USA > Iowa > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 21
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lived until ten years ago, when he retired from active life and took up his abode in the county seat. He has likewise been greatly interested in every project and measure for the public good, became one of the incorporators of the County Fair Association and for twenty years served as its secre- tary. He is the only one of the original members still living. He has also been secretary of the school board of his township for twenty years or more, and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion who did much to raise the standard of the public school system in the country districts. His political belief has always been that of the republican party since its formation and his religious faith is manifest in his membership in the Presbyterian church. His has been an active and well spent life and his present rest from labor is the fitting crown of former toil. Unto him and his wife were born seven children: Margaret, who died in 1860, at the age of eleven years; J. M., who passed away in 1873; Laura V., at home ; George Y., who is managing a rice plantation in Arkansas; Jessie, the wife of Thomas Davies, of Fairfield; W. G., of this review ; and Alma, who died in 1896.
When a lad of seven summers W. G. Ross accompanied his parents on their removal from Fayette county, Pennsylvania, to Jefferson county, Iowa, and was here reared upon the old home farm, early becoming fami- liar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. Ambitious to enjoy better educational advantages than the public schools offered he entered Parsons College and completed the course in 1880 with the first class that was graduated from that institution. He afterward took up the study of law in the office and under the direction of Senator Wilson, and was admitted to practice in 1883. He later became a partner of J. M. Galvin, under the firm style of Galvin & Ross and so continued in active practice until 1889 when Mr. Galvin went west. Mr. Ross continued the practice alone until 1904 when he was appointed postmaster and put aside professional duties. He made such an excellent record during his first term in the postoffice that he was reappointed in 1908 and is there- fore serving for the seventh year in that position. He has also held other public offices, having been county attorney from 1891 until 1895 and city solicitor from 1895 until 1904.
Mr. Ross was married in 1893 to Miss Carrie Lampson and they have an attractive home in this city, which is justly celebrated for its warm hearted hospitality. Mr. Ross has ever been deeply interested in the wel- fare and upbuilding of Fairfield and has never withheld his cooperation when his aid was needed for the furtherance of public projects. For twenty-two years he has been secretary of the executive committee of Par- sons College and for over twenty years he has been a member of the board of directors of the Fairfield free public library. His entire life has been
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imbued with a spirit of progress, and energy and determination have enabled him to reach out continually toward the goal which has ever been before him. For forty-five years he has lived in the county and is widely known among the older citizens as well as the more recent arrivals. Years have proven his worth and won for him the warm friendship of the majority of those with whom he has come in contact.
GEORGE W. RIZOR.
George W. Rizor enjoys the distinction of having been born in the first house built by the early settlers in Jefferson county, Iowa. It may still be seen, a crude but picturesque log cabin, stationed for its historic interest in the Old Settlers' Park at Fairfield, Iowa. In this log cabin, originally put up in Round Prairie township, Jefferson county, George W. Rizor was born September 24, 1857. He was the son of John and Cynthia (Peck) Rizor, both natives of Ohio. His father came to Iowa in the early days of its settlement and began his agricultural career in Jef- ferson county on land bequeathed to him by his father. This he cleared and utilized for purposes of general farming until his death on March 29, 1909. In this same year his wife also died.
In the schools of Lockridge township George W. Rizor was given a general education. On finishing school he remained at home and became assistant to his father in the management of the farm and, after a time, was given full charge thereof, a responsibility which he discharged with much credit for ten years prior to his father's death. Of this land one hundred acres fell to his share of the bequest and these, together with eighty more which he purchased, he improved until he now owns one of the finest farms in his township. He raises sixty head of hogs annually, keeps thirty head of cattle and ten horses.
George W. Rizor married Miss Belle Murphy, March 27, 1882. Her father, Levi Murphy, was a native of Ohio; her mother, Sarah (Bowers) Murphy was a native of Pennsylvania. When Mr. Murphy was a boy his family removed to Iowa settling in Wapello county. On coming of age he followed farming, renting for this purpose a tract of land in Round Prairie township, Jefferson county, which he operated for a short time, accumulating sufficient capital to buy forty acres of land which he improved, enhancing its value to such a degree that he was able to sell out at a good profit. Thereupon he purchased a farm of two hundred acres of land, to the operation and improvement of which he gave the remainder of his years.
