USA > Iowa > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 37
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In politics Mr. Russell is a stanch republican and in religious faith he and Mrs. Russell hold membership in the Baptist church. He is also a member of Justice Lodge, No. 230, A. F. & A. M., Ioka Lodge, No. 173, I. O. O. F., and has served as a school director in his home district for several years. For two terms he devoted his entire time and efforts to the cultivation of his property and during that time won a goodly measure of success, which was due to his perseverance, industry and good judgment.
ANDREW ANDERSON.
Throughout his life Andrew Anderson was one of the most prosperous farmers of Polk township, where he was residing at the time of his death on the 19th of February, 1903, and he was one of the early Swedish settlers of this section. His birth occurred in Rossberry, Sweden, June 23, 1849, his parents being John and Anna Mary Anderson. The father, who was an agriculturist in his native land, came to America when a young man for a year's visit, after which he returned to Sweden, where he lived up to the time of his death.
Andrew Anderson began earning his own livelihood very early, his first employment being as driver for a livery stable in his native town, this being an important business as, in those early days before the installa- tion of railroads, everything was necessarily transported by wagon. After he was fourteen years of age he took up farming, which he carried on for the next five years, at the same time attending school whenever his labors permitted it. Being very ambitious and having heard much of the oppor- tunities in the new world, he set out for America with his sister Mary in 1868 and immediately after their arrival in New York came to Polk town- ship, Jefferson county, Iowa, where they located on section 24. For the following two years Mr. Anderson accepted employment on the various farms of the neighborhood, although he still made his home with his sister. In 1870 he began his independent career by purchasing one hun-
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dred acres on section 22 and later added one hundred and sixty acres, where his widow and son, Grant Clarence, now reside. Meeting with great success in the development and cultivation of this property, he was induced to purchase eighty acres on section 22 and subsequently the one hundred and sixty acres on sections 22 and 23 where his daughter, Mrs. Lilly Fray, is now living. About thirty years ago Mr. Anderson moved to the present homestead and resided there continuously until his death in 1903, at which time he was the owner of about five hundred acres of very valuable and highly developed land. This property is still owned by Mrs. Anderson, although, until her son was old enough to assume charge of the place, she rented out the land or was required to hire help to carry on the general farming. The appearance of the farm was greatly improved in 1911, when Mrs. Anderson erected a very modern and com- modious residence, which is wholly in keeping with the generally improved and well equipped condition of her property. Mr. Anderson had been among the early settlers in the county which has proved to be so rich agriculturally and, witnessing its development, he also participated in its improvement and his name appears among those of the men who have rendered their fellowmen substantial and invaluable service.
On the 3d of May, 1883, occurred the marriage of Mr. Anderson to Miss Sophia Swanson, who is a daughter of Isaac and Annie Christina (Hammangson) Swanson, who were natives of Kisa, Sweden. In his native country Mr. Swanson carried on agricultural pursuits but subse- quent to his marriage, twenty-nine years ago, he removed to America. He came to Polk township, Jefferson county, where he located upon a farm, and the following year Mrs. Swanson joined her husband. After it was decided to start a settlement where Packwood now stands, Mr. and Mrs. Swanson removed there, their house being the first built in the town. Although residing in Packwood, Mr. Swanson carried on farming until the ill health of Mrs. Swanson necessitated their removal to the home of their daughter, Mrs. Anderson, where the mother's death oc- curred October 27, 19II. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson two children were born: Lilly Josephine Emily, who married Ivan C. Fray, a well known farmer residing on a part of the home place, and who is the mother of two children, Violet Arlene and Alice Iola; and Grant Clarence Gifford, residing with his mother, who is ably managing the home place and also the one hundred and eighty acres given to him by his father. Clarence Anderson is married to Miss Neva E. Hadley, a daughter of A. D. and Kate L. Hadley of Richland, Iowa.
In politics Mr. Anderson was a republican and had served as school director in his home district for several terms. In religious faith the family have always been members of the Swedish Lutheran church of
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Packwood, in which they are both active and helpful. He was very highly esteemed by those who came in contact with him in public and private life, for honesty and integrity ever marked his acts.
