USA > Iowa > Louisa County > History of Louisa County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1911, Volume II > Part 32
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J. A. Westlake was reared on the old homestead in Louisa county, acquiring his education in the common schools. He early became familiar with the work of the fields for in common with the majority of farm lads he had to assist in the easier tasks as soon as he was strong enough. After laying aside his books he gave his entire attention to agricultural pursuits, remaining with his father until he was twenty-two years of age. Feeling at that time that he was competent to take the management of a farm he rented his father's place until 1898, when he bought forty acres of land to which he later added another forty, continuing its operation until 1902. He then sold and purchased the tract he now owns which contains two hundred and sixty-seven and a half acres of finely improved land. Ninety acres of this is in timber but the remainder Mr. Westlake is highly
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cultivating. It is located on section 30, Oakland township, and is one of the valable properties of the district. In addition to the cultivation of his fields, which he devotes almost entirely to cereals, he is handling cattle and hogs.
Mr. Westlake's plans for a home were consummated by his marriage on the 17th of September. 1884, to Miss Fannje M. Stone, who was born in Louisa county, lowa, on the 17th of August. 1860. Mrs. Westlake is a daughter of Charley and Martha (Cole) Stone, the father a native of Michigan and the mother of West Virginia, but they were married in Wapello, Iowa, June 17, 1857, where the father followed farming almost entirely until a few years prior to his demise. The mother passed away on the 17th of April, 1882, and the father on the 3d of February, 1908. Of their union there were born four children of whom Mrs. Westlake is the eldest, the others being as follows: Jane, who died in in- fancy; Ada, who was born in 1866 and was married on the 12th of May, 1884, to George Jones; and Harry, who passed away on the 7th of September. 1891, at the age of fifteen years. Mr. Stone was married again October 1. 1885, his second wife being Miss Mary Hunter, and unto them were born four children : Henry ; Lavina, who died in infancy ; Frank ; and Jessie.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Westlake have been born the following children: Elsie May, who was born on the 4th of August, 1885; Charles B., who was born on the 5th of May, 1887; James Franklin, born on the 16th of October, 1889; Cora Belle, who was born on the 3d of December, 1892, and died on the roth of September, 1808; Ada F., who was born on the 8th of May, 1895; Earl A. and Myrl A., twins, born on the 20th of July, 1897 ; Roy E., born on the 7th of April, 1004; and Amy P., whose birth occurred on the 20th of June, 1907.
Fraternally Mr. Westlake affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America, being a member of Columbus Junction Camp, No. 3145. Politically he is a demo- crat but has never been an office seeker, yet in matters of citizenship he is public- spirited and progressive.
HARRY L. EDWARDS.
The energies of Harry L. Edwards are concentrated upon the development of his homestead which contains one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 4, Union township. His birth occurred in the township where he now resides on the sith of August, 1870, and he is a son of John Il. and Ella P. ( Carson) Edwards, the father a native of Tennessee and the mother of this county. Mr. Edwards passed away in 1888 but his wife still survives and now makes her home in Columbus Junction.
Reared on the home farm in Union township, the education of Harry L. Ed- wards was obtained in the district schools of the locality in which he resided. While pursuing the common branches of study he was also assisting in the work of the farm, thus fitting himself for his life work. He remained a member of the parental household until he was twenty-one years of age, and then bought one
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hundred and sixty acres of land in Union township, upon which he has since re- sided. In connection with the cultivation of his fields Mr. Edwards raises an 1 feeds stock. He has a fine farm which contains good improvements and is well kept up and plentifully stocked.
On the 18th of February, 1892, Mr. Edwards was married to Miss lda L. Duncan, a native of this county and a daughter of F. M. and Elizabeth P. ( Sands) Duncan, who continue to make their home in Louisa county, and whose biography appears on another page of this volume. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have been born four children: Hazel M., born March 6, 1895: Glen D., April 15, 1900; Fern D., August 1, 1902 ; and Evelyn I., July 30, 1906.
The family manifest their religious views through their membership in the Reformed church and Mr. Edwards also holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America, being identified with Columbus Junction Camp, No. 3145. He has always accorded his political allegiance to the men and measures of the republican party and at the present time he is filling the office of school director. He is one of the industrious and enterprising citizens of Union township, as well as one of the substantial agriculturists, and is regarded as reliable and trust- worthy by all who know him.
