USA > Iowa > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 11
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George Liblin was but five years of age when his parents made the long journey across the Atlantic, and thus the greater part of his life has been passed within the borders of Jefferson county, Iowa. As a boy he assisted his father in the cultivation of the home farm and as his strength increased he also performed other tasks such as coal digging, wood chopping and grubbing. Upon entering the business world he took up agricultural pur- suits on his own account and since that time the years have marked his grad- ual advance toward the goal of prosperity until today he is ranked among the substantial and representative farmers of his section of the county. At
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one time he owned five hundred acres of land of which he later sold por- tions to his sons, reserving for his use today a tract of one hundred and eighty acres located on section 32, Buchanan township. This farm is pleas- antly situated about a mile and a half southeast of Fairfield on the middle road, and is thus within close reach of the conveniences and pleasures af- forded by city life. Mr. Liblin carries on general agricultural pursuits, in the management of which he has manifested good business ability and in- dustry that never flags. His methods have ever been honorable and his dealings fair and the prosperity which he now enjoys has come as the well merited reward of a well spent life.
It was on the 31st of April 1862, that Mr. Liblin was united in marriage to Miss Mary Long, who was born in Tennessee on the 18th of April, 1843, a daughter of Jesse and Nancy Long. Her parents came to Jefferson county, Iowa, at an early day, and here the father gave a large portion of his time to farming pursuits. He taught school for a time, however, and also acted as local Methodist preacher. In politics he was a democrat and at the time of his death was serving as sheriff of Jefferson county. He passed away in 1855. In his family were eleven children two sons and nine daughters, of whom only four daughters are now living. The two sons, Cleve and William, served in the Civil war and passed away shortly after returning home from the front. To Mr. and Mrs. Liblin were born seven children, as follows: George W., who is mentioned below; Malissa, at home ; Ed, residing in Center township; William, who was killed at the age of twenty-one years, having been accidentally shot while hunting; Frank, who owns one hundred acres of the old homestead and is engaged in farm- ing in connection with his father ; Vester, at home ; and Della, who married William Fickel, of Center township. Mr. Liblin has lived a quiet life, in which political activity has had no part, but he has nevertheless been deeply interested in all that pertains to the development of the district in which he resides. Although he has now reached the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten he is still active in the world's work and displays a pub- lic-spirited devotion to the country of his adoption.
GEORGE W. LIBLIN.
Among Jefferson county's native sons who are meeting with success in the utilization of the excellent opportunities here offered along agricultural lines is George W. Liblin, whose birth occurred in Cedar township on the 17th of March, 1863. He is the eldest child in the family of seven children born to George and Mary Ann (Long) Liblin, natives of France and Ten-
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nessee, of whom mention is made above. The family has long been estab- lished in this section and the grandparents on both the paternal and mater- nal side here passed away and are buried in Paterson cemetery of Cedar township.
On the old homestead farm George W. Liblin spent the period of his boyhood youth, and amid the busy activities of rural life he learned many lessons concerning the value of industry and perseverance and formed habits of clean and upright living, elements which later formed the salient characteristics of his career. He remained with his parents until twenty- three years of age, when he left home and took up agricultural pursuits on his own account, his thorough training under the direction of his father well equipping him for the conduct of an independent venture. Purchasing eighty-five acres on section 12, Center township, he took up his abode there- on and it has since remained his home, living alone on the place until his marriage. He holds to modern methods, is energetic and persevering in the conduct of his affairs and the well improved condition of his farm indicates that he is in close touch with the spirit of progress which is so manifest in agricultural circles today.
