USA > Iowa > Louisa County > History of Louisa County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1911, Volume II > Part 22
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Mr. Klotz is a democrat in politics and has held several township positions, ever discharging his official duties in a most prompt and capable manner. Fra- ternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Reformed church, to which his wife also belongs. He is a man of high moral character, industrious and enterprising, and his honesty and uprightness have always merited him the confidence and respect of his neighbors.
ROBERT C. MARSHALL.
Robert C. Marshall, who leads a busy and useful life as a farmer and stock- raiser, is the owner of a well improved tract of land of three hundred and forty acres on sections 8 and o. Marshall township. His birth occurred in Louisa county, Iowa, on the 25th of January, 1861, his parents being Clinton and Cath- erine ( Willis) Marshall, who were natives of West Virginia and Ohio respect- ively. Clinton Marshall came to this county with his parents in 1842, and it was in honor of his father, Joshua S. Marshall, that the township of Marshall was named. The latter entered a tract of land comprising one hundred and sixty acres and erected a log cabin, residing therein until 1856, when he built a two-story brick residence, thirty-eight by forty-two feet, burning the necessary brick on his farm. As he prospered in his undertakings he augmented his hold- ings by additional purchase until at the time of his death he owned more than five hundred acres of rich and productive land. When he passed away in 1883, the community mourned the loss of one of its most respected and substantial early settlers. Clinton Marshall, the father of our subject, was reared on the home farm and remained under the parental roof until twenty-six years of age,
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when he was married. He entered one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government and so successful was he in his farming operations that he was owning five hundred and forty acres at the time of his death, which occurred in October, 1901. He built the house which is now the home of his son Rob- ert C. In politics he was a democrat but he never cared for official honors. His religions faith was indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church. His wife survived him only a short time, passing away January 19, 1902, and was laid to rest by his side in the family graveyard on the home farm. Unto them were born ten children, all of whom are yet living.
Robert C. Marshall acquired a common-school education and was reared to manhood under the parental roof. When twenty-one years of age he took charge of the old homestead farm, operating the same as a renter until 1904. In that year he purchased the property, comprising three hundred and forty acres on sections 8 and 9, Marshall township, and has since devoted his time and en- ergies to its further cultivation and improvement. The fields respond readily to the care and labor bestowed upon them and he annually gathers good crops. He also raises and feeds stock and his annual sales add materially to his income.
Mr. Marshall is a bachelor and two of his sisters make their home with him. His political allegiance is given to the democracy but he has never sought office as a reward for his party fealty. His life has been such as to merit the respect of his fellowmen and by his honesty, uprightness and industry he has contrib- uted much toward the upbuilding of the county in which he has resided from his birth to the present time.
GEORGE KEMPER.
George Kemper, who is engaged in the cultivation of his farm of one hun- dred and ten acres in Jefferson township, was born in Muscatine county, Iowa, on the 3d of February, 1863. His parents, Henry and Charlotte ( Winenberg) Kemper, were natives of Germany, who emigrated to the United States about 1855, locating in Muscatine county, where they were residing at the time of their demise. Seven children were born to them, all but one of whom are still living.
Educated in the district schools in the vicinity of his home. George Kemper remained a member of the parental household until he was of age. He then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in Muscatine for a short time. and then went to Minnesota, where he resided for two years. At the end of that period he returned to Iowa and settled in Louisa county, where he pur- chased the farm of one hundred and ten acres on section 8, Jefferson town- ship, upon which he has ever since resided. He has greatly improved his prop- erty by the erection of some fine buildings and it is now considered one of the valuable farms of the township.
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Mr. Kemper was married in 1898 to Miss Mary Priebe, who was born in Missouri and is a daughter of Henry and Dorothea Priebe, who are still living and continue to make their home in Missouri. Of the seven children born unto them, six are living. Mr. and Mrs. Kemper are the parents of two sons and two daughters, in order of birth as follows: William McKinley, Dorothea, Oscar and Elma.
