USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 23
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A. F. TUNKS AND FAMILY
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In March, 1862, in Illinois, Mr. Tunks was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Elliott, a daughter of Samuel and Lydia (Hulse) Elliott. Her father was born in Ohio in 1832 and attended the public schools of that state. When twenty-five years of age he married and afterward removed to Winnebago county, Illinois, where he purchased land and improved a farm, upon which he lived for thirty- five years. He then sold out and went to Tama county, Iowa, where he invested in farm land which he cultivated for fifteen years, when he sold. His wife died in Jesup at the age of sixty-six years, and Mr. Elliott, surviving her for a con- siderable period, lived upon his son's farm in Tama county until his death, which occurred when he had reached the age of eighty-two years. Their daugh- ter, Mrs. Tunks, was born in Winnebago county, where her girlhood was passed and where the public schools afforded her the educational privileges which she enjoyed. By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Tunks have been born eleven children : Mrs. Harriet Hohl, now living in Waterloo; Archie B., who died in Jesup ; Mrs. Laura Horn, living in Jesup; Harry E., whose home is in Brandon; Will A., of Jesup; Fred C., of Waterloo; Mrs. Nellie Brown of Jesup; Frank; Mrs. Bessie Barrett, Henry and Ruby, all living in Jesup.
Removing to Iowa, Mr. Tunks settled in Brooklyn, Poweshiek county, in 1864 and there worked at his trade for two years, after which he went to Tama county, where he again followed his trade for a decade and also did some con- tract work. On the expiration of that period he came to Buchanan county, settling in Perry township, where he worked at his trade and later took up contracting and building, continuing actively in the business until he retired and removed to Jesup, where he and his wife now reside. He is the owner of three good residence properties in Jesup and a farm in Wisconsin and from his realty holdings derives a gratifying annual income. Mr. Tunks is now seventy- two years of age, while his wife has reached the age of sixty-seven. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge of Jesup, with which he has been affiliated for fifteen years, and he exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party. His worth as a citizen is well known. He has lived a busy and useful life, and his industry and integrity have been the salient features in his career. He now well deserves the rest which has come to him, for in former years he so carefully conducted his business affairs that he became the owner of valuable property holdings that now return him a gratifying annual income.
E. W. COMFORT.
E. W. Comfort, successfully carrying on general farming on section 33, Perry township, was born in Cook county, Illinois, in 1859, a son of W. M. and Matilda (Blackman) Comfort. The family lived upon a farm in Illinois until 1863 and then removed to Buchanan county, the father purchasing two hundred and sixteen acres of land in Perry township, known now as the old Comfort farm.
E. W. Comfort was at that time four years of age and upon that place the days of his boyhood and youth were passed, his time being divided between work
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in the fields as age and strength increased and the duties of the schoolroom. The practical experience of his youth well qualified him to carry on farm work when he started out in life on his own account in early manhood.
On September 1, 1889, Mr. Comfort was united in marriage to Miss Anna Vaneman, a daughter of U. B. and Martha (Smith) Vaneman. Her father was born near New Castle, Pennsylvania, and was a son of David and Anna (Cunning- ham) Vaneman. His boyhood was spent in the Keystone state and his education was there acquired. Later he accompanied his parents to Buchanan county, Iowa, where his father in 1857 purchased a farm in Fairbank township. There the son remained until after the outbreak of the Civil war in 1861, when he enlisted for service in the Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry. He was on continuous duty for two years, at the end of which time he became ill and was honorably discharged at Cairo, Illinois. He then returned to Littleton, Iowa, and remained upon his father's farm until his marriage to Miss Martha Smith, a daughter of Martin and Minerva (Spalding) Smith. The marriage was celebrated October 6, 1864. They then went to Flint, Michigan, where Mr. Vaneman worked on his farm of eighty acres for seventeen years. He then returned to Westburg township, Buchanan county, where he resided for some time, after which he sold his farm property there and took up his abode in Hazleton, living retired until his death, which occurred January 17, 1913. His widow survives him at the age of seventy-three years and is living with her son in Buchanan county. Mrs. Vane- man was born in Jefferson county, New York, in 1841, and with her parents came to Buchanan county, living in Fairbank township up to the time of her marriage. Their daughter, Mrs. Comfort, spent her girlhood days in Buchanan county and pursued a public-school education. To Mr. and Mrs. Comfort have been born ten children : Frank Harrison, living upon his father's farm ; Mrs. Nellie Martha Sampson, now of Jesup ; Mrs. Hazel Matilda MeVenes, also of Jesup; Ray Wy- man; Jennie Sarah ; Arthur David: Hattie May: Willie McKinley: Charlie Wesley ; and Mabel Grace. The last seven named are all yet at home. The parents are members of the Methodist church and are loyal to its teachings.
