USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 4
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Mr. Kimball belongs to the Masonic fraternity and is very active in the home lodge, in which he is now serving as senior deacon, while both he and his wife are connected with the Order of the Eastern Star. His political indorsement is given to the republican party. He has served as treasurer of his city and as treasurer of the school board and has been a cooperant factor in many plans for the development and upbuilding of the town. His aid can always be counted upon to further any measure for the public good and he has scarcely entered upon a life which will undoubtedly increase in usefulness and value, both as a factor in community interests and in the upbuilding of his own fortunes.
U. S. GRANT SINGER.
U. S. Grant Singer, filling the position of township trustee of Middlefield township, where he carries on general agricultural pursuits, has been a resident of Buchanan county since 1862, or the period of his entire life, for that was his natal year. His father, Lewis Singer, was born in Preble county, Ohio, in 1827, and in early life learned the wagon maker's trade, entering upon an apprenticeship thereto when but thirteen years of age. He followed that pursuit until 1855 and then made an overland journey with an emigrant train to lowa. settling in Liberty township, Buchanan county, at which time the nearest rail- road point was Dubuque. At that time there were only a few settlers in this county and the town of Winthrop had not yet been laid out. He secured a tract of land which he purchased for two dollars and a half per acre. The county was but sparsely settled and all of the conditions of pioneer life were in evidence. As the years went on, however, improvements and conveniences took the place of
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the discomforts, hardships and privations of the earlier years and Mr. Singer prospered in his undertakings, becoming the owner of three hundred and fifty- six aeres of valuable farm land. He was also a stockholder in the Peoples Bank of Winthrop to the time of his death, which occurred in 1903. In early man- hood he wedded Phoebe C. Potterf, who was born in Preble county, Ohio, in 1837, and, surviving her husband for seven years, passed away in 1910.
U. S. Grant Singer, reared upon the old home farm, attended the schools of Winthrop and during the periods of vacation assisted his father in the work of the fields, so that he had had practical experience when he started out as a farm hand at twenty-one years of age. He was thus employed for eight years but gradually added to his savings until the amount was sufficient to 'enable him to purchase land and he secured the nucleus of the farm upon which he now makes his home on section 5, Middlefield township. He has sinee added to the property until his landed possessions now aggregate two hundred and sixty-three acres, all in one traet, from which he annually gathers good harvests as a reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon the fields. The major portion of his attention is devoted to the farm with a result that justifies the expenditure of time and money.
On the 20th of March, 1887, Mr. Singer was united in marriage to Miss Ma- tilda Dunlap, a native of Winfield, Ohio, and a daughter of William P. and Ellen (Grove) Dunlap, both of whom were natives of Virginia. The father eame to Iowa in 1875, settling in Fremont township, Buchanan county, where he secured one hundred and sixty acres of land and carried on general farming and stock raising. He has departed this life but his widow survives and makes her home near Quasqueton. Mr. and Mrs. Singer have become parents of two children : Harold G., a teacher of manual training in the high school of Colfax, Washington ; and William L., at home with his father on the farm.
Mr. Singer exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and meas- ures of the republican party and for four years has served as trustee of Middle- field township. He belongs to the Congregational church and its teachings guide him in all of his life's relations. He takes an active interest in all publie affairs of the community and is a prominent and influential man of his township.
JOHN C. STEVENSON.
John C. Stevenson, an honored pioneer and a retired farmer of Littleton, lowa, has resided in this locality for many years and has witnessed the great changes in conditions which have taken place here. There is only one other man, Charles Melrose, Jr., living here today who was here when Mr. Stevenson arrived. Our subjeet was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, May 11, 1840, a son of Alexander and Mary Ann (Cameron) Stevenson. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, his parents being James and Elizabeth (Mitehell) Stevenson, both natives of Lower Dublin. Their marriage occurred in the Emerald isle on the 9th of April, 1807, and later in the same year they came to America, locating at Path Valley, Pennsylvania, whence they subsequently removed with their family to Boone county, Indiana, where the parents spent
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MR. AND MRS. JOHN C. STEVENSON
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their remaining years. James Stevenson was a weaver by trade. Our subject has in his possession the recommendations given his grandfather in Ireland. His grandmother died when forty-eight or forty-nine years old. She was the mother of four daughters and three sons, but Alaxender, the father of our subject, was the only son that grew to maturity and reared a family.
