USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 16
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Mr. Allen has been twice married. He wedded first Miss Vastia Delmater, a native of New York, who passed away in 1889, leaving a daughter, Frances J., who married George P. Artley, a farmer residing east of Hampton. On the 9th of April, 1901, Mr. Allen married Miss Mary Crawford, a native of Delaware county, Ohio.
Mr. Allen is a member of the Methodist church and is con- nected fraternally with the Grand Army of the Republic. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has served with credit and ability in various positions of trust and responsibility. In all relations of life he has maintained a high standard of honor and integrity and has won the respect and confidence of those who have come in contact with him.
EDWARD G. HELVIG.
Edward G. Helvig, who during the entire period of his active life has been influentially associated with farming and stock-raising interests of Franklin county, is a representative of a family which has been well known in this locality since 1868. He was born in Grant township, February 26, 1876, and is a son of George and Caroline (Liese) Helvig, natives of Pennsylvania. They came to Iowa in 1868 and settled in Geneva township, Franklin county, and removed to section 21, Grant township, in 1875, where the father engaged in Vol. IT-11
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farming until his death, which occurred June 8, 1905. His wife survives him and makes her home in lowa Falls, Iowa. Twelve children were born to their union: William, deceased; Henry, a resident of Hampton; Annie, the wife of John Mohler, of Grant township; John, who has passed away; Emma, who married Fred Heines, of Geneva township; Edward, of Grant township; Sophie, the wife of Jake England, of Grant township; Susie, who married Gottlieb Kracht, of Emmetsburg, lowa; Louisa, the wife of L. Meyer, of Lee township; Christina, who married A. Meyer, of Grant town- ship; Carrie, who has passed away; and Esther, the wife of F. Mus- sigmann, of Grant township.
Edward G. Helvig was reared at home and acquired his educa- tion in the district schools of Grant township. He became familiar at an early age with the best and most practical agricultural methods and when he began his independent career naturally turned his attention to farming. After his father's death he bought one hun- dred and fourteen acres of the old homestead and in 1913 sold this and bought two hundred acres on section 21, Lee township, where he now resides. This property he has since continued to cultivate and from the beginning has met with excellent success, standing today in the front ranks of progressive and representative agricul- turists.
On the 25th of June, 1902, Mr. Helvig was united in marriage to Miss Bena Shaw, a native of Illinois, and to this union have been born three children: Harley William, born April 6, 1903; Arthur Bernard, born October 8, 1904; and Dorothy Minnie, born March 13, 1910. Mr. Helvig is a member of the Lutheran church and gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He has held various township offices and has proven capable and reliable in positions of responsibility. He is widely and favorably known in Franklin county and his record is a credit to a name that has long been an honored one in his community.
D. W. SHROYER.
D. W. Shroyer, carrying on general farming and stock-raising upon a quarter section of land on section 16, Reeve township, was born in Franklin county, December 28, 1858, a son of Lewis and Johannah F. (Jones) Shroyer, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. Shroyer of this review was reared in
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Franklin county and acquired his education in the district schools. When he was about thirty years of age he moved to South Dakota and took up a homestead there. In 1888 he bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Wright county, operating this for four years. When he sold it he returned to Franklin county and pur- chased a quarter of section 16, Reeve township, upon which he has since resided. He has made excellent improvements upon it, erect- ing new buildings and installing modern equipment and has made it a productive and valuable farm.
In 1885 Mr. Shroyer married Miss Melinda Bullis, who has passed away. They became the parents of a daughter, Lulu May, who died at the age of eleven. Mr. Shroyer afterward married Miss Kathryn Blake, a native of Franklin county, and to this union have been born four children: Lewis Blake, whose natal day was August 31, 1901; Grace Joan, who was born February 5, 1903; Raymond Allison, born December 30, 1904; and Willard Martin, born July 5, 1906. Mr. Shroyer attends the Methodist church and gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He is one of the most progressive and active farmers of Reeve township-a man whom Franklin county is proud to number among her native sons.
FRANK H. DIRST.
