USA > Iowa > Louisa County > History of Louisa County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1911, Volume II > Part 5
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On the 25th of January, 1886. Mr. Thomson was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Downey, a daughter of Michael and Anna Downey, who formerly owned a farm on the present site of Oakville. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thomson were born four children, namely : Marshall D., a young man of twenty-three years,
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who is associated in business with his father; Mabel, who died in infancy ; Charles T., a student in a busines college at Burlington, Iowa; and Kenneth Bryan, at home.
Mr. Thomson is a democrat in politics and has held a number of township offices, ably discharging the duties devolving upon him. Fraternally he is identified with the Woodmen. Wherever known he is respected for his un- faltering allegiance to the principles of honorable manhood as manifest in business and social relations and in public-spirited citizenship.
MISS JENNIE ROBERTSON.
The western states are far ahead of the older and more conservative com- monwealths of the east in recognition of the rights of women and also in pre- senting opportunities for women as office holders. Experience has demon- strated the ability of women in the discharge of many responsible public of- fices and the success of Miss Jennie Robertson as county recorder of Louisa county is additional evidence of the truth of this statement.
She is a native of Louisa county, born May 10, 1864, a daughter of John and Keziah R. ( Duncan ) Robertson. Her maternal grandfather, A. J. Duncan, came to Louisa county in 1848 and purchased land for ten dollars per acre. Her father was born in Ohio and was brought to Louisa county, Iowa, with his parents in his early boyhood. He devoted his attention to agriculture and stock- raising and acquired a farm of two hundred acres in this county, upon which he continued during the remainder of his life. He died May 8, 1886, at the age of forty-eight years. Her mother is still living and makes her nome at Col- umbus Junction, being now seventy years old. There were ten children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Robertson, namely : Clara, who is deceased; Jennie, of this review : James M., who lives in Columbus City township; William A., de- ceased : Samuel G., of Morning Sun, Iowa ; Margaret M., deceased; Thomas, of Columbus City ; Harry A., of Columbus Junction ; Nellie, deceased ; and John J .. also of Columbus Junction.
Miss Jennie Robertson possessed good advantages of education in the coun- try schools and continued her studies in normal schools under thoroughly quali- fied instructors. She readily acquired knowledge and, as she possesses the ability of imparting the same, she naturally followed school teaching, for eight years with marked success. She taught for seven years in country schools and for one year in the city schools of Columbus Junction. She gave up teaching, however, and for several years filled a clerical position in mercantile business, later becoming connected as writer with the Columbus Safe Guard, a well known newspaper of Columbus Junction, a position which she occupied for six years.
In November, 1908, Miss Robertson was elected county recorder of Louisa county for a term of two years, beginning in January, 1909. Having discharged the duties of the office to the satisfaction of the people of the county, she was
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reelected for a second term in November, 1910, and continues at a post for which by natural ability, education and training she seems eminently adapted. She has made an intelligent study of politics and as a result is an earnest advo- cate of the principles of the republican party. She is a protectionist and is also in favor of a strong central government with the nerve and stamina to take vig- orous hold in case of emergency, preserving order and respect for law through- ont the entire country.
Religiously Miss Robertson adheres to the United Presbyterian church. She is public-spirited, progressive and fully alive to the resources that are ly- ing dormant in her native county and state, and she strongly advocates keep- ing well to the front in all lines of modern development. She believes in straight- forward business administration of public affairs and her office is conducted in accordance with the most approved business methods, thus meeting the wants of the people and still further popularizing and promoting the influence of woman in political life.
RODNEY G. HAWKINS.
Rodney G. Hawkins, the well known and enterprising publisher of the Wapello Republican, the leading and official newspaper of Lottisa county, has been identified with journalistic interests in this county for more than a quarter of a century. His birth occurred at Boston Corners, St. Lawrence county, New York, on the 20th of July, 1863, his parents being Jasper HI. and Elizabeth ( Kingsley ) Hawkins, both of whom are yet living. The father, an attorney at law, remained in active practice in the legal profession until 1900. The family was represented in this country as early as 1700. Uriah Kingsley, the great-grandfather of our subject, participated in the Revolutionary war and drew a pension for many years. His demise occurred in November, 1849.