Mr. Comfort votes with the republican party and is interested in its success and growth but does not seek nor desire office as a reward for party fealty. He stands for progress and improvement in public affairs. however, as well as along agricultural lines, but he concentrates his energies upon the operation of his farm of two hundred and forty acres, with the result that determination and energy have brought him to a creditable position among the well-to-do agri- enlturists of Perry township.
JOSEPH LIMBERT.
Joseph Limbert is one of the partners in a wholesale cigar and pipe business at Independence and concentrates his efforts upon the upbuilding of the trade, which has already assumed extensive and gratifying proportions. He was born in Auglaize county, Ohio, on the 30th of September, 1861, a son of Francis Limbert, who was born in Germany, January 1. 1828. The father was brought to the United States when but six years of age by his parents and in early life
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he learned and followed the molder's trade in Dayton, Ohio. He made the first car wheel manufactured by the Barney-Packard Manufacturing Company of Dayton and for several years followed his trade there, but after an accident which eaused him the loss of the sight of one eye he turned his attention to farming.
In 1864 Francis Limbert came to Iowa, settling at Waterloo, where he resumed the molder's trade and was thus engaged until the sight of the other eye became impaired. He then took up his abode upon a farm in Westburg township, Buehanan county, in 1868, and was identified with general agricul- tural pursuits in the ownership and cultivation of one hundred and sixty acres of land until 1881, when he retired and established his home in Independence, where he still resides. He was married in Ohio in early manhood to Miss Margaret Sheppard, who was born in Germany in October, 1829, and came to the United States with her parents when four years of age. She died in 1910. In their family were seven children, of whom Joseph is the fifth. The father led a busy and useful life, always concentrating his energies upon his industrial or agricultural interests and taking no aetive part in political affairs.
Joseph Limbert was but three years of age when the family eame to Iowa and through much of his life has been a resident of Buchanan county. He pursued his education in the public schools of Westburg township and when twenty years of age engaged in merehandising in connection with N. E. Becker, his brother-in-law, at Allison, this state, there remaining for a year and a half. Hle afterward clerked for Steven Tabor in a grocery store in Independenee for two years and then went upon the road as a traveling salesman for Chamberlin, Dewstoe & Company, wholesale tobacconists, whom he represented for fifteen years, or from the 1st of January, 1885, until 1900. He then severed his con- nection with that house and formed a partnership with his brother, Albert F. Limbert, for the conduct of a wholesale business in cigars and pipes, and bought his brother's interest in 1901. He employs four men to represent him upon the road, while he also aets as a traveling salesman. He is a jobber of the well known cigar Wapsipinicon, which name is derived from an old Indian legend. A band of Sac warriors, led by Pinnekon, were accompanied by a band of Fox, led by Fleet Foot, on the warpath against the Sioux, to avenge the death of members of Pinnekon's tribe. On their return from a victorious battle Pinnekon. with some of his braves, visited the village of the Fox and there wooed and won Wapsie, the daughter of Good Heart, chief of the Fox tribe. The evening before they were to be married and leave for the Sac village, Wapsie and Pinnekon floated down the river to Cedar Rock. There he was shot from ambush by Fleet Foot, mad from jealousy, and sank in the river with Wapsie.
