USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 54
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is a resident of Hazleton. The father was not only prominent as a farmer and horseman, but after living upon the farm for some time removed to Hazle- ton, where he engaged in the lumber business and bought stock. He was a prominent and influential citizen of that part of the state, served as justice of the peace, was alderman of Hazleton and also became mayor of the city, dis- charging his duties in a prompt and businesslike manner that greatly promoted civic interests. In early life he was an active member of the Baptist church.
.J. C. Bates began his education in the schools of Janesville, Wisconsin, also attended the country schools of that state and a commercial college of Janes- ville. When twenty years of age he began farming and followed that pursuit for three years. He then began dealing in horses. Ile bought and sold many horses, shipping both in and out of the state, and he has ridden many horses upon the track, including Mason, which made a record of 2:0914 and Barney Mckay with a record of 2:12. Those records at the time that they were made were considered very high. Mr. Bates is still the owner of race horses and does considerable training, having a regular training stable. He now has two very fast colts, a three-year old; and Toddie Tiowa, a two-year old.
Mr. Bates is also a mail carrier and has been a member of the police force of Independence. He is now a candidate for the office of sheriff on the democratic ticket. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and both within and without that organization he has become very popular.
On the 6th of October, 1873, Mr. Bates was married to Phoebe Isabella Roberts, a danghter of Joseph and Gazelle (Craig) Roberts, both of whom were natives of Indiana. Joseph Roberts was a carpenter and in 1859 became a resident of Buchanan county, where he owned lands in Hazleton township. He was very active in county politics as a supporter of the democratic party and he served as treasurer of Hazleton township. In 1908 Mr. Bates was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 15th of August of that year. In their family were six children : Corletta Pearl, the wife of William Sandford, a minister now living at Stockton, California: Gazella May, who died in infancy; Mrs. Ora Blanche Woods: James C. and William Bruce, who died in infancy; and Earl Dow, who was with his father as a horse dealer and died November 11, 1910, at the age of twenty-three years. In 1913 Mr. Bates was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Anna Sisseny Messinger, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Will Sisseny, who were natives of Illinois and came to lowa in 1879. They own and occupy a farm in Sumner township.
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LEWIS F. WALTER.
General agricultural pursuits have claimed the time and energies of Lewis F. Walter throughout his entire business career and he now owns two hundred acres of valuable and productive land on sections 4 and 5. Newton township. His birth occurred in that township in October, 1874. his parents being Christian and Caroline (Wahl) Walter, more extended mention of whom is made on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of Fred Franck, brother-in-law of our subject.
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Lewis F. Walter acquired his education in the district schools and remained under the parental roof until nineteen years of age, when he secured employment as a farm hand and thus worked for seven years. Subsequently he was engaged in the cultivation of rented land for about eight years and on the expiration of that period purchased a tract of one hundred and twenty acres on sections 4 and 5, Newton township, the buildings being on the former section. Later he ex- tended the boundaries of his farm by additional purchase until it now embraces two hundred acres, and this place he has cultivated continuously with the excep- tion of three years since it came into his possession. He has improved the property until it is now lacking in none of the conveniences and accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century and in its operation he has won an enviable measure of success, annually gathering rich harvests which find a ready sale on the market.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Walter has sup- ported the men and measures of the republican party, believing firmly in its principles. He has spent his entire life within the borders of Buchanan county and is well known and highly esteemed as one of its substantial agriculturists and representative citizens.
SILAS B. HOVEY.
Silas B. Hovey, of Independence, is widely known in Iowa as a builder of gas and electric light plants and at the present time the Jones & Hovey Company, of which he is a partner, owns the gas plant at Independence and the electric light plant at Chillicothe, Missouri. For almost a third of a century he has made his home in Independence, where he has a wide and favorable acquaintance. His birth occurred in Orleans county, Vermont, March 29, 1861, his parents being Elijah Adams and Rhoda S. (Lyman) Hovey, who were also natives of that county, the former born in 1833 and the latter in 1834. The father spent his early life upon his father's farm, but because of ill health abandoned the work of the fields and went on board a fishing ship sailing out of Boston on a cruise which extended for a year and a half. The sea life proved beneficial and upon his return to Boston he became associated with a firm owning many houses. He became foreman and in that capacity had oversight over the Boston Commons and the old Park Street church near the Commons, a building of historie interest.
