USA > Iowa > Louisa County > History of Louisa County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1911, Volume II > Part 45
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When a young man of twenty years David E. Strawhacker started out in life on his own account as an agriculturist, renting an Illinois farm of three hun- dred and twenty acres in association with his brother and devoting his atten- tion to its operation for two years. On the expiration of that period he pur- chased a tract of one hundred and sixty-five acres, owning and operating the farm for ten years. Disposing of the property, he embarked in business at New Boston, Illinois, where he remained for three years and then sold out. Subsequently he bought over four hundred acres of land and was busily engaged in its further cultivation and improvement until 1893, when he sold the property and came to Louisa county, here also purchasing a tract of four hundred acres. As time passed he augmented his holdings by additional purchase until he now owns from six to seven hundred acres of rich and productive land in Louisa county as well as over eleven hundred acres in North Dakota. In 1909 he left the farm and took up his abode in Oakville, purchasing a valuable tract of land of seven and a quarter acres and erecting thereon an elegant two-story residence. His home is equipped with an individual light plant and is up-to-date and modern in every respect. He is now serving as a director and vice president of the Farmers Bank of Oakville and also of the Farmers Grain Company of the same place.
Mr. Strawhacker has been married twice. On the 30th of December, 1886, he wedded Miss Lilly Smith, by whom he had two children: Edna May, the wife of R. R. Severly, of Louisa county ; and Eva Lena, the wife of Andrew Ellsworth, of this county. The wife and mother passed away on the 22d of March, 1890, and on the 19th of December, 1894, Mr. Strawhacker was again married, his second union being with Miss Emerance Herr, a daughter of Gregor and Augusta Herr, both of whom were natives of Germany. Emigrating to the United States, they took up their abode in Louisa county, lowa, Mr. Heri here becoming identified with general agricultural pursuits. He still makes his home in this county but his wife is no longer living. They were the parents of five children, namely: Joseph, who is a resident of Hamilton, Iowa; George, who died in infancy; Mrs. Strawhacker; Sophia, the wife of Frank Searls, of Oakville; and Anna, the wife of Harry Munson. Unto our subject and his second wife were born eight children, as follows: Emery G., and Emma, who
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died in infancy; Marshall, who is a resident of Oakville; Frank II., who has passed away; and Cleo Irene, Mark C., Paul D. and Roy B., all at home.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Strawhacker has supported the men and measures of the democracy. He is now serving as a township trustee and has held other minor positions, ever discharging his official cluties in a most prompt and able manner. For ten years he was school director while living in the country. In religious faith he is a Methodist, while his wife is a devoted communicant of the Catholic church. In all relations of life in which he is found, whether social, business or public, he has been true to high prin- ciples of manhood and his salient characteristics are such as have won for him the honor, respect and good will of his fellowmen.
JOHN H. COLLINS.
John Il. Collins, who has been a resident of Letts for seventeen years, was born in Aluscatine county, lowa, on the 13th of October, 1859, and is a son of Harris and Sarah ( Denham) Collins. The parents were both natives of Ohio but were married in Muscatine county, where the father engaged in farming until the Civil war. He enlisted as a private in 1861 and went to the front with Company A, Eleventh lowa Infantry. At the battle of Shiloh, on the 6th of April, 1862, he was wounded and on the 6th of the following May passed away. Ile had two children : Lola M., who has never married and lives at Muscatine; and John H., our subject. In 1866 the mother was again married, her second husband being William Hart, a native of Pennsylvania, by whom she had four children, as follows: Jeannette, Effie and Stella, twins, and Burton, all of whom are unmarried and living at home. Mr. Hart died in 1881, at the age of sixty-one years, but his wife, who is now seventy-six, is living and continues to make her home in Muscatine.
The early life of John HI. Collins was spent in his native county, in whose common schools he was educated. At the age of twenty-three years he became identified with the monument business and after following that vocation for twelve years he came to Letts and went into business for himself. He also has an undertaking establishment, the only one in the town, which he has been successfully conducting for sixteen years. Mr. Collins has met with success in his work and in connection with his other enterprises he is also acting as man- ager and secretary of the Independent Pearl Button Factory of Letts.
