USA > Iowa > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 27
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On the 20th of July, 1858, Mr. Wilhermsdorfer wedded Miss Mary Martha Kness, a daughter of George and Lydia (Strawser) Kness, the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Ohio, but both of German descent. They moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, at an early date and in February, 1844, came to Jefferson county, Iowa, and settled on a claim in Polk township, where they lived until the death of the father, May 20, 1871. In their family were thirteen children, twelve of whom reached maturity, but now only Mrs. Mary M. Wilhermsdorfer and one brother, Daniel Kness, of Cozad, Dawson county, Nebraska, sur- vive. The latter was a watchmaker by trade in Illinois but canie to Nebraska in 1882 and began farming. He was married in Illinois to a Miss Savage and they have two children living, Dolly and Edna May. Another brother, Noah V. Kness, served in the Civil war and was killed in the battle of Tallahassee, Tennessee. Another brother, who was a soldier and enlisted in service for five years, was mustered out in the Mexican war but was never heard from afterwards. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilhermsdorfer were born the following children: Ralph H., who is a jeweler in Seattle, Washington, married Maggie Brown, of Ottumwa, Iowa. Fannie May, who died in 1896, was the wife of Judge Oliver, of Onawa, Iowa, who is now judge of Monona county, and they had four children : Marcus, who will graduate from Rush Medical College in the spring of 1912; Ralph, who is a lawyer in Sioux City, Iowa; Marjorie, an instructor in languages, of the same place; and Frank, who is still attending high school. Justin H., who is now postmsater at Harrison, Nebraska, is married to Miss Zua Bowman, of Ioka, Iowa, and they have one child, Vol. II-16
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Maritz. Dollie Zeta wedded G. B. Baker, a well known music dealer of Ottumwa and Fairfield, and they have four children, Demonta, Mary, Marthanna and Ruth Esther.
Mr. Wilhermsdorfer was a democrat in politics and always took an active interest in the welfare of the community, and for several years he served as supervisor of Jefferson county. He gave much time to the cause of education and for over thirty years he was a director in the home school district, and for the greater part of that time he was also secretary and treasurer of the school board. Fraternally he was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Monmouth, Illinois, and his widow is a member of the Rebekah Lodge. She is also a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. Wherever Mr. Wilhermsdorfer was known he was greatly admired and his life stands as a splendid example for those who wish to make themselves strong and useful citizens of the community.
JOHN E. AND AMANDA A. ERICKSON.
John E. and Amanda A. Erickson, who own one of the attractive homes of Lockridge township, were both born in Sweden, the former on the 4th of January, 1854, and the latter on February 24, 1860. They are the children of Charles M. and Christina (Eckland) Erickson, natives of Sweden, where the father was engaged in farming. In 1869 the family emigrated to the United States, locating in Burlington, Des Moines county, Iowa, where Mr. Erickson engaged in carpentry work for about five years. In 1874 they came to Jefferson county, settling in Lockridge township where the father purchased sixty acres of unimproved land. In the cul- tivation of this property he met with such excellent success that he was later able to purchase an adjoining tract of seventy-two acres, making the aggregate of his holdings one hundred and thirty-two acres. Here the parents continued to reside until their death, the mother passing away on November 19th, 1892, and the father on the 29th of June, 1898.
The childhood and early youth of John E. and Amanda A. Erickson were spent in their native land, where they also obtained the major por- tion of their education, the course therein pursued being supplemented by further study in the public schools of Des Moines and Jefferson counties. They remained at home with their parents until their death, after which the farm came into their possession. Their habits of thrift and capable management enabled them to acquire the means to warrant their retire- ment from active life in 1909, so they sold one hundred and twenty-five acres of their land, and upon the remaining seven erected a fine, modern
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residence, barn and other outbuildings. Neither of them having married they have made their home together since the death of the parents.
They both affiliate with the Lutheran church and in matters politic Mr. Erickson votes with the republican party. Both are widely and favorably known in the community where they have resided for the past thirty-seven years, and number among its citizens many loyal friends.
THORNTON FORDYCE.
