USA > Iowa > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 31
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WILLIAM H. REEVER.
William H. Reever, editor and publisher of the Glidden Graphic, is one of the well known and highly respected citizens of Carroll county. He is a native of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, born October 23, 1866, and is the son of Ephraim and Elizabeth (Storrick) Reever, both of whom were born in the Keystone state. The father was reared at Gettysburg and was by trade a blacksmith and also engaged in farming. In 1869 he removed
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with his family to Panora, Iowa, four years later coming to Pleasant Val- ley township, Carroll county. He bought several tracts of land and ac- cumulated in all six hundred and forty acres in Pleasant Valley township, becoming one of the leading farmers in that part of the county. He died January 27, 1892, being asphyxiated by inhaling gas in the Commercial Hotel in Chicago, through defective piping of the gas in the hotel. At the time of his death he was forty-nine years of age and in the height of his usefulness. He served about a year and a half in a Pennsylvania regiment at the time of the Civil war and participated in a number of battles.
Mrs. Reever was called from earthly scenes October 10, 1898, at the age of fifty-one years. There were six children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Reever, namely : William H., of this review; Harry E., of Carroll county ; Charles A., of Ogden, Utah; Minnie May, who died at the age of fifteen months; Ida Pearl, who died at the age of twenty-two years; and Alice M.
Grandfather Ullery J. Reever on the paternal side was a farmer of Pennsylvania. He married Mrs. Maria Diehl and was forty-three years and eight months old at the time of his death which was caused by typhoid fever. They had six sons, namely: Ephraim, Leander J., Abraham C., William U., Reuben C., and Charles A.
Adam Storrick, the maternal grandfather, was born in Germany. He came to 'America and settled in Adams county, Pennsylvania, where he lived to the age of sixty-nine years. He was a tailor in early life but later a stock dealer and farmer. His wife was a native of Germany and died at the age of eighty-two years. In their family were seven children, namely : Anna Catharine, Eva Margaret, Maria, Elizabeth, John Nicholas, Sarah Jane and William Clayton.
William H. Reever arrived in Carroll county with his parents when he was a lad of six years. He grew to manhood on his father's farm and se- cured his early education in the district schools. Later he attended the Carroll high school and after leaving that institution became a student of the State Normal School at Cedar Falls, from which he graduated in 1895. Desiring to pursue his studies still further, he entered the Collegiate department of the State University, graduating in 1897, B. Ph. He taught school a number of years, beginning as early as 1887, and thus earned money with which to pay his expenses through normal school and college. He continued to teach until September, 1910, and was superintendent of the Laurens school six years, Greenfield schools, one year, the Manning schools, two years, the Baldwin schools, one year, and the Glidden schools, three years being in the latter position when he retired from his work as teacher. He holds a life certificate for teaching in the state of Iowa.
He purchased the Glidden Graphic in 1910 and under his management the paper is giving evidence of increasing influence throughout a wide sec- tion of this part of the state. He is a good business man, as is indicated by the fact that he owns a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Pleasant Valley township and an interest in the Carter-Fountain Land
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Company of Missouri Valley, Iowa, which owns eight and one-half sec- tions of land.
On the 26th of December, 1900, Mr. Reever was united in marriage to Miss Agnes T. Woods, a daughter of Daniel W. and Ellen Louisa (Baily) Woods, and two children came to bless this union, Elizabeth and William Harold. Mrs. Reever was born in Goodland, Indiana, her father being a native of Vermont and her mother of New Hampshire. Their home for the past thirty years has been at Greenfield, Iowa.
There were four children in their family : Agnes T .; Samuel D. of Des Moines, Iowa, secretary of the Board of Parole; Dr. Arthur D. of State Center, Iowa ; and Mary L. the wife of Dr. Levi Wilkinson, of Prairieburg, Iowa. The father served valiantly in the cause of the Union during the Civil war.
Mr. Reever and his estimable wife are members of the Methodist church. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, Knights of Pythias, The Modern Woodmen of America, and the Yeomen of America, and he has a host of warm personal friends in those organizations. In political belief he is in thorough sympathy with the republican party. Being a man of wide reading and observation, he is broad-minded in his views and is highly popular wherever he is known. He is a clear and forcible writer and is remarkably well informed concerning the needs of Carroll county as well as its resources. As an editor he has attained a distinct success and his future is one of great prominence.