Mr. Collins was united in marriage on the 24th of October, 1883, with Miss Maggie Flanigan, who was born in Illinois on the 16th of August, 1859. She is of Irish extraction, her parents, Edward and Mary (Smith) Flanigan, hav- ing been natives of the Emerald isle. They were married in New York and subsequently came to the west, locating in Illinois, where they resided at the time of their death. The mother passed away in 1864, but the father survived
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until 1880. Two daughters were born unto them of whom Mrs. Collins is the elder and the only one surviving, Mary having died at the age of two years.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Collins seven children have been born, as follows : Bert HI., born on the 7th of November 1884: Edward H., born on the 27th of April, 1887; Lola M., born on the 18th of August, 1889, who received a musical education and has been teaching school for four years; John Arden, born on the 3d of August, 1892; Clifford 11., born on the 14th of May, 1894; William Fay, born September 19, 1896; and Kenneth Earrol, who was born May 13, 1898, and passed away at the age of seven months.
The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church, of which the parents are members. Mr. Collins has attained high rank in the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with the Knights Templars of Muscatine and he also belongs to the Mystic Shrine, being identified with Kauba Temple, Davenport, lowa. In addi- tion to his connection with this fraternity he holds membership in the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America of Letts. His political support is given the candidates of the republican party but never hav- ing been an aspirant for office he does not actively participate in public affairs. He is one of the enterprising and successful citizens of the town and in addition to his various business interests he owns a very pleasant residence, the hos- pitality of which is graciously extended to the friends of the family.
H. N. MATTHEWS.
H. N. Matthews, one of the leading and respected citizens of Louisa county, is a retired agriculturist residing in Oakville, which town he is now serving in the capacity of mayor. His birth occurred in Jefferson township, this county, on the 17th of August, 1842, his parents being Solomon B. and Emily M. (Bras) Matthews, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The father came to Louisa county in 1836, settling in Port Louisa township, where he worked as a mill- wright. Subsequently he took up his abode in Tollsboro, there opening a saw- mill and gristmill. In 1849 he made his way to California by ox team, returning to this state in 1852 and passing away the same year. His wife was called to her final rest in 1883. Their children were two in number, namely: H. N., of this revier. ; and Homer A., who is a resident of Toolsboro, Iowa.
H. N. Matthews began earning his own livelihood as a boy and has been in- dependent upon his own resources ever since. In 1862 he volunteered for service with the First Missouri Engineers, being honorably discharged on the expiration of his term in 1864. Ile participated in the siege of Vicksburg and Atlanta. On returning to Louisa county he took up the pursuits of farming and stockraising. meeting with a gratifying measure of success in his undertak- ings as an agriculturist. In 1907 he put aside the active work of the fields and removed to Oakville, where he has since lived retired in his beautiful two-story residence.
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On the 8th of February, 1870. Mr. Matthews was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary E. Brown, a daughter of John and Anna ( Daniels ) Brown, both of whom were natives of Ohio and are now deceased. They were the parents of the fol- lowing children: Benjamin, who has passed away ; Benjamin, who is a resident of Wapello township; Elizabeth, the wife of Henry Speck of Vici, Oklahoma ; Peter, living in Alaska; Samuel, who is deceased; Nancy, the wife of James P. Courtny, of Louisa county; David, who makes his home in Cairo, lowa; Mrs. Matthews; Emmett, who has passed away ; and three who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Matthews had four children: Emily A., who died in infancy ; Solomon. now living near Wapello, Iowa; Charles F., of Oakville, Iowa; and Fannie, the wife of J. A. Williams of Oakville.
In politics Mr. Matthews is a stanch republican and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to various positions of public trust. Ile has held all of the township offices, served as deputy sheriff for one year and is the present mayor of Oakville, exercising his official prerogatives in support of many measures of reform and improvement. The Spiritualist church numbers him among its valued members. He also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. His entire life has been spent in Louisa county and he has long enjoyed an enviable reputation as one of its most prominent and es- teemed citizens.
