USA > Iowa > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 5
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Edward Ackley attended the public schools of his native state and aided his father in the work of the farm from his early boy- hood. In this way he obtained a personal experience in the details of agriculture which has been a valuable asset to him in his mature career. He grew to manhood in Fulton county and at the age of twenty-eight moved to Iowa, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of raw prairie land in Hamilton county. It was entirely unimproved and Mr. Ackley broke the soil and fenced it into fields. He has pursued a steady policy
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of gradual expansion and as the years have passed his harvests have grown more abundant. He quickly realized the advantage of a grove and has a large section of his property planted in trees, while his stock-raising interests form an important part of his activities. He has erected his home upon his farm and it is one of the most attractive and comfortable residences in Liberty town- ship, equipped with all the comforts and conveniences of a modern dwelling.
Mr. Ackley was married on October II, 1882, to Miss Anna Baker, a native of Decatur county, Iowa, where her birth occurred on the 7th of March, 1857. Her parents were Richard T. and Sarah J. (Hankins) Baker, the former a native of Seneca county, Ohio, born on the 14th of November, 1827, and the latter of Indiana. Mrs. Ackley's mother was born on October 7, 1830. and died in Hamilton county on the 22d of August, 1903. Her father was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war. enlisting in Company A, First Iowa Cavalry. His regiment marched five thousand miles during its term of service and was never in a defeat. Richard T. Baker died immediately after the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, on August 29, 1863. He and his wife had four children: Ferridoon, whose birth occurred on the 26th of May, 1855, and who is now residing at Pomona, Cali- fornia; Anna, the wife of our subject; Mrs. Lucretia Hankins, born March 26, 1859, who is now residing near Hay Springs, Nebraska ; and Ruth, whose birth occurred on July 14, 1861; and who died on July 6, 1876. All the children of Mr. and Mrs. Baker were born in Decatur county, Iowa, in which section the family was prominent for many years. Daniel Hankins, the grandfather of Mrs. Ackley, was among the earliest settlers in that section, making his home there while the Mormons were still at Garden Grove. The wife of our subject was educated in the district schools of her native section and attended later the Garden Grove Academy for four years. She remained with her parents until her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Ackley have been born eight children: Lucretia J., who resides in Boise, Idaho; Mrs. Nellie D. Beam, of Miles City, Montana; Ella B., twin to Nellie, who is residing in Tilford, South Dakota; Florence Violet, who is teaching in the district schools of Hamilton county ; Paul L., who is pursuing his studies in Ellsworth College; Ferridoon; Lillian ; and Sybil. The younger children of Mr. and Mrs. Ackley
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are still at school and in their leisure hours they assist their parents in the work of the farm.
Mr. Ackley is a republican in his political beliefs and for twelve years has done able and effective service as a member of the school board. He has kept abreast of the steady advance- ment which agriculture has made along systematic and scientific lines. He has added personal experience to his knowledge and his industry and intelligence have been rewarded by a beautiful tract of land, every acre of which is cultivated to its highest point of productiveness.
WILLIAM B. KEARNS.
William B. Kearns, a wholesale and retail dealer in cigars at No. 707 Des Moines avenue in Webster City, has been engaged in business at his present location for the past twelve years. His birth occurred in Vinton, Iowa, in 1869, his parents being John V. and Mary J. (Dostile) Kearns. It was in 1855 that the father accompanied his parents on their removal to Benton county, this state. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted for service in the Thirteenth United States Infantry and lost his arm at the battle of Vicksburg. In 1871 he came to Hamilton county and embarked in the grocery business at Webster City, having here successfully conducted an establishment of that character to the present time or for more than four decades. He has served as county recorder for twelve years and is well known as a repre- sentative and esteemed citizen.
William B. Kearns obtained his education in the schools of Webster City and when seventeen years of age began clerking in a dry-goods store. He worked in a clerical capacity in various other establishments until 1892 and then embarked in the cigar business on his own account in the Willson House. In 1900 he opened a store at No. 707 Des Moines avenue, where he has remained continuously since, carrying on a general jobbing busi- ness and enjoying an extensive patronage as a wholesale and retail dealer in cigars. He also takes an active interest in base- ball, being owner of the team and park in Webster City as well as manager of the team.
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In 1893 Mr. Kearns was united in marriage to Miss Anna Stafford, her father being C. W. Stafford, a carpenter and con- tractor of Fort Dodge, Iowa. Our subject and his wife have one daughter, Arline, who was born in 1898. The family resi- dence is at No. 907 First street in Webster City.