Rodney G. Hawkins obtained his early education in the public schools at Algona, Iowa, and subsequently attended Algona College for two years. After putting aside his text-books he entered the office of the Algona (Iowa) Upper Des Moines in 1882 in order to learn the printing business. In 1884 he accom- panied his parents on their removal to Des Moines, being employed in various newspaper and job printing offices of that city until September, 1885, when he came to Louisa county and began work as foreman of the Morning Sun Herald. He continued in that capacity until January 1, 1891, and then pur- chased a half interest in the Herald from Frank B. Tracy, leasing the other half from A. M. M. Dornon. Under that arrangement he published the paper until January 1, 1893, when he bought Mr. Dornon's interest, continuing as editor until September 3, 1896. On that date he purchased the Wapello Repub- lican from C. M. Wright and turned the Herald over to his brother, E. B. Hawkins, who remained its publisher until its sale to J. K. Latta on the Ist of January, 1898. R. G. Hawkins has been the publisher of the Republican for the
RODNEY G. HAWKINS
PUBLIC LIBI 4
ASTOR LENOX 111 TILDES FOL . R 1
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past fifteen years and in August, 1910, installed a model 5 Mergenthaler linotype, the first typesetting machine brought to Louisa county. The Republican, estab- lished in 1859, is the oldest paper in the county and has stood the test of years, having long been the leading journal of Wapello and Louisa county. It has a larger circulation than any other newspaper in the county and therefore con- stituites the best advertising medium. In the office a specialty is made of job printing, including linotype composition, book and catalogue work.
On the 15th of October, 1891, at Morning Sun, lowa, Mr. Hawkins was united in marriage to Miss Avanella G. Kinkead, a daughter of J. M. and Rebecca (Orr ) Kinkead. They have two children, J. Blaine and June G.
In politics Mr. Hawkins has been a stanch republican since casting his first ballot for James G. Blaine. He has always been an active worker in the local ranks of the party and has held the office of township committeeman. On the 26th of July, 1897, he was appointed postmaster of Wapello, ably serving in that capacity until May 8. 1910. From the Ist of January. 1893, until Sep- tember, 1896, he was a member and secretary of the Soldiers Relief Commis- sion of Lonisa county. He became a charter member of Black Hawk Lodge, No. 281, K. P., in August, 1891, and the following year organized Virginia Grove Lodge, No. 302, K. P., at Morning Sun, Iowa, being elected its first past chancellor and commissioned district deputy grand chianccellor by the grand chancellor. In 1904 he again joined Black Hawk Lodge by card. In 1893 he became identified with the Masonic fraternity, joining Wapello Lodge, No. 5, A. F. & A. M. In 1891 he joined the Presbyterian church at Morning Sun and five years later transferred his membership to the church of the same denomina- tion at Wapello. At different times he has filled the offices- of trustee, treasurer and chairman of the congregation. Possessing a most genial manner, cordial spirit and kindly disposition, his unfailing courtesy and ready adaptability have made him popular wherever he is known.
JOHN A. SELLERS.
Among those who by indefatigable energy and constant application have aided in the development of the natural resources of Louisa county, is John A. Sellers, whose birth occurred in Clark county, Ohio, on the Ist of July, 1836. He is the eldest son of Warner and Maria ( Bates) Sellers, also natives of the Buckeye state, from which they migrated to Louisa county, lowa, in 1844, and here they preempted one hundred and sixty acres of government land. Their homestead was located in what is now known as Marshall township, where both parents passed their last days. They had eight children, who in order of birth were as follows: John A., our subject ; Nancy, who became the wife of John Marshall; James, who died while serving in the Civil war; Re- becca, who became the wife of Joseph Allen, of Louisa county ; Reese Sellers, also a resident of this county ; Irene, who married Henry Freeman, of Colum-
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bus Junction ; Harriet, the wife of Eli Webster, of Morning Sun ; and Albert, deceased.
John A. Sellers, who was very young when the family came to Iowa, be- gan his education in the district schools of his native state, the course there pursued being later supplemented by study in the schools of Louisa county. .In his early youth he began assisting his father in the cultivation of the home farm, thus qualifying himself for the pursuance of agriculture as his life vo- cation.