Alexander Stevenson was reared in Pennsylvania and Ohio and was married in Ross county of the latter state, near Fort Defiance. On the 7th of September, 1850, he came west with his family from Colfax, Indiana, making the trip with an ox team and three horses. He took up a claim on school land in Perry town- ship, this county, which, however, proved not to be open to settlement at that time, and in March, 1851, he filed upon a claim in Fairbank township. At that time there were only two houses in Perry township and one in Fairbank town- ship, the dwelling of Mr. Stevenson being the second erected in the latter. His first residence was a log cabin, two and a half miles north of the village of Little- ton, and the erection of even that rude structure was no inconsiderable task. It was necessary to float logs to Independence in order to have them sawed so that they could be used for flooring, and they hauled them back. The chimney was built of stones, sticks and mud. There were no neighbors for miles to the north of them and only three buildings in Independence. Mr. Stevenson broke the heavy sod of the prairie and split rails to make the fences for his fields. Although the life of those days would seem very hard and uninviting to the present genera- tion, the pioneers found many pleasant features in it apart from the stern satisfaction of knowing that they were developing fine farms from wild land and that they were laying the foundation for a highly prosperous community of the future. Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson were among the most respected of those early settlers and remained upon their farm in Fairbank township until their deaths. The father was a democrat in politics and was one of the leaders in the Presby- tesian church, being an elder of his congregation for fifty years and one of the organizers of the church of that denomination at Littleton, which was established in 1853. He died April 6, 1885, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife, who was a native of Ohio, was also one of the charter members of the Presbyterian church of Littleton. She died a few months before her husband, passing away on the 4th of February, 1885, when seventy-seven years of age. To them were born three children, but one son died at the age of five years and the daughter at the age of two.
John C. Stevenson is the only survivor and he shared with his parents the life of the pioneer. He was but ten years old when he accompanied them to this county and a year later began breaking the prairie sod, driving five yoke of oxen. It was a very wet year and breaking ground was unusually difficult, but he was of the stock that nothing could daunt and not only assisted in getting his father's land ready for cultivation, but broke land for the new settlers who arrived in the county. His opportunities for acquiring an education were very meager, as there were no schools in the county for three years after the arrival of the family and his only instruction was that given by his mother. In 1853 the first school- house was built in Perry township and during the winter following he attended regularly, walking a mile and a half each way. During the summer he assisted with the work of the farm and continued to aid his father until his marriage. In order to reach the nearest mill it was necessary to make a three days' journey
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with oxen and there was always danger from the Indians, who were very numer- ous and belonged to a number of tribes, including the Sioux, the Winnebagos and the Misquakas. There were no bridges over the streams that had to be crossed and in the spring floods the fords sometimes became impassable.
After his marriage Mr. Stevenson began his independent business career. He became the owner of four hundred and thirty acres of land on sections 34 and 35, Fairbank township, and there engaged in cultivating the fields and in feeding stoek for the market. He was also a well known breeder of pure blooded short- horn cattle and for nineteen years shipped stock to Nebraska, Minnesota, the Dakotas and Oklahoma, as well as to various parts of this state. He also engaged in the dairy business quite extensively for a great many years and found this as well as the other phases of his activity very profitable. He managed well his diversified interests and manifested sound judgment in the investment of his capital. In 1911 he retired and built his present beautiful home in Littleton, where he has since resided.
