USA > Iowa > Louisa County > History of Louisa County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1911, Volume II > Part 13
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WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL.
One of the many citizens of Louisa county who went to the front in de- fense of their country in the early '6os is William J. Campbell, a retired agri- culturist of Elliott township. He was born in Perry county, Ilinois, on the 18th of August, 1839, and is a son of William S. and Nancy ( McComb ) Camp- bell, the father a native of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and the mother of Chester county, South Carolina, but of Irish extraction. They were married in southern Illinois and soon afterward removed to Henderson county, that state, where they resided until 1857, when they came to Des Moines county, Iowa. They continued to make their home on a farm until 1864, when they disposed of that property and went to Northfield, where the mother passed away in 1867. Subsequently the father again sold his home and removed to Chariton, this state, where he was residing at the time of his demise in February, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. William S. Campbell were the parents of seven children: Mary Ann, the widow of Fred Courts, of Quincy, Illinois; William J., our subject ; Moses F., now a resident of California; Thomas H., who is deceased ; Eliza, the widow of Wesley Cowles, of California : Theodore, who is deceased; and one who died in infancy.
William J. Campbell acquired his early education in the common schools, following which he attended college, remaining at home until the opening of the Civil war. He first enlisted for four months, going to the front under Cap- tain Streator. During that period he saw much active service, the two most im- portant engagements probably being those of Dug Springs and Wilson Creek. At the expiration of his period of enlistment he returned to St. Louis, being
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mustered out there on the 20th of August, 1861. He returned home but re- enlisted October 10th, and on the 15th of November, 1861, was mustered into service, going to the front as captain of Company K, Fourteenth Iowa Volun- teers. His second period of service covered three years and he participated in the battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh, being taken prisoner during the lat- ter conflict and held for six months and eleven days. When paroled he re- turned home, where he remained for two months, during which time he was married. Shortly afterward he again joined his regiment, remaining at the front till the close of hostilities, when he was mustered out at Davenport. After the close of the war he came to Louisa county and bought a farm, which he cultivated until 1907, when he retired and removed to Oakville, where he con- tinues to reside, but he still owns two hundred and forty acres of land in sec- tion 34, Elliott township.
Mr. Campbell was united in marriage on the 20th of November, 1862, to Miss Mary Jane Johnson, who was born in Wapello township, this county, on the 10th of March, 1843, a daughter of George and Margaret Johnson, natives of Fayette county, Ohio. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were born twelve chil- dren : Anna E., who is now deceased: Elmer E., a resident of this county ; Su- san J., also living in this county ; George W., who is operating the old home- stead ; Maggie M. and John T., twins, the former the wife of Frank Swise, of Oakville, and the latter also residing in Louisa county; Frank W., living in Minnesota ; Robert S., also in Minnesota ; Charles, deceased ; James A., now liv- ing in Oakville ; Emma A., the wife of D. D. Marshall, of Oakville; and Thomas W., deceased. Mlrs. Campbell died on the 5th of December, 1910, being survived by nine of her children and twenty grandchildren, and was laid to rest in North- field cemetery, Des Moines county. She was a member of the Methodist church.
His first vote Mr. Campbell cast for Abraham Lincoln and has ever since given his support to the candidates of the republican party. He has always taken an active interest in all political affairs and has filled a number of the township offices. Through the medium of his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic Mr. Campbell maintains relations with his comrades of the Civil war, of whom there are but few left. He is one of the highly esteemed citizens of Elliott township, as in all of his relations in life he has shown the same just spirit and loyalty which characterized him as a soldier and officer on the battle- fields of the south, where he rendered such efficient service.
FRANK WRIGHT, M. D.
The entire period of the professional life of Dr. Frank Wright was spent in Wapello, where he passed away on the 17th of August, 1903. He was a native of Louisa county, his birth occurring on the 13th of September, 1867, and was a son of the late John and Rebecca Wright. The father has been dead for
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several years, but the mother still survives and makes her home in Morning Sun, Iowa. They were the parents of eight children.
