USA > Iowa > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 33
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Thomas A. Fullerton, who is the third in order of birth, was reared under the parental roof and received a limited education as the schools in this county were primitive in the early days and as much of his time was devoted to the work of the farm. On the 9th of December, 1861, he became a member of Company A, Seventeenth Iowa Volun- teer Infantry, and served at the front for almost four years, being discharged on the 15th of April, 1865. He participated in the bat- tles at Corinth, Chattanooga and Iuka, took part in the siege of Vicksburg and was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea. Mr. Fullerton's regiment was captured in Georgia but as he was at the time on special detail he escaped imprisonment. He was mus- tered out at Davenport, Iowa, and immediately returned to his home in this county. He has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and owns eighty acres of excellent and well improved land in Richland township, upon which he resides. He also has a farm in Nebraska.
Mr. Fullerton was married July 6, 1865, to Miss Armilda Jane Shipp, who was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, on the 12th of August, 1850. Her parents, John and Mary Shipp, in the '50s removed to Clarke county, Iowa, where the mother passed away. The father's demise occurred in Nebraska. They were the parents of five children, of whom Mrs. Fullerton is the eldest. By her marriage she has become the mother of fourteen children: Ulysses. who is living in Nebraska and has three children; Fidelia, who was born May 7, 1868, and is deceased; John, who has also passed away; William, who died in infancy; Mary O., the wife of John Wilson, a
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farmer of Clarke county, by whom she has nine children; Blanche, who married Oscar West, of Clarke county, by whom she has eight children; Stella, the wife of Louis Greenland, of Richland township, and the mother of four children; Sarilda, the wife of Guy H. Wil- liams, of Richland township, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Albert D., of Clarke county, who married Mabel Everett; Sylvia M., who is a nurse by profession and is residing at home; one who died unnamed; Jane M., the wife of Thomas Collins, of Richland township, by whom she has four children; Zora, who married Edward Carrier, of Clarke county, by whom she has two children; and Frank, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Fullerton have thirty grandchildren and one great-grandchild, the daughter of Mrs. Ethel Rhodes, who is a daughter of Mrs. Mary O. Wilson.
Mr. Fullerton is a republican and has always been a stalwart supporter of the measures and candidates of that party. Both he and his wife belong to the Christian church, to the work of which they have contributed generously of their means. He is one of the pioneers of this county and is deserving of honor for the work which he has done in developing a farm from the virgin prairie and in assisting in the progress and advancement of his community. In all relations of life he has conformed his conduct to high standards of morality, and his friends are many.
GEORGE C. HILL.
George C. Hill, who is successfully conducting a produce business in Davis City, was born in Washington county, Ohio, October 6, 1868, a son of McIntosh and Lavina (Johnson) Hill, natives respec- tively of Ohio and of Virginia. The father farmed in Ohio until 1886, when with his family he removed from Fayette county, that state, to Wayne county, Iowa, where he was identified with agricultural pur- suits until 1903, when he removed to Hamilton township, Decatur county, and purchased land there which he cultivated until his demise in 1905. His wife died in 1910.
George C. Hill was reared and educated in Ohio and when eight- een years of age accompanied his parents to Iowa. He continued to reside at home until he attained his majority and then began farm- ing on his own account, renting land in Wayne county for fifteen years. He then purchased a farm in that county, just over the line from Decatur county, and operated his place for three years. At the
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end of that time he sold out and removed to Pleasanton, this county, where he conducted a butcher shop for one year. He next purchased land in Hamilton township, which he operated for one year, when he sold it and removed to Davis City, where he has since resided. He is engaged in the produce business, buying eggs, poultry and cream, and he has built up an extensive trade along that line. He still owns some farm land near Pleasanton and is quite well-to-do.
In January, 1890, Mr. Hill married Miss Viola Petty, a daughter of James and Phoebe J. (Breese) Petty, natives of Ohio and Indiana respectively. The father became a pioneer farmer of Wayne county, Iowa, and continued to follow agricultural pursuits until his demise in 1889. His wife survived for a number of years, dying in 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have become the parents of twelve children, namely: Virgie, the wife of Bud Easton, a farmer of Hamilton township, by whom she has two children; Clell R., who is married and has three children; Norma; Stella; Lester; Beulah; Chloe; Hazel; George; Ocie, who died in August, 1894; Maggie, whose demise occurred on the 31st of December, 1906; and Floyd, who died January 31, 1907.
