USA > Iowa > Louisa County > History of Louisa County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1911, Volume II > Part 43
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James R. Letts began his education in a log schoolhouse in Licking county, Ohio, where the little children sat on benches so high their feet would not touch the floor. A roaring fire in a stone fireplace almost scorched their faces while their backs were cold with the drafts. Later he attended night school on the farm in Illinois and spent one winter at school in Dayton, that state. The boys of the Letts family entered into all the sports of the new country with great zest -- fishing, the wolf chase, a deer hunt, the trapping of prairie chickens-all were sources of interest and amusement. As the years went by David Letts added to his agricultural pursuits the mercantile business and established stores both in Dayton and Ottawa. Ile also served as school commissioner and sur- veyor, and surveyed, platted and sold lots in the town of Peru for school pur- poses. In the conduct of his stores he generously trusted friends and neighbors with goods and as hard times set in they were unable to pay and he was forced to close out his business and seek another situation and employment. Accord-
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ingly, soon afterward he removed to New Franklin, Missouri, and purchased a fine hotel, which he conducted for some years.
When the stores were disposed of, James R. Letts, then seventeen years of age, was given an outfit of a good team and covered conveyance loaded with goods from the left-over stock, with which he started to the Indian Territory, hoping to dispose of his goods profitably to the Indians. In this undertaking he was successful. His experiences and adventures in crossing the Ozark moun- tains, fording streams and sojourning with the natives and Indians would make an interesting volume if written in detail. When the goods were sold he dis- posed of his outfit except one horse, putting the money, all in silver and gold, in his saddle bags, mounted his horse and made his way home. There he re- mained for a few years, driving his father's fine team and entering into the social life, of the country, which was largely settled by old Virginian families who were wealthry slave owners and much given to hospitality and gaiety. There in various ways he began to earn some money and the first hundred dollars which he accumulated he invested in eighty acres of land in Linn county, Missouri. He often related the fact that he assisted in raising the first court- house at Linneus, the county seat of Linn county, a structure built of logs.
While living in Linn county, he married a young English girl, Hannah Hilton, who had come to the states with an aunt, she being an orphan. She was a faithful wife and helpmeet to him in his pioneer days both in Missouri and Illinois, where he lived later. He was not twenty-one years of age at the time of his marriage. For several years he lived in Missouri and prospered, and then sold his farm and removed to Hill county, Illinois, where he entered land on the site of what is now the town of New Lennox. There his first child, Amanda Annette, was born, the only child of this union. She married Edwin Robinson, of Vinton, Iowa, now deceased.
Mr. Letts followed farming until 1850, when he started on an overland trip to California, being then in poor health. But the outdoor life proved the pan- acea he needed and when he reached his destination in August, he was brown and well and strong, entering heartily into the mining and rock-washing in order to secure the gold. At the same time he owned an interest in a provision store at the camp. Afterward he spent several months with Hugh Ewing. of Ohio, on his ranch, buying and selling cattle and horses until, satisfied with his venture in new fields, he returned to his Illinois home in the spring of 1851. His experiences as related in a manuscript copy of his trip by land and sea read like a story. He made the return journey by way of the Pacific ocean and the isthmus of Panama. In 1854 he lost his wife. About the same time the Rock Island Railroad had been built through his farm, cutting it in two diagonally, and because his home was broken up he sold the farm and came to Louisa county, Iowa, where his brother Madison had located a few years before. He then purchased land in Grand View township, adjoining his brother's place on the west, and engaged in the cattle business with him for a few years.
On the 3d of March, 1859, Mr. Letts was again married, his second union being with Albina Brockway, a daughter of James M. and Lydia (Goff) Brock-
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way, who were natives of New York and pioneers of Pennsylvania and Iowa. They settled in Louisa county in May, 1842, and ten years later removed to Muscatine county. The Brockways were moral and religious people and their influence in this part of the state has been of the best. James Brockway was a leader in good works, in educational and temperance movements and in every- thing that pertained to good citizenship. The son of a Revolutionary soldier, his wife the granddaughter of one who enlisted in the Colonial army before the Declaration of Independence was written, and discharged after the battle of York, they inherited the qualities on which republics are built and they did their work well. There were nine children born to this union, as follows : Cora E., who married B. F. Marick, a lawyer and immigration inspector of Boston, Massachusetts. Chester H., who was born in 1861, and died at Needles, California, in 1898; Alice Grace, who died in infancy; Ella Elizabeth, who married F. E. MeCrary, of Florence, Arizona, a government and humane officer ; James D. Letts, a farmer, who married Lillie Runyan; Emery Clinton, a real estate agent, who married Jane Ellen Bushey ; Arthur R., a ranchman of Texas, who married Alice Winkler; Fay R., who married Jessie Dickerson ; Frank B., a ranchman of Texas, who married Elsie Stapp. Eight children grew to maturity.