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He passed away July 1, 1902, six years after the demise of his wife, which occurred in February, 1896.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rizor. They are: Bessie M., the wife of Charles E. Double, residing at Dudley, Iowa; Lilly E., twenty-six years of age, at home; Roy E., twenty-three years of age, liv- ing at Ft. Madison, Iowa; and four younger children all living at home. These are, Herbert L., aged twenty-one, Hazel L., aged fifteen, Carl E., aged ten and Bernard J., aged four years.
Mr. Rizor is an earnest prohibitionist and has served as school direc- tor of his district. He and his wife are members of the First Methodist church in which they have a large circle of friends. Mr. Rizor is a man to whom much credit is due for being a provident father, a good worker in his church and a loyal advocate of the principles of prohibition.
FRANK E. BRUEY.
Frank E. Bruey, one of the popular young farmers and stock-raisers of Cedar township, was born on the place where he now resides, on section 27, his natal day being August 21, 1885. His parents are Richard and Mary Catharine (Oriez) Bruey. The father, whose birth occurred in Bel- fort, France, on the 13th of March, 1843, devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career. In 1856 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, coming direct to Jefferson county, Iowa, and locating on section 27, Cedar township. It was at Fairfield, Iowa, that he wedded Miss Mary C. Oriez, a lady of French descent, who was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on the 13th of September, 1853, and was a daughter of Francis Oriez, whose widow now resides in Washington, Iowa. Following his marriage Richard Bruey purchased the farm on which our subject now makes his home, continuing its operation until the Ist of Octo- ber, 1906, when he put aside the active work of the fields and took up his abode on South Third street in Fairfield, where he has since lived. The period of his residence in Jefferson county now covers fifty-five years and he enjoys an extensive and favorable acquaintance within its borders. Frank E. Bruey has one sister, Annie M., who has charge of the cloak department in a large store at Des Moines.
Frank E. Bruey attended school in district No. 3, Center township, and remained under the parental roof until the time of his marriage. At the time of his father's retirement he assumed charge of the home farm of one hundred and twenty acres and has since been actively engaged in its ope- ration. He feeds all of his grain to stock, of which he raises a good grade.
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On the 19th of December, 1906, Mr. Bruey was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Irene Crowner, who was born on a farm north of Fair- field and began her education in a district school there and also attended school at Birmingham, Iowa, and near Stockport. Her parents, William and Cora (McMullen) Crowner, are both of Irish descent. The father is a native of Jefferson county, Iowa, while the mother's birth occurred in Pennsylvania. At the present time they are residing on a farm of eighty acres in section 17, Cedar township. Their children are five in number, as follows : Olive, the wife of Fred L. Keller, a farmer of Cedar township; Mrs. Bruey ; May, the wife of G. H. Atherton, a business man of Fair- field; John, an agriculturist of Cedar township; and June, who resides with her parents.
Mr. Bruey is a republican in politics and is now serving his second term as township assessor in a township which is strongly democratic-a fact indicative of his popularity and the confidence and trust reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. He is the first republican assessor ever chosen in Cedar township and was elected by a flattering majority. His aid and cooperation can be counted upon to further every movement calculated to benefit the community and he and his estimable wife are held in high re- gard by their many friends.
J. A. HUGLIN.
Thorough preparation has well qualified J. A. Huglin for the onerous professional duties which have devolved upon him since he took up his residence in this city. Laudable ambition was numbered among his salient characteristics at the outset of his career and prompted him to gain an edu- cation that would qualify him for more than the simplest duties and labors of life. His own earnest toil provided the means for an education and his ability has been the source of his progress since he entered upon the prac- tice of his profession.