On the 8th of October, 1885, Mr. Limbert was united in marriage to Miss Stella A. Kent, a native of Independence and a daughter of Silas and Roxie Ann (Welsh) Kent, both of whom were natives of New York and are now deceased. Her father was killed at the 4th of July celebration at Ashville, New York. He went to California in 1849 during the gold rush, but after a brief period there spent returned to New York, making the journey both ways by wagon train. His wife was an active member of the Methodist church. In their family were three daughters, of whom Mrs. Limbert is the youngest. She has three children: Fred K., born in 1887, who was graduated from the Inde-
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pendence high school and is now a traveling salesman for his father; Cora Margaret, at home; and Ralph R., who was born in 1894 and is now traveling for his father. Mrs. Limbert is an active member of the Presbyterian church and is also prominent in the social and elub life of the eity.
Mr. Limbert belongs to the Odd Fellows society, the Modern Woodmen of America and is a charter member of Wapsie Council, No. 413, United Commer- cial Travelers. He has never sought nor desired political office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, yet he is deeply interested in the welfare and progress of the city and is especially known for his activity in efforts for beautifying Independence through floral adornment.
FRED C. NORMAN.
Fred C. Norman, agent for the Illinois Central Railroad at Independence, was born in Ohio in 1860, a son of Nicholas and Mary (Taylor) Norman, both natives of England. The father was born in Somersetshire, in 1820, and the mother in 1823. Coming to the United States, he settled first in Ohio, where he began farming when about twenty-one years of age. He lived in that state for two years and then removed to Illinois, establishing his home near" Chicago, which was then a small place. A year later he came to Buchanan county, Iowa, settling in Winthrop. Here he purchased land and carried on farming throughout the greater part of his life. There were still many evidences of pioneer conditions in Buchanan county at the time of his arrival and he lived to see the progress and improvement wrought by man. After taking out naturalization papers he became a stalwart republican but did not seek nor desire office, preferring to concentrate his efforts upon his business, for in addition to tilling the soil he engaged extensively in raising cattle, making a specialty of Durhams. He died in 1904. His wife, who had come to the new world when about twenty-one years of age, passed away in 1911.
Fred C. Norman was the seventh in order of birth in a family of twelve children and he supplemented his district-school education by study in Winthrop. When twenty-one years of age he became a telegraph operator and agent on the Illinois Central at Winthrop, which position he filled for eighteen years, and was afterward traveling agent and operator for three years. He was division agent for four years, and in the various capacities in which he served proved able and conscientious. In 1908 he was transferred to Independence, where he has since been agent. On one occasion he retired from railroad work and went upon the road as a traveling salesman for an implement house but afterward returned and is now the efficient and popular agent at Independence.
In 1886 Mr. Norman was married to Miss Gelia Adams, a native of Liberty township, this county, and a daughter of M. R. and Nancy (Logan) Adams, both of whom were natives of Ohio. Her father, born in Keene in 1840, eame to Iowa with his brother when sixteen years of age and settled near Quasqueton in 1856, casting in his lot with the early settlers. He drove across the country, for there were no railroads from Earlville to his desination. He became the owner of two hundred acres of land in Liberty township and thereon engaged
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in farming until 1883, when he put aside the work of the fields and embarked in the grocery business in Independence, where he still conducts his store. He has been identified with the interests of the county from pioneer times. The first school built in Liberty was erected upon his land and he has ever been a friend of intellectual and moral progress. In early life he was active in the Presbyterian church but afterward joined the Congregational church and has done much to further its interests and promote its success, serving as one of its deacons and trustees. His daughter, Mrs. Norman, is very active in the social, church and club life of Independence. To Mr. and Mrs. Norman have been born two children : Milton, who is with the Illinois Central Railroad at Waterloo as telegraph operator; and Winifred B., at home.
Mr. Norman is well known in Masonic circles as a member of the lodge, chapter and commandery. In politics he has always been active as a supporter of the republican party and has held various offices, including that of council- man and mayor of Winthrop.
DAVID SHERIDAN WOLGAMOT.
David Sheridan Wolgamot, who is a farmer residing in Fairbank township, is a native of that township, born January 10, 1865. His parents were Joseph and Atha T. (Buckmaster) Wolgamot, natives of Maryland and Holmes county, Ohio, respectively. The father served for three years in the Mexican war and in the early fifties came with his family to this county, casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers. He died in 1911, having survived his wife since 1898. A more detailed account of their lives is given in the sketch of Clinton W. Wol- gamot, found on another page of this work.