Frank H. Dirst, who since 1892 has been connected with farm- ing interests of Franklin county, owning two hundred and eight acres of excellent land on section 34, Reeve township, was born in Grundy county, Illinois, October 19, 1873. He is a son of Howard and Susan (Crawford) Dirst, natives of Ohio, who came to Frank- lin county in 1892. The father died August 28, 1893, and his wife survived him until November, 1910. In the family were two children: Clifford, deceased; and Frank H., of this review.
Frank H. Dirst was reared in Grundy county, Illinois, and acquired his education in the public schools. He came to Franklin county with his parents in March, 1892, and immediately began operating the farm which his father had previously purchased. He now owns this property, which comprises two hundred and eight acres on section 34, Reeve township. He engages in general farm- ing and also feeds sheep on an extensive scale, his animals command- ing high prices on the local market.
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On the 2d of December, 1896, Mr. Dirst was united in marriage to Miss Ella J. Marble, a native of Franklin county, and they have become the parents of four children: Harold, Maude, Howard and Charles. Mr. Dirst is a member of the Baptist church, is con- nected fraternally with the Knights of Pythias and gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He is a man who, through indus- try and enterprise, has acquired an excellent reputation in the com- munity, standing in the front ranks of progressive and representative agriculturists.
OLIN W. THOMAS.
Olin W. Thomas, a representative of a well known family of Franklin county and one of the progressive and successful agricul- turists of Hamilton township, is a native son of this locality, born December 13, 1871. His father, Theodore Thomas, was born in Ogle county, Illinois, October 2, 1844, and when he was seventeen years of age enlisted at Byron, Illinois, in Company B, Ninety- second Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He served for three years, tak- ing part in Sherman's march to the sea, and was mustered out at Concord, North Carolina, receiving his honorable discharge at Chicago, Illinois. In the spring of 1868 he moved to Iowa and located near Faulkner, where he remained until 1876. He then moved to Franklin county and settled on a farm on sections 23 and 26, Reeve township, whereon he has since resided. He owns two hun- dred and seven acres of valuable land and is regarded as one of the most successful farmers and stock-raisers of this locality. He and his wife, who was in her maidenhood Miss Elizabeth Wagner, a native of Ogle county, Illinois, became the parents of seven chil- dren : Winnie, who died in infancy; Olin W., of this review; Elias W., of Craig, Colorado; Edna Elizabeth, the wife of R. E. Towle, of Hampton ; Theodore L. and Frank A., who reside in Geneva; and Henry R., of Hampton.
Olin W. Thomas was reared upon the home farm and acquired his education in the district schools of Franklin county. From an early age he assisted in the operation of the homestead and thus became familiar with the best and most practical agricultural methods. At the age of twenty-three he rented eighty-five acres and after one year rented another tract of one hundred and forty acres. This farm he operated for six years and then moved to
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Osceola township, where he continued active in agricultural pur- suits for eight years. In 1909 he bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 13, Hamilton township, and upon this property has since resided. He has greatly improved the farm, providing it with sub- stantial buildings and modern equipment, and upon the property engages in general farming and 'stock-raising, both branches of his activities being extensive and important.
On the 21st of March, 1894, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage to Miss May L. Jones, a native of Grundy county and a daughter of John Jones. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have four children: Wava E., born March 16, 1895; Floyd A., who was born June 9, 1898, and who died December 2, 1900; Mildred E., whose birth occurred September 24, 1902; and Myrna M., born March 26, 1906. Mr. Thomas is a member of the Christian church, and his political alle- giance is given to the republican party. He is one of the most pro- gressive and successful of Franklin county's native sons, and his influence has been a tangible force for good in the community.
ASBURY THEODORE HAMILTON.
Asbury Theodore Hamilton, a representative of a well known pioneer family of Franklin county and today one of the progressive and successful farmers and stock-raisers of Hamilton township, was born January 1, 1874. He is a son of Andrew and Jane (Stockdale) Hamilton, natives of Ireland and pioneers in Hamilton township, this county, the name having been given to the township in their honor. They located on section 25 in 1856 and the father afterward engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years. He died in Iowa Falls, Iowa, at the age of eighty-four and is survived by his wife. To their union were born eleven children: Charles, Robert, Wil- liam and Frank, residents of Iowa Falls; Jess, of Kenawa, Iowa; Arthur, deceased; A. T., of this review; Lilly M., of Iowa Falls; Maggie, who has passed away; a daughter, who died in infancy, and John C., of Iowa Falls.