Mr. Sellers celebrated Christmas, 1857, by his marriage to Miss Hannah Lunbeck, a daughter of Isaac and Eliza ( Marshall ) Lunbeck, and they became the parents of the following children : Homer, Robert, Andrew and Annie, all of whom are deceased ; Eva, the wife of William Root, of Louisa county ; and Lillian, the wife of Lew Green, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Mrs. Sellers died in May, 1896.
A republican, Mr. Sellers gives his political support to the candidates of that party, considering that its principles are best adapted to subserve the interests of the agriculturist. He affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal church, among whose members he numbers many of his best friends.
REESE SELLERS.
Although he is a native of Clark county, Ohio, Reese Sellers has spent the greater part of his life in Louisa county, where for many years he was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. His natal day was February 23. 1844. His parents, Warner and Maria ( Bates) Sellers, were for many years residents of this county.
At the age of six weeks Mr. Sellers was brought by his parents from the Buckeye state to Iowa, where he was educated and reared. After leaving school he devoted his attention to the work of the farm, having decided upon agricul- ture as his life vocation. He now owns a fine farm of eighty acres and his home place of ten acres in Cairo.
Mr. Sellers was married on the 5th of November. 1868, to Miss Mary Eliza- beth Weaver, a daughter of Erastus and Mary ( Marshall) Weaver. In the ma- ternal line she is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Louisa county. Her mother, Mrs. Mary Weaver, was a native of Ohio, having been born in the vicinity of Xenia on the 30th of April. 1829, and there she spent the first nine years of her life. In 1838 her father, John Marshall, migrated to the new sec- tion in the west which had but recently been thrown open to settlement through the Black Hawk purchase. Upon his arrival in this county he filed upon a large tract of land in the township which now bears his name, and here his daughter grew to womanhood. On the 29th of December. 1847. she was united in mar- riage to Erastus Weaver and they became the parents of nine children, as fol- lows : Mary E., now Mrs. Sellers; Laura and Annie, both of whom died in in-
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fancy ; Emily Frances, the wife of W. H. Darrow, of Columbus Junction ; Lucy, the wife of Sam Briggs, of this county ; Clara, who resides at Morning Sun and is the wife of Dr. Allen ; H. O., of Wapello; Henrietta, the wife of August Sal- mon, of Columbus Junction ; and Alice, who died in infancy. Mrs. Weaver was one of those brave-hearted, fearless and noble women, who uncomplainingly bore all the hardships and struggles incident to pioneer life, even to the caring for her family while the husband and father went to the front to fight for his country. He enlisted in Company C, Sixteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, as a private. Mrs. Weaver always surrounded her children with love which ever ยท engenders peace and harmony in the relations of life, at all times instilling into them the high ideals and noble principles of life, which have gone far toward making them the self-reliant and strong men and women they are today. She was a charter member of the Methodist Episcopal church which was established at Prairie Chapel in Marshall township in 1859. Her life was always guided and directed from the light within and she was ever constant and fearless in her devotion to what she believed to be right. She passed away on the 16th of November, 1898, and was laid to rest beside her parents in Fulton cemetery. For more than five years preceding her demise she had been an invalid but always bore with fortitude the pain and constantly increasing weakness, which at the last made death greatly to be desired.
To Mr. and Mrs. Sellers were born three sons and two daughters, as fol- lows: Aldivne, who is deceased; Frank, a resident of Louisa county ; William D., deceased; Leona, the wife of Arthur Mewherter, of Louisa county ; and George, who is at home.
The church connection of the family is with the Methodist Episcopal de- nomination, and politically Mr. Sellers is a republican. He has never taken an active part in public affairs, however, always having found that the exacting demands of his own interests required his undivided attention.
AUGUST GILBERT.
August Gilbert, who is now deceased, was for many years well known in Columbus Junction and as a hotelkeeper gained a reputation which enabled him to accumulate a competency. He was a native of Germany, where he was born October 22, 1821. He attended the public schools and continued under the parental roof until after reaching his majority. Like thousands of ambi- tious young men he desired the most favorable conditions for advancement that the world afforded and he decided to seek his fortune beyond the seas. Ac- cordingly, he arrived in America early in the '50s and took up his residence in Wisconsin, where he became connected with railroad work and later engaged as railroad contractor. This was a time when railroads were being extensively built throughout the northern states. He continued in this country about
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twenty years and through his industry and sound judgment prospered finan- cially.