Mr. Stevenson married Miss Mary Amelia Wilson, on the 4th of September, 1861, which was the bride's birthday. She is a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Samnel and Sarah (Henry) Wilson, both likewise natives of the Keystone state. Her mother passed away in 1850, but her father removed with his family to Iowa in 1855, making the trip with a wagon and team of horses. Ile located in Fairbank township, this county, where he purchased a farm, and devoted his time to agriculture until his death. Mrs. Stevenson was only a girl when she came to this county and she and her future husband were schoolmates. To them have been born ten children, namely : Laura J., at home; Elmer, who owns a part of the homestead ; Effie K., who is the wife of Rev. Parley E. Zart- man, secretary of the Moody Institute of Chicago; Eber F., M. D., practicing at Waterloo, lowa ; Mertie II., who died in 1900; Ralph J., who is a farmer residing near Rowley, this county ; Ray C., living at Littleton ; M. Grace, a stenographer employed at the Moody Bible Institute at Chicago; and two who died in child- hood.
Mr. Stevenson is a democrat in politics, but at local elections votes for the candidate whom he deems best suited for the office without regard to party affilia- tion. He has held a number of township offices, being assessor of Fairbank town- ship for four years, school director for thirty years, and for some time served as justice of the peace. Ever since the organization of the Littleton Cemetery Association he has served as its president and under his care the city of the dead is kept in fine condition. In 1859 he united with the Presbyterian church and in 1885 was elected an elder, serving in that capacity ever since, and in addition has been elerk of the session for twenty-five or thirty years. Since 1885 he has been treasurer of the church and has always taken a deep interest in everything affecting its welfare. He has not only given of his time to its affairs but has contributed liberally toward its support and gave generously toward the building fund of the new church edifice. Although he is seventy-four years of age and has already lived longer than the three score years and ten which the Psalmist allotted to man, he is still very active and enjoys excellent physical and mental health. Many interests in his community have profited by his labors and counsel and he is still a force in the life of his town. He is especially deserving of honor, as he was one of those first settlers who so bravely labored amid hard conditions
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of life and who persevered in spite of many obstacles, laying well the foundation of the prosperity which is now so evident to all. In 1914 he and his wife visited his old home in Indiana. On the 4th of September, 1911, they celebrated their golden wedding, there being present on that occasion about two hundred relatives and friends, and they were the recipients of many beautiful presents and the congratulations and well wishes of all.
C. GUNZENHAUSER.
Coming to America when a youth of sixteen years, actuated by a desire to enjoy better business conditions than he hoped to secure in the old world, C. Gunzenhauser is today prominent in a substantial financial concern as cashier of the Rowley Savings Bank. His advancement to his present enviable position has been continuous and the steps in his orderly progression are easily discern- ible. 'He was born in Germany in January, 1866, and is a son of John G. and Elizabeth (Snyder) Gunzenhauser, who were also natives of the same country. There the father worked as a laborer and continued his residence in Germany until death called him in September, 1888. His wife, surviving for a number of years, passed away in November, 1895.
C. Gunzenhauser pursued his early education in the schools of the fatherland and there remained to the age of sixteen years, when, actuated by a spirit of . laudable ambition, he sailed for the United States in February, 1882. Later he continued his education by pursuing a course in the Cedar Rapids Busmess College. In Germany he had learned the cabinet maker's trade and after crossing the Atlantic he settled in Iowa county, Iowa, and later removed to Museatine, where he worked for his brother in a foundry and machine shop for one year. He next went to Oxford, Johnson county, Iowa, where he elerked in a store until 1893. At that date he rented a tract of land which he cultivated for three years. It was after this that he pursued his course in the Cedar Rapids Business College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1896. He realized fully the value of more thorough and advanced training as a prepara- tion for life's practical and responsible duties. Moreover, in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons and is today a well informed business man, displaying sound judgment and keen discrimination. Returning to Oxford, he there engaged in general merchandising on his own account for three years and at the same time filled the position of assistant cashier in the Oxford State Bank for a period of four and a half years. In April, 1902, he removed to Rowley, where he embarked in the banking business, establishing the Rowley Bank, which has recently been incorporated as the Rowley Savings Bank with a capital of twenty thousand dollars and with the following officers: F. M. Williams, president ; Theodore Kirsch, vice president; and C. Gunzenhauser, cashier. The bank is liberally patronized not only by the people of the town but by many throughout the surrounding country as well. The bank is the only one in Rowley and previous to its reorganization Mr. Gunzenhauser had erected a fine bank building and the deposits amounted to one hundred and eight thousand dollars, the loans to eighty-five thousand dollars and the available
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cash was more than forty thousand dollars. He is thoroughly acquainted with the different phases of banking and his wise direction of the interests of the institution insures its growth and prosperity.
