USA > Iowa > Louisa County > History of Louisa County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1911, Volume II > Part 35
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Being only a child of four years of age when his parents located in Iowa Joseph H. Dodder has spent practically his entire life in the county where he
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now resides, and in whose common schools he was educated. At the age of seventeen years he joined the Ninth Iowa Cavalry, enlisting on the Ist of Sep- tember, 1863. He went into quarters at Davenport, going from there to St. Louis, thence to Devil's Bluff, Arkansas, remaining at the front until the 6th of March, 1866, at which time he was honorably discharged at Little Rock, Arkansas.
When he returned to Iowa he worked on a farm for a short time, and then rented some land which he cultivated for five years. At the end of that time he bought sixty acres which he disposed of later. subsequently buying the old homestead. Since acquiring this he has added to it another eighty acres, making his aggregate holdings two hundred acres, all of which is fertile land. He has made many improvements upon his place, which is now one of the valuable and attractive properties of the township. His homestead is located on section 21 and in addition to this he owns four hundred acres of land in eastern Colorado.
On the 10th of August, 1867, occurred the marriage of Mr. Dodder and Miss Margaret Stineman, who was born in Vermilion, Ohio, on the 21st of February, 1846, and passed away in 1901. Her parents were Philip and Mar- garet Stineman, natives of Germany, who upon their arrival in this country first located in Ohio. They resided there until 1853 at which time they migrated to Iowa settling on a farm in Louisa county, where they resided until their death. To them was born a large family but one of whom now survives, David, who is a resident of Muscatine.
Unto the union of Mr. and Mrs. Dodder were born five children: Edward H., who has a high school education, and is a resident of Letts; Ella, the wife of J. E. McGrew, of Grand View ; Elizabeth, who taught school for twelve years, and is the wife of George W. McDill; Anna, at home, who has been teaching for eighteen years; and Myrtle, the wife of Charles Rilliett, who is the principal of a school in Los Angeles, California.
Mr. Dodder and family affiliate with the Evangelical church of which his wife was also a member, and politically he is a republican, but has never sought public office. He is as loyal as a citizen as he was brave as a soldier and always meets the demands of public responsibility, but has never felt that his duty called him into the political arena.
RENWICK HUSTON.
One of the retired agriculturists of Des Moines county, who for the past fifteen years has been a resident of Morning Sun, is Renwick Huston, who was born in Fayette county, Indiana, on the 5th of May, 1837. Born and reared on a farm he acquired his education in the district schools of his native state, following which he engaged in agricultural pursuits. After his marriage he acquired a very fine piece of farm land which he cultivated until 1875, at which time he disposed of his interests and removed to Iowa. Upon his arrival in
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this state he located in Des Moines county where he bought a farm which he operated until his retirement in 1806. He subsequently came to Morning Sun where he bought a fine residence and has ever since continued to make this his home. Since settling here Mr. Huston has devoted his attention to the cement business, having been awarded the contracts for the most of the sidewalks which have been laid during that time.
Mr. IJuston was united in marriage, on the 26th of December, 1860, to Miss Katherine Knight, who was born in Monroe county, Indiana. Mrs. Huston was a daughter of John and Elizabeth Knight, the father a native of North Carolina and the mother of Virginia. They migrated to Indiana during the pioneer days, continuing to make that state their home until they passed away. Of the twelve children born unto Mr. and Mrs. Knight eight are surviving. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Huston was blessed with three daughters and two sons: Rosanna J., the wife of C. H. Bonner, of Morning Sun: Elizabeth H., who married A. C. MeHenry, of Downs, lowa; Mary B., who became the wife of Herman Weinrich, of Des Moines county; Robert J., who is a resident of St. Paul, Minnesota : and Thomas R., who is living in Morning Sun.
His first presidential vote Mr. Huston cast for Abraham Lincoln and he has ever since given his support to the candidates of the republican party. Not being an office seeker, however, he has never actively participated in political affairs but has met the requirements of good citizenship by casting a ballot on election day. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, in the work of which organization they take an active and helpful part, count- ing among its congregation many warm friends.
FRED EARL DUNHAM.