Mr. Liblin was married on November 29, 1888, to Miss Rosa Bean, who was born in Washington county, Iowa, January 29, 1866, a daughter of Joseph and Esther Bean, the former now deceased and the latter residing with Mrs. Liblin. To Mr. and Mrs. Liblin, on November 3, 1899, one child was born, George William, who, however, passed away, July 13, 1902, at the age of two years and eight months. The parents are members of the Christian church while in politics Mr. Liblin gives his support to the democ- racy, in the principles of which party he sincerely believes. He has never sought public office as the reward for party fealty, however, but has con- scientiously endeavored to perform all those duties of private life which should be regarded as privileges as well as obligations by all loyal citizens. He is widely known in the county within whose borders his entire life has been spent, and that many of his best friends now are those who were his boyhood's companions is indicative of the fact that he possesses in large de- gree those qualities which win and retain warm regard and high esteem.
ROBERT H. JOHNSTON.
Robert H. Johnston, whose life span covers eight decades, is numbered among the citizens of Jefferson county most worthy of honor and venera- tion, for his record has ever been one of ceaseless effort, honorable princi- ples and high purposes. His well directed labors, too, have brought him
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substantial success in the business world, and he is now able to leave the active work to younger shoulders, enjoying the comforts of life which his prosperity affords him. He was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, on the 14th of December, 1831, a son of Samuel and Prudence (Hill) John- ston, both natives of Ireland, having been born near Belfast. There they were reared and married and in 1825 came to Pennsylvania. The father operated the Pittsburg House on the Diamond, his time and attention being thus engaged until his death in 1836. His widow later brought her family to Iowa, arriving in Van Buren county in 1854, the home being established in Cedar township, east of Birmingham, where she resided until December 16, 1866, when she passed away at the age of seventy-two years. The family consisted of four children, of whom the three eldest, Margaret, Will- iam and Henry, are now deceased.
Robert H. Johnston, the youngest child of Samuel and Prudence John- ston, was a young man of twenty-three years when he came to Iowa with his mother in the fall of 1854. His education had been acquired in the Key- stone state and there he learned the shoemaker's trade, serving his appren- ticeship near Pittsburg and following that occupation for about seven years in Pennsylvania and also in Iowa. After his arrival in this state he spent one year in Scott county and in the fall of 1855 removed to Van Buren county, where he remained until 1877. In the latter year he came to his present place of residence, which has remained his home for thirty-four years. His home farm, which is located on section 36, Liberty township, about two miles north of Birmingham, on the Van Buren county line, con- sists of eighty acres and is a well improved property, containing all of the accessories necessary to equip a model farm. Indeed it is one of the most valuable and desirable places in Liberty township and in its excellent con- dition is seen the result of a life characterized by earnest endeavor, by un- faltering energy and well directed effort. It was but a natural sequence that as the years passed Mr. Johnston should prosper in his agricultural undertaking and never was success more worthily won nor more richly de- served. He continued in the active management of his interests until about five years ago, when he turned over the actual supervision of his farm to his sons and is now living in honorable retirement.
The entire attention of Mr. Johnston, however, has not been concen- trated in this one avenue, for during the past nineteen years he has served as a director of the Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company. In like manner business interests have not been permitted to exclude activity in other directions and he has an interesting military record covering three years' service in the Civil war as a soldier in the Union army. He enlisted from Van Buren county on the 6th of August, 1862, being assigned to Com- pany I, Nineteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and remained with that com-
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mand until honorably discharged on the 6th of August, 1865, having in the meantime been detailed as bass drummer of the regiment. He has since maintained pleasant connection with his old army comrades through his membership in Newell Post, G. A. R., at Birmingham. He is a demitted Mason, while his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, holding membership relations with that denomination at Birmingham. In politics he has ever given stalwart support to the republican party and has been called to public service by his fellow citizens, filling the office of township trustee for a number of years. He has also served as school director, being a warm advocate of the cause of education, and he is equally stanch in his advocacy of material and moral progress, doing all in his power to fur- ther the interests of the community in which he lives, in every possible way.