David S. Wolgamot was one of the eight children born to his parents and was reared in his native township. His elementary and secondary education was acquired in the public schools of Fairbank, and he later attended the pharma- ceutical department of the Iowa State University at Iowa City. He subse- quently engaged in the live-stock business at Fairbank for fifteen years and during part of that time conducted a dry goods store there. In 1911 he purchased eighty acres of fine land in Fairbank township, and has since devoted the greater part of his time to the cultivation of the same. As the soil is naturally productive and as he uses practical methods in his farming he harvests annually crops which average a large yield to the acre and he shares in the prosperity which is the usual lot of the Iowa farmer. For the last few years he has also engaged in the buying and selling of land.
David S. Wolgamot was married at Fairbank on the 24th of August, 1899, to Miss Sarah E. Davis-Sanborn, who was born in Monona, Clayton county, on the 1st of February, 1872. She came to Buchanan county in 1881, when a child of nine years, and as her parents were both deceased she was adopted by Merrill and Mary E. Sanborn. Her foster father is deceased, but Mrs. Sanborn resides in Fairbank. There were four children in the Davis family: Frank, who lives in Black Hawk county, this state; Mrs. Wolgamot; Warren, of Huron, South Dakota ; and Mrs. Minnie Belle Reisner, of Brock, Alberta, Canada. All of these
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children were born in Clayton county, Iowa. Mrs. Wolgamot is a member of the Baptist church of Fairbank.
Mr. Wolgamot is a man of broad views in politics and has never allied himself with any party, preferring to vote independently. Although he has been elected to several offices in the township he has always refused to qualify. Fraternally he belongs to Fairbank Lodge, No. 148, A. F. & A. M., and to the Elks at Oelwein. His perseverance and industry have secured him a comfortable living, and he enjoys the confidence of those who know him.
GEORGE W. RAMSEY, M. D.
For many years Dr. George W. Ramsey was engaged in the active practice of medicine but in 1908 retired from the profession and took up his abode upon a farm a mile from Independence, in Washington township, where he owns forty- five acres of good land. He was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, in 1848, a son of William and Elizabeth (Palmer) Ramsey, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, born in 1815 and 1816 respectively. In early life the father was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade in Ohio, the family having previously removed to Harrison county, that state. He continued his residence in the Buckeye state until 1853, when he came to Iowa, settling on Pine creek, in Liberty township, this county. The journey was made by steamboat from Wheeling, West Virginia, to Dubuque and thence by team to Buchanan county. This was then a wild and largely unsettled region. He entered land from the government and began building a log house before he received the patent to his land. There were then no railroads in the county and Independence was but a tiny village. With characteristic energy Mr. Ramsey continued the work of breaking the sod and transforming the wild prairie into cultivable fields. Year after year he carried on his farm work and became one of the prosperous agriculturists of Buchanan county, owning at the time of his death two hundred and eighty aeres of valuable land. He was ever a loyal member of the Baptist church and died in that faith in 1878, at the age of sixty-three years. His wife long survived him and passed away at the advanced age of eighty-one years. Three of their children are yet living.
Dr. Ramsey, the eldest of the family, was a lad of but five years when the parents came to Iowa. He pursued his early education in one of the old-time log schoolhouses of Liberty township and he was a member of the first elass that was graduated from the State Agricultural College at Ames, the year being 1872. Determining upon a professional career, he next entered Rush Medical College of Chicago, from which he was graduated with the M. D. degree in 1876. He did not at once, however, prepare for the practice of medicine. Through the period of his boyhood and youth he remained upon the home farm and after his graduation from the agricultural college he taught school to some extent in this county and also in Illinois. It was afterward that he entered Rush Medical College and following his graduation therefrom he located for practice at Magnolia, Putnam county, Illinois, where he remained for six years. He then removed to Hennepin, the county seat of that county, and for four years
DR. GEORGE W. RAMSEY
MRS. GEORGE W. RAMSEY
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he filled the office of coroner there, being the only democrat elected in that county at the time. He practiced there for ten years and then removed to Masonville, Iowa, where he continued in practice until 1908. For a time he was in partnership with Dr. E. Gaylord, a graduate of the Michigan State University and also of a college in Nashville, Tennessee. He served as a surgeon in the United States army during the Civil war and had charge of the officers' hospital at Nashville. In 1908 Dr. Ramsey retired from active practice and took up his abode upon a farm about a mile from Independence, where he has forty-five acres of good land, to the cultivation and improvement of which he now devotes his energies.