Fred Earl Dunham, who owns a fine farm of three hundred and twenty-four acres in Louisa county, where he engages in general farming and stock-raising, was born in this county on the toth of May, 1883, and is a son of Sylvanus and Martha ( Jamison ) Dunham. Reared on the home farm, his early education was acquired in the common schools and later he pursued a commercial course in a business college at Burlington, Iowa. After laying aside his text-books he returned to the home farm, which he operated for his mother. He now owns three hundred and twenty-four acres of land. upon which he engages in general farming, but makes a specialty of breeding and raising fine stock. In partner- ship with his brother, Harry A. Dunham, he owns a thorough bred registered stallion named Bridge Hill Conqueror and nine registered mares, named : Dunsby May Queen. Keepsake 10573. Burglefield Trinket 11882, Bethlehem Surprise, March Lulu, Dunsby March Queen, Countess Drafter. Horbling Julia II and Princess 10550. Success has attended the efforts of Mr. Dunham and he is be- coming recognized as one of the capable agriculturists and horsemen of the state of lowa.
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On the 12th of April, 1905, Mr. Dunham was united in marriage to Miss Leila Ethel Lowe, a daughter of George B. and Alice ( Wagner ) Lowe, natives of Iowa, in whose family were three children, as follows: Bert, Ralph and Leila, all residents of this county. Mrs. Dunham is a member of the Eastern Star.
His political support Mr. Dunham gives the republican party, considering that its policy is best adapted to protect the interests of the majority. Although he is a public-spirited citizen, he has never sought political honors. An ambi- tious, as well as industrious and enterprising young man, he has given proof beyond question of possessing the essential factors of success, and gauging his future by his past it gives every assurance of being most promising.
JEREMIAH BROWNING.
A well known pioneer settler of Louisa county is Jeremiah Browning, who for more than fifty years was actively engaged in the cultivation of his farm in Grand View township where he is now living retired. He was born in New Jersey on the 19th of November. 1825. and is a son of William and Grace (Fish) Browning. Both the paternal and maternal grandparents were early colonial settlers, living near Philadelphia, and in all probability some of the ancestors of Jeremiah Browning were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. After their marriage the parents located in Gloucester county, New Jersey. where they resided until 1839. In the latter year they came to Iowa, entering a claim in Concord township, Louisa county. Here about 1848 the father passed away and the mother died in 1876, in the house in which her son Jeremiah now resides. Of their union there were born twelve children of whom the son Jeremiah is the only one surviving.
Little opportunity was given Jeremiah Browning to acquire an education. He was only a lad of fourteen when the family settled in Louisa county, where at that time the educational facilities, in the rural districts particularly, were very limited and inadequate for the settlers were too few and lived too far apart to organize a school and when the district had become sufficiently populated to support a school he was too old to attend. Jowa formed a portion of the frontier at that period. Life was very primitive and upon those brave men and women who form the advance guard of civilization devolved all of the hard- ships and privations of pioneer life. The Browning family was large, their means limited and the source of revenue very uncertain, so that while little more than a lad the son Jeremiah was compelled to assume the responsibilities of manhood. When he first began working for himself he broke prairie with oxen, following this employment for several years thereafter. Some time later he bought sixty acres of land which he cultivated for a short period then sold. In 1859 he bought his present homestead, which contains two hundred and sixty acres of land on section 20, Grand View township. He has made all of the im- Vol. II-19
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provements upon his place which he continued to cultivate until 1901, when he retired from active farming, but still lives there.
Mr. Browning, who has twice married, took for his first wife Miss Mary Randleman, to whom he was united in 1854. Their life together was not long as she passed away in 1859. Three sons were born of this union: George, William and John, all of whom are deceased. Mr. Browning was a widower for eleven years, then in 1870 he married Miss Sarah Walker, a native of the east. Unto them were born six children : Susan, who lives in Muscatine ; Edith and Mary, who are deceased; Grace, a resident of Louisa county; Charley, the only son, also deceased; and Ethel, the wife of Hilton Lieberknecht. Mr. Browning died in the spring of 1901.
In religion Mr. Browning is of the Christian faith, while in politics he is a democrat, but has never been an officer seeker. Mr. Browning is one of the highly esteemed citizens of Grand View township and is accorded the respect which rightfully belongs to one whose years are many and whose life is honorable.