GEORGE M. HENDRICKSON.
George M. Hendrickson engages in general farming and stock-raising on an excellent homestead of two hundred and forty acres in Union township, Louisa county. He was born in this county August 23, 1869, and is a son of Austin and Mary E. (Tindall) Hendrickson. His parents are both natives of Indiana in which state they were also married, but soon thereafter they came to Iowa, locating in Union township. There Mr. Hendrickson at one time owned two hundred and forty acres of land, but at the present time he is farming on a very small scale, living practically retired. Unto the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hendrickson there were born eleven children: Thomas W., who lives in Colum- bus Junction : C. W., who is residing on the old homestead in Union township; George M .; Ira W., who makes his home in Canby, Minnesota ; Milton T., who is living in Fort Smith, Arkansas; Mary, the wife of Louis Owens, of Colorado; and Minnie A., who married Edgar Todd, of Union township; and four who died in infancy.
The public schools of Louisa county provided George M. Hendrickson with a good general knowledge of the common branches, during which time he was also becoming versed in the science of agriculture by assisting in the cultivation of the homestead. At the age of seventeen years he left the parental roof and began his career as an agriculturist. For six years thereafter he farmed rented land. during which time he managed to save sufficient money to enable him to buy forty acres. This he also cultivated for six years and then disposing of it he rented the homestead of his father-in-law for three years. At the expiration of
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that period he bought the property, which contained one hundred and sixty acres, located on section 19, Union township, which he has ever since cultivated. Suc- cess having attended his efforts he has added to his holdings at divers times until he has acquired two hundred and forty acres of finely improved land, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. In addition to the tilling of his fields Mr. Hendrickson raises and feeds stock for the market, which has proven to be a Very remunerative undertaking.
Mr. Hendrickson's plans for a home had their culmination in his marriage on the 23d of March, 1893, to Miss Elizabeth P. Kelch. She is a native of Stark county, Illinois, her natal day having been October 3, 1876, and hier par- ents Michael and Emma ( Hampson) Kelch. The parents were born in New York but married in Illinois in 1872, and there they were residing when MIr. Kelch passed away on the 3d of January, 1881. Their family numbered four children, as follows: Sarah, the wife of Otto Schebiel, of Washington, Iowa ; Minnie, who married Charles Hamilton, of Montana; Elizabeth P., now Mrs. Hendrickson ; and Clara, the wife of C. N. Edwards, of Lone Tree, Iowa. On the 13th of March, 1888, Mrs. Kelch was married to Edward Harmon, of Indi- ana, and unto them was born one daughter, Florence, who married Lester Orr, of Union township.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Hendrickson has been blessed with three daugh- ters and one son, as follows: Mabel G., who was born on the 20th of March, 1894; Emma R., who was born on the 15th of August, 1895; Jake W .. who was born on the 13th of September, 1807 : and Jessie L., whose birth occurred on the 25th of August, 1800. The two elder girls have attended high school.
The family always attend the services of the Methodist Episcopal church of which Mrs. Hendrickson is a member, while Mr. Hendrickson accords his politi- cal support to the republican party. Ile is one of the self-made men of Louisa county, for such success as he has attained in his vocation has been the direct result of his own industry and capably directed efforts.
ADAM EPPERLY.
A fine farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres engages the attention of Adam Epperly, an agriculturist of Grand View township. He was born in Wayne county, Indiana, April 14, 1838, his parents being William and Nancy (Gower) Epperly, the mother a native of Maryland and the father of Virginia. They were married in Wayne county, Indiana, where they continued to reside until 1865, when they came to Iowa and settled in Louisa county. Here the father first entered one hundred and thirty-five acres, to which he later added another forty by purchase. He continued to extend his holdings until at the time of his death he owned two hundred and fifty acres of finely improved and highly culti- vated land. In his family were two children, the daughter, Mary, being the deceased wife of Jackson Campbell, of California. The father died at the age of
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ADAM EPPERLY NANCY (EPPERLY) CAMPBELL-NANCY (CAMPBELL) VASTEEN
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NANCY (GOWER) EPPERLY-CATHERINE GOWER
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seventy, but the mother had passed the eighty-fourth anniversary of her birth before her demise. They were laid to rest in Wagoner cemetery.