NICHOLAUS BEITER.
The people of Carroll for many years recognized in Nicholaus Beiter those qualities of integrity, energy and persistence that lead to success. For thirty-seven years he was identified with the meat business in this city and as head of the firm of Beiter & Sons bore a highly honored reputation. He was a native of Prussia, Germany, born near Sigmaringen, March 21. 1847. a son of Franz and Katharina (Ziegler) Beiter, both of whom were born in Germany. The father engaged in farming and died at the age of eighty-three, his wife being called away in 1853 when she was about forty years of age. There were fourteen children in their family, five of whom grew to maturity: Max, deceased; Joseph, who is now living in Hohen- zollern, Germany; Amandus, of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania; Nicholaus, of this review ; and Anton, also of Hohenzollern. Joseph Beiter, the pater- nal grandfather, was a farmer and also ran a stage. He lived to be eighty- three years old and his wife reached an age of sixty years. They were the parents of three sons and two daughters, namely : Franz, Wendalentis, Mathias, Rosalia and Theodore.
Nicholaus Beiter received a common school education and under his father was taught the importance and value of labor. He learned the butcher's trade and being a young man of enterprise and laudable ambi-
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tion, he decided to seek his fortune beyond the seas and, accordingly, at the age of nineteen he crossed the ocean and for three years, from 1866 to 1869, followed his trade at Allentown, Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Chicago and a year later to Clarence, Cedar county, Iowa, where he spent four years. He arrived in Carroll in 1874 and up to the time of his death February 4, 1911, made this city his home, also being engaged with marked success during the entire period in the butcher business.
On the 18th day of March, 1872, Mr. Beiter was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Josephine Brigham, a daughter of John and Lydia A. (Smith) Brigham, and to them five children were born: Frank, who took over his father's business, and married Carrie Buchheit and has three children, Chloris, Nicholaus and Margaret; John, in partnership with his brother, Frank, who married Martha Cowham and has two children, Mildred and Helen; Lydia, who died in infancy; Joseph, who is now studying law; and Helen. Mrs. Nancy J. Beiter died in 1881, being only thirty-one years of age. She was a native of Vermont and her parents were early settlers of Jones county, Iowa. On the Ioth day of March, 1884. Mr. Beiter married Miss May Heath, a daughter of Chauncey Heath, and one son, Grover C., came to bless this union. Grover C. is a civil engineer and a member of the Waterloo, Iowa, Base Ball Club of the Three-I League. Mrs. May Beiter died at the age of thirty. in 1897. She was born in New York state, coming to Iowa with her parents who settled in Boone county.
Mr. Beiter had his share of sunshine and shadow in life and has con- tributed materially toward the comfort and happiness of others. He came as a young man to 'America and won his way to financial independence, ac- quiring a character for honesty and stability that is greatly to be desired by every right-minded individual. The position he attained in the commu- nity was the result of habits of industry, economy and sound judgment early established. He possessed many sterling qualities of mind and heart which won him a host of friends in the city of his adoption, who sincerely mourn him.
WILL H. RICKERSON.
Will H. Rickerson, founder, editor and publisher of The Citizen at Coon Rapids, began early in life as a printer and learned the business from the foundation up. He has made a success of his business and ranks today among the prominent country editors of Iowa. He was born at 'Adel, Iowa, March 19, 1859, the only child of C. G. D. and Amarilla (Simons) Rickerson, the former a native of Ithaca, New York, and the latter of Berrion Springs, Michigan. The mother died in September, 1859, at the age of twenty-three years, and Mr. Rickerson was married to Miss Me- linda Caldwell. Three children were born to them, Harry. Guy and Glenn, all of whom are living at Adel. Mr. Rickerson, Sr., came to Iowa in 1846
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and located on a farm of forty acres three miles west of Adel, to which he later added one hundred and twenty acres. In his carly manhood he learned the carpenter's trade and not feeling inclined to continue perma- nently as an agriculturist, he disposed of his farm and located at Adel, where he engaged as a carpenter and contractor. He was the builder of the first two courthouses at Adel in partnership with Charles Rodenbaugh and erected many handsome residences in Adel and the surrounding coun- try. He continued in active work until seventy-five years of age when he retired and has now reached the age of eighty-one, his wife being about seventy. Mrs. Rickerson is a consistent member of the Christian church. Mr. Rickerson has been a useful and patriotic citizen, ever willing to per- form his part in advancing the comfort and happiness of his fellow men. At the time of the Civil war he served for four years in behalf of the Union as a member of Company C, Thirty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infan- try, and for twelve years very acceptably filled the office of city marshal of Adel.