JOHN GRABER.
The agricultural interests of Jefferson county, Iowa, number among the important contributors to their prosperity John Graber, a native of this county, born in Lockridge township, January 13, 1851. His parents, Christian and Fanny (Wyse) Graber were natives of France. His father accompanied his parents to this country before the end of the first quarter of the nineteenth century. They came to Iowa and obtained land from the government in Lockridge township. His father and mother were married in Ohio and came to Jefferson county where they commenced farming on land given to Christian Graber by his father. This he developed during the remainder of his years. His death occurred in April, 1888, at the age of seventy-six and his wife died January 28, 1876, at the age of fifty-four years.
John Graber was reared at home and educated in the near-by district schools. When he came of age his father gave him one hundred and twenty acres of land. Prior to this time he and his brother had operated the home farm of seven hundred acres, their chief product having been corn which sometimes averaged a yield of ten thousand bushels a year. After taking charge of his own farm he bought more land some of which is in Round Prairie township. He is a successful farmer, practical in his methods and tireless in his industry. He raises one hundred and twenty- five head of hogs a year, keeps twenty-six head of cattle and eleven horses. He is now the owner of two hundred and thirty acres of land, all in a high state of cultivation.
On September 2, 1882, Miss Lucy Elizabeth Stewart gave her hand in marriage to John Graber. Her father, Levi C. Stewart, was a son of Richard and Elizabeth (Cheney) Stewart, born January 29, 1836, in San- gamon county six miles south of Springfield, Illinois. He was married on Thursday, October 26, 1855, to Miss Callista Potter Arrowsmith, near Glasgow, Jefferson county, Iowa, the ceremony being performed by Rev- erend E. H. Winans. Callista P. Arrowsmith, a daughter of John and Lucy Rose Arrowsmith, was born March 1, 1833, in Westville, Champaign county, Ohio. In the fall of 1842 her parents came to Pittsburg, Van Buren county, Iowa, and settled in Round Prairie township near Glasgow. in Jefferson county. Here at her home her marriage to Levi C. Stewart
MR. AND MRS. JOHN GRABER
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occurred. Five children were born by this union. She underwent an attack of typhoid fever, which proved so virulent as to cause her demise and on March 23, 1867, she died and in July was buried at Forest Home ceme- tery at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. The following year, September 22, 1868, Mr. Stewart was married to Caroline L. (Phillips) Shelly, a daughter of Henry Phillips, born January 5, 1832, in Green county, Iowa. There were no children. Mr. Stewart was a farmer, his father having given him a start in his career by presenting him with a farm. He died in 1871 ; his widow survived him just twenty years, passing away in 1891.
In the spring of 1862 Mr. Stewart discontinued farming, and leaving his wife and children with her parents at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, he departed, on May I, in company with a party consisting of his brother, his brother- in-law and others, for the gold fields in the far west, making the overland trip with ox teams. They went to Baker City, Oregon, Powder Creek Mine, thence to Centerville, Idaho, four hundred miles from Umatilla Landing in Oregon. Their return journey they made by way of San Francisco where they took passage for New York by the water route. They arrived home in August, 1863, after an absence of fifteen months. His family in Mt. Pleasant, rejoiced at his return, eagerly accompanied him back to the farm in Lockridge township, where Mr. Stewart has been en- gaged in farming ever since.
In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Graber were eight children. Mary Edith, the wife of Arthur Hilman, died February 25, 1910. Roland T., aged twenty-three, lives at home. Levi C. S., aged twenty-one, lives at home. Lollie E., aged eighteen years, is attending school at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Esther Rose, aged sixteen, and John, aged fourteen, are living at home. Two children died in infancy.
Politically Mr. Graber is a republican, but has never been an office seeker. With his wife he is a member of the Baptist church. He possesses force of character and determination and in the esteem of his friends holds a high place.
SANFORD BRAY.