The family attend the services of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which the parents hold membership, while his political allegiance Mr. Kemper accords the republican party. He has served as a member of the school board and he is also a director of the Oakville Creamery Company. A man of energy and de- termination of purpose, Mr. Kemper has met with a moderate degree of sitc- cess in his various undertakings and is one of the highly regarded citizens of his community.
JOHN E. MORGAN.
General farming and stock-raising have characterized the efforts of John E. Morgan throughout his entire connection with business interests, and the suc- cess which he has attained indicates clearly the business ability he has displayed in this direction. One of Iowa's native sons, his birth occurred in Louisa county on the 24th of August, 1875. a son of John M. and Ann J. ( Lewis) Morgan, both of whom were born in Wales. They came to America in 1844 and still survive, making their home in Columbus City. In their family were four sons, as follows: Louis, a resident of Missouri: Abia of South Dakota: John E., of this review : and Thomas, now deceased.
John E. Morgan spent the period of his boyhood and youth in his parents' home, attending the country schools in the acquirement of his education and re- ceiving thorough practical training in the work of the fields under his father's direction. Upon attaining his majority he wisely chose the occupation to which he had been reared, and since that time has continuously engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1905 he purchased the farm which he now owns, consisting of ninety-two acres on section 2, Columbus City township, to the development and cultivation of which he has since devoted his attention. This is an excellent property, many of the modern improvements found upon it being due to the spirit of progress and enterprise of Mr. Morgan. He engages in general farm- ing and stock-raising, making a specialty of raising and feeding hogs, and the good quality of his stock is recognized throughout the township.
In 1806 Mr. Morgan was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Davis, who was born in Louisa county on the 24th of May, 1872, one of a family of six chil- dren born unto D. D. and Jane ( Jones) Davis. The parents, natives of Wales, came to this country in 1850, first locating in New York, where they main- tained their home until 1869, when they came west. The mother passed away in this county in 1895, but the father still survives and makes his home on
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his farm in Columbus City township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have been born three children, as follows: Mildred Jane, born February 18, 1898: Wen del D., born June 22, 1900; and Donald E., born August 6, 1905.
Mr. Morgan and his wife are members of the Congregational church, in the work of which they are helpfully interested, and in politics he votes with the republican party. He is now serving as school director and is a public-spirited citizen, whose influence is ever on the side of advancement along material. political. intellectual and moral lines. Having passed his entire life within the borders of Louisa county, Mr. Morgan has become widely known, enjoying the esteem and regard of a circle of friends which is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance.
D. D. DAVIES.
Among the foreign born natives of lowa who have utilized the advantages offered by their adopted country to such advantage that they are now able to live retired, is numbered D. D. Davies. His birth occurred in Wales, on the 12th of March, 1842, a son of Thomas and Esther Davies, also natives of that country. He was but a lad of eight years when his parents left the little rock- ribbed country with America as their destination, and in the fall of 1850 the family home was established in Madison county, New York. Ihs education, which had been begun in his native land, was completed in the schools of the Empire state, where he was reared amid the busy activities of rural life.
He continued with his parents until he was twenty years of age when, im- bued with the spirit of patriotism, he enlisted, in 1862, for service in the Civil war, becoming a soldier in Company Eleven, New York Independent Battery of Light Artillery, and with that command served until his discharge in Jan- uary, 1865. In the meantime he had served in various important engagements. including Chancellorsville and the siege of Gettysburg. He received a scalp wound and in the battle of Bull Run was taken prisoner. lle was mustered out at Petersburg in 1865. and with a most creditable military record returned home.
Mr. Davies continued to make his residence in the Empire state until 1868. in which year he sought the opportunities of the middle west, locating in Louisa county, Iowa. Choosing agriculture as his life work he purchased his present farm which has remained his home throughout the intervening years. He now owns one hundred and twenty-six acres of rich land. all under a high state of cultivation and equipped with all modern accessories for facilitating farm labor. Although he has now retired from active life, he prefers to make his home in the country, surrounded by the wholesome scenes and environment of farm life, and here he is happily spending the evening of his days, enjoying the comfortable competence which has come to him as the reward of many years of earnest effort and endeavor.