Adam Epperly was educated in the common schools of Indiana, and while familiarizing himself with the common branches he was also acquiring the prin- ciples of practical farming by assisting his father in the work of the homestead. When he attained the age of twenty-one he began working for himself by culti- vating his portion of the home farm, in the operation of which he has ever since been engaged. He now owns one hundred and thirty-five acres of well improved land, all under a high state of cultivation with the exception of forty acres which is in timber. His property is located on section 3, Grand View township, and is one of the excellent farms of that locality. In connection with the tilling of the soil Mr. Epperly raises and feeds stock.
Mr. Epperly is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics he is a republican but he has never been an office seeker. He has never married and devotes his entire time and attention to the cultivation of his farm, which has responded by yielding abundant harvests that always command good prices in the market.
O. I. JAMISON.
O. I. Jamison, for many years editor and proprietor of the Columbus Gazette, was one of the most prominent and dearly beloved men of Louisa county. He died April 18, 1908, at the age of sixty-three years, three months and six days, and it may truly be said that few citizens of Iowa have attempted more sincerely to perform their duty to their fellowmen and few have been more profoundly respected. As an educator, before assuming the responsibility of editorship, he gave evidence of rare talents, and in all the relations of life he was controlled by the highest sense of personal responsibility and an unselfish desire to promote the general welfare. For more than fifty years he was a resident of Louisa county, and during a large part of that time he was prominently before the public, his principal work being as editor.
Born in Pickaway county, Ohio, January 12, 1845, Mr. Jamison was the son of William D. and Isabella ( Seeds) Jamison. He came with his parents to Wapello township, Louisa county, Iowa, when he was nine years of age, the family locating on a farm, where his youth was passed. He attended the district schools and later pursued a course in the Wesleyan University at Mount Pleas- ant, Iowa, displaying an ability as a student that gave bright promise as to his future.
In 1868 he secured a position as teacher in the schools of Wapello, where he continued for two years. He afterwards spent two years in the live stock busi- ness in Texas. In 1878 he again became principal of the Wapello public schools and served in that capacity for five years. However, he was attracted to the newspaper business, and in 1883 he purchased the Wapello Times, a weekly
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democratic paper, which he conducted at Wapello until 1884, when he moved the office to Columbus Junction and changed the name of the paper to the Louisa County Times. In January, 1886, he sold the paper to George P. Neal, who changed the name to the Columbus Gazette. In September, 1887, however, Mr. Jamison again bought the paper, which he edited up to the time of his death, with the exception of several years prior to 1901 which he spent in Arkansas in search of health.
In spite of every effort and the advice of the best physicians his health showed evidences of a steady decline and for about three months before his demise he was confined to his room. He made a trip to the tuberculosis sanatorium at Iowa City, but received no encouragement and returned home bravely to face the inevitable. Patient and resigned he bore his burden of pain, gratefully receiving the kindly ministrations of loving friends. He had not long to wait, for soon the angel of death kissed down his weary eyelids and he found rest. For more than a year prior to his death Mr. Jamison had been engaged in writing a history of Louisa county and it was one of the regrets of his last days that he could not complete this work. He was not identified with any religious organization but was warmly inclined toward the Methodist church.
In politics he was intensely democratic. He was a fluent and pleasant writer and in the conduct of his paper was loath to admit even as news any item calculated to breed scandal or that dealt in unpleasant details. Toward his em- ployes and those connected with him as correspondents he was cordial always and between them there existed a bond of mutual love and esteem. Taken all in all his place will be hard to fill in the community with which he was connected so long and so intimately. One who knew him well said :
"He was a kindly, genial man, quiet of speech, soft of voice, considerate of manner : yet he could be caustic with his pen and was free in his expression of opinion regarding persons and policies, political and otherwise. He was an in- dependent thinker and writer, in politics as in the consideration of other prob- lems of life. And all in all, he was a fair-minded and frank-spoken man, a friend of the people and an advocate of the principles that seemed to him to conserve their rights and privileges and their prosperity. For a man who was given to speaking his own mind openly and frankly he was remarkably free from malice and cherished no bitterness. He was sweetened in spirit and softened in manner with the slow, yet certain approach of the silent messenger. Though not professedly religious there was something in his manner, in his tenderness and trustfulness and gentleness and patience during his lingering sickness that was very beautiful. His passing brings a pang of pain, yet leaves a tender memory of a gentle, a generous, a gracious, and as we believe a good man. It is in my heart to say that he ripened for heaven rapidly the last months of his earthly stay. And that he died bravely with his face to the future, fair with promise and holy with hope, with his heart open unto God. fearless and unafraid, which marks the fitting end of a busy career."
