USA > Iowa > Linn County > History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 90
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Mr. Dewees and his family are members of the Society of Friends and are prominent socially in the community where they reside. In his political views he is a republican, having supported that party sinec attaining his majority, but he has never sought nor desired office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, the capable management of which has won him substantial success.
GEORGE DRIPS
George Drips is the owner of extensive farm property, well equipped for agricultural pursuits, his possessions embracing five hundred and forty acres, and he at one time owned about fourteen hundred acres of rich Iowa land but has given much of his property to his children. He has lived in Linn county since 1854, covering a period of fifty-six years, and from that time to the present he has been actively connected with the agrienltural development of this section of the state. He was born in Lieking county, Ohio, February 27, 1836, a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Myers) Drips, who were likewise natives of the Buckeye state, the former born in 1810. and the latter on the 14th of September, 1814. They spent their entire lives in Ohio, there rearing a family of ten children, of whom six are still living. The father has been dead many years, his death occur- ring September 17, 1769, when he was fifty-nine years of age, while the mother surviving for a long period, was called to the home beyond in February. 1900, having reached the advanced age of eighty-six years.
George Drips, the eldest in his father's family, aequired his education in the schools of Lieking county and there remained to his twentieth year. He then sought the broader opportunities of the rapidly developing middle west and accordingly, in 1854, started on his journey with a good team and wagon, which were his only possessions, his destination being Linn county. He here purchased ninety acres of land, which his father had previously owned, paying him twelve dollars per acre. On the place stood a log cabin, in which he took up his abode and which continued to be his home for eight or nine years. This property proved the nucleus of his later possessions. In due time he made substantial improvements and placed the land under a high state of cultivation so that rich crops each year rewarded his labors. This brought him the means that enabled him from time to time to purchase more land and he thus added to his holdings until his possessions embraced fourteen hundred aeres in Linn county. He has, however, been generous with his children, having given to them between seven and eight hundred aeres of land. He still retains possession of five hundred and forty acres, all of which is located in Linn township. This land is all tillable
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and on the place stands a fine country residence, in the rear of which are good barns and ontbuildings. His property is valuable and worth many times the priee he paid for his first possessions. In addition to his home place he owns eight aeres of land located within the corporation limits of Springville. In eon- neetion with general farming Mr. Drips makes a specialty of stoek-raising and this has added not a little to his snecess.
Mr. Drips has been married twice. His first union was with Miss Mary E. Dunn, who was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, in 1834, a daughter of John and Helen Dunn. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Drips were born eight children, four sons and four daughters, namely : Franees E., who became the wife of Frederick Martin of Linn county but is now deceased; Wealthy J., the wife of John Barner of this county; John I., also living here; Olive, the wife of Fred Ilginfritz, of Linn county ; George Walter, a resident of this eounty; Maggie M., the wife of Charles Wood, their home being in Linn county; Joseph S., also living here; and Charles, who has departed this life. The wife and mother was called to the home beyond on the 6th of August, 1894, when in her sixtieth year. Mr. Drips was married September 16, 1896, to Miss Elizabeth M. Dunlap, who was born in Lieking county, Ohio, March 18, 1865, a daughter of William and Mary (Hunter) Dunlap, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Ohio. They died in the latter state. Mrs. Drips was the youngest in a family of nine children, of whom seven still survive, and by her marriage she became the mother of a son and daughter but both died in infaney.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Drips belong to the Christian church and he has in his possession the family Bible of his grandfather over one hundred years old. Mrs. Drips is a member of Eastern Star Lodge, No. 407, at Springville, of which she is associate matron. In polities he is a democrat but not active in publie life. In his early years Mr. Drips persevered in the pursuit of an honest purpose and today, erowned with wealth, he stands in the same relation to his fellowmen as he did when struggling for a livelihood, recognizing and appreciating honest purpose and genuine worth and rating the individual by his merits and not by his possessions. Throughout his career his duties have been performed with the greatest eare and business interests have been so managed as to win him the confidenee of the public and the prosperity which should always attend honorable effort.