His mind, however, turned to his old home and once more he crossed the ocean to visit the scenes of his youth, and when he returned to America it was with a bride. After spending two years in Minnesota he came to Iowa and followed hotelkeeping for two years at Muscatine. He then settled in Colum- bus Junction, where he was connected with the grocery and drug business. In 1875 he sold out and erected a building which became known as the old Gilbert Ilouse, where he conducted a hotel during the remainder of his life. He was a man of pleasing address and the Gilbert House gained a wide reputation as one of the favorite stopping places in this section. He was a generous provider for his guests and made many friends, who found in him one whom they could trust implicitly and who always aimed to be entirely fair and just in transac- tions with his fellowmen.
On May 2, 1866, Mr. Gilbert was married to Miss Anna Achardt, a daugh- ter of John and Elizabeth ( Smith ) Achardt. The parents were natives of Ger- many and spent their entire lives in that country. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert : August, Jr., who is now a resident of Chicago, Illinois : Charles, who lives in Ohio; Carrie, who is the wife of William G. Roberts, of Columbus Junction ; and William, who makes his home at Des Moines, lowa.
Mr. Gilbert died January 28, 1800, and the announcement of his death was received with general regret, as he was one of the most esteemed citizens of Columbus Junction. He was an energetic and progressive man, who possessed in a marked degree the sturdy characteristics of the Teutonic race. Early in life he had the courage to cast his lot in a strange land and here he found home and friends. He was a consistent member of the Lutheran church, as is also his widow. She continues in the hotel business and, as she is a woman of un- ustial energy and also possesses tact and sound judgment, she is meeting with well merited returns for her labors.
JOHN M. MORGAN.
Although he has passed the venerable age of four score years John M. Morgan, now living retired at Columbus City, takes a lively interest in world affairs and continues a valued factor in the community. Long identified with agriculture and stock-raising in Louisa county, his name is known throughout a wide section and it is always spoken with the respect due to one who in all his transactions has aimed to be strictly honorable and just.
He was born in Wales, September 10, 1830, a son of John and Catharine ( Evans) Morgan. The father emigrated to America with his family in 1844 and in 1845 arrived in Iowa, settling in what was then known as the Welsh neighborhood, west of Columbus City. For more than thirty-five years he engaged in farming, becoming the owner of a valuable property of two hun- dred and fifty acres. He died in 1882 and his wife is also deceased. In their
MR. AND MRS. JOHN M. MORGAN
AYTOR LENOX B
L
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family were four children: Elizabeth, who married John Reese, of Columbus City, and is now deceased; Ann, who became the wife of Edward Davis, of Columbus City, and is also deceased; John M. ; and Evan, deceased.
John M. Morgan received his early education in his native country and at fourteen years of age crossed the ocean with his parents to seek his fortune in the new world. He soon adapted himself to conditions different from those he had known earlier in life and became a patriotic and progressive American citizen. He remained an inmate of the parental home after reaching his majority and assisted his father in the cultivation and management of the home place. After the death of the father he purchased the interests of his brothers and sisters, becoming sole owner of the farm. He carried on general farming and stock-raising with marked success and so continued until 1905. when he sold out and bought a comfortable residence in Columbus City, where he has since lived.
On the 27th of February, 1865, Mr. Morgan was married to Miss Ann Lewis, a daughter of Thomas and Mary ( Roderick ) Lewis, both of whom were born in Wales. They came to this country in 1848 and took up their residence. near Burlington in Des Moines county. After the close of the Civil war they removed to Livingston county, Missouri, where Mr. Lewis engaged in farming. He died at the age of seventy-four and his wife is also deceased. In their family were five children : Joseph, who is living in Missouri; William, who re- moved to the state of Nevada and is now deceased; David and Mar- garet, both of whom are deceased; and Ann, now Mrs, John M. Morgan. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Morgan: Lewis, of Missouri; Abbia, now a resident of South Dakota; John, who makes his home in Lonisa county ; and Thomas, deceased.
In religious faith Mr. Morgan adheres to the Congregational church, to which he is a liberal contributor. Politically he supports the platforms and can- didates of the republican party but has never done so through any desire to secure public office, as his interest has centered in his family and his business. He enjoys the reputation among his acquaintances of being a man of excellent judgment, possessing all the attributes that belong to a good citizen. He and his wife have many friends and are fully worthy of the high respect in which they are held by young and old in Louisa county.