A. T. Hamilton acquired his education in the district schools of Franklin county and later attended Ellsworth College at Iowa Falls for three years. Following this he took charge of the home- stead in Hamilton township, carrying on general farming and stock- raising upon its two hundred and twenty acres until 1903. He then bought one hundred and eighty-six acres in Reeve township and
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has operated this farm since that time in conjunction with the Hamil- ton homestead in Hamilton township and one hundred acres on sec- tion 36, Hamilton township, which he owns. In 1913 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Grant township, upon which he has a renter. He is an extensive stock breeder and dealer, shipping many carloads of cattle annually. He is especially interested in breeding thoroughbred registered Durham cattle. His interests are intelligently managed and have brought him a gratifying degree of prosperity.
On the 16th of January, 1904, Mr. Hamilton was united in mar- riage to Miss Grace L. Bird, a native of Franklin county and a daughter of Robert and Jane (Oxford) Bird, natives of Ohio and Indiana respectively. Mr. Bird was a pioneer farmer of Franklin county and now resides retired in Marshalltown, lowa. Mrs. Bird died in 1899. MIr. and Mrs. Hamilton are the parents of four chil- dren: Helen T., Lillian L., Howard A. and Elizabeth J. MIr. Hamilton is a member of the Methodist church, while Mrs. Hamil- ton is a member of the Christian church. He is connected fraternally with the Modern Woodmen of America. He was formerly a direc- tor in the Bradford Savings Bank and is a stanch republican in his political views. In matters of citizenship he is progressive and pub- lic-spirited and in business capable and farsighted, and his record is a credit to a name that has long been held in high honor and esteem in Franklin county.
J. C. POWERS, M. D.
In the history of the medical profession mention should be made of J. C. Powers, an able physician of broad learning, who is seldom, if ever, at fault in the diagnosis of a case and who discharges his professional duties with a sense of conscientious obligation. He was born in Butler county, this state, November 24, 1868, a son of Mil- ton I., and Ella E. (Manley) Powers, the former a native of New York and the latter of Pennsylvania. They came to Iowa in the year 1867 and the father, who was a physician, engaged in active practice in Butler county for thirty-five years. He was a graduate of the Mass- achusetts University at Boston of the class of 1861 and was a learned, capable man, ever faithful in the performance of his professional services. Both he and his wife passed away in Hampton, the former in December, 1902, and the latter in July, 1907. In their family were
DR. J. C. POWERS
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two sons and a daughter: J. C., of this review; Milton I., who is vice president and cashier of the Citizens Bank of Flagstaff, Arizona; and Jennie, the wife of Dr. H. C. Hunter, of Meford, Utah.
Liberal educational opportunities were given Dr. J. C. Powers, who was a student in the Iowa State University at Iowa City and is a graduate of Rush Medical College of Chicago, being numbered among its alumni of 1897. Whether inherited tendency or natural predilection had most to do with his choice of a profession it is impos- sible to determine, but it is evident that the choice was made wisely and well. He opened an office in Hampton, where he has remained for sixteen years and throughout this period he has given practical demonstration of his ability to cope with the intricate problems which continually confront the physician in his efforts to alleviate sickness and suffering and restore health. He is one of the directors and the vice president of the Franklin County Bank and is president of the Purcell Printing Company and the Hampton Mercantile Company. Thus he is an active factor in commercial and industrial as well as professional circles, and it is a recognized fact that his judgment is sound, his discrimination keen and his enterprise unfaltering.
Dr. Powers has been married twice. He first wedded Alice R. Seymour, who died leaving one child, Ella Marie. The Doctor has adopted a boy named Allen Linn. Dr. Powers was married Novem- ber 21, 1901, to Emma Haas, formerly superintendent of the Min- neapolis City Hospital. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, in which order he has attained high rank, being now a member of the Mystic Shrine. He also has membership with the Knights of Pythias and with the Modern Woodmen of America. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church. He has a wide acquaint- ance in this part of the state, and his circle of friends is almost coextensive therewith. He conforms his practice closely to a high standard of professional ethics and enjoys the confidence and good- will of his professional brethren.