It was in 1852 that Mr. Johnston was united in marriage to Miss Han- nah Shepler, who was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, on the 2Ist of February, 1828, a daughter of Peter and Mary (Paine) Shepler, both natives of the Keystone state, where their last days were spent. The Johnston household was blessed with six children, as follows: William, a farmer of Van Buren county, residing near Birmingham; Margaret, who married Jackson Kirkhart, of Cantril, Van Buren county ; Mary, at home ; Maria, who married Albert Parker, of Derby. Lucas county ; Reuben, a resident of Liberty township; and Carrie, who passed away at the age of nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding nine years ago and they confidently expect to celebrate their sixtieth anniversary in 1912. Both have long since passed the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten and they can look back upon a past which has been crowned with successful achievement and characterized by a development of high ideals. Both have lived their lives to noble pur- pose and now in the evening of life they have in full measure the unqualified respect. esteem and reverence which should ever be accorded old age.
DAVID GOUGHNOUR.
The late David Goughnour, for many years successfully identified with the agricultural interests of Jefferson county where he was numbered among the highly esteemed citizens, was born in Cambia county, Pennsyl- vania, on the 30th of July, 1836. His parents were David and Mary (Fox) Goughnour, natives of Pennsylvania, the father of Dutch extraction and the mother of Irish. They came to Iowa with their parents when children, being reared to maturity near Libertyville, Jefferson county, where they were later married. There the father followed the trade of millwright
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RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. DAVID GOUGHNOUR
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until 1849 when he joined the goldseekers and went to California. After spending three years in prospecting he started homeward, but contracted cholera while enroute and passed away at Memphis, Tennessee. His wife then removed to Polk county, this state, where she resided thereafter, her death occurring at Elkhart in 1872.
The early years in the life of David Goughnour were not unlike those of the majority of lads reared in the country at that period. In pursuit of an education he attended the district schools until he had mastered the common branches, during which time his energies were also devoted to the work of the fields. After his marriage he went to Dallas county, Iowa, where for two years he operated a mill for his brother Manuel. At the expiration of that time he decided to return to farming and purchased fifty-seven acres of land in Polk county. Cultivating his farm for six years he disposed of it and acquired some prairie land upon which he resided for a similar period. Selling this property he located near Altoona, where he lived for nine years, when he returned to Jefferson county, settling on a farm southeast of Batavia in Des Moines township. He successfully engaged in the operation of this place for fourteen years, but owing to the state of his health in 1905 was forced to withdraw from active farming and removed to Batavia. There he continued to reside until his death on the 19th of December, 1908. He is survived by his widow who still makes her home in Batavia. Ever loyal and public-spirited, when the call came for troops, in 1864; Mr. Goughnour responded, enlisting at Davenport, and going to the front with Company F, Third Iowa Volunteer Cavalry. He saw much active service, participating in many of the hard campaigns during the closing months of the war, having been for three months at one time in the saddle almost continuously, just snatching such rest as he could at rare intervals. After he was mustered out he returned to Jefferson county, where he resided until after his marriage.
Mr. Goughnour married on the 14th of March, 1867, Miss Lovina Haney. Mrs. Goughnour was born on a farm near Dayton, Montgomery county, Ohio, her parents being Daniel and Susan (Rodabaugh) Haney, natives of Pennsylvania, of German extraction. Mr. and Mrs. Haney removed with their parents during childhood to Ohio, where they were later married, continuing to be residents of the Buckeye state until 1855.
In the latter year they came to Iowa, locating on a farm west of Birming- ham, Jefferson county, where they resided for six years. At the expira- tion of that period they removed to Whitfield and there he continued to follow agricultural pursuits until his death. The mother survived for six years thereafter, her demise occurring on the home farm. Eight children were born to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Goughnour. Daniel E., who is the marshal of Byron, Illinois, and also inanager of the City Electric
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Light & Water Company, married Mary Dillon of Byron, and they have two children, Vinson and Dorothy. Sarah, the wife of William Stebleton, a farmer of North Dakota, has seven children: Ethel, Cletis, Harvey, Hazel, Floyd, George and Leslie. Henry, who was the third in order of birth, died at the age of two years and six months. Mina, the wife of Charles Smith, a farmer living three miles south of Batavia, has a son and a daughter, Russell and Mabel. Annie died at the age of nine years and ten months. Carrie, is the widow of William Boysel, a farmer who lived south of Batavia. Mary, who was the youngest daughter, died at the age of four years and four days. Wilson, who is the eighth member of the family, remains at home.
