USA > Iowa > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 34
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Alexander Hamilton Everman was reared in his parents' home and received his early education in the public schools of the district in which he lived. In 1887 he removed to Champaign county, Illinois, and there engaged in farming. In 1901 he moved with his family to Williams township, this county, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and forty-seven acres on section 20 and has since continued to be successfully engaged in the cultivation of that land. His farm is one of the best equipped and most highly developed places of the township, and the residence in which the family lives is artistically furnished and contains a well selected library for the use and literary culture of the family.
Mr. Everman was united in marriage in Champaign county, Illi- nois, January 27, 1892, to Miss Alma E. Swartz, who was born in Putnam county, Indiana, February 22, 1862, and is a daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Lane) Swartz, the former a native of In- diana, and the latter of Kentucky. The father resides at Olney, Illi- nois, and is now living retired at the age of seventy-eight years. The mother died at Olney, September 23, 1899, at the age of seventy-four years. They were the parents of six children, as follows: Sylvester A., who was born on the 3d of September, 1858, and is a resident of Illinois ; Laura E., whose birth occurred on the 3d of September, 1860, and who resides in Carbondale, Illinois; Mrs. Alma E. Everman; William C., whose natal day was June 10, 1863, and who makes his home in Danville, Illinois; a son who was born in Illinois and died in infancy; and John Melvin, who was born in Champaign county, Illi- nois, on the 3Ist of July, 1869, and died at the age of fifteen months. The first four named are natives of Putnam county, Indiana.
To Mr. and Mrs. Everman four children have been born, namely; Frank M., born on the 30th of March. 1894: Joseph Oscar, February 5, 1897; Mary E., on the 22d of September, 1898: and Charles A., September 2, 1900. All are natives of Champaign county, Illinois.
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They attend the public schools of Williams and assist their parents in the work of the home farm.
Mr. Everman belongs to the republican party and has his frater- nal relation with Alamo Lodge, No. 576, F. & A. M., of Williams. His early religious training he received in the Methodist church and his wife was reared in the faith of the Disciples of Christ. Mr. Ever- man is one of the esteemed citizens of his township, and is a man always to be found on the progressive side of every public enterprise, seeking to improve the moral and intellectual advancement of the com- munity in which he lives, and he is entitled to be numbered among the desirable and influential citizens of his county and state.
ISAAC W. AND WILLIAM J. MONROE.
The name of Monroe is so well known in agricultural circles of Boone township that the subjects of this review need no introduction to our readers. The name has stood for intelligent labor in the clear- ing, development and cultivation of the soil in a former generation and today is a synonym for all that is progressive and up-to-date in scientific farming. Its representatives in Boone township are Wil- liam J. and Isaac W. Monroe, who are now associated in the develop- ment of two hundred acres of the most productive and fertile soil in the locality. Their holdings constitute the original farm of their father with one hundred and twenty additional acres which they ac- quired by purchase.
The Monroe family was founded in Iowa by Barnett Monroe, who came to Hamilton county in 1880. He was a native of New York state and was successful as a farmer in that section of the country for many years. He was influenced in his removal to Iowa by his brother- in-law, Tolman Wiltsey, who was an enthusiast in Iowa lands and wrote to Barnett Monroe graphic descriptions of the many opportu- nities which the country offered in agricultural development. The latter came to Hamilton county in 1880 accompanied by his wife. Mary E. (Wiltsey) Monroe, and his five children, Isaac W., Eliza N., John B., William J. and Sallie M. Here he purchased eighty acres on what is now section 13, Boone township, and farmed actively and successfully until 1890, when his health failed and he was obliged to give up his farm work. His sons, Isaac W. and William J., then operated the farm until the father's death February 26, 1901. His
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wife had long since passed away, her death having occurred Septem- ber 3, 1896. When Barnett Monroe bought his eighty acres very lit- tle of the land was even broken and the buildings thereon were of the poorest and most inconvenient kind, but he soon had his property under cultivation. Early in life Isaac W. and William J. assisted in the farm work. They aided in the construction of the buildings upon the property and became acquainted with all the practical details con- nected with the tilling of the soil and the care of stock and grain. When the father died in 1901 the farm reverted to these two sons, who have added to their holdings by the purchase of one hundred and twenty acres in Freedom township, and their property now aggre- gates two hundred acres of the finest farm land in Iowa under care- ful cultivation.