The grandfather of our subject on the paternal side was Ransom Rick- erson, a native of Sweden, and his wife was Mary A. (Loomis) Rickerson. After their marriage they came to America and took up their residence at Ithaca, New York, later moving to Lafayette, Indiana. In 1846 they set- tled in Dallas county, Iowa, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Mr. Rickerson died at the age of sixty-three years and his wife passed away in her ninety-third year. They were the parents of one child, Chauncey G. D. The grandparents on the maternal side had only one child, Amarilla, the mother of our subject.
Will H. Rickerson was reared at Adel and received his preliminary edu- cation in the public schools, graduating from the Adel high school. He learned the carpenter's trade in his native town and went to Des Moines, where he served for six months at merely nominal pay in the job office of Mills & Company, state printers. However, he soon demonstrated his interest in his work and his ability as a printer and was given a good position with the company, which he retained for nine years. He then started a newspaper on his own account at Adel, called The New Era, which he successfully published for five years. At the close of the time named he went to Stuart, Iowa, and as a member of a stock company pub- lished The Stuart News for three years. In 1891 he came to Coon Rap- ids and bought the Coon Rapids Reporter which he ran for a while, but perceiving an opening for another newspaper, he established The Citizen, January 14, 1903, of which he has since been the publisher. The Citizen is a democratic newspaper and as it is conducted on broad and progressive lines, it has met with a hearty response on the part of the people and has a wide circulation in Carroll county.
On the 18th day of September, 1902, at Audubon, Iowa, Mr. Ricker- son was married to Miss Mary Iphigenia Case, who was born at Hartford, Connecticut, March 3, 1868, a daughter of Will W. and Ida H. (Church- ill) Case. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rickerson, De- los, Faye and twin, and Don. Delos died at the age of nine years and the
Vol. II-17
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twin of Faye died in infancy. Mrs. Rickerson removed with her parents from Connecticut when six years old to Chicago where the family spent five years, coming in the spring of 1879 to Davenport, Iowa. In the fall of 1883 the family moved to Audubon county where the daughter Mary grew to womanhood. She is a valuable assistant to her husband in his newspaper work, as she is a practical printer, having worked at the trade before her marriage. Her father, who was born in Rockville, Connecticut, enlisted in the Civil war in Company B, Sixteenth Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry and served three years, from 1862-65, receiving then his honorable discharge after faithful service. He now makes his home with his children. The mother of Mrs. Rickerson was born in Vermont and died at Audubon, Iowa, November 27, 1890, having arrived at the age of forty-two years. There were nine children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Case, namely : Mary Iphigenia, now Mrs. Will H. Rickerson; Emma Louise, who married Robert Reed Tillman, of Laramie, Wyoming; Eliza- beth Marilla, the wife of Jesse A. Nightser, of Manville, Wyoming; Charles Horatio, who makes his home in Nevada, Iowa; Clarence Walter, of Lost Spring, Wyoming; Samuel Herbert, of Manville, Wyoming; Clara Beatrice, a trained nurse of Brooklyn, New York; Ida Alice, who married Harry D. St. Johns, of Peoria, Illinois; and Almyra Jeannette, who died in infancy. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Rickerson was Samuel Case, a native of Massachusetts, who lived to the age of eighty-eight years and died at Orin, Wyoming. He was by his first marriage the father of two children, Clara and William W. The grandfather on the maternal side was Seth D. Churchill, who was a soldier in the Civil war. His wife, Elizabeth H. (Tinkham) Churchill, served as a nurse in this war. She was of Scotch descent while her husband was of English origin. They had three children, Ida, Dan and Asa.
Mr. Rickerson of this review is not a member of any religious organi- zation but his wife is identified with the Methodist church. He has been a lifelong democrat and there are few men in Iowa who are better informed as to the history of the party or are better prepared to champion its prin- ciples. He served as town recorder for eight years, though he has never been an aspirant for political honors, preferring to concentrate his atten- tion upon his business which under his experienced management has de- veloped to handsome proportions, making him one of the most prosperous publishers in this part of the state.