On the 4th of July, 1858, Elijah A. Hovey was one of the contracting parties in a marriage in which three couples were united in wedlock. Immediately after- ward he began elerking in a store in Albany, New York, where he remained for about ten years. Just before going to Albany he drove a team of four horses from Vermont to the west, going by way of the lakes to Milwaukee and then driv- ing with a load of merchandise to Buchanan county, Iowa, for a brother who was living on a farm at Littleton, this county, having entered his land from the gov- erment. Elijah A. Hovey also secured a claim, entering land upon which now stands the town of Jesup. He returned, however, to Albany and engaged in clerking, as previously stated. In 1867 he once more came to Iowa and engaged in the business of driving wells with his brother, for whom he had previously
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made the trip by team. They worked in Buchanan and adjoining counties for seven years and later Elijah A. Hovey took a trip through southwestern Illinois, digging wells as he went. At length he reached Tampico, Whiteside county, to which place he removed his family, remaining there for seven years, after which he returned to Independence in 1882, there retiring from active business life. He had no political aspirations and, in fact, was of a retiring disposition. He was an active and loyal member of the Baptist church. To him and his wife were born three children: Adalie, who died at the age of eleven years; Silas B .; and Maurice W .. who for about twenty years was manager of the Marshalltown Light, Power & Railway Company.
Silas B. Ilovey was a little lad of about six years when the family home was established in Iowa and in the common schools of Independence he pursued his edueation, but later the family home was established in Illinois. When twenty years of age he began to learn telegraphy in Chicago, but remained there for only a year and a half. Upon his return to Independence he formed a partnership on the 1st of January. 1882. for the conduct of an insurance business, in which the firm continued for about nine years. Mr. Hovey had been in Iowa but two days over six months at the time the question of prohibition came up for settlement at the polls and he cast his vote on the side of temperance on the 30th of June, 1882. Continuing actively in business, he joined C. D. Jones in forming a com- pany known as the Standard Gas & Electric Works Company, although a later reorganization of the business was attended by the adoption of the present firm style of the Jones & Hovey Company. They began building municipal gas and electric light plants and at the same time conducted an insurance agency in Independence. Their operations were on a small scale in the beginning in the building of gas plants, but later as electricity began to be the common source of lighting they extended their business to include the building of electric light plants. At different times they have been interested in a number of such enter- prises and also were active in the building and operation of the electric railway at Marshalltown. Today the company owns the gas plant at Independence and the electric light plant at Chillicothe. Missouri, but they have recently sold all their other holdings. Aside from his connection with the Jones & Hovey Com- pany the junior partner is a stockholder in the First National & Commercial State Bank and he is the owner of over one thousand acres of Buchanan county land, together with lands in Canada and North Dakota, his individual holdings aggre- gating over four thousand acres. His investments have been judieiously made and are bringing to him a gratifying financial return.
In 1883 Mr. Hovey was united in marriage to Miss May Glassburn, who was born in Tampico, Illinois, a daughter of John W. and Olive (Johnson) Glassburn, who were natives of Ohio. In early life her father followed farming and was the owner of the land upon which the Burlington built the town of Tampico. Following its establishment he abandoned farming and began buying grain in Tampico, becoming one of the enterprising and energetic citizens of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Hovey have become parents of three children. Glenn Glassburn, who was born in Buchanan county in 1892, is now attending the Iowa State Uni- versity, in which he is pursuing the electrical engineering course as a member of the class of 1915. Sherman P., born in this eounty in 1897. is attending high school. Ferne, born in Buchanan county in 1899, is also a high-school pupil.