Sanford Bray is one of the representative citizens of Black Hawk township, where he owns and successfully operates a farm of eighty acres, located on section 12. He was born on the township line between Penn and Black Hawk townships, one mile south of, where Keokuk, Washing- ton and Jefferson counties join, on the 24th of January, 1851. His parents were Jerry and Emma (Hadley) Bray, the former a native of North Vol. II-22
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Carolina and of Scotch-Irish extraction. The first eleven years of his life Jerry Bray spent in his native state, going from there to Indiana, where he lived until 1848, when with his wife and family he removed to Iowa. Upon his arrival in Jefferson county he bought a farm in Black Hawk township, living in Penn township until he could obtain possession of his homestead. There he lived for forty-six years, passing away on the 24th of January, 1894, the forty-third anniversary of the birth of his son Sanford. The mother died during the infancy of our subject, and the father later married Miss Tempy Greeson, a daughter of George Greeson, a pioneer farmer of Keokuk county. Mr. Bray was called upon to mourn the loss of his second wife in 1891, her death occurring on their, homestead.
Black Hawk township has always been the home of Sanford Bray, who began his education in the district schools of Penn township, which he attended until the first district school in Black Hawk township was com- pleted. He later supplemented the course received there by four terms of study in Central College at Wapello, in which institution he taught between terms. Returning home at the end of that period he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, remaining on the farm with his father until his marriage. Subsequent to this event he located on a farm in Penn township that he operated as a renter for five years. This proved to be a very profitable undertaking and in 1881 he bought the place where he now lives, but did not remove there until February, 1882. Here he has ever since resided, and during the twenty-nine years of his occupancy has wrought many changes in the property. He is a capable agriculturist and gives the closest supervision to everything about his place, the gen- eral appearance of which is highly suggestive of thrift and prosperity. Good barns and outbuildings, a comfortable residence, well graded stock and fertile fields, that annually yield abundant harvests, are all to be found here, bespeaking capable management and intelligently directed effort. Mr. Bray is most enterprising and his farm is operated in accord- ance with modern agricultural methods and is yielding good returns.
On the 25th of March, 1875, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Bray and Miss Ruth Pickard of Pleasant Plains and a daughter of William and Mary (Bell) Pickard. The father was one of the successful farmers of Penn township, where he passed away more than twenty years ago. His death was the result of injuries sustained when he was thrown from a horse a few months previously. He fell on his head and spine and broke one leg, and although he suffered intensely he lingered for a hun- dred days before death relieved him of his pain. The mother survived him and during the last five years of her life she made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Bray. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Bray numbered five chil-
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dren : Elbert, who for twelve years was employed in the Woolson store, but is now located at Boulder, Colorado, married Eva Morgan of Black Hawk township and they have one daughter, Freda. Nellie, who is the second in order of birth, died when she was twelve years of age. Hattie married T. L. Stewart, a farmer of Keokuk county. William Ralph, who is en- gaged in farming in this township, married Hattie Orr. Mary Ethel is a sophomore at Central College, Wapello. She graduated from the dis- trict school at the age of thirteen years, then entered the academy at Pleasant Plain and for six years after her graduation from this institution engaged in teaching.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Bray are members of the Baptist church of Penn township, and fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, having belonged to the Richland camp since its organization, eighteen years ago. In politics Mr. Bray is a republican, but he is bitterly opposed to the liquor traffic, so does not indorse this party's attitude on that question. He has several times been called to public office, having served for a year as trustee, two as assessor and three as clerk. For fourteen years he was secretary of the township school board, and was a member of the local board of school directors for several terms and presi- dent for one year. Mr. Bray is widely and favorably known in Jefferson county, where he has met with a fair degree of prosperity and has a large circle of friends, who appreciate his many substantial qualities and high principles.
FRED W. MESSER.
