USA > Iowa > Louisa County > History of Louisa County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1911, Volume II > Part 14
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Reared at home, Elmore L. Edmondson continued to remain there for two years after he was graduated from the high school at Columbus Junction, de- voting his summers to agricultural pursuits, while he taught school in the win-
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ter. He subsequently entered Cornell College at Mount Vernon and after re- ceiving his degree, matriculated in the law department of the lowa State Uni- versity at Iowa City, from which institution he was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Law, being admitted to the bar in 1910. Immediately following he came to Wapello and entered the office of Oscar Hale, where he has ever since been located. In addition to his law practice he also handles real estate and furnishes abstracts. Always a student and thinker, Mr. Edmondson is well fitted for the profession he has elected to follow both by nature and preparation. He possesses the mental sagacity, keen powers of deduction and command of English and choice of words so essential in his practice.
Fraternally Mr. Edmondson is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic order. Public-spirited and progressive in his ideas, he takes an active interest in all municipal affairs, giving his political support to the candidates of the republican party. A young man of high ideals, incor- ruptible integrity and sound principles, fully recognizing his duties and respon- sibilities as a citizen and member of society, Mr. Edmondson has made many friends during the brief period of his sojourn in Wapello, by whom he is highly regarded.
JACOB W. BENZ.
A good farm of two hundred acres located on section 2, Port Louisa town- ship, is being cultivated by Jacob W. Benz, who engages in general farming and stock-raising. He is a native of Muscatine county, Iowa, his birth having oc- curred on the 14th of December, 1866. He is a son of Mathias and Lucy (Schneider) Benz. The father was originally from near Baden, Germany, and the mother from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. They were married in Mus- catine county, Iowa, following which event they located upon a farm which they bought in Louisa county and in the cultivation of which the father engaged for eight years. At the expiration of that period they disposed of the property and removed to Washington county, where he purchased another farm, which he operated until 1892. Again selling their homestead they returned to Musca- tine county, buying some land in Lake township, upon which they resided until the mother passed away in 1903. Since then the father has made his home with his children. They were the parents of six children: Lydia, the wife of W. F. Nelson, a resident of Louisa county ; Mollie, who married H. J. Jeffries. of Muscatine county ; Annie, who became the wife of O. J. Derby, of Louisa county ; Jacob W., the subject of this sketch; Albert, who died at the age of eight years; and Zula, the deceased wife of J. W. Hintermeister, of Louisa county.
The district schools of Louisa and Washington counties provided Jacob W. Benz with his education, following the acquirement of which he assisted his father in the cultivation of the farm, remaining a member of the parental house-
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PUBLIC LIBRARY
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MR. AND MRS. JACOB W. BENZ
MR. AND MRS, MATHIAS BENZ
MR. AND MRS. LOUIS BEIK
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hold until he was twenty-five years of age. In 1801 he left home to begin work- ing for himself and for eight years thereafter he farmed as a renter. As his efforts were rewarded with very good returns he managed to acquire sufficient means duing that period to enable him to purchase a farm of two hundred acres of finely improved land, all of which is under a very good state of cultivation with the exception of sixty acres in timber.
Mr. Benz established a home for himself in 1904 by his marriage to Miss Nettie Beik, their wedding being solemnized on the 18th of February. Mrs. Benz is a native of this county, hier natal day being the 20th of April, 1866, and a daughter of Louis and Lovey (Godfrey) Beik. The father was born in Baden, Germany, and the mother in Indiana but they were married in Louisa county. They began their domestic life upon a farm in this county, which now constitutes a portion of the homestead of their son-in-law, Jacob W. Benz. Here Mrs. Beik passed away in July, 1903, but Mr. Beik survived until the 13th of December, 1907. always having been engaged in the cultivation of his farm, Three children were born of this union: Nettie, now Mrs. Benz; Luella, who married C. W. Graham, of Grandview, Iowa ; and May, the wife of C. E. Wil- son, of Louisa county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Benz has been born one child, Nola May, whose birth occurred on the 27th of June, 1907. They are raising the son of Mr. Benz's sister. Hershal Oliver Hintermeister.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Benz are Christians and affiliate with the Church of God. His political support he gives to the republican party but not being an office seeker he does not prominently participate in local affairs but meets the requirements of good citizenship by casting a ballot on election day. Enterpris- ing and energetic he is one of the progressive agriculturists of Port Louisa town- ship who is contributing toward the development and advancement of the com- munity in which he resides.