Almost the entire life of Frank Wright was spent in his native county, in the schools of which he acquired his preliminary education. After graduating from the high school he decided to adopt the profession of dental surgery for his vocation and was graduated from the dental department of the State Uni- versity of Iowa. Subsequently going to Chicago he matriculated at the American College of Dental Surgery of that city, from which he received his degree after the usual lapse of time. He also took a post graduate course at the University College of Dental Surgery in Philadelphia. After the completion of his pro- fessional studies he returned to Wapello to practice and was meeting with very good success in his work at the time of his demise.
In 1894 Dr. Wright was united in marriage to Miss Emma Hook, also a native of this county and a daughter of G. W. and Emily B. (Trask) Hook, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Illinois. They were among the pioneer settlers and extensive landowners of this county, where the father passed away on the 13th of November, 1895, and the mother on the 31st of January, 1910, at the age of seventy-three years. Unto them were born nine children, eight of whom are still living. At the time of her marriage and for several years previously Mrs. Wright was engaged in teaching school in this county. Two children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Wright: Raymond H., who was born on the 14th of October, 1895, and is now attending the St. John's Military Academy at Delafield, Wisconsin; and Robert E., whose birth oc- curred on the 4th of September, 1900.
Dr. Wright was interred in the cemetery of Wapello, of which town he had been a resident for so many years and where his wife and family continue to make their home. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, while both he and his wife were affiliated with the Eastern Star. Dr. Wright was highly esteemed both professionally and socially in Wapello, where he had many friends who had known him since boyhood.
I. E. BROWN.
One of the citizens of Louisa county who has met with success in agricul- tural pursuits is I. E. Brown, who owns a fine farm of one hundred and forty acres on section 26, Elliott township. He was born in Ohio on the 22d of November, 1867, and is the youngest son of John and Elizabeth ( Bird) Brown, also natives of the Buckeye state, where the mother died when our subject was only four years of age. The family removed from Ohio to Illinois and resided in Sangamon county until 1869. From there they came to Louisa county, settling on a farm, and the father still survives and continues to make his home in this state. In the family were five children, four of whom are living, as follows:
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John W., who is living in Indiana ; Charles, who is a resident of Webster City, lowa; Seymour J., of Fort Dodge, lowa; Newton J., deceased; and I. E., our subject.
The first seventeen years of his life, I. E. Brown spent under the parental roof, his time being divided between the work of the fields and the schoolroom, both of which were now and then varied by such diversions as appeal to the youth of the more sparsely settled communities. He began his life as a wage earner in 1884 by accepting a position as a farm hand. continuing to be thus employed for eight years. Ambitious and thrifty, he carefully saved his wages until 1802 he was able to purchase his present homestead. Success has attended the efforts of Mr. Brown, who has brought many improvements in his farm dur- ing the period of his residence, having erected some fine buildings and brought the land into such a state of cultivation that abundant harvests are always as- sured. He is making a specialty of the raising and feeding of hogs, which ven- ture has proven to be very lucrative, in addition to the cultivation ot his fields.
On September 30, 1888, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Brown and Miss llarriet L. Moon, who is a native of Missouri and a daughter of William and Czrena Moon. Her father is deceased but her mother still survives and is now making her home in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have five children: Edith M .. who is at home : Irene Gertrude, a high school student ; and Myrtle Eliza- beth. Raymond Elsworth, and Geneva May.
Mr. Brown, who has served his township in both the capacity of trustee and school director, gives his political support to the candidates of the republican party, as he considers their policy best adapted to protect the interests of the majority. The church affiliation of both himself and family is with the Meth- odist Episcopal denomination. For the past five years he has been one of the directors of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Louisa county, of which he is one of the stockhoklers, the length of his service attesting his ability as a business man. During their residence in Elliott township, which covers a period of nearly twenty years, both Mr. and Mrs. Brown have made many friends in both their church and the community where they reside.
JAMES R. McDANIEL.