An earnest Christian, Mr. Goughnour was always an active member of the Brethren church of Batavia, with which organization Mrs. Goughnour is also identified. Politically he was a republican, and served on the dis- trict school boards in both Polk and Jefferson counties. He was a man of energetic and forceful character whose influence was ever exerted in support of all that was best in forwarding the interests of the community in which he resided and in whose development he ever took an earnest and helpful part.
JOSEPH SCHILLERSTROM.
Joseph Schillerstrom, whose energies have been devoted to general mer- cantile pursuits in Salina for the past twenty-seven years, is one of Jeffer- son county's native sons. His birth occurred on a farm in Lockridge town- ship, on November 28, 1855, his parents being Gustaf O. and Inga Schiller- strom, both of whom were born and reared in Sweden. There the father engaged in farming until 1846, when seeking opportunities affording more rapid advancement he took passage for the United States. Upon his arrival in this country he made his way westward to Iowa, locating in Jefferson county, which at that time was but sparsely settled. He invested a portion of his small capital in forty acres of government land in Lockridge town- ship, for which he paid one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. After placing upon his tract such buildings as were essential for immediate use. he began clearing and improving his land, diligently applying himself to its cultivation for two years. At the expiration of that period he sold his place and purchased a tract of one hundred and thirty acres of uncultivated and unimproved land north of Salina, where he immediately removed. He improved this tract until 1863, then disposing of it he rented a place closer to Salina, where he resided one year, locating in the spring of 1865
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at Glendale, also in Lockridge township. Here he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land that he operated until 1896, when he sold his holdings and retired from active work, making his home with his children until his death in April, 1911. The mother passed away in 1893.
Joseph Schillerstrom was reared in Lockridge township, gaining his education in the district schools, at the same time tilling the soil and caring for the crops under the capable supervision of his father. He remained a member of the parental household until he had attained his majority when he began for himself as a farm hand, following this occupation for four years. In 1880 he went west, locating in Nevada where he farmed for three years; subsequently he returned to Jefferson county, where he has ever since resided. Commercial activities had always appealed to Mr. Schillerstrom who now decided to abandon farming, so he bought the general mercantile business of Frank Thuesson at Salina, taking possession of the store in January, 1884. He has met with an unusual degree of success in this undertaking, carrying a large and well assorted stock of goods and being the only merchant in the town. He is a man who has the happy faculty of making and retaining the friendship of the majority of those with whom he comes in contact, and this together with his gracious and accommodating manner to customers has enabled him to build up a large patronage. Mr. Schillerstrom is the owner of the building in which his store is located and of a fine residence and four lots.
On the 24th of November, 1885, Mr. Schillerstrom completed his ar- rangements for a home by his marriage to Miss Josie Edmunds, a daughter of Charles and Sophia (Faust) Edmunds, natives of Sweden. Mrs. Ed- munds passed away in the old country in 1871 and five years later her husband with his family emigrated to the United States, locating in Jefferson county. During the first four years of his residence here Mr. Edmunds rented a farm near Packwood which he cultivated with such success that he was able to buy one hundred and forty acres of land north of Salina. He located upon this, devoting his energies to its cultivation until his de- mise on the 14th of March, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Schillerstrom were the parents of eight children: Edward C., who is twenty-five years of age, now residing in Creston; Glenn J., who is twenty-two; Nettie F., whose age is twenty ; Townsend, who is eighteen ; Curtis, a youth of fifteen; Iva Pearl, who has passed the twelfth anniversary of her birth; Mary, aged eight : and Francis, who is just entering his fifth year.