JOHN E. WILSON.
The activities of John E. Wilson are concentrated upon the development of his farm, containing three hundred and fourteen acres of excellent land in Wa- pello township. He was born in Northfield, Des Moines county, Iowa, on the 22d of November, 1856, and is the eldest child of John and Nancy (Elliott) Wilson, natives of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. The father has passed away, but the mother still survives and now makes her home in Morning Sun. They were the parents of five children, four of whom are living, those beside our subject being : Rachel N., who is the second in order of birth and the wife of J. A. Reid, of Morning Sun: Samuel O., who is living in Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania : and Margaret, the wife of J. O. Gloss, of Homestead. Pennsylvania. The third in order of birth passed away in infancy.
After he had completed his education, which was acquired in the district schools of Des Moines county, John E. Wilson assisted his father in the culti- Vol. II-8
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vation of the old homestead until he was thirty-one. After the demise of his father he rented the farm for four years, and then disposing of it he removed to Morning Sun. During the next twelve years he worked at the carpenter's trade, but at the expiration of that period he rented one hundred and twenty acres of land in Des Moines county, Iowa. He cultivated this for two years and then rented four hundred and eighty acres of S. E. Gates. of Oakville, lowa, which he operated for seven years. Subsequently he purchased his home- stead on section 14. Wapello township, and there he engages in general farm- ing and stock-raising.
Mr. Wilson was married on the 2d of February, 1887, to Miss Nancy Ann Edgar who was born on the ist of November, 1866. She is a daughter of Da- vid and Martha ( McElhinny ) Edgar, to whom were born the following chil- dren: James L., who is a resident of Glenwood, Minnesota ; Samuel E., living in Morning Sun; William J., of Crawfordsville, Iowa; Thomas, deceased ; Nancy Ann, now Mrs. Wilson; Robert M., deceased; Elizabeth, the wife of George R. Thompson, of Pennsylvania ; and Martha J., who married E. W. Ilensleigh, of Blanchard.
After the death of his first wife Mr. Edgar married Miss Julia Wells, and of their union there were born five children: George G., who is living in Se- attle, Washington ; Melville, a resident of the same place : Emma L. and Ellen E., twins, the former the wife of Samuel Hartzell, of Pennsylvania, and the latter the wife of Alfred Killpatrick, of Des Moines county ; and Charles F., who married Agnes Hartzell and is living in Pennsylvania.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have seven children, six sons and one daughter, the order of their birth being as follows: Oliver L., who was born in the 7th of May, 1888; Ewert, born on the 15th of October, 1889; John E., born on the 26th of March, 1892; Armour M., born on the 22d of November, 1895: Mar- tha E., born on the 5th of July, 1899: Robert Z .. born on the 10th of March, 1001 ; and Samuel E., whose birth occurred on the 20th of July, 1907.
The family attend the services of the Reformed Presbyterian church, of which the parents are earnest and active members. A man of energy and enter- prise Mr. Wilson has always so capably directed his transactions as to be recog- nized as one of the competent business men and highly regarded citizens of Wa- pello township.
GRIFFITH JONES.
The possibilities that are available in America under the favoring influences of the great republic are clearly illustrated in the record of Griffith Jones, a well known farmer of Columbus City township, who began as an orphan but is now one of the most prosperous citizens in this part of the county. He is a native of Wales, where he was born January 5, 1865, a son of Richard and Anna (Jones) Jones. The father emigrated to America with his family in 1868 and
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settled upon a farm in Des Moines county, Iowa. He died in 1873 and his wife in June, 1899. There were six children in their family, one of whom died in infancy, the others being: Griffith, of this review: Owen, who is now living in Wyoming ; and Jane, Robert and Anna, all of whom are deceased.