On the 28th of February, 1888, Dr. Ramsey was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Aurora Davis, a native of Morgan county, Ohio, and a daughter of Dr. E. W. and Ann (Balderson) Davis. Her father, who was a first cousin of Jefferson Davis, president of the southern Confederacy, was born in Virginia and died in 1872, at the age of fifty-seven years. The mother, who was born in Ohio in 1818, was sixty-five years of age when she passed away in 1883. The parents of Dr. Davis died when he was quite young, and in early life he was employed on boats and afterward worked his way through a medical school of Philadelphia. He then began practicing in Marietta, Ohio, and because of his own ill health he traveled around in a wagon. Eventually he reached Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but was compelled to seek a change of climate, his last days being spent in Fulton, Illinois. In the Davis family were nine children, of whom Mrs. Ramsey is the fifth. She has a twin brother, Warren, who was a member of Company H, One Hundred and Third Illinois Infantry, entering the army from Lewistown, Illinois. He was injured while at the front but recovered and is now living in Canton, Illinois. Another brother, Joseph Davis, served with the southern army under General Robert E. Lee. Dr. and Mrs. Ramsey have one child, Evangeline Enola.
In political affairs Dr. Ramsey has taken an active part as a supporter of the democracy and served as a member of the county central committee and of the judicial committee in Illinois. While living at Masonville he filled the office of mayor, resigning that position when he removed to this county. He was especially successful in his practice and won an enviable reputation as an able and leading physician and surgeon. As the years went by his efforts brought him substantial success and ultimately enabled him to put aside his business cares and enjoy freedom from arduous professional duties. He is eligible to member- ship in the Sons of the American Revolution, his grandfather Palmer was killed at the battle of Brandywine.
ARTHUR E. NORTON.
Arthur E. Norton, of Rowley, is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Buchanan county and was born in Homer township on the 18th of May, 1867, his parents being Nathan and Lovina (Dodson) Norton, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume.
Vol. II-12
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The usual experiences of the farm lad came to Arthur E. Norton during his boyhood and youth, his time being divided between the work of the fields and the acquirement of a public-school education. After attending the district schools he continued his studies at New Hampton, Iowa, and then returned to the farm, remaining with his father until twenty-five years of age. He then started out in business life independently, continuing the cultivation of a farm until 1893, when he came to Rowley, where in partnership with James Clayton he purchased a hardware stock and embarked in business as a merchant. They continued together with mutual pleasure and profit for nineteen years, at the end of which time Mr. Clayton sold his interest to Mr. Rosencrans, who is still a partner of Mr. Norton. They have a good store filled with an attractive line of shelf and heavy hardware and their trade is increasing annually because their business methods are such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. They erected a business block and now have a patronage which is most extensive and gratifying, their annual sales reaching a large figure. While thus connected with commercial interests of Rowley Mr. Norton has also served as postmaster for seventeen years and was deputy postmaster for four years.
On the 31st of October, 1894, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Norton and Miss Mary J. Clayton, a daughter of Robert and Hannah (Winn) Clayton, who were natives of Wisconsin. The father was a farmer by occupation and owned a tract of land in Wisconsin until his removal to Iowa, when he purchased a farm in Homer township, Buchanan county, upon which he has since lived. He is now seventy-seven years of age. His wife also survives and they are among the most highly esteemed of the worthy couples of the township. Mr. and Mrs. Norton have become the parents of one son, Robert A., now eleven years of age. The family residence is an attractive home standing in the midst of beautiful grounds covering ten acres. Mr. and Mrs. Norton are most hos- pitable people and they have a circle of friends in Rowley and this section of the county that is almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance.
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