On the roll of Louisa county's honored pioneers who have now passed away appears the name of James R. McDaniel, who for a number of years was actively and prominently connected with agricultural pursuits here. He had long since passed the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten for he was born on the 17th of June, 1828, his life record covering the intervening years until the 2d of October, 1908. He was born in Tennessee, a son of Likens and Nancy ( Wallace) McDaniel, also natives of Tennessee, where the mother died when our subject was eighteen months old, when the family removed to Carlinville,
E
JAMES R. MeDANIEL
PLR.1.
1 ANTOR LENOX AND TILDEN FOUND AT ONS B 1
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Illinois, our subject's uncle, David McDaniel being the first man married in Ma- coupin county.
James R. McDaniel was but a lad of thirteen years when, in 1842, he came to lowa, then a frontier district and still under territorial rule. Much of the land was yet unclaimed and many evidences of pioneer life remained. Un- daunted, however, with the prospect of a hard struggle, the boy cast in his lot with the early settlers of this locality, purchasing a farmi in Louisa county, upon which he continued to reside throughout the remainder of his life. He was alert and energetic and not afraid to work, and as time passed he brought his fields under a high state of cultivation, becoming one of the substantial and prosperous farmers of the county. At the time of his death he was the owner of two hun- dred and fifty acres, all well developed and improved, constituting a valuable and desirable estate.
On February 6, 1856, Mr. McDaniel was married to Miss Sarah A. Snod- grass, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of James and Clarissa ( McDaniel ) Snodgrass, both of whom were natives of Virginia. Her mother's death occurred in Fulton county, Illinois, and her father later removed to Kansas, where he passed away. Unto Mr. and Mrs. McDaniel were born three children, all of whom are now deceased.
With the passing of Mr. McDaniel on the 2d of October, 1908, Louisa county lost one of its oldest and most highly respected citizens, who for sixty- six years was actively identified with agricultural pursuits here. During that period he saw the country converted from vast stretches of prairie land into rich, arable fields, witnessed the introduction of the railroad and telegraph sys- tems throughout the county, and rejoiced at the progress which was constantly carried forward and at the same time took his full share in the work of improve- ment and development. His widow now makes her home in Wapello, in the fine residence which belonged to her husband, and she also owns a part of the old homestead farm. She is a faithful and exemplary member of the Presby- terian church, to which he also belonged, and is a lady of most estimable char- acter, greatly respected and admired by those with whom she has been brought in contact.
DALE W. KREMER.
Among the agriculturists of Wapello township. Louisa county, who are numbered among the substantial farmers and representative citizens and who have achieved success and surrounded themselves with prosperity by their own exertions and persevering efforts, is Dale W. Kremer, whose birth occurred in this county on the 14th of September, 1861. His parents, W. S. and Eliza- beth E. (Whicher) Kremer, have for many years been residents of Wapello, lowa, where the father has continuously been connected with public affairs for an extensive period. He has served as mayor of the city and in various other
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important offices, and is now acting as county surveyor of Louisa county, which position he has filled for fifty-four years, an unparalleled record in this county.
During the period of his boyhood and youth Dale W. Kremer was afforded such educational advantages as was possible in the early 'zos, which he utilized to the best possible advantage. He attended the public school until he was fifteen years of age, when he entered the high school at Wapello, from which institution he was graduated in due course of time. Three winters were then spent in study at Howe Academy, Mount Pleasant, Iowa, after which he took up the profession of teaching and was thus engaged in the schools of Louisa county for three years. He proved a capable and successful teacher, clearly and readily imparting to others the knowledge which he had himself acquired, but feeling that he might find a more congenial and profitable field along agricultural lines he retired from that profession to enter farming pursuits. Purchasing a tract of eighty acres from his father he has since given his attention to its development and improve- ment, in which undertaking he has prospered. He gives careful attention to the cultivation of his fields, raising the various grains and cereals best adapted to soil and climate, and also devotes considerable time to his stock-raising interests, in which he makes a specialty of White Wyandotte chickens.
On the 13th of September, 1886, Mr. Kremer was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Jamison, who was born in Newport, Iowa, a daughter of J. W. and Rachel Jamison. This union has been blessed with two children, namely ; Clara Pearl, who married John A. Vogelgesang of Burlington, Iowa ; and Nellie M., residing at home.