On the 20th of October, 1908, Mr. Gunzenhauser was united in marriage to Miss Nina Lindsay, a daughter of Robert and Laura Lindsay, the former a native of Canada and the latter of Canton, Ohio. Her father was a miller by trade, operating flour mills. In 1889 he came to Buchanan county, where he purchased land on section 14, Homer township. His attention was then given to general farming until 1904, when he retired from active connection with the work of the fields and took up his abode in Rowley, where he was at the head of the telephone business for eight years. For the past three years he has been assisting his son-in-law in the bank. He has now reached the age of sixty-two, while his wife is living at the age of fifty-seven.
Mr. and Mrs. Gunzenhauser have but one child, N. Elizabeth, four years of age. The parents occupy a pleasant home in which the spirit of hospitality reigns supreme. Mr. Gunzenhauser has been prominently connected with many elements of public moment, cooperating in all the plans and projects for the upbuilding and improvement of town and county. Politically he is a democrat and at the present time he is serving as township clerk of Homer township, having been continuously the incumbent in that position since January 1, 1907. He belongs to Holman Lodge, No. 593, A. F. & A. M., and to the Eastern Star chapter at Rowley, and he is a prominent and active worker in the Presbyterian church, in which he is now serving as one of the elders. His has been a well spent life actuated by high and honorable principles, and he stands as an excellent example of upright manhood and citizenship.
FRANK M. WILLIAMS.
.. Williams has it" is the slogan of the business conducted by Frank M. Williams, a general merchant of Rowley. He is ever alert and energetic, ready for any emergency and always watching for opportunities that will enable him to honorably promote his business interests. He knows, too, that the way to win trade is to satisfy his customers and he does this by keeping a large and well selected stock which he sells at reasonable prices. His store is today one of the leading commercial establishments of the town.
Mr. Williams is a native of Masonville, Delaware county. Iowa, born May 16, 1873, his parents being William M. and Mary E. (Babeoek) Williams. the former a native of Wales and the latter of Illinois. The father was but four years of age when his parents left Wales and came to the new world. settling in Indiana, where he was reared and educated. When a young man he aceom- panied his parents on their removal to Buchanan county, where he remained for some time with his father and mother but went to Delaware county before the outbreak of the Civil war. He filled the office of sheriff of that county when the county seat was at Delhi. Following the inauguration of hostilities between the north and the south, he offered his services to the government and enlisted as a member of Company C, Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry, with which
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he remained until the close of the war or for a period of three years, during which he participated in a number of hotly contested engagements that con- tributed to the success which finally crowned the Union arms. When the war was over he took up his abode in Masonville, Delaware county, where he engaged in general merchandising, conducting his store there for several years. He after- ward rented land in Buchanan county and carried on general farming for ten years on that place. He next removed to a farm near Brandon, investing in eighty acres in Jefferson township which he developed and improved, continuing the cultivation of that farm for many years. At length, however, he retired from active business life and removed to Brandon, where he remained until his death on the 18th of December, 1900. His widow passed away in 1905.
Frank M. Williams was reared and educated in Buchanan county, Iowa, and remained with his parents until nineteen years of age, when he secured a clerk- ship in the employ of John Cline of Brandon, who paid him for the first year ten dollars per month and his board. He continued in Brandon until October 20, 1903, and gradually worked his way upward, so that for five years he was there engaged in business on his own account. He left Brandon, however, be- cause of the illness of his wife, hoping that a change of climate might prove beneficial. Removing to Longmont, Colorado, he there engaged in the grocery business for six months and for a similar period made his home in Denver. Re- turning to Iowa, he settled in Fort Dodge, where he resided for some time, being upon the road as a traveling salesman during that period.