Isaac W. Monroe was united in marriage, July 8, 1890, to Miss Ida L. Harris, a daughter of Major Charles H. and Helen M. (John- son) Harris, of Webster City. Her parents settled in Hamilton county in 1882 and her father is one of the patriotic and loyal citi- zens belonging to the fast diminishing ranks of the Grand Army of the Republic. He enlisted at the first call for troops in 1861, as a member of an Ohio regiment. His first term of service ended in three months, but he immediately reenlisted and served for three years. His military record is distinguished, and his advancement in the Fed- eral army was rapid. He was changed to the Eleventh Kentucky Cav- alry a short time after his reenlistment and when mustered out and honorably discharged held the rank of major. His father was a vet- eran of the Mexican war and his grandfather was prominent in the American service of the Revolution and the War of 1812. Major Harris is still living in Webster City at the age of seventy-eight years and is well known and highly esteemed.
William J. Monroe is also married. On March 4, 1898, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Eckstein, a daughter of John and Clarinda (Omstead) Eckstein, of Hamilton county. Mr. Eck- stein has been an architect in this district since his arrival in Iowa in 1854. He was prominent in his profession and superintended the construction of the present courthouse of Webster City. His public spirit is evidenced by the fact that he gave his services in this capac- ity to the municipality without charge and he further contributed eighty. acres of swamp land toward defraying the expense of con- struction. He died in 1892 at the age of sixty-eight years, and was survived by his wife until 1905, when her death occurred in the fifty- seventh year of her age. To William J. Monroe and wife have been
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born six children: Arnold B., whose birth occurred May 22, 1899; John Harley, born September 4, 1901; Helen S., born on the 28th of February, 1905; Mary E., born May 28, 1907; and Myrtle and Wil- liam Isaac, twins, who were born November 15, 1910, and have passed away, the former dying July 24, 1911, and the latter August 3, 19II.
The careers of William J. and Isaac W. Monroe have been in- separably connected almost since their birth. They spent their boy- hood together, were educated in the same country school and aided their father in the cultivation of the soil. They are now associated in harmonious relations in extensive farming operations, the conduct of which is never hampered by strife or dissension. Both are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church and are prominent members of the Odd Fellows lodge at Webster City, in which they have filled all of the offices. William is a charter member of that lodge and is now serving on the finance committee of the grand lodge of Iowa. They are members of the encampment and belong to the uniformed rank, and Isaac was a representative to the encampment at Dubuque in 1905, while William was a representative to the grand lodge in 1909 and 1910. They witnessed the raising of the flag over the Odd Fel- lows Orphan Home at Mason City, Iowa, William being lieutenant colonel of the canton at that time-1902. They and their familiars are also members of the Rebekah lodge at Webster City. They are charter members of the Yeomen lodge at the same place, being in- strumental in its establishment, and both have held office in the same. The wife of William Monroe is also a member of the Yeomen, while' he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America at Webster City. The brothers are both republicans in politics and William has taken a very active and prominent part in local affairs, being com- mitteeman of the third ward for some years and also representing that ward in the city council for two years.
ERNEST D. BUSING.
Ernest D. Busing engages in general farming and stock-raising in Independence township, where he owns two hundred and forty acres of land, one hundred and sixty of which comprises the old fam- ily homestead, on which his birth occurred on the 16th of December, 1871. He is the third in order of birth of the five children, now liv-
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ing, who were born to Harm and Anna (Weppel) Busing. The par- ents were born, reared and married in Germany, whence they emi- grated to the United States about 1864, locating in Illinois, where they resided for seven years. In 1871, they came to Hamilton county, the father purchasing a quarter of section 16, Independence town- ship, in the cultivation and improvement of which he engaged during the remainder of his life. There he passed away on October 15, 1910, at the age of seventy-three years, but the mother, who has passed the seventy-second anniversary of her birth, is still living and makes her home in Kamrar, this township.