The parents are members of the Christian church, and Mr. Kremer gives his support to the republican party. Although he served as assessor for three years by appointment he is not a politician in the usually accepted sense of office seeking. However he has ever remained loyal to the best interests of the community in which he makes his home and has manifested those qualities which stand for honorable manhood and desirable citizenship. He is'a man of high moral character. industrious, enterprising and honest, and is numbered among the intellectual and substantial residents of Wapello township.
NORMAN T. WHEELER.
One of the enterprising and successful agriculturists of Morning Sun town- ship is Norman T. Wheeler, who was born in Louisa county on the 20th of December, 1874. His parents were Elisha and Catherine ( Hunter) Wheeler, the mother a native of Maryland and the father of Pennsylvania. They mi- grated to Iowa in 1865, locating on a farm which they cultivated until the fath- er's demise in 1883. The mother survived him for fourteen years thereafter, passing away on the 15th of October, 1897. They were the parents of eleven children, all of whom are living.
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Reared on the farm where he was born Norman T. Wheeler acquired his education in the common schools in the vicinity of his home. He remained a member of the parental household until he was married, following which he re- moved to the farm where he is now residing. Mr. Wheeler has met with more than an average degree of success in his pursuits and now owns the property where he is living. He has wrought many changes in the place during the pe- riod of his occupancy, having erected a fine new residence and some outbuild- ings. His farm contains one hundred and eighty acres, located on section 26, all of which is in a good state of cultivation. Although he engages in general farming he makes a specialty of the raising and feeding of hogs.
Mr. Wheeler was married March 9, 1898, to Miss Myrtle Hamilton, who was born in Des Moines county, on the 22d of March, 1878. Mrs. Wheeler is a daughter of Robert M. and Maria ( Whittaker ) Hamilton, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Illinois. They lived in Iowa until 1909 when they removed to Minnesota, where they are now residing. Unto them were born ten children, only four of whom are now living. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler has been blessed with the birth of three children: Marie E., who was born on the 22d of December, 1898; Harold L., born on the 28th of October. 1900 ; and Bernard N., whose birth occurred on the 25th of January, 1903.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler are members of the Presbyterian church, and fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America. Ever since granted the right of suffrage Mr. Wheeler has voted for the men and measures of the republican party, but not being an aspirant for public honors or the emol- uments of office he has never actively participated in township affairs. By the intelligent direction of his affairs, to the supervision of which he has always given careful attention, Mr. Wheeler has met with success and is becoming rec- ognized as one of the substantial agriculturists of his township.
O. P. WILCOX.
It has been truly said that no human being has lived in vain who made the world better for having passed this way. The remark applies to O. P. Wilcox, now deceased, who for many years was a respected citizen of Columbus Junc- tion-a man whose life was very largely controlled by a desire to enhance the happiness of those with whom he was associated and who nobly performed his part as a citizen and as head of a promising family.
He was a native of Blount county, Tennessee, born April 16, 1851, a son of Samuel S. and Amanda Jane ( Shaw) Wilcox. The parents were both born in Tennessee and were married in that state: On coming to Jowa they located on a farm in Louisa county, where they spent the remainder of their days, the father passing away in May, 1893. and the mother in November, 1802. They were the parents of nine children, four of whom are now living.
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(). P. Wilcox arrived in lowa at the age of six months and received his edu- cation in the district schools of Louisa county. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age and then rented land for a year on his own account, at the close of which time he purchased eighty acres in Union township. He cultivated his farm industriously until 1881 when he sold out and moved to Columbus Junction, where he engaged in the lumber business. After two years he disposed of his business and purchased a grocery store, which he conducted successfully until he retired. He was a good business man and also a competent farmer, becoming the owner of two hundred and four acres of good land in this county, in which he invested his surplus capital.