Griffith Jones was brought by his parents to the United States at the age of three years and at nine years of age arrived in Louisa county, Iowa, with his mother. He was reared in the family of a kind-hearted cousin, Hugh O. Jones and continued with his benefactor until he was twenty-four years of age. In the meantime he had secured advantages of education in the common schools and had also become well acquainted with the details pertaining to the various branches of farming. He began his business career by renting two hundred acres and he cultivated this land to such good advantage that two years later he was enabled to purchase one hundred acres in Columbus City township, to which he has from time to time made additions until he is now the owner of two hundred and ten acres. He engages in general farming and stock-raising and, being capable in business, he generally carries forward to a successful completion whatever he undertakes. He has given very close at- tention to his work and is rewarded with a handsome competence.
On the 22d of December, 1892, Mr. Jones was married to Miss Jennie A. Richard, a daughter of David and Sarah ( Owens) Richard, both of whom were born in Wales. The father died March 20, 1892, but the mother is now living with the subject of this review. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones : David R., who was born September 10, 1893; Laura Jane, born February 10, 1895; and John G., born July 13, 1899.
Politically Mr. Jones is a stanch adherent of the republican party. He has never aspired to public office but has served as school director. He is a firm believer in the inspiration of the Bible and is a consistent member of the Congregational church. He has set a good example of industry and persever- ance, never allowing himself to become discouraged by difficulties and always adhering to what he considers just and right. He inherited many sturdy qual- ities from worthy ancestry and is endeavoring, with the assistance of his estim- able wife, to rear his children to become honorable and useful members of society. He fully deserves the respect in which he is held by his neighbors and friends and by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.
JOSEPH RAY SYPHRIT.
There are few citizens of Iowa who can claim a more worthy line of an- cestry than Joseph Ray Syphrit, of Port Lonisa township, the family on the paternal side having been traced to very early settlers of Pennsylvania and to Germany. He is a native of Louisa county, born December 7, 1856, a son of Joseph B. and Harriet F. (McNatton) Syphrit. The father was born in West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, and the mother in Pike county, Ohio. They
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were married in Louisa county, Iowa, April 5, 1855. The father taught school for more than thirty years and also served as an instructor at teachers' insti- tutes. In 1865 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of timber land near Grand View and cleared and put under cultivation ninety acres with his own hands, continuing in charge of this farm until 1880. In 1874 he was elected prin- cipal of the public schools of Grand View and later served for two years as pro- fessor of mathematics at the Eastern lowa Normal School. In 1878 he bought four hundred aeres of land near Red Cloud, Nebraska, which he later disposed of. He sold his homestead near Grand View in 1880 and rented a place in Port Louisa township, which he cultivated for several years. He also taught school in winter. In the fall of 1884 he purchased a farm of ninety acres in Wapello township, in the neighborhood of Fairview, upon which he moved in 1886. He is now residing upon this farm and engages successfully in agriculture and in the handling of bees. He is a member of the Methodist Protestant church and has been a lifelong worker in the Sunday school. He has always been a diligent student and understands thoroughly both the English and German languages. Ilis wife died March 8, 1893. There were eight children in their family, namely: Joseph Ray: Emma W., who became the wife of George Varner, of Louisa county : Rhoda J., who died at the age of two years and eight months ; Nevada E., who married Charles H. Hendricks, of Muscatine county ; Mary E. and William O., twins, born August 22, 1866, the former the wife of Josepli Scull who resides near Fairview church in Louisa county and the latter who re- sides near his sister Mary in Louisa county ; Alfred M., of Letts ; and Henry E., who died at the age of eighteen years.
Our subject's paternal grandfather, Jacob Syphrit, was born in Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, June 13, 1804, and received a good education in both the English and German languages. He devoted his attention to farming after reaching maturity and was married June 29. 1820, to Elizabeth Bott, who was born February 8, 1802. They came to Jowa in the spring of 1852, travel- ing by steamboat down the Ohio river to its mouth and then up the Mississippi river, finally locating in Louisa county. Here the grandfather resided until his death, November 4, 1857, his wife passing away October 27, 1866. They were buried side by side in the Mallory cemetery, near Toolesboro. Both were con- sistent members of the Presbyterian church. In their family were four children, Joseph B., Catherine E., Christopher J. and Jacob B. Of this family Christopher J. Syphirit was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, July 25, 1834, and in April, 1852, canie to Iowa, where he enlisted in April, 1861, in Company I, Eleventh Jowa Volunteer Infantry. He died at his home in this state in 1862, from exposure at the battle of Shiloh.
