; and another who died in infancy.
S. G. Leversee enjoyed but meager educational advantages in his youth, early assisting his father in the blacksmith shop. He was a youth of sixteen when he came to this county with his parents and he worked with his father until the time of his marriage at the age of twenty-eight years, when he started out as an agriculturist on his own account, operating that part of the old homestead which had come into his possession. This he has cultivated continuously and success- fully since. At one time he owned two hundred and forty acres and he still has a valuable and highly improved farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Mount Vernon township, all of the land being in a high state of cultivation. In connection with the raising of cereals he was also at one time an extensive breeder of black polled cattle, this branch of his business adding materially to his annual income.
In 1866 Mr. Leversee was united in marriage to Miss Emma J. Eyestone, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Abram and Elizabeth (Lundy) Eyestone, who established their home in Black Hawk county in 1853. Both have passed away, the mother surviving the father for some years. Their children were six in num- ber, namely : Amos, deceased : Mrs. Emma J. Leversee, who has also passed away ; Mrs. Elizabeth Hollaway, who is a resident of Calhoun county. Iowa ; Mrs. Hulda Walker, living in Nebraska; Willis, who is a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska ; and Mrs. Etta Harshbarger, who also makes her home in Lincoln, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Leversee became the parents of six children. William, the eldest, was born in 1866 and died in 1888, at the age of twenty-two years. Florence gave her hand in marriage to Ed Hollenbeck, of Roberts county, South Dakota, by whom she has had three children : Dow : and two who died in infancy. Marquis A., whose birth occurred in 1875, is an agriculturist of Roberts county, South Dakota, and has one son, Ross. Samuel T., born in 1877, resides upon and operates his father's homestead. In 1900 he wedded Miss Harriett Whillis, a native of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and a daughter of James and Alma Whillis, the former born in Scotland and the latter in New York. The father took up his abode in Iowa in 1872, while the mother came in 1864, and both are still living in
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this state. To Samuel T. and Harriett (Whillis) Leversee have been born five children, as follows: Luella, whose birth occurred in 1901 ; Bertram, whose natal year was 1903: and George, Alma and Ferne, who were born in the years 1906, 1908 and 1910 respectively: Amos C., the fifth child of Mr. and Mrs. S. G. Leversee, was born in 1879 and resides in Washington township, this county. In 1900 he married Miss Luella Helfer, a daughter of Jesse and Hannah Helfer. Irene, born in 1881, gave her hand in marriage to Rolla Chenney, of Cedar Falls.
S. G. Leversee is a democrat in polities and for a number of years held the office of township trustee. He likewise served as a member of the school board for many years and has ever discharged his public duties in a most prompt and capable manner. His fraternal relations are with the Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. A resident of Black Hawk county for more than six decades, he is well known here, and he and his family stand high in the esteem of the entire community.
CASPER LINDNER.
Casper Lindner is a resident and representative farmer of Fox township. . living on section 6, and is numbered among the self-made men of his county, for from the age of fourteen years he has been dependent entirely upon his own resources. He was born in the Rhine province of Germany in 1860, a son of Bernard and Mary (Neisen) Lindner, the former born in 1834 and the latter in 1840. The father followed farming in his native country and in 1888, attracted by the opportunities of the new world, came to the United States, living near Hopedale, Illinois. He also resided for a time in that town and ultimately he retired from active business and took up his abode in Chicago, where his last days were spent. He was a Catholic in religous faith.
Casper Lindner attended parochial schools in Germany and when fourteen years of age began working as a farm hand, but only followed that occupation for a short time, when he secured employment in a stone quarry. He afterward worked in stone quarries and upon the railroad for some time and in 1880 he went to Hopedale, Illinois, securing employment as farm hand near that place. Six years were devoted to the work of the fields, at the end of which time he took up his abode in the town and became connected with the elevator at that place. He was recognized as one of the prominent and influential citizens and for three years filled the office of alderman. He then began farming on his own account, and in 1912 he removed to Black Hawk county, where he has since resided, his home being on section 6, Fox township. He has made inany warm friends during the period of his residence here and enjoys the good will and confidence of those who know him.