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Mr. Davies was married in New York, September 5, 1865, to Miss Jane Jones, who was also born in Wales, a daughter of Thomas and Rachel Jones, both natives of that country, where their entire lives were spent. Unto this union have been born six children, namely : Mary J., the wife of John M. Will- iams: David E., of Louisa county ; Rachel M., who married J. E. Morgan, also of this county : Esther Ann and Margaret H., deceased ; and Thomas L., residing in Mahaska county, Iowa. On the 12th of April, 1895, the wife and mother passed away, her remains being laid to rest in the Cambria cemetery.
The religious faith of Mr. Davies is indicated by his membership in the Welsh Congregational church, and his political allegiance is given to the re- publican party. He has never desired nor sought public office, however, for his time and attention have been fully occupied .with the conduct of his per- sonal business interests. The success which has come to him in this direction is truly merited, for he started out in life without any especially favorable ad- vantages and has risen to his present comfortable position entirely through his own industry, perseverance and well directed efforts. He possesses in marked degree the sturdy characteristics of the Welsh race and has ever displayed those qualities of citizenship which have won for him the confidence, respect and good will of his fellowmen.
WILLIAM S. NEWELL.
William S. Newell, who owns a homestead of ninety acres in Wapello town- ship and in the cultivation of which he is engaged, was born in the township where he is now residing on the 4th of July, 1867. He is a son of the late Thomas and Saralı J. ( Mock) Newell, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Pennsylvania. Of this union there were born ten children, all but one of whom are surviving: Elizabeth, the deceased wife of George Hansley, also deceased; Josephine, the wife of Thomas Wiser, of Adair county, Iowa ; Hugh T., also a resident of Adair county ; Samuel P., living in the vicinity of Denver, Colorado: Robert W., of Wapello township: Benjamin, residing near Denver; Ida M .; William, our subject ; Vira ; and Abe, a resident of Den- ver, Colorado. The father passed away on the 27th of September. 1899, at the age of seventy-six, but the mother survived until the 24th of April, 1905, her demise occurring at the age of seventy-two.
After he had acquired sufficient knowledge of the common branches to en- able him to begin his agricultural pursuits William S. Newell ceased to attend the district schools, and devoted his entire attention to the work of the home farm. remaining a member of the paternal household until he had passed his thirtieth anniversary. He subsequently bought eighty acres of land in Wapello township, where he has ever since made his home. All of the improvements upon his place have been made during the period of his ownership, and it is one of the well kept, attractive and highly cultivated farms of the township.
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Mr. Newell devotes his attention to general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of the latter, and has found both to be quite lucrative under his cap- able direction. He has extended the boundaries of his original tract and now owns ninety acres of land, all of which is under cultivation.
On the 16th of November, 1898, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Newell and Miss Carrie Kennedy, a daughter of Joseph C. and Martha ( Ken- nedy) Kennedy, who were residents of this county. Seven children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy, all but one of whom are living. The order of their birth is as follows: William, who is a resident of Humboldt county, Iowa; Minnie, who married Herbert McCormick, of Louisa county ; Annie, the wife of John Berg, of Olds, Iowa; Carrie, now Mrs. Newell; Maggie, who is de- ceased; Sadie, who is living in Glenwood, Iowa; and Clarence, who is a draughtsman with the Ilinois Steel Company, Chicago. Mrs. Newell's mother died in 1890, and her father passed away in 1901. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Newell have been born two children: Blanche Eliza, who was born on the 9th of December, 1899; and Dorothy Mabel, whose birth occurred on the 5th of October, 1902.
Mrs. Newell holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Newell's political allegiance is given to the republican party, but never having been an office seeker he does not actively participate in township affairs, al- ways having preferred to give his undivided attention to the direction of his personal interests.
ALLEN HALL.