Mr. Williams was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife on the 21st of September, 1905. He had been married on the 21st of November, 1895, to Miss Mary E. Jamieson, who was born in Brandon, November 21, 1878, a daughter of Walter and Martha (Newcomb) Jamieson, who were natives of New York but became pioneer settlers of Buchanan county, arriving here at a very early day. Her father now makes his home in Brandon but her mother passed away July 21, 1911.
After the death of his first wife Mr. Williams made his headquarters at Mason City, Iowa, until 1910. He was again married on the 21st of Decem- ber of that year, his second union being with Bertha E. Gaasch, of Linn county, Iowa, a daughter of John W. and Mattie (Johnson) Gaasch, the former a native of Dubuque county, Iowa, and the latter of Benton county. At an early period in the development of Linn county, Mr. and Mrs. Gaasch became residents of that section and there he carried on farming until his death, which occurred in 1902, he being accidentally killed by a horse. His widow survives and vet makes her home in Linn county.
Following his marriage Mr. Williams continued upon the road until January, 1912, when he came to Rowley and purchased the general mercantile business of Van Orsdol & Lotts. He today has a fine store and enjoys an extensive patronage. His business methods are such as commend him to public confidence and support, and the people have come to know that his slogan, "Williams has it," is no idle boast, for he carries a large and well selected line that meets the requirements of the general public.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Williams is a Mason, belonging to Holman - Lodge, No. 593, and he is also identified with the Eastern Star. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican
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party and, while well versed concerning the questions and issues of the day and interested in his party's success, he does not seek nor desire office. His religious faith is that of the Christian church, which numbers him among its loyal and helpful members.
JASPER NEWTON BARR.
Jasper Newton Barr, a worthy representative of one of the honored pioneer families of Buchanan county, is now living retired in Independence after long years of active connection with agricultural interests, but is still the owner of four hundred acres of valuable land. For sixty-seven years he has resided in Buchanan county and there are no phases of its history with which he is not familiar from pioneer times down to the present. He can relate many interesting incidents of the early days and he rejoices in the later day progress and improve- ment of the county.
His birth occurred in Washington township. September 12, 1847, and he is the eldest of the three children of Thomas and Eleanor (Murphy) Barr. The father was born in Carroll county, Ohio, July 30. 1823, of Irish ancestry, his grandfather. Robert Barr, having come to America from the north of Ireland and settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania. The mother was also of Irish extraction, for her ancestors came to the new world before the Revolutionary war and some of the family served under General Washington in the struggle for independence. In early life Thomas Barr was employed as a farm hand in the Buckeye state. On coming west he was accompanied by his wife and his cousin, Reuben Wickham, and his wife, the party traveling by team, each gentle- man owning a horse. Reaching Buchanan county on the 18th of November, 1846, they found the work of improvement here scarcely begun. Most of the land was still in possession of the government and upon the broad tracts of prairie not a furrow had been turned. Mr. Barr entered a claim five miles north of Independence, now known as the Barr homestead, and here the family experi- enced many of the hardships and difficulties which come to the pioneer. The only postoffice in the county at that time was Quasqueton, fifteen miles south of where Mr. Barr located. There were still many Indians, but they belonged to friendly tribes and most of them were going upon or returning from their trips in the north or passing through on their way to reservations farther west. There were many species of wild game and it was not difficult to secure venison, for deer were plentiful and there were many wild turkey's and other lesser game. After building a log cabin upon his place Mr. Barr mauled rails to fence his property and carried on the work of general improvement and development for many years, using ox teams in his work. As time passed on prosperity attended his efforts and he ranked with the substantial farmers and stockmen of his township. From time to time he added to his holdings until he was the owner of eight hun- dred and forty acres of valuable land. In politics he was a democrat. but not an office seeker. He continued to remain upon his farm until his death, which occurred January 7. 1893. His wife, who was born in Guernsey county. Ohio, December 20, 1824, survived him for a decade and passed away March 13, 1903.
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