J. A. PORTER.
J. A. Porter, who owns a fine farm property of one hundred acres in Elm Grove township which he is cultivating, was born in Louisa county on the 5th of February, 1857. He is a son of Hugh and Lydia ( Maloney ) Porter, both natives of Ireland. whence they emigrated to the United States. Upon his arrival in this country Mr. Porter first located in New York, where he remained for fourteen years, and at the expiration of that period he came to Louisa county, in April, 1855. buying eighty acres of land, which he cultivated with increasing success, and thus adding to his holdings from time to time until when he died he owned four hundred and eleven acres of fertile land. His demise occurred on the 19th of January, 1895, many years after that of his wife, who passed away on the 12th of June. 1879. Eight children were born to them in the fol- lowing order: Isaac T., a resident of South Dakota; J. A. Porter, our subject ; Annie, the wife of R. H. Wheeler, of Louisa county; John D., who lives in Orange, California ; and Isabel, James, Mary and an infant, the eldest of the family, all deceased.
The boyhood and youth of J. A. Porter were spent in a manner very similar to those of the majority of farmer lads. He attended the common schools in the acquirement of his education, while such time as he was not there en- gaged was very largely given to assisting with the work of the farm. At the age of twenty-one years he left the parental roof and began working for himself.
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For a time he followed farming but later worked at the carpenter's trade for three years. At the end of that time he bought one hundred acres of land on sections 29 and 21, Elm Grove township, upon which he has since continuously resided. He has erected a fine residence, barns and outbuildings during the period of his residence, all of which have been constructed with due regard for the purpose they were to serve as well as for appearancs. Here he engages in stock-raising in addition to the cultivation of his fields, and his efforts in both directions are meeting with success.
On the 31st of December. 1885. Mr. Porter's plans for a home of his own had their culmination in his marriage to Miss Olive C. Thompson. She is a daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth ( Willis) Thompson, to whom were born ten children : Mary Harkness, who is a resident of Creston, Iowa ; a daughter who died in infancy ; Nancy J., the wife of J. H. Armstrong, of Texas; Robert N., deceased; William L., a resident of Central Point, Oregon; Ella, the wife of Dr. Grimes, of Wapello; Lois, who married W. D. Garmoe, of Winfield, Iowa; Olive and Oliver, twins, the former now Mrs. Porter and the latter a resident of Fort Dodge, Iowa; and Jay F., who is living in Wellington, Kansas.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Porter has been blessed by three daughters : Frances, who was graduated from the Washington Academy in 1905 and is now teaching school; Mary L., who will graduate from the Washington high school with the class of 1912; and Hazel E., who is at home.
The religious faith of the family is manifested through their affiliation with the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Porter casts his ballot for the candidates of the republican party. He meets the requirements of good citizenship by assisting in the administration of local government and has held several township offices. A man of determination and purpose, he is meeting with success in the direc- tion of his interests and is known as one of the prosperous farmers of Elm Grove township, among whose citizens both he and his family are held in high regard.
WILLIAM T. BROWN.
William T. Brown, who has been engaged in the drug business in Columbus Junction for nineteen years, was born in Columbus City, Iowa, on the 16th of January, 1866. He is a son of the late Dr. I. C. and Ruth Ann ( Hamlet) Brown, natives of Philadelphia, Tennessee, and Plainfield, Indiana, respectively. The father passed away in 1900, at the age of sixty-five years, and the mother survived him until 1909, her demise occurring in October, that year. Dr. Brown attended Maryville College, Tennessee, and was graduated from Jeffer- son Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He practiced one year at Philadelphia, Tennessee, but in the spring of 1863 he removed to Danville. Indiana, where he was married, and in January, 1864, removed to Columbus City, Iowa, where he practiced for two years and then removed to Old Clifton.
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After residing there for ten years he came to Columbus Junction, where he re- mained until his demise. In his family were four children, one daughter and three sons, in order of birth as follows; Octavia Jane, who became the wife of W. F. Hall, of Columbus Junction ; William Thomas, our subject ; Harry L., who is engaged in the drug business in Des Moines, Iowa; and Hadley S., a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago, who is now engaged in the practice of medicine in Oklahoma.