Fred W. Messer is engaged in the operation of the farm in Walnut township where he was born, on the Ioth of February, 1879. He is a son of John Adam and Rebecca (Roth) Messer, the father a native of Germany and the mother of Iowa. In his early manhood John A. Messer emigrated to the United States, locating in Jefferson county. He subse- quently bought some raw land in Walnut township that he set about clearing and improving. An energetic man of business ability, he made a success of his undertakings and as time passed, acquired the means to extend his holdings. He now owns two hundred and seventy-five acres in Walnut township and two hundred in Penn township, under high culti- vation and well improved. In 1896, Mr. Messer withdrew from the active work of the fields, his property netting him an income sufficiently large to provide all of life's comforts. They continue to live on the old home-
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stead on the farm, that has been their home for many years, he having attained the age of seventy-two years and she being sixty-eight years of age.
Practically the entire life of Fred W. Messer has been spent amid the scenes made familiar to him in his childhood, his preliminary education having been obtained in the district schools and later supplemented by two terms in the academy at Pleasant Plain. Ever since leaving school he has been operating his father's farm, and is meeting with a goodly measure of success. He is a capable young man of clear judgment and practical ideas, who intelligently concentrates his efforts on whatsoever he undertakes. In the pursuit of his vocation he directs his efforts in strict accordance with the commonly accepted methods of modern agri- culture, thus keeping in touch with the progressive spirit of the times.
On the 8th of June, 1904, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Messer and Miss Celestine Engel, a daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Miksch) Engel, natives of Ohio. Together with his parents Joseph Engel came to Iowa, in 1861, locating on a farm in Washington county. He made his home with his people until his marriage, following which he and his bride took up their residence in another house on the same farm. After his father's death he purchased the old homestead, that he operated with increasing success for many years. In 1904 he retired from active life and he and the mother retired to Brighton, where they have ever since lived. He is now sixty-eight and she sixty-one years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Messer there have been born two sons, Clifford, who is five and Walter F., who is two years of age.
In matters of faith Mr. and Mrs. Messer are Lutherans, and hold membership in the English church of that denomination in Fairfield. He is a democrat in his political views and at the present time is acting as a trustee of Walnut township, having entered upon the duties of this office in January, 1911, and he is also a school director in the local district. Mr. Messer is a worthy representative of one of the pioneer settlers and is held in high regard in the community where he has always lived, be- cause of his many fine personal traits and commendable standards of life.
JOSEPH J. KURTZ.
That Jefferson county is an attractive place of residence, that it offers many opportunities and advantages to its citizens, and that its social and ยท intellectual conditions are pleasing and helpful is indicated by the fact that many of its native sons ever remained within its borders. Among this number is Joseph J. Kurtz. He was born July 5, 1860, in Walnut
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township, where he still makes his home, being now one of its progressive agriculturists. His parents were John and Caroline (Weyer) Kurtz, natives of Germany and Mississippi, respectively. The father came to this country with his parents when only six months old, the family settling in Michigan whence a removal was afterward made to Illinois. There the grandfather engaged in farming for some time and in 1855 the family home was, established in Jefferson county, Iowa, where land was pur- chased and the work of improving and developing a farm in Walnut town- ship was begun. During this time John Kurtz was engaged in railroading and followed that occupation for about nine years, but at the time of his parent's death he came to Jefferson county, purchasing the interest of the other heirs in the old homestead property, and set about clearing and im- proving the place. He continued to develop and cultivate it until his death, which occurred in May, 1890. For two years he had survived his wife who died in June, 1887. During the long period of his connection with the agricultural interests of this section he was known as a worthy and respected citizen and one who at all times commanded the high regard of those with whom he was brought in contact.
Joseph J. Kurtz was reared on the old homestead and acquired his education in the district schools, remaining with his parents until he had attained his majority. During that time he became familiar with all of the duties and labors incident to farm work and when he started out in life on his own account rented a farm which he continued to cultivate for eight years. On the expiration of that period he invested his earnings in eighty acres of land in Walnut township and at once began the task of further improving this and adding to it all of the equipment and accessories of a model farm. As he has prospered in his undertakings he has in- creased his holdings until his possessions now aggregate three hundred and sixty acres of finely improved land which he continues to cultivate, the well tilled fields yielding to him golden harvests. In all of his work he has been very successful and in addition to the raising of cereals best adapted to soil and climate he also makes a specialty of stock-raising, keeping about one hundred and fifty head of hogs per year, also sixty head of cattle, twenty head of horses and seventy-five head of sheep. His live-stock interests constitute an important feature of his business and add materially to his income. In addition to other interests he is also a stockholder in the East Pleasant Plain Mutual Telephone Company.