Mr. Letts was never identified with any military organizations except at the beginning of the Civil war when he drilled with a company in Grand View. Ile and his brother Madison were powers in the land at that time in suppressing disloyalty and inspiring patriotism, in aiding the sanitary commission and in looking after the widows and orphans at home. At different times Mr. Letts served his county in minor capacities, on school and election boards, on the petit and grand juries, nearly always serving as chairman of the grand jury. His most important service was in the case of the Air Line Railroad against the county. In 1855 bonds had been issued for the building of the so-called "Air Line Railroad." which, however, was never constructed. When it became known that the project was only an air line, prominent men in the county raised a fund, hired lawyers and succeeded in releasing the county from a part of the obligation. The matter came up for final adjustment while Mr. Letts was a member of the board. Hle, in common with all honest-minded men of the county, believed it was a gross injustice for the county to be forced to pay for a railroad that was never built. The board, then of twelve men, were a unit on the question and decided to contest the case and refuse to levy the tax, which they did. After giving the United States marshal a great deal of trouble in finding them they were taken to Des Moines before the court and held there until they agreed to levy the tax. The judge said to them: "It is in my power to fine each of you until I impoverish you and send you to jail, but my sym- pathy is with you; but the bonds have passed into innocent hands and must be paid."
Mr. Letts was ever conscientiously opposed to secret societies, believing that a loyal and just man should let his light shine and do his good work in the sight of the world. In politics he was a stanch and enthusiastic republican,
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although he believed the party sometimes made mistakes, yet he believed in righting it from within, instead of without and remained with it. He cast his first presidential vote for William Henry Harrison one month before he at- tained his majority, and for Fremont in 1856 and never missed casting a ballot at the polls until the last election in November, 1910. His religious views were somewhat peculiar but he was thoroughly orthodox and read his Bible literally, never trying to twist the meaning to suit his own views. Although he was not a member of any church he was an humble and reverent believer and his hope of salvation rested solely on the atonement of our Lord. His religion taught him to be diligent and prompt in business and pitiful to the poor, and while there were older settlers in Louisa county than he there are few early enter- prises in which he did not have a hand, for he was public-spirited, benevolent and generous. There were few private or public benefactions but felt the uplift of his generosity. Churches, schools and charities never appealed for aid in vain and his children can point to this or that public edifice and say: "My father gave the first hundred dollars toward erecting that building." He was a strong temperance man, a believer in prohibition but inside the ranks of his party. To him total abstinence and government control of the manufacture of intoxi- cants was the only way to control this greatest of evils. His best efforts, his time, his purse were devoted to the cause all his years and he was opposed to the use of liquor even in sickness, insisting to the last it was not beneficial. He was a hospitable man with the old-time hospitality of the pioneer days, with the "latch-string out." as he expressed it, always, and a friend or stranger wel- comed; a warm reception, a free entertainment, a helping hand when needed made his hospitality a benediction. He always lamented his meager educational advantages and because of his lack in this direction refused often to take re- sponsible positions which others less capable accepted. Young people strug- gling for an education or a start in the world found in him a sympathetic and helpful friend and so unassuming was he in his beneficences that his best friends knew them not. Verily, his left hand knew not the work of his. right.