JOSEPH WILSON.
One of the most prominent and affluent citizens of Manning is Joseph Wilson, who for more than seventeen years has been identified with the bank- ing interests of Carroll county. A Canadian, his birth occurred about four- teen miles south of Toronto, on the Ist of April, 1856, his parents being
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James and Jane (Campbell) Wilson, natives of Scotland. The father was born on the 2d of October, 1814, while the mother's natal day was the same as that of the late Queen Victoria. They were married in the land of their birth, but in the early years of their domestic life they emigrated to America, locating in Canada. There Mr. Wilson engaged in agricultural pursuits un- til November, 1860, when together with his wife and family he removed to the United States, settling in Clinton county, Iowa. He continued to farm there but later went to Preston, Jackson county, Iowa, where he lived retired until his demise in September, 1895. Agriculture had proven very lucrative for him and when he passed away he owned three hundred and seventy-six acres of fertile farming land. Mrs. Wilson survived him less than a year, her death occurring in April, 1896. They were both members of the Pres- byterian church in the old country, but after locating in Preston they united with the Congregational church, as there was not a Presbyterian church in the place. They were both earnest Christians and took an active interest in all work of the church, Mr. Wilson having for several years been a deacon and trustee at the time of his demise. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson there were born eleven children, the order of birth being as follows : Virginia, the widow of Walter Spirrell, of Rock Rapids, Iowa; William, who passed away at the age of twenty years ; John, also deceased ; Ebenezer and Alexander, twins, the former a harness-maker of Pierce, Nebraska, and the latter a farmer, of Sac county, Iowa ; David and Sarah, also twins, the former passing away at twenty, and the latter in Canada at the age of four years; James P., who is a resident of Trenton, Nebraska ; Joseph, our subject ; Robert G., deceased. a former treasurer of Sac county, Iowa ; and Sarah, who is also deceased. The father became a naturalized citizen of the United States, following which he voted with the republican party, but he never sought office or preferment in political affairs.
Joseph Wilson, who was only a lad of four years when his parents came to Iowa, was reared on the homestead in Clinton county, in whose district schools he acquired his early education supplemented later by a course in the schools of Preston. He began his business career immediately after at- taining his majority in 1877, when he rented eighty acres of land in Clinton county, which he cultivated for two years. In October, 1879, he came to Carroll county, purchasing the southwest quarter of section 8, Warren township, of H. E. Russell. He resided upon this land for fifteen years en- gaging in general farming and stock-raising. At the expiration of that period he withdrew from active work and coming to Manning on the 9th of February, 1894, he purchased ten thousand dollars worth of stock in the First National Bank, of which institution he was vice president for two years. During this time he also continued to engage in the stock business. Later he became associated with A. T. Bennett and they bought the old U. L. Patton elevator, engaging in the grain business until 1897, when they sold their in- terests. Mr. Wilson continues to engage in the buying and selling of stock, which has proven to be a most successful undertaking. On the 12th of February, 1898, he bought the Bank of Manning, which he still owns, the officers being as follows: Mr. Wilson, president ; W. F. Carpenter, cashier :
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A. D. Weise, assistant cashier. Responsibilities reach the amount of seventy- five thousand dollars, and in addition to a banking and loan business they write fire insurance. The possessor of rare business acumen, as well as abil- ity as an organizer, and unusual executive powers, Mr. Wilson has the faculty of surmounting obstacles and creating opportunities. In addition to his large financial interests he is an extensive landowner, among his holdings being six hundred and eighty-three acres of fertile farming land.
On the 18th of February, 1880, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Wil- son and Miss Rosie E. Fowler, a daughter of George and Lucy J. (Rudd) Fowler of Clinton county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have become the parents of two children, a son and a daughter. Elsie May married Ernest S. Babcock, of Manning, and they have two children, Florence Rose and Lyal Wilson. Frank Harvey married May E. Evans and they have one (laughter, Dorothy Lucille.