Mr. Hill is a republican and has served as justice of the peace at Pleasanton. Fraternally he is associated with the Masonic order and the Modern Woodmen of America, while his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. His life has been lived in accordance with high standards of conduct and he merits and receives the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens.
JOSEPH FRANCIS HAGEN.
Joseph Francis Hagen, a well-to-do farmer and stock-raiser on section 14, New Buda township, and a native son of Decatur county, was born on a farm in Grand River township on the 14th of March, 1858, of the marriage of John and Eve (Asbach) Hagen. The father, who was born near Berlin, Germany, upon emigrating to America, first located in Grand River township, Decatur county. Iowa, but subsequently removed to Burrell township, where he bought land from the government. Later he conducted a general store in New Buda for ten years, although during his earlier life he was a farmer. He passed away in New Buda township in 1878, having survived his first wife for a decade, her demise occurring in 1868. She was also born in Germany and their marriage was cele-
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brated in that country. Mr. Hagen chose for his second wife Mrs. Bertha (Lamb) Bicycle, who survived him for a number of years. He was quite successful and accumulated two hundred and seventy acres of valuable farm land. Of the six children born to his first union three survive, as follows: Joseph Francis; Adolph, who is living in Nebraska; and Latta, of Burrell township, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
Joseph F. Hagen was reared under the parental roof and received his education in the district schools. At the time of his father's demise he was appointed guardian for his brothers and sisters and discharged his duties in that connection ably and conscientiously. When the estate was settled he received seventy-two acres of land on section 14, New Buda township, and located upon his farm, where he is still residing. He has added to his holdings and now owns four hundred and thirty acres of land, one hundred and sixty acres of which is located in Chase county, Nebraska. He grows the usual cereals and also raises a large number of cattle and hogs annually, shipping to the Chicago and St. Joseph markets.
On the 12th of December, 1880, Mr. Hagen was married to Miss Mary A. Parkhurst, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Susan (Hale) Parkhurst. Both parents were born in Indiana, the father of German and English ancestry and the mother of Irish and Dutch stock. Both removed to Wapello county, Iowa, in their youth and there their marriage occurred. After residing in Iowa for a number of years they removed to Illinois, where the father engaged in rail- road construction work. He was injured by a piledriver and died from the effects of the injury in 1870. His widow subsequently mar- ried John Parker, who is now deceased. She is still living and makes her home at Pawnee, Missouri. There were no children of the second marriage and those of the first union were as follows: William, deceased; Sarah Louisa, the wife of David Bailey, of Des Moines: Mrs. Hagen; and a son who died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Hagen have six children living. Pearl. born Sep- tember 12, 1881, married Ora La Point, a carpenter of Ottumwa, Iowa, and they have three children, Veta, Mary and Myron. Cora, born March 1, 1883, is the wife of Bert Fetty, a farmer of Harrison county, Missouri. Jacob L., born February 24, 1885, married Zona Toney, and is a farmer of New Buda township, and they have two children, Leota and Lucille. John F., born October 13, 1887. is a farmer of New Buda township. He married Nellie Dunbar, by whom he has three children, Francis, Garland and Doyle. Joseph C., born September 24, 1889, is a farmer of New Buda township. He married
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Argyle Daniels and their children are Vera and Gerald. William Harold, born January 8, 1897, is at home. Ernest, born October 31, 1899, died September 9, 1901.
Mr. Hagen for several years voted the republican ticket but later supported the people's party and now votes independently, laying more stress upon the qualifications of the candidate than upon his party affiliation. He has taken quite an active part in local politics and served for nine years as trustee of New Buda township, for four years as township clerk, for twenty-three years as secretary of the township school board, which office he still holds, and for a number of years as school director in his home district. He was reared in the faith of the Catholic church but is not now a member of any church. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Yeomen of Davis City and has many friends both within and without those organizations. He devotes practically his entire time to farming and stock-raising and the gratifying success which he has won is well deserved. He is not only honest and upright in all of his dealings, but he also manifests a marked public spirit which leads him to support movements seeking the general welfare.