Allen Hall, who for a number of years has been successfully engaged in the real-estate and insurance business at Oakville, was born in that town on the 29th of March, 1866. His parents were Martin C. and Adaline ( Bateman) Hall, the former being a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. Reared in Oakville, our subject attended the public schools of that place until eighteen years of age and then followed farming for about two years. Subsequently he embarked in the mercantile business, conducting an enterprise of that character for twelve years. On the expiration of that period he became identified with real-estate and insurance interests and has since represented the Farmers Insurance Com- pany of Cedar Rapids. He handles both farm lands and town property and enjoys a large and gratifying patronage, as the town of Oakville is now grow- ing rapidly. Many sales and purchases have been entrusted to him, for he has made it his purpose to fully acquaint himself with realty values.
On the 19th of October, 1887, Mr. Hall was united in marriage to Miss Anna Bettler, a daughter of Charles and Barbara (Miller) Bettler. Unto them have been born four children, namely: Herbert C., whose birth occurred on the 15th of August, 1888, and who is now living in Chicago; Jennie, whose natal
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day was July 25. 1800: Bessie, who was born on the 17th of June, 1895: and Maude E., whose birth occurred September 15, 1899.
In polities Mr. Hall is a democrat, while fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America. His religions faith is indicated by his mem- bership in the Christian church and his wife belongs to the Methodist Protest- ant church. He has always remained a resident of Louisa county and well deserves recognition among its substantial business men and representative cit- izens.
HENRY A. WEHMEYER.
Henry A. Wehmeyer. of Louisa county, comes of worthy German ancestry and during a life of more than fifty years has applied to good advantage those traits of industry and perseverance which are prominent characteristics of the Teutonic race. He was born in Warren county, Missouri. February 2, 1854. a son of August and Wilhelmina ( Butlermiller ) Wehmeyer, both of whom were born in Germany. The father learned the wagon-maker's trade in his native land and, believing that conditions were more favorable in the new world than he found in Germany, he emigrated to this country about 1850 and arrived at Wa- pello, Iowa, with his family in 1856. He worked at his trade in Wapello for two years and then purchased forty acres of land, which he cultivated diligently for twelve years. At the end of that time he disposed of his place and pur- chased eighty acres, which he also sold after a period of three years. He then rented land for three years and, having acquired sufficient capital, began purchas- ing land. He managed his business so successfully that he became the owner of nine hundred acres of good land in Louisa county and was engaged extensively in farming for about twenty years but spent the latter part of his life in retire- ment at Columbus Junction, where he died at the age of eighty-three. The mother survives and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Albert Hank. in this county.
In their family were thirteen children : Henry A., the subject of this review ; Fred, deceased; Mary, the deceased wife of Joseph Story, of Louisa county : Lizzie, who became the wife of J. H. Webber, also of Louisa county; John, a resident of this county; Amelia, who married Gus Wynmeyer, of Butte, Ne- braska; Emma, the wife of Henry Otto, of Louisa county; Kate, who became the wife of William Brown, also of this county ; Tillie, deceased; Clara, the wife of Albert Hank, of Louisa county ; Christina, who married Emanuel Schmeiser ; Daniel, who resides in Lonisa county, and Lena, the wife of Peter Bretz, of Columbus Junction.
Mr. Wehmeyer of this review was reared under the parental roof and ac- quired his preliminary education in the district schools. He has been connected with farming ever since his earliest recollection and at the time of the settlement of his father's estate received two hundred and twenty acres, upon which he makes his home. He is very diligent in anything he undertakes and ranks among
MR. AND MRS. HI. A. WEHMEYER AND SON
ASTOR LINUX AND TEDA FOUNDATIONS B
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the prosperous and successful men of the county. He understands all depart- ments of farming and also is an extensive stock-raiser.
On the 24th of December, 1892, Mr. Wehmeyer was married to Miss Mary Gauss, a daughter of Christian and Christina ( Lautenschlauger ) Gauss. She is one of a family of five children, namely : Mary, now Mrs. Henry A. Wehmeyer ; Anna, the wife of E. F. Stevens, of North Dakota ; George, of Linton, North Da- kota ; and Emma Christina and Caroline Margaretta, both of whom died in in- fancy. One son, Fred W., came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wehmeyer. He is now a promising young man of eighteen years and is assisting his father upon the home farm.