Mr. Huglin is a native of Geneseo, Illinois, born September 14, 1872. His father, C. J. Huglin, was born at Rexby, England, June 25, 1825, and came to the United States when twenty-one years of age, settling first in Ohio, whence he afterward removed to Andover, Illinois, there enlisting in 1861 as a member of the Eleventh Ohio Battery, with which he served for three years and seven months. He was wounded five times and was in Andersonville prison for six weeks. He took part in the battle of Island No. 10, the sanguinary conflict at Gettysburg and the siege of Vicksburg, was with Sherman on the Atlanta campaign and the march to the sea and
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afterward participated in the grand review, the most celebrated military pageant ever seen on the western hemisphere. He served as one of the cannoneers in his battery and was a most brave and intrepid soldier. When the war was over he returned to Illinois and in Andover, in 1867, was united in marriage to Miss Christian Swanson who was born in Gales- burg, Illinois, October 3, 1836. In 1875 they removed to Nebraska but the scourge of grasshoppers which destroyed all the crops caused them to leave that state and in 1878 they took up their abode in Boone county, Iowa. Mr. Huglin devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits and was the owner of a good farm in Boone county, upon which his death occurred in 1904. In February of the same year his wife passed away. They were the parents of seven children : J. A., of this review ; C. L., a farmer living in North Dakota ; Elizabeth, who is a nurse in the Kansas City (Missouri) Hospital; O. E., who is engaged in the drug business in Odebolt, Iowa; G. G., a resident and implement dealer of Dayton, Iowa; Tillie, who is engaged in school teaching at Pollock, South Dakota ; and Ida, who is prin- cipal of the public schools at Jefferson, Iowa.
J. A. Huglin was only three years of age when his parents left Illinois and was a youth of six years when the family came to Iowa. He remained under the parental roof until 1888 and in the meantime not only actively assisted his father in the work of the fields but also acquired a good edu- cation, supplementing his public school training by a year's study in West- ern Normal College, at Shenandoah, Iowa, and by further work in Augus- tana University, at Rock Island, Illinois, from which he was graduated with the class of 1895. Afterward he went to Chicago, where he attended the Chicago College of Law, pursuing the evening course for two years, while during the day he was employed in a business way in order to meet the expenses of living and tuition. He then went to Des Moines, where he spent one year as a student in the law department of Drake University and was graduated May 17, 1898. At the same time he was admitted to the practice of law by the supreme court of Iowa, and also admitted to prac- tice in the federal courts. He entered upon the active work of his profes- sion in Fairfield September Ist, 1908, and has since remained here, having an office over the Fairfield National Bank. He is accorded a good clien- tage and his ability is widely recognized by other members of the bar as well as by the general public. While working his way through school he earned his money mostly by traveling for a book publishing company and making extensive trips over the United States and Canada. While in the university he made a special study of modern languages. His mother was of Swedish parentage and he gave particular attention to the Swedish language, which he speaks as fluently as he does English. He also speaks
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German, Danish and Norwegian and has studied extensively both Latin and Greek.
In his political views Mr. Huglin has always been a republican, active in the work of the party throughout the period of his residence in Fair- field. He served for four years, or two terms, in the office of county at- torney, beginning January 1, 1907, and there was only one other republican elected on the county ticket when he was first chosen to that position. His election therefore was indicative of his personal popularity and the confidence and trust reposed in him.
On the 28th of June, 1905, Mr. Huglin was married to Miss Clara Lenora Porter, who was born in Boone county, Iowa. May 20, 1882, a daughter of E. A. Porter, and they now have two children : Harold Q., born September 22, 1906; and Harvey P., born May 9, 1910. The parents hold membership in the English Lutheran church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful part. For ten years Mr. Huglin has served as superintendent of the Sunday school and is a member of the church board. He has also been president of the Jefferson County Sunday School Associa- tion and president of the Tenth District Association of the Christian En- deavor for several years. He is deeply interested in all that pertains to moral progress and does everything in his power to promote christianiz- ing influences which uplift man. He was also secretary of the first Jef- ferson County Commercial Association and is never unmindful of his duty in regard to local progress and improvement. He has an interesting mili- tary chapter in his life record, having in 1898 joined Company M of the Fifty-fourth Regiment of the Iowa National Guard, with which he served for six years. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a scholarly, cultured gentleman, whose innate talent and acquired ability have brought him prominence in professional circles, while his genuine personal worth has established him in a high and enviable position in the regard of his fellowmen.