RAY A. HAMMER.
Ray A. Hammer, one of the leading young business men of La- moni, is a member of the firm of the Radius Rod Company, exclusive distributors for the H. & M. Ford specialties, in which they have built up a large trade. He was born in Lamoni on the 28th of March, 1888, a son of Louis F. Hammer, an early settler of this city. The father was born in Mount Pleasant, Hardin county, Iowa, February 21, 1855, a son of Charles Jacob F. Hammer, whose birth occurred in Rumpus Housen, Germany. In his youth he crossed the ocean to America and first settled in Virginia, whence he removed to Linn county, Iowa, where he remained for a short time, after which he took up his residence in Hardin county, Iowa, about 1851. He was a weaver and dyer by trade but after locating in Iowa gave his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits. He entered forty acres of land in this state and subsequently ·purchased a quarter section in Hardin county, where he resided until about two decades ago, when he removed to South Dakota, where he died in 1905 at the venerable age of ninety-two years. His father, who was at one time an officer in the Russian army, died at Lisbon, Linn county, Iowa, at the remark-
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able old age of ninety-eight years. Charles Jacob F. Hammer was a member of the Lutheran church, while his wife adhered to the Catholic church. Her maiden name was Mary Ann Hinkle and she was born in Holland but died in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, in 1863. To their union were born seven children, of whom the second in order of birth died in infancy, the others being: Joseph, who passed away about twenty years ago; Charles, of Seattle, Washington; John, residing in South Dakota; Louis F .; Cornelius, of Creston, Iowa; and Mrs. Rose Tilton, of Logan, North Dakota.
Louis F. Hammer received his education in Hardin county, this state, but in 1877, when twenty-two years of age, he removed to Worth county, Missouri, where he engaged in the mercantile business for about seven years and where his marriage occurred. Upon leav- ing that place he located in Lamoni, Decatur county, Iowa, and fol- lowed the painting and carpentering trades, which he had learned in Hardin county, Iowa, and in Missouri. He became well known as an excellent workman and was very active in his lines of work for many years but is now living practically retired. He has resided in Lamoni for over three decades, having arrived here shortly after the town was founded, and he has always been willing to cooperate in movements seeking the community advancement. His wife was in her maidenhood Miss Sylvia Wilkinson, who was born in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, in 1860. Her parents resided in Illinois for some time, whence they removed to Worth county, Missouri, where both passed away. Her father was a farmer by occupation and met with a large measure of success in his business. Her mother was a native of New York. To Mr. and Mrs. Louis F. Hammer were born five children: Forrest, a postal clerk of Des Moines; Ray A., of this review; Herbert W., who is associated in business with his brother, Ray A .; and Veta Venore and Wanda Wave, both attending the local high school. Mr. Hammer is a democrat and fraternally be- longs to the Modern Woodmen and Odd Fellows lodges at Lamoni. For a number of years he was extensively engaged in the poultry business at Lamoni in addition to his work as a carpenter and painter but has now disposed of his interests in that line.
Ray A. Hammer was reared in Lamoni and after completing his course in the public schools entered Graceland College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1908. He then entered the coal business and still owns a coal elevator, which is the only one in Lamoni and which is modernly equipped throughout. He is also associated with his brother, Herbert W. Hammer, under the name of the Ham- mer Remedy Company, in the manufacture of chicken medicines. The
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concern was organized in 1914 and has already gained a gratifying measure of success. The greater part of Mr. Hammer's time and energies, however, is given to the management of the business of the Radius Rod Company of Lamoni. His partner is J. C. Danielson and since 1914, in which year the company was organized, they have built up a business of extensive proportions. They are exclusive distributors for the H. & M. Ford specialties, which include the H. & M. radiator support, the H. & M. truss rod, the H. & M. fender and running board brace and the H. & M. extra radius rod. As these specialties are designed in accordance with known principles of me- chanics, are made of good materials and are reasonable in price there is every reason to believe that the volume of sales will steadily increase as they become more widely known.