WILLIAM WILSON.
A member of the board of supervisors of Louisa county and a well known retired agriculturist of Letts is William Wilson, who for many years was iden- tified with the farming interests of Concord township. His birth occurred in Ireland on the 4th of May, 1849, his parents being John and Maria ( Courtney) Wilson, also natives of the Emerald isle, born in County Armagh. They emi- grated to the United States in 1874, first locating in Louisa county, lowa, where the father operated a farm until 1886. He then withdrew from agricultural pursuits and retired to Muscatine, where Mrs. Wilson passed away November 16, 1901, but he survived until October 7, 1907. Four children were born to them: Robert, who is living on a farm in Louisa county ; William, our sub- ject ; John C., a resident of Muscatine ; and Elizabeth, the wife of John C. Neil, who is a farmer in Kansas.
William Wilson, who was twenty-five years of age when his parents emi- grated to America, was already an established agriculturist in Louisa county. In the acquirement of his education he attended the common schools of his na- tive land, following which he decided to test the truth of the stories he had so often heard about the opportunities to be found by ambitious young men in the United States. When he was twenty-two years of age he purchased eighty acres of land and after cultivating it for a year disposed of it, buying one hundred and eighty acres in Concord township. He continued to operate this latter prop- erty during the remainder of his active career as a farmer. In 1892 he removed to Letts, where for ten years he engaged in the lumber business. He sold out in 1902 and has since been living retired. At the present time he owns one hundred and eighty acres of highly cultivated land in Louisa county, and three
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quarter sections in South Dakota, which he is renting, in addition to his fine residence in Letts.
On the 2d of March, 1875, Mr. Wilson established a home for himself by his marriage to Miss Anna McLean, a daughter of John W. and Fannie ( Preston ) McLean, natives of Catlettsburg, Kentucky. The father was killed during the Civil war, and the mother, who is now seventy-two, continues to reside in the Blue Grass state. Three children were born to them, two of whom are living, Nora, the wife of John Boyd, of Catlettsburg, Kentucky; and Mrs. Wilson. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been born two daughters: Elizabeth, the wife of W. E. McDaniel, who is in the employ of the Russell Miller Flour Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota ; and May, at home.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Wilson hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is also affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Letts Lodge. No. 245, A. F. & A. M. His political support is always given to the republican party, he having been identified with that body ever since granted the right of franchise by naturalization. He has ever taken an active interest in all political affairs and has served two terms as a member of the board of supervisors. Such success as has been awarded the efforts of Mr. Wilson is the well merited result of industry, perseverance and intelligently directed endeavors, as he came to America practically empty-handed.
H. N. P. SMALL.
A prosperous farmer of Letts is H. N. P. Small, who for more than half a century has been identified with the agricultural development of Louisa county. His birth occurred in the state of Maine on the 28th of August, 1836, his parents being James G. and Harriet ( Mitchell ) Small, also natives of that state. The early years of their domestic life were spent in Maine, where Mr. Small, who was a carpenter, followed his trade and also engaged in contracting. In 1848 they removed to Chicago, Illinois, remaining there for seven years. At the expiration of that period they came to Iowa, settling on a farm a mile west of Letts in Louisa county. The father continued to cultivate that until his death, at which time he owned one hundred and sixty acres of highly improved land. The mother passed away in 1863. Five children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Small in the following order : Martha, who died in infancy: John 11 .. a resident of Chicago, Illinois, who is now deceased; H. N. P., our subject ; James L .. who is living in Stanford, California ; and Isaac L., who was killed at the siege of Vicksburg, during the Civil war. About one year after the death of his wife James G. Small was married to Miss Lepha Clark of Ottumwa. who died four years later. When two years had elapsed he was united to Mrs. Cook, a widow living in Moline, Illinois, who survived him fifteen years, her de- mise occurring in 1909. He was seventy-eight years of age when he died on the 12th of December. 1885.