Thornton Fordyce, the owner and operator of a farm of one hundred and thirty acres in Des Moines township, Jefferson county, is a member of a family distinguished during four generations for their noble public service in the nation, the state, and the local communities in which they have lived. His grandfather, Jairus Fordyce, was the son of a Revolution- ary war hero, and was born in Pennsylvania, moving westward in his youth. He enlisted in the army and served under Harrison when that gen- eral defeated the Indians led by Tecumseh at the battle of Tippecanoe in 18II. He chose for a helpmate Susan Girard, a native of Ohio, and in 1815 settled in the territory of Illinois farming there for several years. In 1837 he moved farther west making his home in Lee county, Iowa, and two years later went to Van Buren county, in this state, where he lived until his death in 1840. His wife survived him fifteen years passing away in 1855.
Proudest of all in the family annals is the name of the father of Thorn- ton Fordyce, Lewis Fordyce, whose long life has been spent in the faithful performance of his duties as a citizen of the commonwealth and as a preacher of the divine word, bringing the gospel to the hearts of hundreds of people in many widely scattered communities, to people forced by cir- cumstances to be as isolated in their spiritual lives as in their physical environment. He was born in Wabash county, Illinois, in 1820. In 1839 he came to Iowa making his home with his parents in Van Buren county. Six years later he removed to Lee county, Iowa, and the following year, in 1846, was married to Miss Mary A. Newby, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Gabriel and Rebecca (Harvey) Newby, both of whom were born in North Carolina and who became residents of Lee county, Iowa, where they lived until their death.
After his marriage Lewis Fordyce settled on a farm in Lee county, Iowa, and three years later removed to Van Buren county residing there until 1873. He then came to Des Moines township and has lived here ever since, now making his home with his son Lew, who is operating the
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old homestead farm. Throughout his long life Lewis Fordyce, Sr., has unselfishly given of his services wherever he felt that he could aid in the moral and social advancement of the people. For thirty-five years he preached in the Christian church, extending his work through southeastern Iowa and into Missouri. He was president of the lowa State Association of the Christian Church for thirty-three years until age made it impos- sible for him to continue in the discharge of the many duties and respons- ibilities appertaining to the office. In his public service he likewise made a notable record for himself. He was elected to the fourth general assembly representing Van Buren county and as a member of the twentieth general assembly aided in passing the original prohibition law. While a member of the Iowa law-making body he was faithful in looking after the interests of his constituents as well as in his service for the welfare of the state as a whole. He was an influential republican and one of the organizers of that party in Van Buren county. While residing in the last-named county he also served as township clerk in Union township. When living in Lee county he was an important factor in the organization of the school sys- tem. Mr. Fordyce is now ninety-one years old and his wife is eighty- seven. He has always been a public-spirited man keeping his enthusiasm on the side of justice and truth.
Thornton Fordyce was born February 23. 1856, near Winchester, Van Buren county, Iowa. He attended school in his native locality and when twenty-one years of age began farming for himself. In 1881 he bought his present farm of eighty acres on section II, Des Moines township, in this county, adding to it by later purchases until now he owns one hundred and thirty acres of valuable farmland. He devotes himself to general farming and raising cattle meeting with much success in his work.
In 1881 Thornton Fordyce was married to Miss Rebecca J. Stewart, the ceremony being performed on the 8th of March. She was a daughter of Eleazar and Rebecca (Armstrong) Stewart. Her father was a farmer born in Miami county, Ohio, and her mother, who was of Scotch-Irish descent, was born in Steubenville, Ohio. In this town they were married January 10, 1855. They settled in Illinois and in 1861 came to Iowa es- tablishing their home four and a half miles northwest of Libertyville in Jefferson county. They lived there forty years on a farm then retired and removed to Libertyville where Mr. Stewart died May 12, 1903. Mrs. Stewart died in 1905 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. L. Gonterman, living in Des Moines township. They were the parents of five children. Mary H. is the widow of J. L. Gonterman and lives in Des Moines town- ship. Anna M. is the wife of J. E. Hockman, a farmer near Grinnel, Iowa. Sarah E. is dead. Rebecca J .. the wife of Thornton Fordyce, lives in Des Moines township. And the youngest, Ella, is dead.