Mr. Wehmeyer is a consistent member of the Methodist church and in politics has adhered to the democratic party ever since he reached his majority. He is not a man to shirk responsibility and has served very acceptably to the people of the township as road supervisor and as township trustee. He possesses good business judgment, as is shown by his success in his vocation, and he now has a competency which guarantees a handsome yearly income. He represents the best class of American citizenship and his friends are justly proud of his stand- ing as a man of responsibility and honor.
DWIGHT TUSTISON.
General farming and stock-raising claim the attention of Dwight Tustison. who is engaged in the cultivation of eighty acres of land in Wapello township. Louisa county. He was born in Ainsworth, Jowa, on the 25th of October, 1866. His parents were the late Frank and Martha Tustison, natives of Ohio, the father a well known physician of Wapello, where he was engaged in practice until his death. Unto Dr. and Mrs. Tustison were born three children, of whom the son, Dwight, is the second in order of birth. The other two are: Emma, the wife of Robert Garrett, of Seattle, Washington; and Ora, who mar- ried a Mr. Rood, also of Seattle. In 1879 Dr. Tustison was again married. his second wife being Miss Sophia Hook, and they were also the parents of three children: Charles H., Frank and Emily.
After the completion of his preliminary education Dwight Tustison studied medicine for a time in the Rush Medical College of Chicago and also at Keokuk. Iowa. In 1896 he rented forty acres of land of D. D. Parsons which he operated for three years. He now owns eighty acres in Wapello township, where he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising.
On the 5th of June, 1898, Mr. Tustison was united in marriage to Miss Abbie Spitsnogle, a daughter of John and Sarah (Shaw) Spitsnogle, who were the parents of five children, as follows: Ameda, the wife of Clark Sheafor, of Louisa county ; Carrie, who married Allan Graves, also of this county ; Abbie, now Mrs. Tustison ; George, who died in 1892; and John, who died in infancy.
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Mr. Tustison is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His political allegiance is given to the democracy, but he has never actively par- ticipated in township affairs, always having preferred to devote his entire time and attention to the direction of his personal interests.
G. W. GRAVES.
Among the pioneer settlers of Louisa county must be numbered the Graves family, who first located here in 1836 and for four generations have been iden- tified with the agricultural development of the county. The late G. W. Graves was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, on the 13th of November, 1835, and was a son of Jolin and Amelia Graves, natives of Connecticut. They removed to Ohio in an early day, continuing to make that their home until 1836, when the father came to Louisa county and entered some government land. The follow- ing year he removed his family to his homestead and in 1838 he passed away. He had five children, all but one of whom are now deceased.
The education of G. W. Graves was limited because of the brief and irreg- ular sessions of the district schools, which at that period were not very satis- factory owing to the poor and inadequate provisions made for educational fa- cilities in the rural districts. He was only a child of three years when his father passed away and at a very early age began assisting the older members of the family and his mother in the cultivation of the homestead, continuing at home until he had attained his majority. He then worked at the carpenter's trade for several years. after which he bought the farm where his widow is now residing. He engaged in general farming and stock-raising until his de- mise, which occurred on the 15th of February, 1879. Mr. Graves' political principles coincided with those of the democratic party and he always took an active part in all township affairs of a governmental nature and at the time of his demise was secretary of the board of education.
He was united in marriage in June, 1856, to Miss Sarah E. Fairbanks, a native of Ohio, migrating from that state to Jowa with her parents, who located in Johnson county, in 1842. There her mother passed away in 1846, but her father survived until after the Civil war, of which he was a veteran. There were three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fairbanks, two of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Graves had eight children, in order of birth as follows: Charles H., who is now residing in Illinois; Cassie E., who is deceased ; Sher- man A., who is operating the old homestead; A. D., who is a farmer is Jeffer- son township; Cassie B., who has been teaching in the vicinity of Chicago for twenty years, now located at Lake Forest, Illinois ; and Nellie D., Faith B. and Eddie, all of whom are deceased.
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