C. A. SPRAGUE.
Over twenty years ago C. A. Sprague became connected with the business interests of Columbus Junction and he sees no reason to regret the step he then took, as he has prospered highly and is one of the best known men in Louisa county. He can claim a long line of worthy ancestry in America and was born in Cherry Valley. Illinois, February 3, 1856, a son of A. G. and
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Lucena R. (Farley ) Sprague, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The par- ents were married in Illinois and shortly afterward located in Winnebago county, that state, where the father engaged in farming. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company D. Twenty-fourth lowa Infantry, and was soon afterwards sent with his regiment to the south. He was a true soldier and was killed in the battle of Champion's Hill, May 16, 1864, while valiantly up- holding the cause of the Union. Mrs. Sprague, who is now Mrs. Brooks, is living at Lawrence, Kansas. In their family were four children, namely: C. A., of this review, Ella D., who is the widow of J. E. Teeter, of Kansas ; Lottie L., who makes her home at Lawrence ; and James A., who is engaged with his brother in business.
The Sprague family traces its ancestry back to the early colonial settlers and is distinctively American through the succeeding generations. In early his- tory the name has been variously spelled as Sprech, Sprake, Spragg, Spragge and Sprague. The first member of the family of whom an authentic record has been found was Edward Sprague, a resident of Upway, county of Dorset, England, and a fuller by trade. In an article by - Barr, entitled "The Old Northwest," the line of descent in the Sprague family is indicated successively by Edward, William, Joshua, Sr., and Joshua, Jr. Joshua, Jr., went to Mar- ietta, Ohio in 1788 and settled at Waterford, Washington county where he died in 1816. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, attaining the rank of major. His son, Jonathan Sprague, was born January 9, 1767, at Sackville, Nova Scotia. The first wife of Johnathan Sprague was Sabra Seamans whose parents, Gilbert and Martha ( Alger ) Seamans, were married in Providence, Rhode Island, on the 25th of June, 1758. Gilbert Seamans emigrated with his family to Nova Scotia, and on the opening of the war for independence he re- turned to the colonies in revolt and espoused the patriot cause. In appreciation of his services his heirs received a grant of land in the Refugee tract in Ohio. It is thought that after the close of the Revolutionary war he lived in Nan- tucket, Massachusetts, for a time, but it is known that his last days were spent on the Muskingum river, above Marietta, Ohio, where he died prior to 1800. Among the children of Joshua and Sabra Sprague was Anthony Wayne Sprague, the grandfather of our subject, who married Lucinda, the daughter of Allen and Ruth ( Bennett ) Duval. Their son, A. G. Sprague, was the father of C. A. Sprague, of this review.
C. A. Sprague, who was born in Cherry Valley, Illinois, removed the same spring with his parents to Washington county, Iowa. In the meantime he ac- quired a good education in the common schools, and at the age of eighteen years began teaching school in Washington county. After four years he engaged in farming on his own account and about two years later purchased one hundred and twenty acres in Washington county, which he cultivated for four years. He then removed to De Soto, Kansas, and taught school for a year. In 1888 he came to Columbus Junction and purchased the flour, feed and fuel business of A. H. Parsons. Seven years later he admitted F. H. Johnson to partnership, but in 1897 J. A. Sprague, the brother of our subject, purchased Mr. Johnson's
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interest and the firm has since been known as Sprague Brothers, their establish- ment being the largest of its kind in Louisa county.
In 1878 Mr. Sprague was married to Miss Alice C. Glasgow, a daughter of Robert B. and Matilda J. Glasgow, both of whom were born in Ohio. Three children came to bless this union : R. Wyatt, who is now living at Seattle, Wash- ington ; Mazie, the wife of Rev. A. L. Graham, of Burlington, Iowa ; and C. Arthur, who is now superintendent of schools at Waitsburg, Washington. The mother of these children died January 31, 1896, and Mr. Sprague was married in October, 1899, to Miss Minnie Davidson, a daughter of Archibald and Sarah ( Akin) Davidson, both natives of Pennsylvania. One child, who died in in- fancy, was born to this union.
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