WILLIAM J. SHROYER.
In taking up the personal history of William J. Shroyer we pre- sent to our readers the life record of one of the oldest pioneer settlers in Franklin county. Almost six decades have passed since he arrived here, finding a sparsely settled region that gave little indication of the changes which were to occur and make this one of the populous
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and prosperous sections of the state. For an extended period he was identified with its agricultural interests and land which he pur- chased at a nominal figure is today worth two hundred dollars per acre.
Mr. Shroyer was born February 19, 1834, in Monongalia county, West Virginia, a son of Melker Baker and Rebecca (Jones) Shroyer. The father was born October 25, 1807, and died in 1877, while the mother, a native of Virginia, born November 1, 1812, passed away in 1848. The former was a son of Louis Shroyer, a gunsmith of Maryland, who was of Dutch lineage. The father, who was a gun- smith and blacksmith, went to West Virginia and from there to Delaware county, Indiana, where he continued throughout the remainder of his life, conducting a gunsmith and black- smith shop, although he lived upon a farm, which was culti- vated by his sons. There were eight children in his family. Louis, who was born December 26, 1832, was a farmer of Franklin county, Iowa, but died in 1907. William J. is the second of the family. Sarah, born August 20, 1836, became the wife of Joseph Dean and after his death married Mordecai Dodge, who died while serving as a soldier of the Civil war, while her death occurred in 1905. Nathan, who was born October 25, 1838, and followed farming in Delaware county, Indiana, died in 1909. Elizabeth, who was born July 20, 1841, became the wife of Joseph Meeks, a farmer and stockman of Indiana, and died in 1910. Jacob, who was born September 10, 1843, was killed at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain when but sixteen years of age. John A., born December 21, 1845, was a farmer of Indiana and died in 1908. Eliza J., born July 10, 1848, passed away in March, 1910.
William J. Shroyer was but four years of age when his parents went to Indiana from West Virginia. He spent his youth on a farm in that state and had but limited educational opportunities, for his labors were needed upon the old homestead. He continued to assist his father until he attained his majority save for a short time when he worked as fireman at a steam mill. When he had reached man- hood he and his eldest brother, Louis, started for Iowa, whither an uncle, Henry Shroyer, had preceded them. They traveled on the railroad to Galena, Illinois, and by stage to Dubuque, Iowa, and thence walked to their destination. They had none of the com- forts of modern travel, but the hardships of the trip did not deter them, as they were ambitious and eager to try life in this state, where they hoped success awaited them. William J. Shroyer arrived in Blackhawk county May 13, 1855, and remained there for two months, after which he joined his brother in Franklin county, where both
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entered the employ of their uncle, Henry Shroyer, where they helped build a mill for him near Maysville. There they continued until the marriage of William J. Shroyer. In the meantime they had arranged to buy the mill, but as their wage was but seventy-five cents per day each this hardly gave them sufficient capital to make the purchase and they accordingly resorted to other means. They built two houses for their uncle, who was then county judge, and through him they secured a contract for building a bridge. Through that work they made an exchange so as to secure the mill about the time of William J. Shroyer's marriage. Afterward he sold the mill and his share was invested in eighty acres of land, which he pur- chased at seven dollars and a quarter per acre. In after years he added to his holdings until he had one hundred and thirty acres and such has been the increase in land values that his property is worth two hundred dollars per acre. His farm is situated on sec- tion 9, Reeve township, and is now occupied and managed by his son, Wooster W. Mr. Shroyer carried on general farming and stock-raising with marked success until the time of his retirement in 1903, when he took up his abode in Hampton, where he is now enjoying the fruits of his former toil.