On Christmas day of 1873 Mr. Wilcox was married to Miss Lucinda R. Harmon, who was born in Louisa county, November 21, 1854, a daughter of James and Mary A. ( Duncan ) Harmon. The parents were both born in Blount county, Tennessee, and came to Louisa county, Iowa,, early in the '4os, locating in a log cabin with clapboard roof, puncheon floor, clapboard door and a stick chimney. As times improved, however, they occupied a more commodious resi- dence. They were the parents of nine children, four of whom survive. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox, one of whom died in infancy, the other. being: Emma .A., the wife of C. V. Shipman, of Sully, lowa: Robert H., at home : Francis O., now a resident of Montrose ; Orlando .A., also at home ; Zola M., who was born December 20, 1889, and died March 6, 1911 : and George M., at home.
Mr. Wilcox died February 15. 1910, leaving many friends who incerely mourned his loss. Politically he was independent, preferring to vote for the man rather than in support of any party. Ile took a great interest in local af- fairs and served for fourteen years as a member of the town board, showing a judgment and discrimination which met the hearty approval of the citizens irre- spective of party. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She still owns a farm in this county, the Columbus Hotel, and also a comfort- able residence in Columbus Junction. She is a member of Lodge No. 245. Royal Neighbors, and of the Fraternal Aid Association, and can claim a large circle of friends and acquaintances in Columbus Junction and Louisa county who admire her for her generous nature and pleasing social qualities.
GREGOR HIERR.
Gregor Herr, who has lived retired at Oakville for the past two years, was successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising throughout his active business career. His birth occurred in Germany on the Ioth of March, 1845. his parents being Frederick and Belbia Herr, both of whom passed away in that country. Their children were six in number, as follows: Gregor, of this review : Mathias, who died in Germany; George, living in Louisa county, Iowa; An- drew. who is a resident of Mount Pleasant, lowa; Elizabeth, who is the wife
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of George Hook and makes her home in Germany ; and Caroline, of Des Moines county. Jowa.
Gregor Herr remained in the fatherland until he had attained the age of twenty years and in July, 1865. emigrated to the United States, coming direct to Louisa county, Iowa. After a residence of five years he took up his abode in Mercer county, Illinois, where he remained for a similar period. Returning to . Louisa county, he purchased eighty acres of land but subsequently sold the property and bought another tract of one hundred and sixty acres, of which he retained possession until he put aside the active work of the fields in 1909. In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he also de- voted considerable attention to stock-raising, winning a gratifying measure of prosperity in both branches of his business. Two years ago he purchased ten acres of land in Oakville and has resided there up to the present time, enjoying the fruits of his former toil in well earned ease.
Mr. Herr has been married twice. In 1871 he wedded Miss Augusta Hook a daughter of Joseph and Barbara Hook, both of whom are deceased. By that union there were five children, namely: Joseph, who is a resident of Hamilton, lowa : George, who has passed away ; Emerson, the wife of D. E. Strawhacker. of Oakville ; Sophia, the wife of F. S. Searl, of Oakville : and Annie, the wife of Harry Munson, who also resides in Oakville. The wife and mother passed away in the 17th of March, 1895. and on Valentine day, February 14, 1900, Mr. Herr was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Mary A. Kerr, the widow of James Kerr and a daughter of William and Martha Munson. By his second wife Mr. Herr had three children: Lucy and Ruby, both at home : and Evalina, who is deceased.
In politics Mr. Herr is a stanch democrat, believing firmly in the principles of that party. In religious faith he is a Catholic. The hope that led him to leave his native land and seek a home in America has been more than realized. He found the opportunities he sought which, by the way, are always open to the ambitious, energetic man-and making the best of these he has steadily worked his way upward. He possesses the resolution, perseverance and reli- ability so characteristic of his nation, and his name is now enrolled among the best citizens of Louisa county.
ELMORE L. EDMONDSON.
One of the promising and highly esteemed young attorneys of Wapello is Elmore L. Edmondson, who was born in this county on the 14th of December. 1886. He is a son of Micajah and Sarah ( McCleary ) Edmondson, both natives of this county, who reside on a farm in the vicinity of Columbus Junction.
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