The family affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which organization they take an active and helpful interest, Mr. Wilson being president of the official board, while Mrs. Wilson is one of the stewards of the church. She also holds membership in the Eastern Star, and at one time filled the office of worthy matron. Fraternally Mr. Wilson is identified with the Masonic order, being a member of the blue lodge of Manning, and the chapter at Carroll, being senior warden of the former. He is also a member of the lowa Bankers' Associa- tion and the Shorthorn Breeders Association. Politically he accords his allegiance to the republican party, and was at one time con- stable, and for six years a member of the town council. Mr. Wilson is one of the public-spirited, enterprising citizens of Manning, who in the development of his personal interests is constantly promoting those of the town, and always gives his hearty cooperation and support to every move- ment the adoption of which will advance the community in any way.
WILSON H. DANKEL.
Wilson H. Dankel, who is cultivating eighty acres of section 8, Union township, being born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, on the 6th of Jan- uary, 1860. The parents were natives of Pennsylvania, the father, Harry Dankel, being a cooper by trade, in connection with which he also farmed. He was reared in Lebanon county, where he passed away at the age of sixty-seven years, while his wife was only forty-seven at the time of her demise. They were both of German extraction and affiliated with the Lutheran church. Their family numbered seven: Jane, the wife of Dan Garmon, of Palmyra, Pennsylvania; Alfred, who is a resident of the same place; James, who is living in Richland township, Carroll county ; George, a resident of Glidden ; Wilson, our subject ; William, who lives in Palmyra ; and Lizzie, the wife of Elmer Jones, of Richland township.
Wilson H. Dankel was reared on his father's homestead in East Han- over township, Lebanon county, to whose district schools he is indebted for
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his education. He remained at home until he had attained his majority, then came to Illinois, where he worked for three years as a farm hand in Bureau county. In 1884 he removed to Jowa, settling in Carroll county where he rented some land of Judge Payne, which he cultivated for sev- eral years. This venture proved so lucrative that he was able to buy his present homestead in Union township, which he has operated continuously ever since.
On the 14th of March, 1894, Mr. Dankel was married to Miss Addic Livingston, a daughter of Lewis and Gabrilla ( Merrick) Livingston. As they have no children of their own, they adopted a son into their family named Lynn. Mrs. Dankel was born in Carroll county, her parents being among the very carly pioneer settlers. Mr. Livingston was a native of Pennsylvania and his wife of Jackson county, Iowa. In his early manhood he took up his residence in this state where he continued to make his home until his demise, which occurred in Glidden on the 16th of September, 1909, at the age of sixty-seven years. Mrs. Livingston, however, is still surviving. The paternal grandparents were John and Elizabeth (Foulk) Livingston, natives of Pennsylvania, where he died in middle life. His widow then came to Iowa, attaining the venerable age of eighty-four years before she passed away. To them were born five children: Aaron; Alex- ander ; Lewis; Washington, who died in childhood; and Lucinda, the wife of John Taylor. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Wilson H. Dankel were Mahlon and Nancy (Pool) Merrick, the former of whom passed away in Jackson county at a venerable age, while the latter is still living. They were the parents of the following children: Ethalinda, the wife of Philip Weaver; Frances, who married Michael Kaiser; Gabrilla, the widow of Lewis Livingston ; Emma, the wife of Frank Head; and Dana, the wife of William Prandy. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Livingston there were born seven children: Addie, the wife of Wilson H. Dankel; Blanch, the wife of Henry Reever ; William A .; Bernice, the wife of William Cuth- bertson ; and Edgar, Bertha and Charley, all of whom reside in Carroll county.
In religious belief Mr. and Mrs. Dankel affiliate with the United Breth- ren church, and fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, while in politics he is a democrat. He is one of the enterprising and capable agriculturists of Union township, who is held in high estcem as a citizen.
FRED NEUMAYER.
Fred Neumayer, one of the pioneer citizens and successful farmers of Carroll county, who is now serving as supervisor from Kniest township, was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, on the 15th of August, 1854. His parents, Charles and Lutgardis (Smith) Neumayer, were both natives of Baden, Germany, the former born February 2, 1812, and the latter, Au-
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gust 12, 1811. In 1850 they emigrated to America and first located in New York state, where they made their home for four years and then removed to Ottawa, La Salle county, Illinois, whence they came to Iowa, in 1872. They spent their last years in Carroll county, where the mother died on the 21st of October, 1889, and the father passed away on the 22d of No- vember, 1904.
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