One who knew Mr. Letts long and well said unsolicited: "In the passing away of James R. Letts, at his home near Letts, December 18, 1910, Iowa has lost one of the most remarkable men that helped to make her early history. It was during the summer of 1855 that the writer, a barefoot boy, first met 'Uncle Jim Letts.' as the neighborhood boys all soon learned to lovingly call him. The first impression he made on my young mind has lasted until now. I have never seen his like and never expect to see it again. Measured by every standard by which man can be measured, he more nearly filled each one than any man I ever knew. Many of the men with whom ] have mingled excelled him in special points, but when the average was made they all fell below his mark. He had traveled much before coming to Iowa. He knew how to meet old and young. His neighbors soon learned to believe in him. He was the kind of man that pioneers needed. He knew the prairies and how to select a farm. He knew the value of rotation of crops and tiling. He knew how to make worn out land as rich as virgin soil. He knew the value of groves upon the prairie land. He
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knew all this at a time when clover was a stranger here and there was not a spear of blue grass in Louisa county, and much of the now hundred dollar land was listed as 'swamp land." He planted the first pines in his neighborhood. He built the first modern farm house in Grand View township, and lived in it for fifty-five years. Ile helped to build the Grand View Academy and many of the churches in Grand View and Letts. He was public-spirited and generous. He was free to give money and advice. He loved society and was the moving spirit in social circles for years. He has probably entertained more people at his home than any man in Louisa county. No person was ever turned away hun- gry from his door. lle probably has stood beside more open graves than any man in Louisa county. He was always active in politics and firm and true in his convictions. He was often urged to represent Louisa county in the legis- lature but never would consent. Few men have been so much revered by the old and so much loved by the young. He scattered sunshine wherever he went. In the early days that meant much. He would often press a coin into a poor boy's hand. In the early days coins looked bigger to a boy than they do now. Many a man has taken his first ride in a top buggy with Uncle Jim. Top bug- gies were as scarce then as automobiles are now. Many of the early settlers of lowa will bow their heads when they read of his death. He was a cattle dealer and traveled far and wide on horseback; no man with whom he ever 'broke bread' could forget him. Those twinkling, honest blue eyes; that ringing voice, his handsome form, graceful carriage, the cut of his clothes, all lespoke a Torn prince before he had time to say a word. Such a man, coming into a country at such a time, means an epoch in its history. Within a radius of five miles of the beautiful home of James R. Letts, the prairie land of 1855 has been transformed into valuable farms and beautiful homes, such homes as are hard to duplicate within a like area. It sometimes looks as if God spared a few of our friends beyond the allotted time, to teach us how to grow old gracefully. If so, surely James R. Letts has well filled his mission." A pioneer in three states he assisted in laying the foundations of the commonwealth broad and deep and true. Though the worker may be forgotten, the work remains.
F. B. IDLE.
One of louisa county's retired agriculturists, who for many years was 211- gaged in general farming and stock raising in Grand View township, is F. B. Idle, a resident of Letts. He was born in Champaign county, Ohio, on the 23d of January, 1843, and is a son of John and Nancy R. ( Kiser ) Idle, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. The parents were married in Ohio, where the father engaged in farming until 1845, when they came to Iowa, making the long journey across the prairie in wagons. They took up their residence in Muscatine county, where the father filed a claim on eighty acres of land. After erecting a log cabin, which sufficed for a residence for the time being, he
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began to break the prairie and place his land under cultivation, making such improvements as he could from time to time. In the spring of 1850 he crossed the plains to California in search of gold, spending two years in prospecting. Upon his return he entered more land, continuing its cultivation until his re- tirement in 1907. He is now ninety-three years of age and although he rents his laid still makes his home on the farm where he has resided for over sixty years. He owns three hundred and forty acres of land, which is well improved, and two hundred of it is under a high state of cultivation. Five children were born to him and his wife, as follows: Louisa, the wife of A. V. Riggs, of Van Buren county ; F. B., our subject; Isaiah, who is farming in Kingston, Texas; and two who died in infancy.
Being but two years of age when the family came to Iowa, F. B. Idle has spent practically his entire life in the state where he is now residing and in whose common schools he obtained his education. His boyhood and youth were very similar to those of other lads reared on a farm during pioneer days. While still very young he was assigned light tasks about the farm, which increased in number and responsibility as he grew older, so that by the time he had mastered the rudiments of the common branches of learning he was also well qualified to assist in the cultivation of the fields. He adopted agriculture for his life vo- cation and met with such success in its pursuit that he is now able to live retired, having sufficient means to provide him with all of the necessities and many of the luxuries of life.