Another who was well acquainted with Mr. Jamison has written: "He was possessed of a keen intelligence and a broad knowledge of human
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nature. Strong in his political and moral convictions, yet fair in spirit, normal in thought and action, he was tolerant of the opinion as well as the weakness or frailty of others. His charity was deep and broad ; he chided the erring gently. No calumny or slander of friend or stranger ever escaped his lips or pen. His domestic life was serene and ideal and his relations to the public candid, sincere and well balanced. True to his friends, steadfast and constant in his principles. he asked no more than to le one of and to live with and for his people. No one had ever need to ask how O. 1. Jamison stood nor what side his paper would take on public or moral questions. He was always an the right side. It can be said of him, He did his duty by his community in fullest measure. He loved them all and they loved him, and if the people of his county that he served so efficiently and faithfully could speak in unison at his bier they would say : 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant.'"
On the 12th of January, 1872, Mr. Jamison was married to Miss Mary J. Gillis and they became the parents of one child, William D., who was born No- vember 9, 1873. He was educated in the common schools and the State Univer- sity at Iowa City, and became editor and proprietor of the Shenandoah World. In 1906 he was elected state senator from the seventh senatorial district and served one term in congress from the eighth Iowa district, succeeding Colonel Hepburn. Politically he gives his support to the democratic party but recently retired from political life on account of ill health. He has served as president of the Commercial Club of Shenandoah and is prominent in educational interests.
Mrs. Mary J. Jamison was born in Pennsylvania, October 25, 1844, a daughter of Ridgway and Margaret ( McBain) Gillis. Her father was a native of New York state and was born February 15, 1818. The paternal grandfather, James L. Gillis, was a soldier in the war of 1812, taking part in the battle of Lundy's Lane, where he was wounded and carried a bullet in his leg for a number of years. He was a judge and a member of congress from the twenty-fourth dis- trict of Pennsylvania during Buchanan's administration. At the time of the agitation about the disappearance of Morgan, Judge Gillis was living in western New York and was charged with being one of the men who had taken the life of Morgan for revealing the secrets of Masonry. He was arrested and brought to New York for trial, but the case fell through, as no evidence of any kind could be found against him. He came to Iowa in 1862 and spent the remainder of his life at Mount Pleasant. He was born in 1702 and died in 1880.
Mrs. Jamison's father, Ridgway Gillis, came to Iowa in 1847 and settled in Henry county where he engaged as a farmer and merchant. At the time of the California gold excitement he went to the Pacific coast but soon returned to his home in Iowa. The mother of Mrs. Jamison, Margaret ( McBain) Gillis, was born in Peebles, Scotland, June 4. 1820, the daughter of an officer in the British army. She accompanied her father and mother to India when she was a small child and passed a number of years in that country. Her father fought at the battle of Waterloo under Wellington. She came to America to become edu- cated and attended school in Pennsylvania, being married to Ridgway Gillis,
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April 14, 1840. Fight children were born to this union, four of whom are now living.
Mrs. Jamison taught school previous to her marriage. She was her hus- band's counselor, assistant and companion in all his undertakings, keeping even pace with him in the progress of his work, yet ever remaining an unobtrusive, silent force in his accomplishments. After his death she turned to face the battle of life alone, broken in spirit, sorely wounded in heart, yet with a courage un- daunted. She assumed the management of the paper which she conducted for one year, at the expiration of which time she sold the plant to B. H. Shearer. The loss of her husband deranged the established system of her life and she has as yet been unable to settle in any vocation which she may truly regard as her own. As she is of a vigorous and active mind and remarkably energetic, it is scarcely probable that she will content herself by continuing long in idleness or lack of purpose.