Agricultural pursuits have always engaged the attention of Ern- est D. Busing, who began assisting his father with the tilling of the fields and care of the crops in his early boyhood. His services were given to his parents until he attained his majority, after which his father hired him for two years at the usual wages paid for farm labor. At the expiration of that time he began farming for him- self as a renter, continuing to lease land six years. During that period he acquired the necessary capital to buy eighty acres of sec- tion 17, on which he located in 1900, and has ever since made this his home. After the death of his father he bought the interest of the other heirs in the old homestead and is now engaged in the operation of both places. His land is fenced, one hundred and sixty acres of it hog tight, and his fields are tiled and under high cultiva- tion, and annually yield abundant harvests. In connection with gen- eral farming, Mr. Busing raises shorthorn cattle, Shire horses and Duroc Jersey hogs, and is meeting with a good measure of success in his undertakings. All of the improvements on the old home place were made during the lifetime of his father, but Mr. Busing has enhanced the value of his own farm by the erection of new buildings and the addition of various conveniences.
In 1898 in this county was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Busing and Miss Margaret Gerber, a daughter of Charles and Mary (Hermann) Gerber, natives, respectively, of Germany and Illinois. They were married in the latter state and in 1878 removed to Iowa, locating on a farm in Hamilton county, in the cultivation of which the father engaged until his retirement. He is now sixty-one years of age and the mother fifty-four and they make their home in Webster City.
Fraternally Mr. Busing is a member of Elmo Lodge, No. 62, I. O. O. F., of Webster City, and he is also affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. He votes the democratic ticket and has been
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a member of the school board for the past six years while he served for one term as assessor. Mr. Busing is enterprising in his methods, practical in his ideas and persevering in his purpose, and in the de- velopment of his interests is meeting with the success he justly merits.
FRED A. WILDER.
Fred A. Wilder is successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising on section 28, Cass township, where he owns ninety-two acres of land known as "Wild Rose Farm." He was born in Webster City on the 10th of September, 1873, and is a son of Edward C. and Jessie M. (Dyer) Wilder, the father a native of the state of New York and the mother of Pennsylvania. They came to Iowa in early life and were married in Webster City, where the father passed away in 1881, at the age of thirty-six years. Ed- ward C. Wilder was residing in Illinois at the opening of the Civil war and in 1861 enlisted in Company A, Seventh Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, for eighteen months. At the expiration of his period of service he reenlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, remaining at the front until the close of hostilities. He participated in many of the notable battles, and was with Sherman when he made his famous march. He was buried in Graceland cemetery at Webster City with full military honors, the obsequies being conducted by the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was a loyal member. The mother, who is now fifty-eight years of age, is making her home in Colton, California.
Fred A. Wilder, who was the second child born to his parents, was educated in the public schools of Webster City, terminating his student days upon his graduation from the high school, at the age of fifteen years. He subsequently learned telegraphy and was employed as telegraph operator and station agent by the Chicago & Northwest- ern Railroad Company at various points on their line for twelve years. At the expiration of that time he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and settled on "Wild Rose Farm," which he had inherited. In 1908 Mr. Wilder had the misfortune to have his residence and all the contents destroyed by fire, after which he erected his present house at a cost of twenty-eight hundred dollars. He is a very practical man and uses good judgment and systematic methods in developing his undertakings. His land is tiled, and fenced with barbed wire, a large
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portion of it hog tight, and seventy acres is under high cultivation. He keeps in close touch with the methods of the modern agricultur- ist and is meeting with success in his work. In connection with the cultivation of his fields he is raising stock, and is preparing to make a specialty of thoroughbred Holstein cattle. He is also raising White Rock chickens.
On the 3d of April, 1894, Mr. Wilder was married to Miss Hattie E. Peacock, a daughter of William and Ellen (Meeks) Peacock. The parents were natives of Iowa, the grandparents on both sides having been among the early pioneers of the state. Mrs. Wilder is the third in order of birth in a family of seven and was born on the 7th of July, 1879. Her mother died when she was a child of about four years and was buried in Graceland cemetery. The father, however, who died in 1908, was buried at Le Mars, Iowa, where he was re- siding at the time of his demise. Mr. and Mrs. Wilder have had six children, as follows: Sylvia and Raymond, who are attending high school: Ellen: Frieda; Justinia, who died at the age of eighteen months ; and Grace.