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Thornton Fordyce was one of eight children: Dr. Winfield Fordyce of Fairfield, Iowa; Eugene, the marshal of the town of Ventura, Califor- nia; Harry, a fruit-raiser in the Ojai valley in California: Harvey, de- ceased; Carl and Oscar, formerly a physician of Guthrie Center, Iowa, deceased, and Lew, living on the old home place in Des Moines township.
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thornton Fordyce. Oren S., married August 31, 1910 to Miss Meta B. Laughlin, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Laughlin, is living on a farm adjoining his father's, and they are the parents of one child, Merwin C., aged three months. Ber- tha B. was married November 7, 1906, to L. D. May, a druggist in Kan- sas City, Kansas.
In his political views Mr. Thornton Fordyce is a "stand pat" republi- can. For a period of ten years he was school director at various times in district No. 6 of Des Moines township. He and the other members of his family belong to the Presbyterian church of Libertyville, Iowa. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Libertyville and of the Liberty- ville Camp of Modern Woodmen of America. Thornton Fordyce is a man of equable temperament, content with the path of life in which the choice of his career directed his steps. He is a true son of his father, possessing the same generous spirit and the same large-souled outlook on life.
C. E. WARD.
That C. E. Ward deserves to be numbered among the prominent and representative citizens of Fairfield is due to the fact that he contributes to material progress through the successful conduct of a lumber business, to general improvement as a public-spirited citizen and a member of the city council, and to the moral development through his untiring zeal in behalf of the Methodist church, of which he is a local minister. Conscien- tious in all that he does and holding to high principles, his work in the world is of genuine worth. He was born in Waverly, Illinois, May 20, 1861, a son of J. D. and Mary E. (Barnes) Ward. The father served for three years as a soldier of the One Hundred and First Illinois Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war and after the cessation of hostilities removed to Missouri and subsequently to Lineville, Iowa, where he died when his son C. E. Ward was but twelve years of age. Mrs. Ward also spent her last days in Lineville but death came to her when she was in Chicago.
C. E. Ward was at that time nineteen years of age. He was reared in Lineville and Allerton, Iowa, careful home training developing in him an
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admiration for high principles which he has inculcated in his life, while the public-school system promoted his intellectual training. While a resi- dent of Allerton he was married and since that time has resided for various periods in Des Moines, Omaha and Fairfield, coming to the last named city in 1893. His first employment after entering business circles was at the printer's trade, which he followed in Princeton, Missouri, and at Aller- ton, Iowa, spending six months in newspaper offices. He had to abandon that business, however, on account of his health and in order to enjoy the benefits of outdoor life he took up the building business and in time be- came a contractor and builder, entering the business circles of Fairfield in that way. In the different cities in which he has lived he has done con- siderable important work in connection with building operations but about thirteen years ago withdrew from that field of activity and established the lumberyard, of which he is now proprietor. In its conduct he has met with success, owing to his reasonable prices and his fair and honest dealing.
Business interests, however, by no means comprise the extent of his activities, for he has ever been alive to personal obligations and duties and has been a helpful factor in the work of public progress. He is now serv- ing for the second term as a member of the city council of Fairfield, to which he was elected on the republican ticket, and for one year he served as chairman of the Mayors' and Councilmen's Association of the state of Iowa, having been elected at the annual meeting of the League of Iowa Municipalities at Fort Dodge in 1909. He likewise served for one year on the sewerage and sanitation committee of the state, representing Fair- field in the sessions of that body held at Fort Dodge and Waterloo, and ' acting as chairman of the water and light committee. He has long been closely associated with the membership and with the active work of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a local preacher and now as a regular pastor at Hillsboro.
In 1881 Mr. Ward was married to Miss Razilla J. Bates, who was born in Salina, this county, in 1864, a daughter of Jackson Bates. Their chil- dren are seven in number: Coy, the wife of N. M. Warnick, of Wapello, Iowa; Raye, wife of the Rev. J. H. Koch, of Lovilla, Iowa; C. E. J., dis- trict agent for the Central Life Insurance Company of Des Moines, lives in a home of his own at Fairfield; Harry L., was in the navy and went around the world with the Atlantic fleet ; Frank D., Frederick I. and John W., all yet at home. Frank D. and Frederick I. are attending Parsons College and John W. is in high school. Mr. Ward has fraternal relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Masons. He has at all times manifested a progressive spirit. He has never, as some ministers do, regarded life as most men know it, as a thing apart from him; on the contrary he has felt it his duty to be a factor in the life of
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the community, working for the best interests of the many, and his labors have been attended with excellent results and have won for him the ap- preciation and regard of his fellowmen.