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The education of H. N. P. Small was obtained in the public schools of his native state and in Chicago, Illinois. For three years after the family settled in lowa he remained at home assisting in the cultivation of the homestead. He subsequently rented land of his father for several years, following which he purchased eighty acres. After improving and cultivating this he disposed of it and bought his present homestead near Letts. He has added to his holdings here at different times until he now owns two hundred and forty acres of finely improved and highly cultivated land, all of which is being tilled with the excep- tion of a small tract which is still in timber. In addition to his homestead Mr. Small owns a fine residence in Letts and three vacant and six improved lots, while he has two hundred and eighty acres of farm land in Texas and eight acres within the city limits of Hereford, Texas and a quarter section in Min- nesota. His possessions have all been accumulated through his own unaided efforts.
On the 13th of June, 1860, Mr. Small was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Williams, who was born in the state of New York on the rith of June, 1845. She is the only daughter and youngest child born to Jeremiah W. and Eliza- beth ( Bosweth ) Williams, both natives of Connecticut, in which state they were reared and married. In 1840 they removed to the Empire state and there Mr. Williams passed away in 1848. The mother later removed to Illinois with her children and after residing there for a short time they came to Louisa county. Here she married David Letts, who only lived a few years thereafter. Mrs. Letts survived until 1873. her demise occurring on the 9th of January. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Williams were born six children, the five sons being as follows : Daniel E., who died when he was seventy-six years of age; Ira, who passed away when fifty-six : Edward R., who was seventy-one when he died ; and Ed- watd and Edwin, twins, Forn in 1837. the former of whom passed away in 1902 and the latter in 1907.
To Mr. and Mrs. Small were born six children, four of whom survive, in order of birth as follows: Harriet M., who was born on the 22d of July. 1865, married F. H. McDaniels, of Oskaloosa, Iowa, and they have one child, Matie. Gertrude L., whose birth occurred on the 17th of February, 1867. mar- ried Dr. A. J. Weaver, of Muscatine, and they have one daughter, Ida A. James Grant, who was born on the 14th of December, 1868, is engaged in farm- ing one mile west of Letts. He married Nannie Idle of Letts and they have four children: Arthur H., Mollie, Alice and Horatio N. P. Mary, who is the youngest child, was born on the Ist of February, 1873. She married A. W. Morgan, of Muscatine. Those deceased-the two eldest-are as follows: Martha E., the wife of George Wagner, of Grand View township, who was born on the 15th of September, 1861, and died on the 29th of March, 1896; and Henry L. L., who was born on the 29th of March, 1863, and died on the 16th of July, 1864.
Fraternally Mr. Small is affiliated with the Masonic order, his local identifi- cation being with Letts Lodge, No. 245. A. F. & A. M., and both he and his wife hold membership in the Congregational church. He has always exercised
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his right of suffrage in support of the candidates of the republican party and has filled all of the township offices. He has been one of the successful agricul- turists of Louisa county but, despite the time required to look after his ex- tensive personal interests, always found it possible to assist in the administra- tion of township affairs, thus meeting to the best of his ability his responsibili- ties as a citizen. He assisted in the erection of the first building in Letts.
R. F. EDMONDSON.
R. F. Edmondson, a progressive and prosperous farmer and stockman of Columbus City township, Louisa county, is one of Iowa's eastern-born residents, his birth occurring in Blount county, Tennessee, on the 9th of June, 1855. His parents, William and Mary ( Walker ) Edmondson, also natives of that state, came to Louisa county in 1856 and here the father purchased land, upon which they resided throughout their remaining days. The mother passed away on the 22d of May, 1874, but the father survived until 1887, his death occurring in the month of June. In their family were ten children but only four are now living, namely : Eliza J., the widow of S. D. Johnston, of Columbus Junction ; Margaret J., the widow of G. W. Duncan ; Carolina, of Louisa county ; and R. F., of this review.
The last named acquired his education in the district schools near his home. while his practical training was received in the work of the fields under the care- ful direction of his father. He early became familiar with the best methods of caring for land and stock, and so, upon attaining his twenty-first year. he was well equipped to carry on an independent agricultural enterprise. Leaving home, he rented a farm for a time and later purchased one hundred and eighty acres near Cotter, upon which he resided until 1892. In that year he disposed of that prop- erty and invested in his present farm of three hundred and eighty acres, located on sections 8 and 0, Columbus City township, in the operation of which he has since been engaged. He not only gives much attention to the cultivation of the soil, practicing rotation of crops and carefully studying the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, but also engages in the raising and breeding of stock. He is a man of good business faculties and the methods which he has pursued in the conduct of both branches of his interests are both progressive and honorable. His salient characteristics are industry, energy and perseverance-qualities which are indispensable in the attainment of success in any avenue of activity-and today he occupies a prominent place among the substantial and representative agriculturists of the community.