ELMER D. NEAL
There are few men whose lives are erowned with the honor and respeet which is universally accorded to Elmer D. Neal, but through a connection of almost six deeades with Linn county's history his has been an unblemished character. With him sueeess in life has been reached through honorable dealing. for he has never deviated from what his judgment would indieate to be right and honorable be- tween his fellowmen and himself. As agriculture has beeome a source of great profit in the state of Iowa, he has accumulated land until he is now one of the most extensive owners in Linn eounty.
Born on a farm in Lin township, his natal day was May 4, 1850. His father. Chauncey Neal, was born in New York and was one of a family of five children, being the second in order of birth. The others were Arvilla, Horaee. Rosanna and Ira, all now deceased. The father in his early manhood sought the broader opportunities of the new and rapidly developing middle west and in 1839 loeated in Linn eounty. Here he was married a few years later, on the 27th of January, 1846, to Miss Jane Clark, who was born in Ohio and in 1839 eame to Linn county. where she became acquainted with her future husband. They began their do-
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mestic life upon a tract of sixty acres, which Mr. Neal entered from the govern- ment, and he thus became identified with the agricultural interests of Linn township. He at once began to develop and improve his new farm and soon made a comfortable home for himself and family, while the fields returned him rich crops each year. It was on this place that four children were added to the house- hold, namely : Ira O., who is deceased; Elmer D., of this review; Mary M., the wife of A. J. Reid; and Henry E., also of Linn township. There Mr. and Mrs. Neal labored earnestly and perseveringly until 1874, when the place was traded for one hundred and sixty acres on section 16, Linn township. Later he added forty acres through purchase and thus his possessions embraced two hundred acres in Linn township. He made many improvements thereon and continued its cultivation until the time of his death, which occurred on the 24th of February, 1887, when he was well advanced in years. The mother survived for a few years and died on the 17th of December, 1890.
Elmer D. Neal, the second in order of birth in his father's family, was reared upon the home farm and upon him devolved much of the arduous task of carry- in on the work, giving his father the benefit of his labor until he reached mature years. He then started out in life on his own account and purchased eighty- seven acres of land, which forms a portion of his present holdings. He met with success through the cultivation of his first land and accumulated the means that in 1881 enabled him to purchase one hundred aeres in Franklin township. In 1886 he bought an adjoining traet of one hundred and sixty acres, while in 1893 he added eighty-five acres, in 1899 still another tract of one hundred and twenty aeres and in 1905 purchased twenty aeres, so that his possessions now comprise five hundred and seventy-two acres, all of which is well improved and under a high state of eultivation. He oceupies a nice country home, in the rear of which are substantial ontbuildings arranged with a view to convenienee, and everything about the place is kept in the best condition. His fields return golden harvests, while in his pastures are seen fine grades of stock, for he has always made a specialty of raising stock, feeding all the grain he raises. In addition to his home plaee he had one hundred and fifty-seven acres which he deeded to his sons, thus giving them a start in the business world. He has been continuously identified with farming interests in Linn county and is now numbered among its represen- tative citizens.