The family attend the Christian church, in which the parents hold membership, and fraternally Mr. Wilder is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a republican in his political views and has served as school director for five years. He is one of the enterprising and progressive citizens of the community and is di- recting his business with the intelligence and foresight that invariably bring success, and is numbered among the township's representative agriculturists.
HERMAN FRANK BRIGGS.
Herman Frank Briggs is owner of one hundred and seventeen acres of land located on section 17 of Boone and 18 of Independence townships, where he engages in general farming. He is a native of Hamilton county, his birth having occurred on the 14th of April, 1862, and a son of Ulysses and Ellen (Brown) Briggs. The father, who was born in Derbyshire, England. was apprenticed to the pot- ter's trade when a child of eight years. His services covered a period of eight years, during the first half of which he received twelve and a half cents a day, this amount subsequently being increased to twenty- four cents. Later he found employment in the mines, where he Vol. II-23
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worked until 1845. In December of that year he and his wife emi- grated to the United States, locating in the vicinity of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, which continued to be their place of residence for eight years. They continued their journey westward to Iowa in 1853, lo- cating on a farm in Jackson county which the father cultivated for a year. He next removed to Dubuque county, where he spent twelve months working in a gristmill, coming from there to Hamilton county in 1856 and settling on a farm in Cass township. Later he came to Independence township and purchased the farm now owned by our subject, where he and the mother passed the remainder of their lives. The entire tract was uncultivated when Mr. Briggs acquired it and a large portion of it was covered with timber. His entire holdings at the time of his death, which occurred on the 26th of August, 1890, comprised two hundred acres, eighty-five of which his son, Charles L. inherited. The land was all cleared and under cultivation and had been improved by the erection of substantial buildings, fences and the addition of various conveniences. The father was sixty-nine when he passed away, but the mother had attained the venerable age of eighty years at the time of her death on December 3, 1898. They are buried in the family lot in Graceland cemetery. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Briggs numbered eight, three of whom are deceased. Thirza, the eldest, was married on the 13th of November, 1898, to the Hon. Charles Aldrich, who passed away on the 8th of March, 1908, and is buried in Graceland cemetery. He was one of the fore- most citizens in this section of the state and had achieved consider- able local prominence, his services to the community being fully de- tailed in the historical portion of this work. Mrs. Aldrich is now residing with her brother, our subject. The second member. of the family is Agnes, who became the wife of G. C. Olmstead. Her death occurred on October 17, 191I, and she is buried in Graceland cemetery. Stephen, the eldest son, died at the age of thirty-two years. Ella married J. W. Bates, who died about 1896, leaving hier two chil- dren. She subsequently married again and is now residing in Cali- fornia. Charles L., who is a resident of Hamilton county, is mar- ried and has three children. Ulysses N., who is the next in order of birth, is married and makes his home in California. Marian, who is the youngest of the family, died on the 16th of April, 1889, at the age of twenty-three years.
Herman Frank Briggs, who is the seventh child and youngest son born to his parents, was reared at home and educated in the con- mon schools. Practically his entire life has been passed on the farm
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which he now owns and is cultivating with such excellent success. His land is all fenced, four acres of it hog tight, and has natural drainage. Forty acres of his farm is under high cultivation, and a large portion of the remainder is devoted to pasturage, as he makes a specialty of raising shorthorn cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs.
Fraternally Mr. Briggs is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Elmo Lodge, No. 62, of Webster City. He votes the republican ticket. Having always resided in the imme- diate vicinity of his present home, Mr. Briggs enjoys a wide acquaint- ance in the community and has many stanch friends.
JOHN L. SCHWEPPE.
John L. Schweppe is residing on a farm of two hundred and forty acres located on section 21, Independence township, where he engages in general farming and stock-raising. He was born in Web- ster township on the 17th of May, 1872, and is a son of John H. and Martha E. (Brock) Schweppe, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Illinois. The father came to the United States when a lad of twelve years with his parents, who located in Wisconsin. In his early manhood he came to Iowa, where he was married and subsequently purchased forty acres of land on which had been built a log cabin and here he and his wife lived for a time and then pur- chased a farm in Webster township, Hamilton county. Mr. Schweppe energetically applied himself to the cultivation of his farm until 1875, when a mental affliction necessitated his transference to the state hos- pital at Cherokee, this state, of which institution he is still an inmate at the age of seventy-three years. He was a veteran of the Civil war and it has always been supposed that this experiences there were the direct cause of his condition. The mother, who is now entering upon the seventieth year of her life, was subsequently granted a divorce and remarried and is now residing in Webster City. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Schweppe numbered five, our subject being the second in order of birth.