On the 16th of April, 1865, Mr. Idle was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Brumley, who was born in Virginia, and is a daughter of Smith and Lucy A. (Vincent ) Brumley. Her parents were also natives of Virginia, in which state they were married, continuing to reside there until 1856, the father being engaged in farming. In that year they came to Iowa, settling in Louisa county, where Mr. Brumley purchased eighty acres of land, which he improved and cultivated until 1864. when he sold his place and bought one hundred and twenty acres elsewhere in this county. Five years afterward he disposed of that place and purchased three hundred and twenty acres in the vicinity of Wapello, one- half of this being under a good state of cultivation and the other half timber. He later disposed of that and went to Kansas, buying one hundred and twenty acres near Pleasanton, where he passed away in 1906, having survived his wife for four years, as her demise occurred in 1902. Nine children were born to them : Mary E., now Mrs. Idle: John L., who is residing in Kansas; Joseph W., who is in the stock business in Whitman, Nebraska : Thomas N., of Fulton, Kansas: Julia A., who died in infancy; Nellie F., the wife of Ambro Hickman, of Batesville, Indiana; Etta V., who married Frank E. Graham, of Wapello; Harvey B., who passed away at the age of thirty-one years ; and Effie, the wife of Art E. Barber, of Pleasanton, Kansas.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Idle have been born three daughters and two sons. Clara B., who was given a common-school and musical education, married H. M. Shearer, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and they have nine children, namely : Carl Ver- non, Harry Merle and Beatrice Mary, all at home; Frank M., who is married
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and resides in Potlatch, Idaho; Monte May and Darlene Marie, at home; one who died in infancy ; and Austin Morris and Allen Dale, at home. Newton Idle, the older son of our subject, was also given a common-school education and lives in Boicourt, Kansas. Ile is married and has five children, Francis, Russell, Floyd. Clara and Vera. Nancy A. is the wife of James Small, a resident of Letts, and they have four children, Arthur, Molly, Alice and Ratio. Lucy R. is the wife of E. S. Rabe, a resident of Letts, and they have one child, Maurice. Oliver 1., a resident of Boicourt, Kansas, is married and has four children, Leo, Eugene, John and Eria.
The family were reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which the parents are members, and fraternally Mr. Idle is affiliated with the Masonic order, being identified with the lodge at Letts. Politically he is a democrat but not having been an office seeker has never prominently partici- pated in township affairs. He is one of the widely known and respected citi- zens of his community and both he and his wife have many friends of long standing.
JAMES H. LETTS.
James H. Letts, the heaviest stock feeder and one of the most extensive landowners of Louisa county, his holdings aggregating fifteen hundred acres, is in possession of one of the best improved farms within its borders. He makes his home in Concord township and is widely recognized as one of the leading and respected residents of the community. His birth occurred in Grand View township, Louisa county, Iowa, on the 27th of April, 1855, his parents being Nehemiah M. and Jane ( Holderman ) Letts, both of whom were natives of Ohio, the former born in Licking county and the latter in Marion county. They were married near Ottawa, Illinois, and there continued to reside until 1853, when they came west to Louisa county, Iowa, settling in Grand View township. Nehemiah M. Letts there purchased a tract of land comprising three hundred and twenty acres and turned his attention to its further cultivation and improvement. From time to time he augmented his holdings by additional purchase until they embraced two thousand acres of land. In 1882, however, he put aside the active work of the fields and rented his entire farm to his four sons. He likewise owned a tract of ninety-two hundred acres in southwestern Texas and after his retirement spent the winter seasons in that state, returning to lowa for the summer months. His demise occurred in May, 1894.
Nehemiah M. Letts was married three times, his first union being with a Miss Grove, whom he wedded in Illinois and by whom he had two children, namely : Rowena, who is the widow of E. F. Brockway, and resides in Grand View town- ship; and David G., who passed away in Washington county, Iowa, when forty years of age. Unto Nehemiah M. and Jane (Holderman) Letts were born six children, as follows: William H., who died when forty-nine years of age;
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James H., of this review ; Hilton M., a heavy landowner residing in Columbus City, lowa, whose demise occurred in 1911; Emma S., the wife of John Waters, of Santa Cruz, California; Noah R., who is a resident of Letts, Iowa; and Emery. who died in infancy. The wife and mother passed away in 1863, and two years later Mr. Letts married Mrs. Adelia Sawyer, a native of Rochester, New York.