On the 4th of January, 1874, occurred the marriage of Mr. Neal and Miss Amanda E. Hoover, a daughter of Benjamin and Sarah A. (Bressler) Hoover, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in Dauphin county, April 17, 1827, and the latter in Cumberland county on the 16th of August, 1829. In early life they accompanied their respective parents to Linn county, the year 1847 witnessing their arrival here. Both the Hoover and Bressler fam- ilies located in Franklin township and it was in this section of the state that Benjamin Hoover and Sarah Bressler were married, their wedding being cele- brated on the 20th of August, 1848. They took up their abode in Linn township and the father was employed in various ways until 1861, when he rented a farm which he operated for two years. He then purchased one hundred and thirty acres, whereon he made his home until 1882. In that year he removed to Lisbon, where he lived retired until his death, which occurred February 1, 1897. His wife preceded him to the home beyond, passing away April 10, 1896. They became the parents of four children: Christly, who is deceased; Mary C., who has also departed this life; Amanda E., now Mrs. Neal; and Elizabeth E., the wife of Robert Oxley of Marion.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Neal has been blessed with three sons and one daughter. Edgar D., who is mentioned elsewhere in this work, is married and lives in Linn township. He was graduated from the commercial department of Cornell College at Mount Vernon. Burt H., who also pursued a similar course
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in that institution, is also married and lives with his parents, assisting his father in his farm work. Benjamin C., who was accorded educational advantages in Cornell College, is married and resides in Franklin township, Linn county. Mabel A. is the wife of C. M. Wiekham, a resident of Linn township.
Sinee age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Neal has given his politieal support to the democratic party but has never cared for publie office. preferring to spend his time in the pursuit of his private affairs. That he reeog- nizes and utilizes opportunities and possesses keen foresight is indicated by the vast aereage which he has accumulated. His advantages in youth were not unlike those of the average farmer boy but to his firm purpose and laudable ambition may be attributed his success. The ideals of men like this, their personality, the history of their lives and their profound sense of integrity could be made the text of a lesson from which the young men of today could study sneeess.
JOHN B. LEIGH
John B. Leigh, one of the honored pioneers and representative citizens of Linn county, was born in Butler county, Ohio, September 3, 1834, a son of Foster W. and Sarah (Busenbark) Leigh, both of whom were natives of New Jersey, though they were married in the Buckeye state. His paternal grandfather was Daniel Leigh, who came to this country from England. During the early settlement of Ohio Mrs. Leigh accompanied her mother on her removal to that state, her father. John Busenbark, being at that time a soldier in the continental army, for the Revolutionary war was then in progress. On leaving the service he joined his family in Ohio, where he made his home until his death. Our subjeet was only four years of age when his parents removed with their family to Montgomery county, Indiana, where they made their home until 1851, and then came to Iowa. loeating on a farm near Linn Grove. Here the father secured two sections of land, but later disposed of one-half of it to a friend. Beside this property he owned about four hundred acres, on which he located and continued to operate until his death. On coming to the county he purchased over twelve hundred acres of land for eighty-seven cents per acre, securing this through soldiers' land warrants. He was actively identified with the early development of this region and both he and his wife died on the old home farm. In their family were nine children, namely: Charles, a farmer of Franklin township; Isaiah, deceased : John B., of this review; Phoebe Jane, the deceased wife of Josephus Ballord : Eliza Ellen, the widow of P. M. Stinger and a resident of Linn Grove; Sarah, the deceased wife of Nathan Ballord : Mary, the wife of A. M. Walling, of David City. Nebraska; Foster, a resident of Mount Vernon; and one daughter who died in infaney.
Accompanying his parents on their removal to Linn county in 1851, John B. Leigh has since been prominently identified with her interests. Throughout his active business career he followed the oeeupation to which he had been reared - that of farming - and owned eight hundred acres of land two miles north of Mount Vernon in Franklin township, but has sinee disposed of one hundred aeres. retaining the remainder of this property to the present time. Feeling justified in retiring from active labor, he removed to Mount Vernon about twenty years ago and here he has sinee made his home, having built a beautiful residence on Main street, adjoining the Cornell College campus to the east. Land which he bonght for from thirty-five to forty dollars an aere is now worth two hundred dollars per aere, owing to the rise in land values and the extensive improvements which he has placed upon it. In connection with general farming he devoted considerable attention to the raising and feeding of stock and in both undertak-
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ings he met with excellent sneeess. For the past eight years, however, he has been practically an invalid and has not been able to engage in any business.
Mr. Leigh was married in 1854 to Elizabeth Busenbark, a distant relative and a widow of his brother, Isaiah. She was born, reared and educated in Indiana. Though having no children of their own Mr. and Mrs. Leigh have cared for and reared five who needed homes.