Fraternally Mr. Kearns is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, being a member of Lodge No. 302, of which he is a past exalted ruler. He was the representative to the grand lodge at Salt Lake City and Atlantic City. The local organization of the Modern Woodmen of America also numbers him among its valued members. He has spent practically his entire life in Webster City and enjoys an enviable reputation as one of its alert, enterprising and progressive business men, while in social circles his pleasing personality has made his popular.
CHARLES W. BLACK.
Charles W. Black who is now a member of the dry-goods firm of Shipley & Black and whose influence has been a progressive factor in its success, was born in Bloomfield, Davis county, Iowa, on November 15, 1879. His parents are Josephı R. and Isabel (Harris) Black, who came from Cambridge, Ohio, to Iowa about 1846 or 1848. His father is a representative and progressive agriculturist in Davis county where he is still living with his wife.
Charles W. Black was educated in the public schools of his native section, spending some time in the Cedar Rapids high school. During the last four years of his student life he was employed as clerk in the Fair dry-goods store at Cedar Rapids and thus early became acquainted with the details of the opera- tion of a modern and progressive mercantile enterprise. He supplemented his high school education by a course at the Southern Iowa Normal School at Bloomfield, from which insti- tution he was graduated in 1902. His active career began in his native city as stenographer, typewriter and bookkeeper for T. P. Bence, a leading attorney at law in Bloomfield. Here Mr. Black spent six months before he took a position as clerk for Hill & Company, dry-goods merchants of the same city. He retained his connection with this firm for three years and gained valuable personal experience in commercial values and in the buying and
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selling of goods. In 1905 he went to Centerville, Iowa, and entered the employ of Strickler Brothers who operated a large dry-goods store in that city. Mr. Black was given charge of the dress goods and card writing departments and by his intelligent activity made his branch of the enterprise successful and flourish- ing. He remained in Centerville until March, 1909, in which year he established his residence in Webster City. He entered the employ of W. V. Shipley, and his services were so valuable and progressive that in 1911 he was allowed a half interest in the business and the firm became known as Shipley & Black, under which title it has been operating since that time. Much of its success is due to the policy of modern expansion which is the vital characteristic of Mr. Black's business career. He has brought to the conduct of his dry-goods enterprise a discriminat- ing and alert mind, an unwavering industry and an integrity which never deviates from a narrow path of strict honesty.
On June 6, 1907, Mr. Black was united in marriage in Center- ville, Iowa, to Miss Laura Pierson, a daughter of G. H. Pierson, a coal mine owner of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Black reside at 637 Bank street, Webster City, and are well known and popular in social circles. They hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Black seeks no distinction beyond suc- cess in a purely business walk of life, preferring to spend his life quietly and honorably in worthy lines of activity. Business men of Webster City respect him for his liberal commercial intel- ligence and for his upright business morality. His friends find in him a genial and loyal companion. The two phases of his life form true success.
HENRY F. WILLE.
Among the citizens of Williams who have actively and persistently aided in the development of the town by enthusiastically cooperating in every progressive movement and thus assisting in carrying to a successful issue its various public projects, must be mentioned Henry F. Wille, who for seven years has been most efficiently serving the municipality in the capacity of mayor.
Mr. Wille is one of the thrifty, enterprising citizens Germany has furnished Hamilton county, his birth having occurred in Mecklen-
HENRY F. WILLE
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burg-Schwerin, June 18, 1835. He is the only surviving member in a family of eight children born of the marriage of Ralph and Hannah (Wulke) Wille, who passed their entire lives in the fatherland.
The first nineteen years in the life of Henry F. Wille were passed in the land of his birth, where he received a common-school educa- tion. Together with a sister he emigrated to the United States in 1854, landing in New York City. From there he went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and thence to Galena, Illinois, where he resided for two years and during that period he made the acquaintance of General U. S. Grant. He subsequently returned to Wisconsin, where he was employed until October 13, 1861, when he enlisted as a private in Company I, Sixteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and went to the front in defense of the Union. On the Ist of January, 1864, he re- enlisted, remaining in the service until honorably discharged July 29, 1865. His first battle was Shiloh, where Captain Saxe, of Company A, Sixteenth Wisconsin regiment, General Prentiss' division, was the first man killed. Mr. Wille was under Grant's command until after the fall of Vicksburg, when his regiment was attached to Sherman's army. After his discharge, he returned to Grant county, Wisconsin, where he resumed his agricultural pursuits until the spring of 1870, when he came to Iowa and has ever since been a resident of Hamil- ton county. Soon after coming here he acquired a farm in the vicin- ity of Williams, which he successfully cultivated until 1892, when he located in the town. He still retained his farm, however, until about two years ago.