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Mr. Hovey holds membership with the Knights of Pythias and his religious faith is that of the Baptist church. In his political views he is a standpat repub- lican, having always supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and seeing no reason to change his political affiliation at the present time. Much of his life has been passed in Buchanan county and the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him through all these years is an indication that his career has been characterized by honorable and upright principles.
ADAM E. ZIMPFER.
Adam E. Zimpfer, who has spent practically his entire life within the borders of Buchanan county and has followed agricultural pursuits with excellent suc- cess, is now the owner of a valuable farm embracing one hundred and twenty acres on section 27, Cono township. His birth occurred in Germany on the 13th of May, 1857, his parents being Adam and Caroline (Hansel) Zimpfer, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work.
Adam E. Zimpfer was a year old when brought to the United States by his parents, who established their home in Buchanan county, Iowa, and here he acquired his education. He remained at home until he had attained his majority and then started out as an agriculturist on his own account. cultivating rented land for three years. On the expiration of that period he purchased a tract of eighty acres in Cono township in association with his brother. Charles G. They operated the farm in partnership for four years, at the end of which time our subject bought his brother's interest and continued the cultivation of the place alone for several years. In 1891 he disposed of the property and purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 27, Cono township, whereon he has made excellent improvements and in the operation of which he has been engaged continuously since. In connection with the production of cereals he also devotes considerable attention to live stock, keeping high grade Durham cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs.
On the 31st of March, 1881, Mr. Zimpfer was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Swartz, who was born at Independence, Buchanan county. Iowa. April 17, 1859, her parents being Charles and Barbara (Raithel) Swartz, the former a native of Wittenberg. Germany, and the latter of Jefferson City, Missouri. Charles Swartz emigrated to the United States in an early day, settling in Wis- consin, where he worked in the pineries for some time. Subsequently he removed to Dubuque, Iowa, and later came to Independence, this county, here conducting a grocery store throughout the remainder of his life. His demise occurred on the 9th of September, 1911, while his wife was called to her final rest in 1888. To Mr. and Mrs. Zimpfer have been born four children, as follows: Lillian, who is a nurse residing in Aberdeen, South Dakota; and Mabel, Raymond and Caroline, all at home.
In his political views Mr. Zimpfer is a democrat and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to positions of public trust. He has served as trustee for a number of years, has also acted in the capacity
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of school director, and is now holding the office of constable, making a ereditable record in that connection. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian. The many sterling qualities of his character have commended him to the confidence and good-will of all, and he has an extensive cirele of friends in the community where he has resided for more than half a century.
OSCAR II. LOTTS.
A splendidly improved farm of Sumner township is that owned and occu- pied by Osear H. Lotts. It is pleasantly and conveniently situated and com- prises one hundred and sixty-seven acres of rich and productive land in the midst of which stands one of the finest country homes of this part of the state -a monument to the thrift. enterprise and progressiveness of the owner. Mr. Lotts was born at Hazel Green, Grant county, Wisconsin, in 1868, a son of William and Sophia (Stroble) Lotts. The father was born in Germany, in 1829, and had passed the sixty-second milestone on life's journey when called to his final rest in 1891. His wife, who was born in Germany in 1832, is still living, making her home with her son in Dows, Wright county, lowa.
Mr. Lotts was seventeen years of age and his wife twelve years of age when they came to the United States. He made his way to St. Louis and there enlisted for service in the Mexican war. He marched with Colonel Doniphan on the new Santa Fe trail from St. Louis, to Santa Fe. New Mexico, and when the war was ended marched baek to St. Louis, where he went to work as a shoemaker, which trade he had previously learned. He had not even taken out his natural- ization papers when he enlisted for military service, but he had come to America to be an American citizen and when he felt that the interests of his adopted country were endangered he went to the front to protect them. He lived in St. Louis for a time and worked up and down the Mississippi and Ohio rivers at his trade, going north in summer and south in winter. He was an expert workman along that line and found little difficulty in obtaining employment. In Septem- ber, 1868, he removed to Iowa and purchased land in Homer township, Buchanan county. He was afterward employed in Independence by the firm of Till & Rhodes, while the family engaged in the cultivation of the farm. He had thir- teen children, of whom Oscar H. was the tenth in order of birth. At the out- break of the Civil war the father enlisted from Hazel Green, Wisconsin, in a regiment of cavalry, after which he did guard duty at Washington. He was a member of the party who tried to capture Booth. the assassin of President Lincoln. and he witnessed the shooting of the assassin when he failed to sur- render. William Lotts engaged in farming and stock-raising but prior to his death removed to Independence, where he lived retired. He took an active in- terest in politics as a supporter of the democratic party but desired none of the rewards of office for himself. His religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church, which found in him an earnest member. His son Ed now owns the original homestead, the father having owned one hundred and sixty acres of land in Homer township.