The education of William T. Brown, which was begun in the schools of Columbus City, was completed in the high school of Columbus Junction. At the age of eighteen years he began his business career by accepting a position on the railroad and for seven years thereafter he continued to be identified with that vocation. In 1892 he became associated with his brother, H. L. Brown, and W. F. Hall in the drug business at Columbus Junction. This partnership existed for three years, at the expiration of which period Brown Brothers bought out the interest of Mr. Hall, and in 1903 our subject became sole proprietor and since continued the business alone. He has met with very good success in his undertaking and now owns one of the finest stores in the town and enjoys an excellent patronage.
Mr. Brown was united in marriage on the 27th of April, 1893, to Miss Bina Barringer, a daughter of S. E. and Mary ( Stark) Barringer. Her father has passed away but her mother is still living and continues to make her home in Columbus Junction. Mr. and Mrs. Barringer had three daughters, as fol- lows : Blanche, the deceased wife of Alvin Simons; Belle, who became the wife of Ab Sherridan, of Columbus Junction ; and Bina, now Mrs. Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have two sons and two daughters, as follows: Egbert De Wayne, who was born on the 15th of June, 1894: Helen Lenore, born on the 20th of December, 1895; Ruth Ann, whose birth occurred on the 15th of February, 1898; and William Thomas, Jr., who was born on the 16th of July, 1901.
Fraternally Mr. Brown is affiliated with the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His political support lie gives to the republican party and despite the exactions of a large business he has time to share the responsibilities of municipal government. He served two years as town clerk. Energetic and progressive in his business methods, public- spirited in his citizenship, and loyal in his private relations, Mr. Brown is one of the highly esteemed men of Columbus Junction.
B. P. SHAVER.
B. P. Shaver. of Columbus Junction, who engaged for a number of years in farming and is now gaining prominence as a manufacturer, builder and con- tractor, was born in Johnson county, lowa, June 9, 1861. He is a son of Daniel K. and Adaline ( Donahey) Shaver, the former of whom was born in Somerset county. Pennsylvania, January 3, 1822, and the latter in Harrison county, Ohio,
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in October, 1840. The father was a member of a family of twelve children and came with his parents to Johnson county, Iowa, in 1844. This was in the pioneer days and they took up their residence in a little log cabin covered with a clap- board roof and supplied with a stick chimney, puncheon floor and clapboard door.
At twelve years of age Daniel K. Shaver began learning the printer's trade and during a large part of his life has been identified with the newspaper busi- ness. In 1852 he secured a land warrant for one hundred and sixty acres of iand in Johnson county in exchange for eight weeks' work which he did for Judge Green. He was foreman on the Iowa City Republican for two years and later established the American Union which he published for a short time at Jowa City. He engaged in farming in Johnson county until 1900, when he disposed of his place 'and bought a farm in Washington county, near Dayton, where he has since made his home. He has given his support to the republican party ever since its organization and is also a member in long standing of the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Independent Order of Good Templars. lle has never used intoxicants or tobacco in any form and at the age of eighty-eight was able to stand and kick the door jamb of the house. Hle attributes his physical strength and endurance to the fact that he has always lived a temperate life. Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Shaver, Bonetta and George D. are deceased. Those who survive are B. P., of this review, and B. R.
. B. P. Shaver attended the district schools and completed his education at the Iowa Agricultural College. As he grew to manhood he assisted in work on his father's farm and devoted his attention mainly to agriculture and stock- raising until recently, when he and his brother associated together in the cement block and tile business. In the spring of 1910 they erected a factory at Colum- bus Junction, the plant being one of the largest of the kind in the state. It is thoroughly equipped with the most approved appliances and here cement blocks and tiles of all desirable sizes are manufactured in response to a demand that has constantly increased. The firm also does a contracting and building business and stands in high favor throughout a wide section where the name is known.
In 1888 Mr. Shaver married Miss Lydia Scheib, a native of Washington county, Iowa, and a daughter of Charles and Mary Scheib. The parents were born in Germany and on emigrating to this country took up their residence in Wisconsin. Subsequently they located in Washington county, Iowa, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shaver : Merle M., who is now a student in the State University at Iowa City ; Daniel K., Jr., who is a graduate of the high school at Mitchell, South Dakota, as the family lived in that state for some time; and Bernice J., who is now a student in the high school at Columbus Junction. Mrs. Shaver is a lady of rare social qualities and of unusual intellectual attainments. She received a college education and taught school with marked success for several years previous to her marriage.