Mr. Hammer married Miss Ruth Martin, a daughter of James H. Martin, of Bloomington township, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. They have one son, Max, who was born August 26, 1914 .. Mr. Hammer is a republican but has never had time to take an active part in politics, his business affairs demanding his undivided attention. He is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Lamoni and has many warm friends both within and without that organization. His wife holds membership in the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints. Mr. Hammer has mani- fested unusual initiative and aggressiveness and has gained signal success in the business world for one of his years. There has never been any question as to his integrity and probity and the fairness of his business dealings is a factor that makes for his continued pros- perity.
IRA P. YOUNG.
Ira P. Young owns and operates one hundred and sixty-nine acres of excellent land in Richland township and is successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was born upon that farm on the 28th of April, 1869, a son of Henry Harrison and Elizabeth (McConnell) Young. The father, whoe birth occurred in Indiana, came to Decatur county with his parents, who are mentioned elsewhere in this work. When he grew to mature years he turned his attention to farming and successfully cultivated three hundred and thirty-three acres of fine land, including the farm which our subject now owns. He passed away on the 1st of September, 1887. His political belief
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was that of the democratic party and his religious allegiance was given to the Baptist church. During the Civil war he served for three years in the Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. His wife, who was also born in Indiana, removed to this county as a child with her parents, James and Melinda McConnell, who for many years resided in Richland township, where both passed away. Mrs. Young is a member of the Baptist church. To Mr. and Mrs. Young were born eleven children, one of whom passed away when only five years of age, while a son, Joseph, died June 6, 1914, when forty-three years of age. He held title to a part of the homestead. Those who survive are: R. G., of Grand River; Ira P .; W. H., of Hurley, South Dakota; Tursa Ann, the wife of B. F. Foland; Judah Ellen, the wife of Robert Snyder, of Grand River; S. J., of Athol, South Dakota; Minnie, who married Fred M. Bone, of Grand River; Dell, who married Harvey Hukill, who resides in Jackson county, Missouri, not far from Kansas City; and Chloe, a bookkeeper in the Ford plant at Detroit, Michigan.
Ira P. Young was reared in Richland township and has passed his entire life here save for five years which he spent in Dakota, where he engaged in the stock business. He is recognized as one of the efficient and energetic agriculturists of this county and the one hun- dred and sixty-nine acres which he owns is a well improved and well kept up farm. He grows the usual crops and also raises considerable stock and derives a gratifying profit from both branches of his busi- ness. He still owns a quarter section of land near Perkins, South Dakota.
On the 29th of January, 1893, Mr. Young married Miss Cora Miles, who was born in this county on the 30th of November, 1874, a daughter of Elias and Naomi (Hukill) Miles, natives respectively of Indiana and of Ohio. Her father is living retired at Lakeport, California, but her mother died in 1895, when forty-eight years of age. To their union were born six children: Mrs. Ella May Tabler, of Fullerton, Nebraska; Mrs. Young; Hiram E., an electrician of Des Moines, Iowa; Luther F., who was formerly engaged in mining but now owns a grocery store in Arkansas; Mrs. Martha Ann Mann, of Wagoner, Oklahoma; and Mrs. Orpha Pool, of Lakeport, Cali- fornia. Mr. and Mrs. Young have become the parents of five chil- dren: Gerata, who died in infancy; Vera, who married Thomas Cun- ningham, a blacksmith of Decatur; and Bernard, Clark and Luella, at home.
Mr. Young is a democrat and is zealous in working for the success of his party. He served in a number of local offices while living in
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South Dakota and has always taken a keen interest in everything relating to the public welfare. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America at Grand River and his wife is identified with the Baptist church. Practically his entire life has been passed in this county and the fact that those who have known him intimately since boyhood hold him in high esteem proves beyond a doubt the upright- ness of his character.
ORA E. BLACK.