Since easting his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont Mr. Leigh has been a stanchi supporter of the republican party and while living on his farm served for twenty years as school treasurer, during which time he handled about one hundred thousand dollars in school funds. He also served as township trus- tee and filled other minor offiees to the entire satisfaction of all eoneerned. During his residence in Mount Vernon he served for twelve years as a member of the town council. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and has contributed generously toward the erection of both the Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal churches in Mount Vernon, serving on the building committee of both organiza- tions. He was also a member of the board of trustees of Cornell College for a number of years and during his active life was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Having for ahnost sixty years been a resident of this county, he has witnessed its entire growth and development and materially assisted in its upbuilding and progress. During the early days he assisted in raising many a log house and was considered an expert on notching the corners. In those early days Muscatine, fifty miles away, was their nearest market and it usually required two days to make the trip. Dressed hogs were then sold for two and a half dollars per hundred, while wheat brought only thirty-five cents per bushel and oats about twenty-five cents. At that time horse thieves and other robbers were very numerous and there were many hardships and privations to be endured. Wild game was also plentiful, including turkeys and deer, and one can look back with pleasure on those early days.
CHARLES I. McSHANE
A well improved and valuable tract of one hundred and fifteen acres in Linn township, Linn eounty, pays tribute to the labors of Charles I. MeShane, who is one of the most enterprising and progressive farmers of this section of the state. He is a native of the county and a son of Jacob and Mary (Wilyerd) MeShane. both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, whence they emigrated with their respective parents to Linn county, Iowa. It was in this county that their mar- riage occurred in 1851, after which the father purchased land and located on a farm. He eventually disposed of his first purchase and bought a farm in Linn township, on which he made his home until his death, which oeeurred in June. 1908. The mother survived him for only a brief period, being called to her final rest on the 1st of January, 1910. They were buried in the cemetery at Spring- ville. They were devoted and consistent members of the Baptist church and their lives were in harmony with their professions. They were identified with the interests of Linn county throughout a long period and were numbered among its most worthy and respected citizens. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jacob McShane were born ten children: Mrs. Aliee Starry, a resident of Chicago; Lowell, of Iowa ; Henry, a resident of Nebraska; Emma, John and Porter, all residing in Linn county ; Charles I., of this review; Frank I., who is mentioned elsewhere in this work ; Mrs. Eveline Perkins, also of Linn county ; and Sadie, who died in infaney.
Charles I. MeShane was reared to the occupation of farming, assisting his father in the work of the fields from the time of early spring planting until the erops were harvested in the antumn. and during the winter months he pursued his
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studies in the district schools near his father's home. He remained under the parental roof until he had reached the age of twenty-eight years and then rented a traet of land, which he operated for two years. His first purchase consisted of ten aeres in Linn township, which forms the nucleus of his present holdings, now amounting to one hundred and fifteen acres. He has made all the improvements on the place, including a comfortable country residence, substantial barn and outbuildings and no convenience usually found on a model farm is here lacking. He is engaged in raising the various cereals best suited to soil and elimate and in the pursuit of his labors uses the latest improved machinery, while he follows the methods of farming condueive to best results.
Mr. McShane chose as a life companion Miss Letta J. Higgins, their mar- riage being celebrated on the 6th of March, 1896. She is a graduate of the Spring- ville high school and is a daughter of Michael and E. (Johnson) IFiggins, both natives of Ohio who came to Linn county in the early period of its development, loeating here when the homes of the settlers were widely scattered and much of the land was still in possession of the government. The father entered a traet of land, to the cultivation of which he gave his attention for many years but, after the death of the wife and mother, December 25, 1885, he removed to Springville, where he has sinee lived retired. Mrs. MeShane is the third in order of birth in a family of four children, the others being: Mrs. Milly Dunn, who lives in Linn township; Mrs. Irene Sterrit, of Texas; and Frank, who makes his home in Linn township.