OSCAR H. LOTTS
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
Oscar H. Lotts attended the public schools of Homer township, pursuing his studies through the winter seasons, while in the summer months he assisted in the work of the fields. He continued to give his father the benefit of his serv- ices until he reached the age of twenty-two years, when he began farming for himself on the old homestead, which he cultivated for three years. He then purchased one hundred and ten acres near Rowley, and after there carrying on farming for several years sold that property and removed to Sumner township, where he now owns one hundred and sixty-seven acres, constituting one of the rich, productive and valuable farms of that locality. It is splendidly im- proved, lacking in none of the equipments and accessories of the model farm of the twentieth century. In its midst stands one of the finest homes of the county, built in an attractive style of architecture and thoroughly modern throughout, with running water, steam heat and all the other conveniences of the present- day home. He likewise has one of the best barns of the township. It was recently erected and is forty by sixty feet. All of the timber-black walnut and white oak-was taken from the farm. All of the buildings have been constructed with a view to convenience and sanitary conditions and the Lotts farm constitutes one of the attractive features of the landscape. In addition to tilling the soil in the cultivation of various crops, Mr. Lotts is engaged in raising thoroughbred shorthorn cattle.
In 1890 he married Irene Bowder, a daughter of Jacob Bowder and they became the parents, of two children: Delbert, who is an electrician of the United States navy, now on the boat of the American ambassador in Turkey ; and Clarence. The wife and mother died in 1895, and in 1897 Mr. Lotts married Ruth Miller, who passed away in 1901. In 1908 Miss Mamie Spear became his wife. The family is prominent in the community, occupying an enviable position in social circles and enjoying the hospitality of many of the best homes in the township and in the city.
In his political views Mr. Lotts is an earnest republican, doing everything in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party, and he is now serving as a trustee in Sumner township. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church and he is interested in all that pertains to the prog- ress and upbuilding of the community along material. political, social and moral lines.
LEWIS S. HOVEY.
One of the estimable and enterprising citizens of Jesup, who contributed his share toward the financial and agricultural development of Buchanan county was the late Lewis S. Hovey, whose birth occurred in Bradford, Vermont, on the 21st of September, 1831. He was reared in the east and there remained to the age of twenty-five years, when he came to Buchanan county, Iowa, in 1856 and located land in Perry township, which he improved and cultivated for a time. He then went to Barclay, Iowa, where he engaged in the real-estate business and also looked after his land interests in Buchanan county. In 1864 he returned to the Vol. II-27
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state of his nativity, locating in Chelsea, where he spent the succeeding eight years, but in 1872 onee more came to this county. This time he located in Little- ton and purchased a mill, which he operated for four years. In 1876 he removed to Jesup, then a village of small pretentions, and engaged in the banking business for a time in company with John W. Dickinson. He later purchased two hundred and eighty acres of land one mile north of Jesup. This place he improved with good buildings and thereon took up his abode. He placed substantial fences about his fields, put the grounds about his residence in good condition and for many years was actively identified with the cultivation of the land. His later years were spent in Jesup, where he lived in honorable retirement, his death occurring December 12, 1913, when he was eighty-two years and two months of age.