Ora E. Black, who has spent practically his entire life in Decatur county and is widely recognized as one of its prosperous agriculturists and esteemed citizens, owns an excellent farm of two hundred and eighty acres on sections 15 and 22, Burrell township. His birth occurred in Mercer county, Illinois, on the 12th of June, 1868, his parents being Richard M. and Iowa (Thorton) Black, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Rock Island county, Illinois. In the year 1853 Richard M. Black accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois, in which state he was reared to manhood and followed farming until 1869, when he came to Decatur county, Iowa. He purchased and improved a tract of land in Burrell township and devoted his attention to its cultivation throughout the remainder of his life, passing away August 19, 1910. The period of his residence in the community covered more than four decades and he won an extensive circle of warm friends, so that his demise was the occasion of deep and widespread regret. His wife was called to her final rest April 12, 1902.
Ora E. Black, brought to this county when still in his first year, was here reared and educated and remained under the parental roof until almost twenty-four years of age, when he was married and established a home of his own. He bought an eighty-acre tract of land on section 15, Burrell township, and set to work to improve his property, subsequently extending its boundaries by additional pur- chase until it now embraces two hundred and eighty acres, two hun- dred acres thereof lying on section 22. In connection with the pro- duction of cereals he also devotes considerable attention to live-stock interests, feeding a carload of cattle and one of hogs annually. Both branches of his business yield him a gratifying income and he has long been numbered among the substantial and representative citizens of the community.
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On the 6th of March, 1892, Mr. Black was united in marriage to Miss Libby Venn, a daughter of Benjamin F. and Eliza (Raich) Venn, both of whom were natives of New York. The father, an agri- culturist by occupation, operated a farm in the Empire state until 1876, when he came to Decatur county, Iowa, here cultivating rented land for five years. On the expiration of that period he purchased property in Bloomington township and successfully operated the same until January, 1901, when he sold the place and removed to Nashville, Oklahoma, where he is now conducting a livery business. His wife passed away in February, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Black have a daugh- ter, Gladys A., who is nineteen years of age and is the wife of A. J. Elliott, who cultivates a part of her father's farm.
Mr. Black gives his political allegiance to the democracy and has served as township clerk for six years, making a most creditable record in that connection. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church. He enjoys a wide acquaintance in this county and has won uniform respect and goodwill by reason of a life which in all of its phases has been straightforward and honorable.
GEORGE R. FARQUHAR.
George R. Farquhar, who is proving an able and progressive mayor of Leon, Decatur county, has been for many years actively engaged in business in that county and has met with a fair measure of success. He was born on the 16th of February, 1862, at Garden Grove, Decatur county, of the marriage of Samuel and Mary (Mar- shall) Farquhar. The father, a native of Ireland, came to the United States when eighteen years of age and located in New York state. there apprenticing himself to the tinner's trade. After mastering it he went to Columbus, Ohio, and worked there for two or three years, later removing to Garden Grove, Decatur county, Iowa, where he followed his trade for about four years, after which he located in Leon and was one of the first tinners in that city. He engaged in business on his own account and later added a fine line of hardware and sheet metal, becoming one of the most successful business men of the city. In 1887 he retired from active life and passed his remaining days in leisure and rest from toil. He was a member of the Leon town council and in that capacity voted for measures that he deemed would prove of benefit to the community. Fraternally he was a blue lodge and Royal Arch Mason. His demise occurred on the 4th of November,
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1909, and there were many who felt that in his death they had sus- tained a personal loss. To him and his wife were born two children, Horace and George R.
The latter was educated in the common schools of Leon and in the high school, which he attended for some time. Upon putting aside his textbooks he became an apprentice to the tinner's trade and on completing his term continued in the employ of his father until 1887, when he and his brother, Horace, took over the business upon the retirement of their father. The firm name then became Farquhar Brothers, hardware, etc., and the concern gained an extensive patron- age as it was known that a stock of goods of high quality was always on display and that the work done was thorough and reliable. As the years passed our subject's capital increased and in 1908 he retired from business life although he still retains an interest in the firm. In the spring of 1914 he was elected mayor on a non-partisan ticket and is now serving in that capacity, giving the same careful attention to the management of the affairs of the municipality that he gave to the direction of his business interests. His administration has been efficient and has advanced the interests of the community along sev- eral important lines of civic development.
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