The family affiliate with the Presbyterian church, and in matters politic Mr. Schillerstrom gives his support to the prohibition party, thus indicating his views on the liquor question. Although he takes an interest in all matters pertaining to the public policy he has never desired office, and when elected to the office of justice of the peace, some time ago, declined the
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proffered honor. He is a man of determination and stalwart purpose, who has labored persistently and unremittingly in his efforts to build up his busi- ness and has had his endeavors well repaid not only by a large patronage but the respect of the community at large, which is freely accorded him.
LOUIS DUTTWEILER.
Louis Duttweiler, who has spent his entire life within the borders of Jefferson county, has been successfully engaged in the feed business at Lockridge since 1902; and, for the past five years, has been identified with the Lockridge Telephone Company, having charge of the local exchange. His birth occurred in Walnut township on the 27th of November, 1855, his parents being Louis and Sarah (Hetzel) Duttweiler; the former a native of Germany and the latter of Ohio. Louis Duttweiler, Sr., who was born in Germany December 2, 1815, emigrated to the United States in a very early day, locating in Ohio, where he remained for two years. On the ex- piration of that period, he came to Jefferson county, Iowa, and entered eighty acres of land from the government at a dollar and a quarter per acre. He cleared and improved the property, and continued its operation throughout the remainder of his life. As his financial resources increased, owing to his untiring industry and capable management, he augmented his holdings by additional purchase until, at the time of his death, which occurred July 31. 1889, he owned two hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land. The demise of his wife had occurred on July 4, 1877.
Louis Duttweiler obtained his education in the district schools of Wal- nut township, this county, and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority. Renting his father's farm at that time, he con- tinued its operation until 1901. During eighteen years of this period, he re- sided on a farm of ninety acres, in Lockridge township, and placed many substantial improvements thereon. At the time of his father's demise, he received one hundred and twenty acres of the old home place as his share of the estate but, later, sold the same. He still owns his ninety-acre farm. which he bought September 6, 1889, and moved on to it January 21, 1890. This farm is situated a half mile east of Lockridge and is operated by his son-in-law, Claude Teeter. In 1903, he came to Lockridge, purchased prop- erty and erected a fine residence thereon. He was engaged in the livery business for two years and, then, embarked in the feed business, which has claimed his attention up to the present time. Since 1906, he has also had charge of the local exchange of the Lockridge Telephone Company
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and, in this connection, has proved himself a man of splendid executive ability and unfaltering enterprise.
On the IIth of December, 1879, Mr. Duttweiler was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Eggenbarger, a daughter of John and Johanna R. (Dubero) Eggenbarger. The father was a native of Switzerland and the mother of Prussia, Germany. The father crossed the Atlantic to the United States in a very early day. He came direct to Jefferson county, Iowa, and was employed as a farm hand in Lockridge township for several years. Even- tually, he purchased land of his own in Lockridge township, clearing and improving the same and devoting his attention to its cultivation, until 1907. In that year, he put aside the active work of the fields and took up his abode in Lockridge, where he lived retired until called to his final rest, De- cember 29, 1909. His widow, who has now attained the age of seventy- four years, still makes her home in Lockridge. Our subject and his wife have one daughter, Sarah S., who is now the wife of Claude Teeter.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, Mr. Duttweiler has supported the men and measures of the democracy, believing firmly in its principles. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the German Lutheran church, to which his wife also belongs. Alert and ener- getic, Mr. Duttweiler is in close touch with all the interests which are fac- tors in the life of a progressive citizen and of the community at large ; and is recognized as a forceful factor for development and improvement in the locality where he makes his home.
Mr. Duttweiler had one brother and one sister; the former living in Pleasant Plain, Iowa. The sister was born December 8, 1859, in Walnut township, and died on the old home place, September 25, 1883.
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