James H. Letts enjoyed the advantages of a high school education and also attended college for one year. When twenty-one years of age he started out as an agriculturist on his own account and has since been busily engaged in the same occupation.
On the Ist of March, 1877, Mr. Letts was married to Miss Mary M. Hen- drics, who was born in Muscatine county, Iowa, February 1, 1855, her parents being Henry and Margaret (Dinwiddie) Hendrics, of Ohio and Kentucky re- spectively. Mr. Hendrics was twice married, his first wife being Theodosia Willits. To them seven children were born, four of whom are living: William Hendrics, residing near Letts, lowa; Mrs. Ellen Wagner, of Ashland, Oregon; Ira Hendrics, of Avalon, Missouri; and Mrs. Melissa Long, of Pittsburg, Pa. In the '40s Mr. and Mrs. Hendrics took up their abode among the pioneers of Muscatine county, Iowa, where he operated a farm during the remainder of his life time. His wife died in 1848. In 1850 Mr. Hendrics was united in marriage to Margaret Dinwiddie Whitacer, and to them three children were born, but Mrs. Letts is the only one living. Mr. Hendrics was called to his final rest in May, 1893. His wife died in October, 1895.
Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Letts have three children. Vinnie D. is a graduate of three colleges, the Western Preparatory College of Oxford, Ohio, the College of Liberal Arts of Oberlin, Ohio, and College of Oratory, Cornell, Iowa. In 1908 she gave her hand in marriage to Clyde Turkington, of Loveland, Colorado. Adelia P., the second daughter, is also a graduate of the Western Preparatory College, of Oxford, Ohio, and later was a student in Oberlin College. Harland D. is a graduate of Cornell College Preparatory and also spent two years in collegiate work there. At present he is a student in the University of Wisconsin.
Mr. Letts is a stanch republican in politics but has never sought office as a reward for his party fealty. In the county where his entire life has been spent he is widely and favorably known.
LEWIS LIEBERKNECHT.
The subject of this sketch was born in Louisa county, his natal day being the 20th of November, 1856, and his parents Nicholas and Catherine (Raebold) Lieberknecht. His parents were born, reared and married in Germany, from which country they emigrated to the United States in 1841. Upon their arrival they located in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, where they remained for ten
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years, and then came to Louisa county, lowa, making the journey by way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Muscatine. Mr. Lieberknecht immediately in- vested in land, which was practically unimproved with the exception of a log house, which for several years thereafter the family occupied. At odd times, when not occupied with the work of the farm, he followed his trade, which was that of shoemaking. By means of thrift, hard work and close application he had acquired eight hundred acres of land when he passed away. His property was well improved and two-thirds of it under a high state of cultivation. In his family were the following children : Jacob and John, both of whom are deceased ; IJenry; William; Lewis; Benjamin, deceased; and Margaret and Mary, both also deceased, the former the wife of Nicholas Lang and the latter of Christ Werner. The father passed away in 1872, but the mother survived until 1901, her demise occurring in March.
The early life of Lewis Lieberknecht was very similar to those of the sons of other pioneers. Reared on the home farm he was trained in the habits of thrift, industry and tenacity of purpose which characterizes the Teutonic races, thus laying the foundation for a useful career and good member of society. In the acquirement of his education he attended the schools in the vicinity of his home, which at that time contained in their curriculum little more than the common branches. lle remained with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, at which time he left home to begin his independent career as an agriculturist. While working for his father he had acquired one hundred acres of land, upon which he settled, continuing its cultivation for several years. Subsequently he disposed of this property and purchased two hundred and seventy-three acres of his present homestead, upon which he has wrought extensive improvements during the period of his occupancy. Mr. Lieberknecht possesses the sagacity, foresight and perseverance essential to success in any vocation. These qualities have all been freely exercised in the direction of his affairs and as a result he has acquired eight hundred and forty acres of land in Louisa county. Five hundred acres of this property is under a high state of cultivation, well improved and carefully kept up. His success, Mr. Lieber- knecht attributes to the fact that he has always been an extensive stockman as well as a general farmer. In addition to his extensive realty holdings he was one of the organizers of the Grand View Savings Bank, of which institution he has been the chief executive ever since it was founded.
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