Mr. Shaver and his brother are valued members of the Knights of Pythias. Wide-awake, enterprising and thoroughly competent as business men, they have
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won the confidence and esteem of all with whom they have come into contact and the business they have established is recognized as one of the highly important enterprises in this part of the state.
ROBSON DOWSON.
Robson Dowson, who owns one of the excellent farms of Concord town- ship, in the cultivation of which he is engaged, was born in Louisa county on the 20th of August. 1858. His parents, Thomas and Mary ( Robson) Dowson, were natives of England, where they were married, emigrating to the United States in 1849. Upon their arrival here they first located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where they remained for a short time, and then removed to St. Louis, Missouri. At the expiration of four years they came to Louisa county, Iowa, where they entered forty acres of land, in the cultivation of which Mr. Dowson engaged for twenty years, during which time he added to his holdings another sixty acres. Disposing of this farm they purchased one hundred and twenty acres two miles farther south, upon which they located, continuing to make that their home until their retirement in 1893. Mr. Dowson was a good agriculturist and capable manager and had acquired three hundred and seventy-five acres of good farm land when he withdrew from agricultural pursuits. When they left their homestead he and his wife moved to Columbus Junction, and there they were re- siding when she passed away in January, 1894. To them were born eight chil- dren: Jane, the wife of Caesar Bonnichsen, of Columbus Junction, a retired farmer : Mary, who became the wife of Thomas Newell, of Louisa county ; Thomas, deceased; Robson, our subject ; John, a resident of Kossuth county, lowa; William, living in Nebraska; Charles H., of Detroit, Michigan; and Florence E., who died in 1896.
The boyhood and early youth of Robson Dowson were spent on the home- stead farm where his parents first located upon coming to this county. His education was acquired in the district schools of the vicinity, which provided little more than a general knowledge of the common branches. He assisted his father in the work of the farm while still very young and by the time he had attained his maturity had a comparatively thorough knowledge of the science of farming. At the age of nineteen he began learning the carpenter's trade, for, being of a mechanical turn of mind this appealed to him more strongly as a vo- cation than did farming, and he continued to follow that trade for seventeen years. At the expiration of that period he rented his father's homestead, which he operated for eleven years. Acquiring his present farm at the end of that time he removed to it and has resided there continuously since. Mr. Dowson takes a great interest and pride in keeping up the appearance of his farm and it is one of the well improved and highly cultivated places of Concord township. In addition to the tilling of the soil he makes a specialty of raising stock, and his efforts in both directions have been rewarded with very favorable returns.
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On the 9th of September, 1885, Mr. Dowson was united in marriage with Miss Della Westbrook, who is a native of the state of New York and a daughter of James and Clarissa (Scott) Westbrook. Her parents are both deceased, the father having passed away in 1895, and the mother in 1807. Eight of their family are living, as follows: A. J. and J. B., both of whom are residents of Oklahoma, the latter a millionaire; D. H., living near Letts, this county ; Edgar, who is living in the state of Washington; Emma, now Mrs. Wilson, living in Minnesota; Roana Diller, also a resident of the state of Washington; Della, now Mrs. Dowson; and Hector H., who is living in Muscatine county.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dowson have been born three children, as follows: Harry Robson, who was born on the 21st of June, 1886, and is now attending lowa State College, at Ames, Iowa; Scott Westbrook, who was born on the 11th of March, 1889, and is a high-school graduate, now teaching school in Wellington district ; and Charles Hector, who was born on the 29th of June, 1892, and is attending high school.
The family affiliate with the United Brethern church, and his political sup- port Mr. Dowson gives to the republican party but never having been an office seeker he does not actively participate in public affairs. He concentrates his energies upon the development of his farm, which is located on sections 14 and 15. Concord township, in the operation of which he is meeting with such grati- fying success.
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