In 1886 Mr. Lindner was united in marriage to Miss Katrina Stiren, a native of Badem, Germany, and a daughter of Bernard and Leona (Jung) Stiren. who were born in the years 1829 and 1830, respectively. They never came to the United States, and Mr. Stiren served in the wars of 1866 and 1871 11 Germany. He owned considerable property and was a very popular and influ- ential citizen of his town, holding a positon equivalent to that of mayor in this
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country. Mrs. Lindner, who was the third eldest of six children, crossed the Atlantic to America when about twenty-five years of age. By her marriage she has become the mother of the following children: Mathias, a farmer residing at Lake Preston, South Dakota, who is married and has three children; Rose, who gave her hand in marriage to Willliam Weyden, a blacksmith of Lore, near Dubuque, Iowa; William, an agriculturist of South Dakota ; Bernard, a resident of Waterloo, Iowa: Mary : and Daniel, who assists his father in the operation of the home farm.
Mr. Lindner and his family are communicants of the Catholic church at Raymond and he was active in establishing the church there. His political indorsement is given the democratic party and for eight years he filled the office of township trustee. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. His good qualities have gained him warm regard among those with whom he has been brought in contact, while his business ability and enterprise have placed him among the substantial residents of Fox township. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to America, for here he found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has gained a place among the well-to-do citizens of his adopted county.
HERBERT B. STUART.
Herbert B. Stuart is the president and general manager of the Northern Tile Company, conducting a contracting and jobbing business in marble, tile and fire- place fixtures at Waterloo. Their contracts call them into various sections of Iowa, Minnesota, northwestern Illinois and southern Wisconsin and the business is one of the leading industries of the city. Mr. Stuart was born in Otsego, Mich- igan, June 14, 1883, and is therefore a comparatively young man before whom the future holds out many promises of success in recognition of his close application and unremitting energy. He is a son of Willis M. and Grace (Ross) Stuart. The father was born in Panama, New York, July 2, 1849, and the mother's birth occurred in Trowbridge township, about five and a half miles from Otsego, New York, in April, 1855. Early in life Willis M. Stuart engaged in the lumber busi- ness in Michigan and there continued in the trade for thirty-five years. He is still a resident of Otsego, Michigan, where he is now living retired. He was also connected with the Otsego Chair Company during the time that he engaged in the lumber business and his commercial and industrial interests were among the important business concerns of the community in which he lived. To him and his wife have been born three children.
Herbert B. Stuart, the second in order of birth, attended the schools of Otsego and also of Plainwell, Michigan. When sixteen years of age he was employed as a traveling salesman in Michigan and afterward entered the employ of the firm of Martin & Martin of Chicago, in which business he was engaged for about two years. For a brief period in his teens he was also engaged in the printing business and when a youth of eighteen began selling life insurance for the Prudential Company, which he represented until he attained his majority. He then went to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he engaged in the printing business
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for three years. He afterward became a traveling salesman in the employ of the E. O. Bullman Manufacturing Company, selling wire goods for about six months. He next went to New York city, where he entered the employ of the William Green Publishing Company, remaining there for about eight months, when he returned to Chicago. He was then employed by the firm of Martin & Martin as a traveling salesman but after a brief period came to Waterloo on the 17th of October, 1909, and here engaged in the tile business, organizing the Northern Tile Company with his brother Earl as a partner. Subsequently his brother sold out to A. E. Park of Waterloo and then they incorporated the business under the state laws of Iowa. Mr. Park was connected with the concern for about two years, when he sold his interest in the business to C. D. Stuart of Benton Harbor, Mich- igan, a second cousin of Herbert B. Stuart. The firm is now conducting a con- tracting and jobbing business in marble, tile and fireplace fixtures and their busi- ness covers a wide area in the northern part of the Mississippi valley. Herbert B. Stuart, as president and general manager of the company, devotes his entire time to the business. He has thoroughly acquainted himself with the trade, under- stands the market and is qualified to execute orders promptly and efficiently. That his work has given uniform satisfaction is indicated in his constantly grow- ing trade, which has already assumed extensive proportions.
On the 13th of November, 1910, Mr. Stuart was united in marriage to Miss Dott Evelyn Smith, a native of Indianapolis, Iowa, and a daughter of Everett and Laura (Malaby) Smith, the latter a native of What Cheer, Iowa, while the former was born in Illinois. The father engaged in the grocery business in early life. He removed to Iowa and was connected with the grocery trade in Gibson and also at Tilton. He died in the year 1905 and his widow now resides with Mr. and Mrs. Stuart, who are the parents of a son, Bruce, born March 13, 1913.