The greater part of the life of John L. Schweppe has been passed in the immediate vicinity of his present residence, his education hav- ing been obtained in the common schools of Hamilton county. He remained with his mother until he was twenty years of age, and then started out to make his own way in the world. Having been
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reared in the country he had been trained to the work around a farm, and for five years thereafter worked as a farm hand. At the ex- piration of that time he took up carpenter work, which he followed in connection with coal mining during the succeeding seventeen years, when he again resumed agricultural pursuits. In 1908 he located on the place where he now resides, which is the property of his uncle and here he has ever since engaged in general farming and stock- raising. The land is all fenced, ten acres of it hog tight, and one hundred and sixty of the two hundred and forty acres are under culti- vation and about one-half of it is tiled. Mr. Schweppe is breeding Durham cattle, Shire horses and a high grade of Duroc Jersey hogs, and is meeting with a gratifying measure of success in this line of his business as well as in general farming.
On the 19th of Novemebr, 1898, Mr. Schweppe was married to Miss Mary Etta Stage, who was born on the 6th of March, 1882, and is a daughter of David and Ella (Williams) Stage. The father is a native of Ohio and the mother, who passed away in 1892, at the age of thirty-one years, was born and reared in Wisconsin, but they were married in Eldora, Iowa. Mr. Stage, who is now fifty- nine years of age, is residing in Hamilton county. Mrs. Schweppe is the third in order of birth in a family of seven. Mr. and Mrs. Schweppe adopted a child, by name Dewey Hanson, who is now twelve years of age.
The political allegiance of Mr. Schweppe is accorded to the re- publican party and he is president of the school board. He has never identified himself with any religious denomination but attends the United Brethren church, of which Mrs. Schweppe is a member. Fra- ternally he is affiliated with Elmo Lodge, No. 62, I. O. O. F. of Web- ster City, and he also belongs to Ridgely Encampment. No. 9, of that city.
CARL SPARBOE.
A fine farm of two hundred and forty acres located on section 16, Scott township, stands as a monument to the thrift and industry of Carl Sparboe, who is one of the progressive agriculturists and en- terprising business men of that community. Although the greater part of his life has been passed in Hamilton county, Mr. Sparboe is a native of Norway, his birth occurring on the 9th of Septembr, 1864.
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He is a son of Anthony and Bergitte (Karoluson) Sparboe, who were born, reared and married in Norway. The father passed away in 1870, just three days prior to the birth of his youngest son, leav- ing his young wife with a family of four children, the eldest of whom was but seven years of age. The first three years of her wid- owhood the mother passed in the Norseland, but concluding that better opportunities would be afforded her sons in the new world, she resolved to establish a home for them in America. Therefore, in 1873, she took passage for the United States accompanied by her mother and small family. It was a tremendous undertaking, but she was a woman of dauntless courage and tireless energy and the love she bore her sons and her overwhelming desire to give them the best possible advantages strengthened her determination and gave her the fortitude necessary to carry out her plans. From the eastern port, where they landed, she made her way to Scott township and there established a home. She was not able to give her sons more than a common-school education, but they were early trained in habits of diligence and thrift, while in their youthful minds she instilled the fine moral precepts which enabled them to develop into men of excel- lent character. They were appreciative and have always tried to re- pay her for her many sacrifices for them, and in later years purchased and presented to her the farm on which she is now spending her remaining days. She is still living at the venerable age of eighty- three years and is highly respected in Scott township by reason of her many excellent qualities, not least of which is her noble mother- hood. Her sons have all become honored citizens of the community and are in every way a credit to her and the county of which they have long been residents. Her first born, John H., is one of the suc- cessful agriculturists of Scott township and was formerly a member of the board of county supervisors. Hartvig M., the third member of the family, has also figured prominently in the public life of Ham- ilton county and is now serving his second term as mayor of Webster City. O. A. B. Sparboe, the youngest of her sons, founded the Story City Business College, which he conducted until forced to re- tire owing to the state of his health and went abroad, where he passed away in 1898.
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