In Grant county, Wisconsin, on the 7th of September, 1867, Mr. Wille was united in marriage to Miss Hannah M. Cullen, who was born in Pennsylvania, October 25, 1843, and died in Williams on the 14th of August, 1897. She was one of three children born to Joseph and Hannah Cullen, natives of Ireland, who emigrated to America in early life and passed their last days in Wisconsin. The other two · children of Mr. and Mrs. Cullen, Anna, now Mrs. Heil, and George, are still living and make their home in Cuba City, Wisconsin. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Wille numbered six children, all of whom, with the exception of the two eldest, were born in Hamilton county. In order of birth they are as follows: Joseph H., who was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, June 4, 1868, and is now a resident of Williams; Hannah R., who was born in Grant county, December 13, 1869, and is the wife of Charles Scott, of Kankakee, Illinois; Charles F., who was born January 7, 1872, and died on the 9th of February, 1904; George F., who was born on the Ioth of September, 1874, and Vol. II-4
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is now a resident of Algona, Iowa ; Paul R., who was born July 5, 1877, and lives in Buckeye, Iowa; and David W., who was born April 8, 1882, and died on the 3Ist of January, 1907.
Mr. Wille was reared in the Lutheran faith, but as there is no church of that denomination in Williams he affiliates with the Presby- terians. He maintains relations with his old comrades through the medium of his connection with Fairchild Post, No. 431, G. A. R., of Williams, and he is a member of Lodge No. 458, I. O. O. F. In his political allegiance Mr. Wille is a stanch republican. He is public- spirited and possesses a full appreciation of the duties as well as the privileges of citizenship and therefore takes an active and helpful in- terest in all political affairs. He has held the various township offices and is now serving his seventh year as mayor of Williams, the length of his term being substantial evidence of his efficiency. He is a well informed man, of broad, general knowledge with progressive. yet practical ideas, lenient in his judgment and kindly in his criticism. He has been successful in his business undertakings and has an attrac- tive, comfortable residence in Williams and a competence that is more than sufficient for his needs. Needless to say Mr. Wille is very popu- lar personally as he is a man whom it is a delight to meet and a privilege to know; his radiant, wholesome personality, unfailing opti- mism and faith in his fellowmen enabling him to win and retain the confidence and esteem of those with whom he comes in contact.
BENJAMIN McCOY.
Benjamin McCoy, who is now living retired at No. 1029 First street in Webster City, was for a number of years actively and successfully identified with agricultural pursuits in Hamilton county, operating a farm in Fremont township. His birth occurred in Pendleton county, Virginia, on the 14th of March, 1834, his parents being Henry and Mary Ann (Botkin) McCoy. The father, a farmer of Virginia, passed away in the fall of 1862. The mother lived to attain the advanced age of ninety-two years.
Benjamin McCoy obtained his education in a log schoolhouse in Virginia. In 1857. when a young man of twenty-three years, he removed to Lewis county, West Virginia, residing there at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. He was thus in the midst of the exciting and confusing scenes attending the begin-
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ning of the strife, when every man took his stand in support of either the Union or the Confederacy and many families were divided. After carefully considering the principles involved Mr. McCoy decided to remain with the Union and in June, 1861, enlisted in the Third West Virginia Volunteer Infantry. His two brothers joined the Confederate army. One was captured three days after his enlistment and died in a Federal prison. The other fought for the south throughout the entire period of hos- tilities. At the end of nine months' service Benjamin McCoy was discharged on account of disability and returned home. He was constantly harassed by the skirmishing rebels as well as by the guerrillas who infested that section and on several occasions barely escaped with his life, for his sympathy with the Union cause was well known to these bands and aroused their bitter enmity. When, only by exercising the utmost caution, he had thwarted several of their plans to shoot him, he deemed dis- cretion the better part of valor and concluded to leave that part of the country, removing to Lexington, Illinois, with his family March 1, 1865. There he followed farming until 1893 and in that year came to Hamilton county, Iowa, purchasing a farm in Fre- mont township which he operated successfully until a few years ago. Putting aside the active work of the fields, he took up his abode in Webster City, where he has since lived in honorable retirement.