HENRY E. DANIELSON.
Henry E. Danielson devotes his energies to the cultivation of a highly improved farm of sixty acres that he owns adjoining Lockridge. He is a native of Jefferson county, having been born in the township where he now resides on November 18, 1878, a son of Albert and Lottie (Falk) Danielson, natives of Sweden. The father emigrated to the United States in 1869, locating in this county where he worked as a farm hand and laborer on the railroad for several years. An energetic man of thrifty habits, he carefully saved a portion of each month's wages until he had acquired the means to buy a farm, then invested his capital in eighty acres of land in Lockridge township. He diligently applied himself to clearing and improving his property in the cultivation of which he met with such success that he was later able to extend his holdings by the addition of another eighty acres. The operation of his homestead thereafter engaged his attention until his demise, October 18, 1901, at the age of sixty-five years. The mother, who is now sixty-five, continues to make her home in this township.
The boyhood and youth of Henry E. Danielson were passed on his father's place in Lockridge township, his education being obtained in the district schools of the vicinity. He remained with his parents until he had attained his majority, devoting his energies to assisting his father with the farm work. For two years after leaving home he worked as a farm hand, when he engaged with his brother in cooperative farming until 1901. This undertaking proved to be so lucrative that they bought the old home- stead, of which each took eighty acres. Mr. Danielson operated his share until 1906, when he sold and removed to Lockridge, where he became as- sociated with Louis J. Graf in purchasing the general mercantile business of C. J. Overstrom. After spending three years in commercial activities Mr. Danielson decided to return to farming, so disposing of his share in the business he purchased sixty acres of improved land, that he has ever since been operating. He takes much pride in his place, which is well kept up and given the careful supervision that insures abundant crops of a superior quality, and as a result his efforts are being most substantially rewarded.
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On the 2d of September, 1903, Mr. Danielson was united in marriage to Miss Rose Rivey, a daughter of Peter and Amelia (Droz) Rivey. The parents emigrated to this country from France, locating in Jefferson county during the early days. They bought forty acres of land in Round Prairie township, that they cleared and cultivated, and there they reared their twelve children. They were industrious and thrifty and added to their holdings at divers times as their resources permitted until they had ac- quired one hundred acres, upon which they still reside. Three children have been born to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Danielson: Lucille V., who is seven years of age; Gladys A., who is five; and Earl K., a lad of three years.
Mr. and Mrs. Danielson affiliate with the Baptist church, and frater- nally he is a member of the Woodmen of the World. He is a republican in politics and at the present time is serving in the capacity of town- ship clerk and secretary of the school board. Mr. Danielson belongs to that type of citizens whose efforts are directed not only toward the develop- ment of his personal interests but those of the community at large, and to this end he uses his influence in promoting every progressive movement.
WILLIAM C. BALL.
Iowa offers excellent opportunities to the agriculturist and the man who owns a tract of Jefferson county's rich land has an excellent oppor- tunity to win success if he will but closely apply himself to the task of cultivating the fields and caring for the harvests. This William C. Ball has done and now is living retired in Fairfield, in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former labor, his rest being well earned and well merited. He was born in Brooke county, Virginia, his natal day being March 27, 1846. His parents were Joseph and Margaret (Lengfitt) Ball, who were married in the Old Dominion, which was the native state of the father, whose birth occurred in Loudoun county, in 1803. His wife was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1808, and in March, 1854, they came to Iowa, making their way direct to Jefferson county, where they continued their residence until their death, both passing away in 1875. In his younger days Joseph Ball followed carpentering and afterward engaged in trading on the river, shipping products from Virginia to New Orleans. Subsequently he was identified with farming, which claimed his attention during the period of his residence in Jefferson county. He owned four hundred acres of land five miles west of Fairfield and the care and labor bestowed upon his fields made this a valuable property. Opposed to the
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system of slavery, he became a stanch abolitionist and when the republi- can party was formed to prevent the further extension of the slave system into the north, he joined its ranks. His fellow townsmen, appreciating his worth as a citizen, elected him their representative to the state legis- lature for one term. Both he and his wife were faithful members of the Christian church and he also belonged to the Masonic fraternity. Their family numbered nine children. Sarah became the wife of J. B. Free- man but both are now deceased. Martha is the widow of A. D. Burns and resides in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Hannah is the deceased wife of Solo- mon F. Stever. Cynthia is the wife of A. R. Burns, a resident of Wap- ello county. Anna H., who married Dr. C. D. Lewis, of Ottumwa, has passed away. John F., who joined Company D of the Nineteenth Iowa In- fantry during the Civil war, was killed in the battle of Prairie Grove. Wil- liam C. is the seventh of the family. Hon. George W. Ball is a resident of Fairfield, and Mary, the youngest of the family, became the wife of Dr. G. A. Spielman, of Ottumwa, but is now deceased.