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WILLIAM H. NEIBERT, JR.
The recent death of William H. Neibert, Jr., cut short the splendid activities of a man who, in his occupation as blacksmith, belongs to that host of men who toil and moil in their round of daily labors, in order that the machinery of the world may be kept running smoothly and without in- terruption. He was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, April 22, 1860, his parents being William H. and Eliza (Mace) Neibert, natives of Maryland.
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His father was engaged in agricultural pursuits during his entire life, farming for many years in Maryland and later in Pennsylvania where he died in 1899. The mother passed away in 1873.
Remaining in Maryland until he was seventeen years of age William H. Neibert, Jr., obtained his education in the common schools of his native locality. He then went to Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and learned the blacksmith's trade working there five years when he was married and lo- cated in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in which place he conducted a blacksmith shop for a year. At the end of this time he determined to carry out his desire to go west and accordingly established his home in Monmouth, Illi- nois, but remained there only a brief period, resuming his onward march westward and settling in Kansas City, Missouri, where he plied his trade for a year. He proceeded from there to Fairfield, Iowa, in February, 1885, and bought out the blacksmith shop owned by William Swain, and in time built up a large and flourishing business, in which he continued to be active until his death on July 11, 1911. He was industrious in the pursuit of his occupation and personally superintended all the work done in his shop so that he was well known among the brothers of his craft and the patrons of his trade for his reliability and the high grade of his workmanship. No matter what business transactions he engaged in, he was always open and honorable and never failed to win the confidence of those who dealt with him.
The marriage of William H. Neibert, Jr., and Elizabeth E. Brecken- maker occurred on March 16, 1882. Mrs. Neibert is a daughter of Fred- erick and Leah (Ellinger) Breckenmaker, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Pennsylvania. Her father crossed the Atlantic in 1835 when he was nine years of age and on their arrival in this country the family located in Baltimore, Maryland, where he learned the tailor's trade when old enough to work. He removed to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, after some years sojourn and there worked at his trade until removing to Hoguestown, Pennsylvania, where he opened a shop and soon became known as one of the first-class tailors in the town. Later he came west and opened a shop in Monmouth, Illinois, and after a time located in Emer- son, Iowa, and worked at his trade. From here he came to Fairfield, Iowa, and made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Neibert, and at the same time conducted a tailor shop here until his wife passed away in 1902, at the age of seventy-three years. Left alone he returned to the old home in Mech- anicsburg, Pennsylvania, and there operated a tailor shop until 1909 when he retired after his long continued labors and for the past two years has made his home with a son at Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, living a placid life and at the age of eighty-five years, still enjoying the vigor of his facul- ties, and passing his days in desultory occupations or in peaceful medita-
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tion, grateful for the loyal interest which his six children tenderly manifest towards him. There were seven children in the family, one being deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Neibert had five children born to them, namely: Thomas Glenn, aged twenty-eight, and William H., aged twenty-five, partners in business, operating their father's blacksmith shop; Byron A., aged twenty- two years, employed in the automobile business; Frederick H., aged nine- teen years, attending school; and Nellie E., aged sixteen, attending business college.
'Fraternally Mr. Neibert was connected with the Odd Fellows, and the Masonic order, with the Knight Templars and the Modern Woodmen of America. He was an enthusiastic democrat and was popular with the local members of the party being elected to the office of sheriff which he held for four years, and also to the city council of Fairfield. In religious belief Mrs. Neibert and several of the children hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, which he also attended. Ever conscien- tious in his work, Mr. Neibert met with well deserved success and enjoyed a lucrative patronage in his trade so that he was enabled to leave his family well provided for, living in a handsome home at No. 406, East Lowe street, the house being built on a three-acre lot, and with its smooth well-cared for lawn and neat walks forms one of the attractive places in the residence portion of Fairfield.
DAVID GILCHRIST.