Mr. McCoy has been married twice. In 1854 he wedded Miss Cynthia Malcolm of Virginia, who died the following year. In 1856 he married Miss Emily Wilson, her father being James Wilson of Ohio, who is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy have seven children, as follows: Rosina, who was born in 1862 and who is the wife of Robert Spielman, of Webster City; William S., born in 1864, who resides at Pleasanton, Kansas; Ida, who is the widow of S. H. Spielman and makes her home in Webster City; John W., an agriculturist of Cass township, Hamilton county; Eva, who is the wife of Alfred H. Harmon and lives in Lexington, Illinois; Mary, who is the wife of William S. Stelling, of Des Moines, Iowa; and Benjamin F., Jr., a farmer living in Fremont township, Hamilton county.
Politically Mr. McCoy is a stanch republican. During most of the period of his residence in Lexington, Illinois, he served as a school director and for nine years acted as school treasurer. He also held the office of constable for four years and that of
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deputy sheriff for several years. He belongs to Winfield Scott Post, No. 66, G. A. R., of Webster City, and is at present chaplain of the post, while during the year 1911 he served as adjutant. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the United Brethren church. He has now passed the seventy-eighth mile- stone on this earthly pilgrimage and can look back upon a useful, active and honorable life.
FREDERICK BAUER.
Frederick Bauer, a well known and highly respected resident of Webster City, has here lived retired since 1910. He was suc- cessfully engaged in the shoe business at Eagle Grove for twenty- nine years and prior to his connection with commercial interests devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits, still own- ing about two hundred and forty acres of land on section 21, Independence township, Hamilton county. He is the oldest sur- viving original owner of land in that township. His birth occurred in Wurtemberg, Germany, in July, 1840, his parents being Carl and Christina (Byer) Bauer. The father emigrated to the United States in 1852, settling in Sauk county, Wisconsin, where he followed farming throughout the remainder of his life. The demise of his wife had occurred in 1848.
Frederick Bauer received only a limited education in his youthful years, attending the country schools in Sauk county, Wisconsin. Reading, experience and observation, however, have constantly augmented his knowledge and broadened his mind. He followed farming in Sauk county until the outbreak of the Civil war and on the 3d of September, 1861, enlisted in the Eleventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry .at Portage city. In the following November he was mustered into the service at Madison, Wisconsin, under Captain Alexander Chrystie and Colonel Charles L. Harris. On the 19th of November, 1861, the troops left the state of Wisconsin for St. Louis, arriving there two days later. They were then sent to Sulphur Springs, Mis- souri, twenty-three miles below St. Louis, where they remained during the winter or until March 12, 1862, when they moved to Pilot Knob, Missouri, and were assigned to the Army of the Frontier. With his regiment Mr. Bauer participated in the fol-
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lowing engagements: Bayou Cache, Arkansas, July 6, 1862; Port Gibson, Mississippi, May 1, 1863; Champion Hill, Missis- sippi, May 16, 1863; Black River Bridge, Mississippi, May 17, 1863; and the siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, beginning May 18, 1863. Mr. Bauer was wounded on the 22d of May, 1863, during the siege of Vicksburg, losing the thumb on his left hand. After three weeks spent in the Jefferson Hospital of Memphis, Ten- nessee, and the Harvey Hospital at Madison, Wisconsin, he was detailed as recruiting officer for his regiment at Madison, Wis- consin, serving as such until honorably discharged in November, 1864, when his term of enlistment expired.
After the cessation of hostilities between the north and the south Mr. Bauer returned to his home in Sauk county, Wis- consin, and in 1866 came to Iowa, settling in Independence town- ship, Hamilton county. Here he purchased a tract of two hun- dred and forty acres of land on section 21, all of which he still owns with the exception of about four acres used by the railroad. When this property first came into his possession it was raw prairie, but as time passed he brought it under a high state of cultivation, erected fences and buildings and in fact made all of the improvements found on a model farm. He resided thereon until the fall of 1880, when he suffered the loss of four children by diphtheria, all dying within ten days. This great bereave- ment caused him to rent his farm, and with his wife and remain- ing child he returned to Wisconsin on a visit. In 1881 he came to Webster City, Iowa, but after a few months took up his abode in Eagle Grove, this state, where he was successfully engaged in the shoe business for twenty-nine years. In 1910 he returned to Webster City and has here lived in honorable retirement for the past two years, his home being at No. 925 Division street.