William C. Ball spent the first eight years of his life in the state of his nativity and then came with his parents to Jefferson county, residing upon the old home farm until 1864, when, at the age of eighteen years, he en- listed for active service in Company I, Forty-fifth Iowa Volunteer In- fantry. He served for one hundred days, or until the close of the war and gave ample proof in his service of his valor and loyalty. He after- ward attended the law school of the Iowa State University, from which he was graduated in 1869, and the same year was admitted to the bar. He then practiced his profession for two years in Des Moines, but on the expiration of that period returned to the home farm and in addition to the cultivation of the crops best adapted to the soil and climate, he engaged in dealing in live stock, both branches of his business proving profitable. He closely studied the best methods of tilling his fields and kept on hand good grades of horses, cattle and hogs. That his methods were at once practical and progressive is indicated in the excellent results which followed his work. At length he regarded his capital as sufficient to enable him to put aside further business cares and leave the farm, when he took up his abode in Fairfield.
Mr. Ball was married in 1872 to Miss Mary C. Campbell, who was born in Highland county, Ohio, July 10, 1850, but has been a resident of this county since 1856, in which year her parents, John J. and Elizabeth (Tem- pleton) Campbell, brought their family to Iowa. The father, who was a native of Baltimore, Maryland, died in this county in 1870, at the age of fifty-six years. The mother, a native of Highland county, Ohio, who is now living in California, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years, retains all her faculties unimpaired. Mr. and Mrs. Ball became the parents of
0
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two children but the son, who was the younger and to whom they gave the name of Frank, died in 1889, at the age of twelve years. The daugh- ter, Cora A., is a vocal teacher, now connected with the public schools of Fairfield.
Mr. Ball votes with the republican party, his study of the questions and issues of the day leading him to the belief that its purposes are best calcu- lated to promote good government. He holds membership with the Chris- tian church and his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church. They have a circle of friends in Jefferson county almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance. They have both spent the greater part of their lives here and Mr. Ball has been a witness of almost the entire growtli and development of the county, having seen its wild prairie lands con- verted into good farms, its primitive dwellings replaced by substantial modern residences and its primitive business interests supplanted by large and important commercial and industrial enterprises. He relates many interesting incidents of the early days and is authority upon many points of the history of Jefferson county.
GEORGE PERRY CONLEE.
George Perry Conlee, who passed away on his farm on section 33, Cedar township, on the 17th of August, 1911, came to Jefferson county in 1882 and devoted about two decades to general agricultural pursuits here. He was the second white child born in Burlington, Iowa, his birth occur- ring on the 3d of June, 1840, when that city boasted only two houses. His parents were Reuben and Nancy (Doyle) Conlee, both of Scotch-Irish descent. They owned and lived near the famous Mammoth Cave in Ken- tucky. In 1839 they came to Iowa, locating in Burlington, while subse- quently they purchased a section of land near Sand Prairie, west of Fort Madison, where Reuben Conlee followed farming. He was one of the first representatives in the state legislature from Lee county, Iowa-Mr. Bullard being the other-and died suddenly while attending a session of the general assembly at Iowa City. This was in 1847. The demise of his wife occurred nine years later, on the farm near Fort Madison, Iowa. The only surviving member of the family, which numbered thirteen chil- dren, is James Conlee, a resident of Oregon.
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