The great-grandfather, Christian Syphrit, was born in Westmoreland county in 1777 and was also educated in both the English and German languages. He devoted his attention to farming, also operating a sawmill. He lived during the administrations of all the presidents from Washington to Grant. His wife was Mary Shank before her marriage and was of German descent. They moved to Canada in 1806 but six years later returned to Westmoreland county, where he
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farmed and conducted a sawmill for forty-eight years. At the age of eighty- two, in 1860, he sold out and removed to a farm which he purchased near Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio. He still retained his physical strength in a re- markable degree and was able to perform a day's work notwithstanding his old age. He remained hale and hearty until the last day of his life, passing away in the spring of 1872, after a brief illness of only a few hours, having arrived at the age of ninety-five years. He was the father of two sons and five daugh- ters: Jacob, Elizabeth, Barbara, Mollie, Sarah, Nancy and Joseph.
Sebastian Syphrit, the great-great-grandfather of our subject, was born in Westmoreland county in 1750 and was also a farmer. His wife was likewise a native of that county and she and her husband conversed in Pennsylvania Dutch. He died at the age of about eighty years. The early ancestors of the family in America came from Germany as members of William Penn's colony.
Joseph Ray Syphrit received a good preliminary education and was gradu- ated from the high school and also from the commercial course of the Eastern Iowa Normal School. At the age of twenty-two years he became a teacher of writing and at twenty-five began teaching school, in which vocation he con- tinued for fourteen years. He also taught for one year in a Normal school. In 1895 he turned his attention to farming and has since devoted his energies to agriculture and fruit-raising, being the owner of a small farm in section 23, Port Louisa township, two miles from Wapello.
On the Ioth of September, 1884, Mr. Syphrit was married to Miss Amy J. Fitzgerald, who was born at Muscatine, November 2, 1859. Her parents, Eze- kiel and Eliza (Predmore) Fitzgerald, were both natives of Clermont county, Ohio, and the former was of Irish lineage, while the latter was of Scotch de- scent. Hler paternal grandfather, Grant Fitzgerald, was a cabinetmaker of Ba- tavia, Ohio, which place he left in the summer of 1853, bound for Cincinnati, but was never heard from again. Mr. and Mrs. Ezekiel Fitzgerald were mar- ried in the county of their nativity and in 1857 came to Muscatine, Iowa, but shortly afterward removed to Fairview and later located on the farm in Louisa county which is still owned by the family. The father was a cooper by trade and was a soldier of the Civil war. He died on the 14th of August, 1883, and and is still survived by his widow, who has now attained the age of eighty years. They were the parents of nine children, two of whom died in infancy, the others being : Fostick, who makes his home in Wapello; Laura B., the widow of Richard O. Chaney and a resident of Thomas county, Kansas ; Amy J., now Mrs. Joseph R. Syphrit ; George L., of Louisa county ; Mary E., the wife of O. P. Dotson, of Eldon, Iowa ; and William D. and Arabella, both of whom died at the age of two years.
Mr. and Mrs. Syphrit are the parents of five children : Roy O., born March I, 1886, who received a high-school education and resides with his parents ; Lee A., born April 1, 1888, who is married and is engaged in farming in Louisa county ; Joseph E., who was born September 24, 1889, and is now living in South Dakota; Ora May, who died in infancy; and Glen C., who was born April 29, 1895, and resides at home.
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Mr. Syphrit is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Wapello. He and his family are connected with the Methodist Episcopal church and are earnest workers in all movements that aim to promote the permanent welfare of the community. He has given the attention of an intelligent citizen to politics and as a result is an adherent of the republican party. He has never been an office seeker although he has filled the position of secretary of the township schools. an office for which he is eminently fitted by education and experience. He has always aimed to make himself useful and in the opinion of his associates he has ably performed his part and therefore is greatly respected wherever known.
G. C. KREMEŘ.
Wapello township has its full quota of progressive farmers who have con- tributed their share to the upbuilding and development of the county, and prom- inent among these is numbered G. C. Kremer. One of Iowa's native sons, he was born in Wapello on the 29th of April, 1800, his parents being W. S. and Elizabeth E. ( Whicher ) Kremer. extended mention of whom is made on an- other page of this volume.