Mr. Hovey was twice married. His first union was with Miss Frances J. Hatch, their marriage being celebrated May 3, 1853. By this union there were born four children but two of the number are deceased. Those living are : Nellie, the wife of Lewis Siegfried, of Jesup; and Lucy Ruby, the widow of W. E. McMasters, a farmer of Perry township, whose death occurred April 20, 1884. Mr. Hovey was married on the 24th of October, 1885, to Mrs. Sarah M. (Cutshall ) Buckmaster, a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and a daughter of Eli and Dorcas (Price) Cutshall. Mr. Cutshall was a native of Maryland, while his wife elaimed Pennsylvania as the state of her nativity. They were married, however, in Wells county, Indiana, and in 1856 located in Buchanan county, Iowa, on a farm a mile and a half west of Littleton. This land Mr. Cutshall entered from the gov- ernment and he improved and cultivated the property until his death, which occurred April 30, 1885, when he was seventy-three years of age. His home was a hospitable one, open to the itinerant minister, as well as to neighbors and friends. He was an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church and filled various offices in the society. He also served as a member of the school board. His wife was also an active worker in the Methodist church, in the faith of which she passed away September 20, 1911, when she had reached the very remarkable old age of eighty-nine years. They had twelve children, of whom ten are living: one who died in infancy; Maria, the widow of James Thayer, of Gordon, Ne- braska; Samuel L., of Dickens, Clay county, Iowa; Thomas J., of Omaha, Nebraska; Mary, the wife of David Whitney, of Sibley, Iowa; Sarah M., now Mrs. Hovey; Kate J., who died at the age of twenty-four years; Joseph H., a resident of Independence, Iowa; George W., who makes his home in Dickens, this state; Hester L., the wife or Clarence W. Ripley, a resident of Springview, Nebraska ; Eli G., a resident of Hazleton, Buchanan county ; and Charles Wesley, of Merriman, Nebraska.
Mrs. Hovey accompanied her parents to Perry township during her girlhood days and was reared on the home farm, where she received instruction from her mother in the duties and cares of the household. Her early education was ae- quired in the public schools and later she was accorded instruction in a private school and in the university at Fayette, Iowa. She first gave her hand in mar- riage to Joseph A. Buekmaster, a native of Ohio and a resident farmer of Buchanan county. His death occurred October 2, 1874, in Niobrara, Nebraska. By this union there were born a daughter and son : Addie B., the wife of W. B. Walker, a hardware merchant of Jesup; and Rowley A., a practicing physician of Dunkerton, Iowa. As previously stated, Mrs. Buckmaster was united in mar-
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riage to Mr. Hovey on the 24th of October, 1885, and by this union there is one son, Lewis S., Jr., who operates the old homestead farm.
Mr. Hovey was a republican in his political views but never cared for public office, although he was on various occasions pressed into service by his fellow townsmen. At an early age he united with the Presbyterian church at Littleton and later became a member of the same denomination in Jesup, of which at the time of his death he was serving as ruling elder. He was one of the three remain- ing charter members at the time of his demise. He was a strong believer in the cause of temperance and did much for the community along this line. He was active in financial circles, having been chosen vice president of the Farmers State Bank of Jesup at the time of its organization in 1903, in which capacity he served to the date of his death. In short he was one of the public-spirited citizens of Jesup and Perry township, whose loss was greatly felt not only in the home circle and among his intimate associates, but among the progressive residents of the community who always felt assured of his support and cooperation in advancing any movement, the adoption of which would promote the development of the district.
Mrs. Hovey is still an active woman and is a devout member of the Presby- terian church, to which her husband belonged. She occupies a pleasant home in Jesup, surrounded by a host of friends and by all the comforts of life, for Mr. Hovey besides other interests left to her a valuable farm which returns a good annual income. Her son, Lewis S., Jr., as above stated, operates the homestead. He received his early education in the public schools of his home locality and later pursued a course in the Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa, as well as in the State Normal at Cedar Falls, this state. He is married, his wife having borne the maiden name of Miss Eva Marsh. -
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