On the 21st of October, 1858, was celebrated the marriage of William J. Shroyer and Miss Maria Rucker, who was born Febru- ary 15, 1839, and removed from Ohio to Indiana and later came to Franklin county, Iowa, with her parents, James and Mary (Baker) Rucker, who were farming people of Franklin county. Mr. and Mrs. Shroyer traveled life's journey together for more than a half century and were then separated by the death of the wife on the 4th of January, 1910. They were the parents of five children: Everett L., who was born December 22, 1860, and died May 10, 1887; Ella, who was born January 8, 1863, and is now the wife of V. J. Kratz ; Cora, who was born February 2, 1866, and for some years was a successful teacher of the county but is now acting as housekeeper for her father; Minnie M., who was born July 2, 1871, and is the wife of B. Appleby, a farmer of Geneva township; and Wooster W., who was born July 16, 1874, and is now carrying on the home farm. There are also seven grandchildren.
Mr. Shroyer is an earnest and faithful member of the Methodist church and also belongs to the Methodist Brotherhood, a social organization of the church. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, but he is not an office seeker, preferring always that others should hold office. He, however, has been town trustee and is a member of the school board. He is a splendidly preserved
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man of eighty years, possessing the physical and intellectual vigor of a man in his prime. His memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present in his county. He still has in his possession a rocking chair which bears the date 1858, the year in which he was married. He also has a tax receipt which indicates that on the 29th of May, 1858, he paid the county treasurer eight cents, which was the tax upon a town lot in Maysville. Another interesting old paper in his possession is an invitation, dated Febru- ary 2, 1858, for "himself and lady to a cotillion party at the Hamp- ton House." Mr. Shroyer is one of but three survivors who voted at the first election held in Franklin county on the 5th of August, 1855. He possesses a remarkable memory and relates many interesting inci- dents and events of the early days as well as of later years, indicating the trend of growth, development and progress in this county. He has lived to see remarkable changes, for at the time of his arrival there was every evidence of frontier life, with little to indicate what the future had in store for this great and growing western country. He has ever borne his share in the work of development and progress and has long been regarded as one of the substantial and valued citi- zens of the community.
REUBEN ATKINSON.
Reuben Atkinson, who has been a resident of Franklin county for more than three decades, was for a number of years actively and successfully identified with agricultural pursuits in Clinton town- ship and is now living retired at Sheffield. His birth occurred in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, on the 27th of June, 1853, his parents being David and Jane (Raisbeck) Atkinson, natives of England. David Atkinson was a farmer of Jo Daviess county, Illinois, and there both he and his wife passed away.
Reuben Atkinson spent his boyhood on a farm and attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education. In the spring of 1882, when a young man of twenty-nine years, he came to Frank- lin county, Iowa, and purchased a slightly improved tract of land comprising eighty acres. There he carried on agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his active business career and as his financial resources increased, owing to his untiring industry and cap- able management, extended the boundaries of his farm by additional purchase until he now owns three hundred and twenty acres of valu-
MR. AND MRS. REUBEN ATKINSON
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able land in Ross and Clinton townships. Six years ago, however, he put aside the active work of the fields and removed to Sheffield, where he is now living in honorable retirement, leaving the opera- tion of his farm to his sons. He likewise owns forty-two acres of timber land in Richland township and is widely recognized as one of the substantial, respected and representative citizens of his adopted county.
In Illinois Mr. Atkinson wedded Miss Henrietta James, a native of Jo Daviess county, by whom he had six children, as follows: David, who resides on his father's farm in Ross township and who married Miss Minnie Ingebretson, a daughter of Albert and Johanna Ingebretson, the former a large landowner of Franklin county and also engaged in the live stock business; Herbert H., who married Miss Julia Whitney and also lives on his father's farm; Henry R., who is engaged in business at Fayette, Iowa; Emeline, a student in the Upper Iowa University at Fayette; John, who died at the age of eighteen years; and one, who passed away in infancy.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Atkin- son has cast his ballot in support of the men and measures of the republican party. Both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which he is especially active. For twenty-two years he has served as superintendent of the Sunday school, class leader and also as a member of the official board. Fra- ternally he is identified with the Modern Brotherhood of America. Both Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson are held in high esteem in Sheffield, where they have an extensive circle of warm friends, while the hos- pitality of the best homes is freely accorded them.
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