In August, 1885, Mr. Kurtz was united in marriage to Miss Mary Arndt, a daughter of Ferdinand and Mary (Kipp) Arndt, who were natives of Germany, in which country Mrs. Kurtz was born in October, 1863. Her parents died in their native land, after which she came to the United States when eighteen years of age. Her girlhood days had been spent
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upon her father's farm and like most German housewives her mother carefully trained her in the work of the household. The death of Mrs. Arndt occurred in 1872 and Mr. Arndt passed away in 1896, having never left their native country.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz have been born eight children: Hubert P .; Clara L., who died in March, 1890; Carolina C., William J., Bertha F., Theodore P., Dora G. and Bernard G., all of whom are yet at home. The family are communicants of the Catholic church and Mr. Kurtz is a democrat in his political views. He has served as school director of his district but has never aspired to public office. The work of his farm makes heavy demands upon his time and, recognizing the fact that industry is the basis of all honorable success, he works persistently and energetically to gain that prosperity which is the merited reward of labor. He is well known in this county and many of the comrades of his boyhood remain the friends of his manhood-a fact which is indicative of a well spent life.
CHARLES W. MOORMAN.
Charles W. Moorman, a retired farmer now living in Packwood, is one of the best known citizens of Jefferson county, where he has resided since he was seven years old. The son of Thomas and Margaret (Canady) Moorman, he was born in Highland county, Ohio, November 2, 1838. His parents were both of American descent, the father being born Sep- tember 7, 1809, and the mother, February 14, 1814. Thomas Moorman was a farmer by occupation and came west when his son Charles was only six years of age, stopping in Henry county, Iowa, for one year and then going to Jefferson county, Iowa, where he located on a farm five miles west of Fairfield. He lived on this farm during the remainder of his life and died March 26, 1889, after surviving his wife for several years.
Charles W. Moorman remained at home with his parents until he reached his majority, attending the district school in winter and helping his father on the farm in summer. He then began farming on his own account, purchasing a tract of land in Black Hawk township, where he located and lived for nearly thirty years. In 1893, renting his farm, he moved to Packwood, where he still resides, having sold his land in 1902. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers Savings Bank of Packwood, in 1893, and served as vice president and director of that bank for years. In 1861 he enlisted at Fairfield, Iowa, in Company F, Third Iowa Cavalry, under Captain B. F. Crail, in Colonel Bussey's regiment. Soon after he was taken ill with a fever, lost the use of his right arm and was forced to
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spend the winter in a hospital at St. Louis, in consequence of which he was discharged May 18, 1862.
On October 3, 1867, Mr. Moorman was married to Miss Esther Smith, daughter of John and A. L. (Bras) Smith. The father was a native of Massachusetts, born August 18, 1805, of English descent, and the mother was a native of New York, born August 17, 1827. They moved to Iowa in 1852, locating on a farm near Libertyville, in Jefferson county, where they lived for several years and then went to Brookville, Locust Grove township, where he passed away August II, 1882. His wife survived him nineteen years, dying August 17, 1901, on her birthday, in Packwood, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Moorman. Mr. and Mrs. Moorman be- came the parents of five daughters, two of whom are deceased, Louie Pearl and Zeta May, the former of whom passed away at the age of three years and the latter, at the age of four. The eldest child, Maggie Gertrude, and the youngest, Hazel Alice, are at home. The other daughter, Edith Angie, is the wife of G. T. Everett, manager of a department in the Younkers department store in Des Moines, Iowa. They have four chil- dren : Charles John, born August 23, 1903; Marjorie Aileen, born July 16, 1905; Theodore Sheldon, born January 10, 1907; and Max, born March 27, 1909.
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