FRANK ETTER.
One of the extensive landowners and highly successful agriculturists of Louisa county is Frank Etter who owns four hundred and sixty-five acres of land in Oakland township. Ile was born in Washington county, Iowa, on the 14th of August, 1868, and is a son of Jacob and Julia ( Davis) Etter. The father was born in Pennsylvania March 24, 1835, the mother on the roth of September, 1838, and they were married in Pennsylvania October 6, 1859. They removed to lowa from Pennsylvania in 1862 and located in Washington county, where the father engaged in farming until 1875 when he sold his property and went to Keokuk county where he continues to reside. Mrs. Etter passed away May 22, 1870. Of their union there were born three children, as follows: George, who died in infancy ; Emma, who died on the HIth of December, 1887, after the birth of her fourth child; and Frank. On the toth of January, 1871, Mr. Etter was again married, his second wife being Miss Margaret Wine, a daughter of Solo- mon and Margaret Wine. Her birth occurred in Ohio March 11, 1844, and her death on the 2d of June, 1911. Six children were born of this marriage : Edward, who is a resident of Louisa county ; Sadie, the wife of A. W. Miller, who is liv- ing in Keokuk, lowa ; Maggie, the wife of J. S. Brower, of California ; Solomon, who is living in this county ; Annie, who married Charles Unger, of Keokuk county ; and Eva, who is still at home.
In the acquirement of his education Frank Etter attended the common schools of Washington and Keokuk counties. Having decided to engage in agricultural pursuits, after leaving school he devoted his attention to the work of the farm. At the age of twenty-one years he began farming in Keokuk county, where he owned a tract of one hundred acres, in the cultivation of which he engaged until 1907. Disposing of his property at that time he came to Louisa county and bought two hundred and five acres on section 1, Oakland township. Having met
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with success he has added to his holdings from time to time until lie now owns four hundred and sixty-five acres of land. All of this with the exception ot seventy-five acres, which is in timber and pasture, is highly cultivated and the improvements are good. In connection with the tilling of his fields he raises and feeds stock, the returns from both sources proving to be quite lucrative.
In Muscatine county, on the Ioth of April, 1890, occurred the marriage of Mr. Etter and Miss Inza B. Fraze, who was born there on the 7th of December, 1871. Mrs. Etter is a daughter of Henry A. and Matilda ( Black ) Fraze, both natives of Stark county, Ohio, the former born September 20, 1840, and the latter September 7, 1846. They were married in Stark county February 14, 1865, and there resided until they went to Muscatine county in 1869. After liv- ing in the latter place for five years they removed to Keokuk county, where they made their home until 1908, at which time they returned to Muscatine county, where they are now residing. Unto them have been born eight children : Nettie. the wife of John Lunt, of Muscatine county ; Exa, who married Charles Seydel, of Seattle, Washington : Inza, now Mrs. Etter ; Albertus V., who resides in Cali- fornia ; Orrilla, the wife of Perry Coiner, of Muscatine county ; Virgil, who is a resident of the same place; Ernest, the youngest child who died in infancy, as did also Elmer, the oldest member of the family.
Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Etter have been born six children: Charles, who was born February 10, 1801, died on the 21st of the same month : Samuel F., who was born on the 12th of February, 1803: Mary E., born on the 1st of Octo- ber, 1899; John Henry, born on the 20th of August, 1904; Clarence L., born on the 9th of February, 1906: and Edna M., on the 19th of October, 1907.
The family manifest their religious faith by their affiliation with the Dunkard church, while Mr. Etter accords his political support to the republican party but is not an office seeker. He is one of the enterprising and progressive agricul- turists as well as capable business men of Oakland township, and his success is attributable to the intelligent and capable direction of his affairs.
ISBON METZGER.
Among the enterprising and highly successful agriculturists of Elm Grove township must be numbered the late Isbon Metzger, who was born in Pennsyl- vania, on the 23d of February, 1837. While still in his early youth he came to Iowa, settling in Lousia county in 1853. Here he engaged in general farming and stock-raising and being an industrious, persevering and thrifty man he was soon able to acquire a tract of land. He kept extending his holdings from time to time as he was able until at his demise he owned seven hundred and forty acres, all located in Elm Grove township.
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