Mr. Edmondson has been twice married. In 1880 he wedded Miss Etta Dun- can, who was born in Louisa county in 1857, a daughter of F. A. Duncan, now deceased. On the 8th of November, 1898, the wife and mother was called to her final rest, being survived by her four children, as follows: Mary, the wife of Ed Shellabarger, of Columbus Junction ; Nellie, who married S. L. Olson, of North Dakota ; William F., at home ; and Dale D., a student at the high school. On the
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26th of February, 1902, Mr. Edmondson was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Alice Lupton, of Columbus Junction, Iowa, a daughter of James S. and Sarah Pearson, natives of England. The parents came to America in 1845. first locating in Virginia where they remained for three years, after which they came west to Missouri, settling in St. Louis. That remained their home until 1854, in which year they arrived in Louisa county, lowa, the father here purchas- ing school land for a dollar and a quarter per acre. That remained their home mit1til the latter's death in November, 1881, when the mother removed to Columbus Junction, where she passed away in January, 1902. Of their family of eleven children but six are now living, as follows: Emily, the wife of R. Barnard, of Kansas; John and William, both residents of Davenport, Iowa; James, of Mis- souri : Carrie E., the wife of Ilugh Roden, of Dexter, Iowa ; and Mrs. Edmondson. The last named, who had a good education, taught school for about ten years previous to her marriage, and for a similar period was also engaged in clerking.
The religious faith of Mr. Edmondson is indicated by his membership in the United Presbyterian church, while in politics he is a republican. He served for some time as assessor of the township and also as township clerk, and was a member of the school board for several years. He has ever held a deep interest in the public life of the community in which he resides, and has done all in his power to further its growth and development along material, political, intellectual and moral lines. With him perseverance, diligence and integrity have constituted the guiding posts of life, bringing him to the honorable position which he now occupies in the opinion of his fellow citizens, among whom he has long lived and labored.
W. C. WILLIAMSON.
Among the residents of Wapello who are now living retired, their present comfortable financial position being the direct result of former activity and enter- prise along agricultural lines, is numbered W. C. Williamson. He is one of Louisa county's native sons, his birth occurring on a farm on the 15th of March, 1845. Ilis parents were James S. and Nancy E. ( Nevies ) Williamson, natives of Ohio and New Jersey respectively. His great-great-grandfather Nevies was the first mayor of New York. The father, whose birth occurred in Greene county, on the 20th of August, 1817, came to Iowa in 1836, during the pioneer epoch in the his- tory of this state, and cast in his lot with the early settlers of Louisa county. Here he entered a claim from the government upon which he erected a log cabin, with clapboard roof and puncheon floor, and in that primitive dwelling passed the re- mainder of his days, his death occurring in 1855. He was survived by his wife and five children the mother, whose birth occurred on the Ist of October, 1823, passing away July 26, 1896, at the age of seventy-three years. W. C. Williamson, the eldest of the children, and a brother, James S., now residing in Kansas, are the only surviving members of the family.
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Reared amid the busy activities of rural life, W. C. Williamson attended the country schools in the acquirement of his education, and early in life was made familiar with the tasks that usually fall to the lot of the farm lad. His father passed away when he was but ten years of age, and as soon as his strength and experience permitted he took charge of the home farm, which he continued to operate until 1863. In that year, his spirit of patriotism aroused, he enlisted for service in the Civil war although but eighteen years of age. He became a soldier of Company K, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, and served throughout a period of two years, being mustered out at Atlanta, Georgia, August 10, 1865. He saw service in several important and hotly contested battles but was not wounded, and after a most creditable military career was honorably discharged at Davenport, Iowa, on the 24th of August. 1865. He participated in the battles of Guntown and Tupelo, Wilson's raid and numerous skirmishes.
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