On the 3d of July, 1865, at Merrimack, Wisconsin, Mr. Bauer was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Schweppe, her parents being Herman and Mary (Sturke) Schweppe, the former a farmer of Dane county, Wisconsin. Mrs. Katherine Bauer was born on the Ist of April, 1846. By her marriage she became the mother of five children, as follows: Minnie Mary, whose birth occurred on the 17th of July, 1866, and who passed away on the Ioth of August, 1880; Herman Carl, born April 21, 1868, who is engaged in the lumber business at Larchwood, Iowa, and who wedded Miss Kate Meier, by whom he has a son and daughter;
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Frederick John, whose natal day was April 25, 1870, and who died on the 17th of August, 1880; Katie E., born September 5, 1872, who passed away August 15, 1880; Albert, who was born Jan- uary 30, 1879, and died August 20, 1880. As above stated, four of these children died of diphtheria within ten days.
Mr. Bauer still maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in Winfield Scott Post, No. 66, G. A. R. He is also identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Golden Link Lodge, No. 68, at Eagle Grove. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Congregational church. His life has been a busy and useful one, and his well spent years have brought him the suc- cess which he now enjoys and have gained him the respect and confidence which are so uniformly extended to him.
ALBERT SOWERS.
Albert Sowers is one of the active, enterprising and successful farmers of Ellsworth township and by his able cultivation of his farm of eighty acres on section 34 has placed himself in the front ranks of progressive agriculturists. He was born in Ellsworth township, March 28, 1865, a son of Lindsey and Rebecca E. (Ward) Sowers, who were among the early settlers in Hamilton county and among the most enterprising and public-spirited of its citizens. The father was born in Fountain county, Indiana, December 25, 1833. and settled in Ellsworth township upon a farm in the fall of 1856. Upon this property he carried on general farming until his death, which occurred March 4, 1911. The mother of our subject was born in Crawford county, Ohio, December 12, 1839, and came to Ellsworth township before her marriage. Here her death occurred February 12, 1898. In their family were eight children: Laura, who was born June 4, 1863, and who died March 26, 1865: Albert, of this review; Henry, who was born October 21, 1866, and who died May 26. 1867; Pearley, whose birth occurred May 18, 1868; Mrs. Mary Hughes, who was born February 7, 1871; Guy, a farmer of Ellsworth township; Pliny, born January 29, 1876; and Charles, born May 16, 1878. All of these children were born and reared in Ellsworth township and are still residing there.
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Albert Sowers attended the public schools of Ellsworth town- ship and from an early date has been identified with general farming in this section. He owns eighty acres of excellent land and has pursued a constant policy of improvement and develop- ment, erecting the necessary buildings and planting in the most suitable grains, being now the proprietor of an excellent modern farm.
On March 20, 1888, Mr. Sowers was united in marriage to Miss Maria E. Scott, who was born in Chickasaw county, Iowa, March 30, 1866, and who taught school prior to her marriage. Her father, John Scott, was born in Ohio, January 13, 1813, and died in Wright county, Iowa, July 27, 1887. He was twice married. By his first union he had four children: Boone, who was born May 21, 1842, and who is residing at Scranton, Iowa; Mrs. Margaret Norris, born in Altaloma, Texas, February 14, 1844; Mrs. Phoebe Murray, who was born November 15, 1846, and who lives in Oklahoma ; and La Vega, who was born Novem- ber 21, 1848, and who is residing in Taylor, North Dakota. John Scott's second marriage was with Sarah A. Johnson, who was born in Virginia, October 26, 1833, and who is now residing in Rutland, Iowa. To this union eight children were born: Jacob, whose birth occurred April 26, 1853; Mrs. Susan Styles, who was born May 6, 1865, and who is residing in Waterloo, Nebraska; Mrs. Hannah Stewart, who was born April 6, 1857, and who lives in Luverne, Iowa; Mrs. Mary Upton, of Yoder, Colorado, who was born March 28, 1859, and who taught school in Ham- ilton county for a number of years; Mrs. Martha Lawler, who was born April 20, 1862, and who died at Eagle Grove, Wright county, January II, 1901 ; Mrs. Sowers, of this review; Martin, who was born September 16, 1868, and who resides in Leeds, South Dakota; and William, who was born March 16, 1873, and who lives at Maple Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Sowers became the parents of eight children: Alma, who was born March 9, 1889, and who died March 22, 1893; Ralph, born March 8, 1891, and who died March 24th of the same year; Alvin J., born July 12, 1893; Grace E., born August 29, 1894 ; Florence E., born August I, 1896; Earl Lindsey, born December 1, 1898; Albert Wilber, born August 17, 1900; and Clarence P., born October 4, 1906. All of these children were natives of Ellsworth township and those surviving are attending the district schools.
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