David Gilchrist, in whom the various phases of life in Jefferson county find à worthy exemplar, is ranked among the prosperous and progressive citizens of this county, within whose borders he has resided for the past nine years. He is one of Pennsylvania's native sons, his birth occurring in Westmoreland county on the 16th of May, 1832, his parents being Joseph and Eliza (McCollister) Gilchrist. The father's birth occurred in 1796 on the site of the battle of Gettysburg, while the mother first opened her eyes to the light of day ten years later in North Carolina. After their marriage they continued to reside in the Keystone state until about three years prior to their deaths, when they came to Iowa. Here both passed away, the father in January, 1873. Both were laid to rest in the cemetery at Birmingham, Iowa. The father had been a farmer throughout most of his life and also devoted a few years to the occupation of a cooper. In his family were six sons and four daughters, of whom the two eldest sons were children of a former marriage, Joseph Gilchrist having previously wedded the sister of his second wife. Only four members of the family
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DAVID GILCHRIST AND FAMILY
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now survive, namely: Sarah Jane Bailey, a resident of Fairfield; Archi- bald, also of that city; John, making his home in Armstrong county, Penn- sylvania ; and David, who was the fourth in order of birth.
The subject of this review spent the period of his boyhood and youth in his native county until eighteen years of age, when he went with his parents to Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, where he was residing at the time of the Civil war. In connection with his brothers Archibald and John he enlisted for service in the Union army and was mustered in in August, 1862, from Armstrong county. His brothers became members of the Sixty-third Pennsylvania Regiment, John serving about a year and Archi- bald two years. David Gilchrist, however, became a soldier in the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment, Company B, and with that command served throughout the remainder of hostilities. He took part in many important battles of the war, being present at the battle of the Wilderness or Mine Run, under General Mead, and partici- pating in the engagements of Gettysburg under Mead, Rappahannock Sta- tion under General Grant, Antietam Fredericksburg and Spottsylvania Courthouse. In the last named encounter he received a flesh wound in the right foot and also had the shin bone in his left leg shattered, and there- after was confined in the hospital until discharged at the close of the war. He returned home and for a year moved about only with the assistance of a crutch.
Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, remained the place of residence of David Gilchrist until 1868, when he came to Iowa and located in Van Buren county, where he remained for twenty-one years, after which he spent three years in Missouri. Nine years ago he came to Jefferson county, locating in 1911 upon his present farm on section 29, Liberty township, consisting of two hundred and twelve and a half acres, all highly cultivated and well improved. His time and attention have mostly been given to agricultural pursuits although he engages to some extent in the occupation of carpentering, and in both branches of activity is meeting with substantial success for he has ever realized that the secret of prosperity lies in hard, unadulterated labor with a liberal infusion of common sense, and has thus worked his way up until today he ranks among the well known and repre- sentative business men of Liberty township.
Mr. Gilchrist was married, on the 19th of January, 1860, in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, to Martha Jane Jack, who was born in that county on the 2d of October, 1839, a daughter of James A. and Eliza (Allman) Jack, both natives of the Keystone state where their entire lives were spent. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gilchrist were born fourteen children: James Bailey, residing in the state of Washington, not far from the city of Moscow, Idaho; J. M.,of Jefferson county ; D. C., living in Davis county ;
Vol. II-13
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Jennie Beard, who passed away at the age of thirty years; H. O., who makes his home in Florida; W. W., living with his father; Sarah V., who married I. C. Evans, of Troy, Iowa; L. M., also at home; Anna Maude, the wife of W. B. Shreve, of Bloomfield, Iowa; Florence, at home; J. J., of Washington ; C. P., also of Washington ; E. M., a resident of Jefferson county, Iowa; and Harry, of Florida. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which they are deeply inter- ested, and fraternally Mr. Gilchrist belongs to the Masonic order at Birming- ham and the Grand Army of the Republic. In politics he is a republican and although he gives stanch support to the men and measures of that party his activity is merely that of a private citizen who recognizes and appreciates the privileges and obligations of citizenship but to whom the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction. Although his resi- dence in this section of the county is of comparatively short duration, he has nevertheless during that period so comportated himself in the various relations of life as to win the confidence, regard and good will of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
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