Mr. Stuart is a member of the Commercial Club and Board of Trade of Water- 100. In politics he is independent and has never aspired to public office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, which are carefully conducted and are bringing to him substantial success. Since starting out in life on his own account at the age of sixteen years he has steadily worked his way upward and has gained for himself a most creditable position in the business circles of Waterloo.
JOHN YOUNGBLUT.
John Youngblut is a farmer and stockman of Fox township, his place being known as the Rural Home Stock Farm. Success has attended his efforts and his place gives every evidence of the progressive spirit of the owner. A native of Black Hawk county, Mr. Youngblut was born in Cedar township in 1860, his parents being Frank and Susan (Zemmerel) Youngblut. The father's birth occurred near Auspelt, Luxemburg, Germany, in 1823, while the mother was born near Phalen, Luxemburg, in 1829. He worked as a farm laborer in his native kingdom and on crossing the Atlantic to America landed at New Orleans, and thence proceeded up the Mississippi river to Dubuque, from which place he made his way across the state to Black Hawk county in 1852. Here he was
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employed as a farm hand for a number of years and then purchased land and began farming, meeting all of the hardships and experiences which constitute the conditions of pioneer life. He paid nine dollars per acre for his land, which is today very valuable property, owing to the improvements which he placed upon it and the natural rise in land values as the result of the growth in population in this district. In the later years of his life he lived retired in Gilbertville and there passed away in 1892. His wife survived him for fourteen years, dying in 1905. Mr. Youngblut was a very active and faithful member of the Catholic church and aided in building with slabs the first church of that denomination in Gilbertville. In politics he was a democrat and did all in his power to further the success of the party. He stood for progress and advancement in all things and his worth was widely acknowledged by many who knew him.
John Youngblut is the only surviving son of his father's family. He attended the district schools and also the Catholic schools of Waterloo and through the periods of vacation he worked in the fields. After his text-books were put aside he gave his entire attention to farm work and assisted his father to the age of twenty-three years and then began farming on his own account by renting land. He spent three years in that way, during which time he lived most economically until his industry and frugality brought him a sufficient sum to enable him to purchase some of the land which he now owns. He has been engaged in farming and stock raising since that time and occupies a prominent position in that connection. He raises and feeds Hereford cattle, Duroc-Jersey hogs and Belgian horses. He is justly accounted one of the best farmers of Fox township, for he makes wise use of his time and opportunities and has converted his farm into most productive fields, utilizing the soil to the best advantage. His holdings now comprise three hundred and thirty-five acres and the crops which he annually harvests bring to him a gratifying income. Stock raising is likewise an important factor of his business and the results achieved thereby are gratifying. He is likewise a director of the Black Hawk County Mutual Insurance Company.
In 1884 Mr. Youngblut married Miss Margaret Robert, a native of this county and a daughter of Nicholas and Julia ( Mitchell) Robert. Her father was born in Luxemburg in 1822 and her mother in Ireland in 1842. She was brought to the United States when three years of age and is now living in Waterloo. Nicholas Robert and Frank Youngblut were bachelors together in Frenchtown, now Gilbertville, and in 1852 worked as farm hands for Mr. Poyner, for whom Poyner township was named. In 1856 Mr. Robert went to the pineries of Wisconsin and lived there for three years. He then returned to Black Hawk county and Nicholas Robert resided near Gilbertville on land which he owned. He was one of the early settlers here when pioneer conditions prevailed and he assisted in the early development and upbuilding of his section. He was a Catholic in his religious faith, a democrat in his political views, and he was active in both connections. Mr. and Mrs. Youngblut have become the parents of ten children. Frank, who is the owner of a hardware store at Oran, Iowa, is married to Miss Anna Phillips and has four children, Mabel, Josephine, Leo and Burton, Josephine dying at the age of seven years and six months: John, a resident farmer of Poyner township, married Mary Phillips,
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a sister of his brother Frank's wife, and they have three children, Roy, Hlor- ence and Louis; Dora is the wife of John Ahles, a resident farmer of Fox township, and they have four children, Josie, Josephine, Francis and Eulalia ; Peter and Clarence are both at home; Margaret is the wife of Henry Weyden, of Barclay township; Joseph, Julia, Arthur and Albert are all attending school.
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