Mr. MeShane has supported the men and measures of democracy sinee age conferred upon him the right of franchise, although he has never been an office seeker. In religions faith he is a Presbyterian. Ile is a young man of laudable ambition and firm purpose, who has overcome every obstacle that has barred his path and is gradually working his way to the front among the citizens of worth in Linn county.
MIKE LARSEN
Mike Larsen, devoting his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits in Brown township, was born in Denmark, October 29, 1873. His parents were Peter and Mary Larsen, also natives of Denmark, in which country the mother died. The father still survives and is yet a resident of his native land. In their family were fourteen children.
Mike Larsen, spending his youthful days in his father's home, attended the common schools and thus prepared for life's practical and responsible duties. He remained in his native land until nineteen years of age, when, imbued with a desire to better his financial condition, lie made arrangements to come to the new world and in 1892 sailed for the United States, settling in Linn county, where he worked as a farm hand. It was thus that he made his start in life. Carefully saving his earnings he was at length enabled to engage in farming on his own account. In 1904 he rented land, which he occupied for three years, when he purchased a good traet of forty acres in Marion township. upon which he now resides. Sinee coming to the United States he has always given his time and energies to general farming and his broad experience and practical methods have constituted the basis of his sneeess.
On the 4th of November, 1904, Mr. Larsen was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Voigt, who was born in Denmark in 1885 and is a daughter of Ferdinand and Mary Voigt, both of whom were natives of that country. They came to America in 1891 and, making their way to the interior of the country, settled in Linn county. The mother has now passed away but the father is still living. In
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their family were seven children, which number included Mrs. Larsen, who by her marriage has become the mother of two sons, Frederick and Ivan.
In his political views Mr. Larsen is a republican and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, but never seeks nor desires office. He prefers to give his undivided time and attention to his business affairs and has made steady progress since coming to the new world, finding here the opportunities which he sought and which are bringing him substantial success.
WILLIAM A. LACOCK
The agrieultural interests of Linn county find a worthy representative in William A. Lacock, who is successfully following farming on a finely improved traet of land in Linn township. Born in Indiana, in 1849, he is the oldest in a family of four children whose parents were Joab and Elizabeth (Bassett) Lacoek. The father was a native of Ripley county, Indiana, born January 15, 1823, and was reared and married in his native state, there remaining until 1854, which year witnessed his arrival in Linn county. He established his home on a farm in this section of the state and was thus identified with its farming interests until his death, which occurred on the 13th of June, 1893, when he was more than seventy years of age. He was a valued member of the Masonie order at Mount Vernon. Mrs. Lacoek preceded her husband to the home beyond, her demise occurring in 1864. Their four children are: Abner, a resident of Linn township ; Merey, the wife of J. Kerns, a resident of Marion township, Linn eounty ; Albert J., deceased ; and William A.
The removal of the family from Indiana to Linn county was an event in the life of William A. Lacock, who was then a little lad of five years, and from that time to the present he has been a witness of the changes and progress that have here taken place as the years have come and gone. He aequired his education in the sehools near his father's home and during the periods of vacation was assigned such tasks about the farm as usually fall to the lot of the farmer boy. As his age and strength inereased with the passing years he assumed larger responsibilities and continued with his father until twenty-three years old. He then rented a tract of land, which he operated for four years, and at the end of that time purchased ninety-five acres in Linn township, which has been his home to the present time. He has, however, added a traet of forty-five aeres, so that his possessions now embraee one hnudred and forty acres. He has made many improvements on his farm, on which stands a nice country home and in the rear are good barns and outbuildings. Mr. Lacock is very methodical in carrying on his work, elosely adhering to a systematie rule of erop rotation and studying the adaptability of certain erops to eertain soils, so that good results follow his labors. He is a faneier of good stock and his farm animals are not only of the best grades but are kept in splendid condition.
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