The public schools of his native town afforded G. C. Kremer his educational advantages and when old enough to choose a life work he accepted as his voca- tion that field of labor which George Washington designated as "the most use- ful as well as the most honorable occupation of man." He has now made his home for more than twenty years on a farm of eighty acres which he secured from his father, located in Wapello township, and which he has brought under a high state of cultivation. He has greatly enhanced its value by the introduc- tion of modern improvements upon the place and it is now one of the highly developed and desirable properties of the township. Since his occupancy he has been reaping bountiful harvests for he has given careful attention to the man- agement of his affairs and has ever pursued the most practical and approved methods in the operation of his fields. His success in this venture therefore has enabled him to place himself in prosperous circumstances and he is now numbered among the progressive and representative agriculturists of his sec- tion.
On the 9th of September, 1800. Mr. Kremer was united in marriage to Miss lda J. Knaub, a daughter of Henry C. and Ella A. Knaub, natives of Pennsyl- vania. The father passed away on the 20th of December, 1899, while the mother still survives and makes her home in Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Kremer was the eldest in a family of twelve children, the others being: Lizzie, who married George Garrett, of Friendship, Wisconsin ; Sadie, the wife of Dr. J. J. Crider, of Coe Junction ; Minnie M., the wife of Charles L. Duncan, of Coe Junction ; Harry C., a resident of Davenport ; Gertrude, who wedded Guy Kuder, of Chicago; Margaret, the wife of Eugene Pease, of Wapello; Leon, of Chi- cago; Ethel, who married Frederick Ruffle, also of Chicago; Ruby, who became
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the wife of Frank Kennedy, of Chicago; and W. M. and Rexford, both of Chicago. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kremer have been born six children but the eld- est, Muriel, is now deceased. The others, who are all at home, are as follows : Clayton S .: Nita May ; Arthur Z .; Esther K. ; and Helen G.
Mrs. Kremer belong's to the Christian church, the principles of which have ever formed the guiding rules of her life, and Mr. Kremer holds membership in the Fraternal Reserve. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise he has given stalwart support to the republican party, and takes deep interest in all matters having to do with the welfare of the community. He is a man of good business ability, carefully managing his interests, and who has won the success which is now his. Upright character and sterling worth have gained him a favorable place in the regard of many friends and Wapello township, which has remained his place of residence for so many years, numbers him among her valued citizens.
ROBERT R. MEWHIRTER.
An enterprising agriculturist of Marshall township, the appearance of whose homestead bespeaks thrift and capable supervision, is Robert R. Mewhirter. He was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, on the 18th of June, 1853. and is a son of A. B. and Mary Jane ( Reed) Mewhirter, also natives of the Keystone state. In the paternal line Mr. Mewhirter traces his descent back to the same source as President James Buchanan. The father, who passed away in 1002, at the age of seventy-five, was engaged in agricultural pursuits all of his life, most of the time in Louisa county. He enlisted in the Union army, Company G, Nineteenth Iowa Infantry, in 1862 and went to the front, where he served for three years, receiving his discharge in August, 1865. He subse- quently returned to Louisa county, where he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land, upon which he was residing at the time of his demise. For three years thereafter his widow continued to make her home on the farm, but in 1905 she removed to Winfiekl, lowa, where she was living when she passed away in March, 1908. In their family were eight children : Robert R., our sub- ject ; Mattie, deceased : Ida, who is the wife of Love Erb, of Brookings, South Dakota; Mary, the wife of Charles Jager, of Winfield, Iowa ; Lillie, who died in infancy ; Alice, also deceased ; Abbie, who is residing in Winfield ; and Min- nie, the wife of Charles James, of Columbus City, Iowa.
Reared on a farm Robert R. Mewhirter while pursuing his education in the district schools was becoming familiar with the work of the agriculturist, as, in common with the majority of farmer lads, he was early assigned duties about the barns and in the fields. At the age of twenty-six he deemed himself fully qualified to assume the responsibilities of farming on his own responsibility, so rented the old homestead of his father, in the cultivation of which he engaged for ten years. At the expiration of that period he rented two hundred and forty
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