USA > Iowa > Madison County > History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 18
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Fred B. Spatz was reared and educated in his native county and remained with his parents until he attained his majority. He then began working as a farm hand and for fourteen years and three months was in the employ of one man, a record which implies the faithfulness and efficiency of his service. From year to year he gained in agricultural knowledge and as he was frugal his resources also in- creased and he was at length enabled to buy land. His farm was situated on the line between Dallas and Madison counties, a part being in each county. The build- ings, however, were in Dallas county. He operated his farm until the spring of 1914, when he sold that place and purchased one hundred and forty-eight acres southeast of Earlham, which he still operates though he lives in Earlham, where he purchased a fine modern residence. He is not only a well-to-do man but a pub- lic-spirited citizen and is highly esteemed.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
Mr. Spatz was married February 23, 1891, to Miss Emma Barton, a daughter of George and Ellen (Poil) Barton, natives of England, who upon coming to America located in Dallas county, Iowa. Her father purchased land there and was ranked among the successful farmers of that county, continuing active in agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in December, 1903. His wife died in February, 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Spatz have two children, Pearl E. and Raymond P., both at home.
The political allegiance of Mr. Spatz is given to the republican party and he has at all times been stanch in his support of its policies and candidates. He does not belong to any church but takes an interest in the work of all denominations and is liberal in his contributions to their support. His attitude upon all the great questions of life is broad and unprejudiced, and he cooperates with any move- ment that seeks the material or moral welfare of his community.
MAJOR THOMAS C. GILPIN.
Major Thomas C. Gilpin, of Winterset, is one of the prominent residents of that city, where he is living retired after many years of active connection with the practice of law and public affairs generally. His birth occurred in New Lon- don, now Shandon, Butler county, Ohio, on the 27th of September, 1832, and he is a son of Samuel N. and Mary (Thomas) Gilpin, the former born in Con- necticut on the 16th of March, 1806, and the latter near London, England, Decem- ber 28, 1800. She was but a child of nine years when she came to the United States. Therefore practically her entire life was passed in this country, her death occurring November 26, 1888, when she was almost seventy-nine years of age. Samuel N. Gilpin was reared upon a farm in Connecticut. The family moved to Cayuga Lake, New York, where his father became a landowner. Samuel N. Gil- pin worked at the carpenter's trade, which he had learned in his youth. He sub- sequently removed to the Miami river, in Butler county, Ohio, arriving there when conditions were primitive and when there was still more that told of Indian occupancy than of white settlement. He found a big camp of Indians near the fort at Bowling Green, just across the river from the farm owned by his father. He resided in Ohio until 1844 and then removed to Franklin county, Indiana, where he became a landowner and farmer. Upon retiring from active life he re- moved to Jefferson county, so that his children might attend Hanover College, which is situated there. He passed away on the 18th of July, 1886, and his demise was the occasion of sincere regret to his many friends. He was a democrat in early life, but at the outbreak of the Civil war became a republican, as he was strongly Union in his sympathies. He was with the army and helped to build the forts at Cumberland Gap and the hospital at Jefferson City, Indiana, and although not an enlisted soldier was in the pay of the United States as a car- penter for two years. Both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church and he assisted in building most of the early churches of that denomina- tion in Butler county, Ohio. His indignation was stirred by the wrongs of the slaves and he was prominent in the abolition movement in his locality. His home in Ohio, an old-fashioned story and a half log house, was a station on the
THOMAS C. GILPIN
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
underground passage to Canada, and many fugitive slaves owed their safe jour- ney to Canada in part to him and his great interest in freedom. He was the father of eleven children, four of whom came to Iowa, and of whom the subject of this review is the second in order of birth.
Thomas C. Gilpin attended high school at Mount Carmel, Indiana, and sup- plemented the education there acquired by a course in Hanover College, Jeffer- son county, Indiana. When but eighteen years of age he began teaching in the rural schools of Butler county, Ohio, and was so employed for five years. He was then for two years teacher in the high school at Rushville, Indiana, after which he read law in the office maintained by P. A. Hackleman and George Clark, and in 1856 was admitted to the bar at Rushville. In that year he became prosecuting attorney for Rush and Decatur counties, proving an able and con- scientious official. After practicing law in Rushville for some time he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he continued his professional labors until 1861.
In April of that year Major Gilpin removed to Bloomfield, Davis county, Iowa, and in the following August enlisted in Company E, Third Iowa Cavalry, for service in the Union army. Although enlisting as a private, he was imme- ‹liately made first sergeant, and after two months was promoted to second lieu- tenant, later first lieutenant and then captain of his company. For gallantry on the field of battle at Ebenezer Church, Alabama, he was brevetted major, and he served as aide-de-camp on Major General Upton's staff. On one occasion when his horse was shot from under him he, with only a few followers, routed a picket post from a carriage house, charged the enemy's artillery and observed every detail of their position. He and his comrades were subjected to a galling fire, and he narrowly escaped death, as the cape of his uniform was shot through and several bullet holes were made in his clothing. A larger Union force came at once to his rescue and completely routed the enemy. He had his horse shot from under him a second time and he also injured his left knee, but he was never wounded.
In 1865 Major Gilpin came to Winterset and here began the practice of law as a partner of Colonel Cummings. Three years later he was elected county judge and was the last to hold that position, as a law was passed abolishing the office and creating instead that of county auditor. By the provisions of that law he became the first auditor of his county. Although he gave his allegiance to the republican party in the time of the war, he subsequently supported the dem- ocratic party, which he assisted in organizing in Madison county. He was a candidate for congress, opposing John A. Kasson, republican, and E. H. Gillette, greenbacker, both Iowa men of note. He continued in the practice of his pro- fession until 1904. when he retired from active practice. He believes in the value of farming land as an investment and has owned considerable land in this county.
In 1856 Major Gilpin married Miss Susan F. MacBride, who was born in Rushville, Rush county, Indiana. Her parents, Robert Y. and Lydia A. (Freed) MacBride, were born respectively in 1773 and 1793. The mother's hirth occurred in Pennsylvania, and she is a relative of the Freeds of Philadelphia, who are quite prominent in the iron industry. Mrs. MacBride passed away in 1868, hav- ing survived her husband for twenty years, as his death occurred in 1848. He was a harnessmaker and followed his trade in Philadelphia for some time, after which he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and thence to Rushville, Indiana, where
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he continued to work at his trade and where he was living at the time of his death. Conditions in the Hoosier state were largely those of a frontier district when he arrived there, and he did his full share in the early development of Rush county. He was noted throughout that section as a student of the Bible, having an exhaustive and exact knowledge thereof, although not a member of any church. His wife, however, was an active worker in the Presbyterian church. To them were born nine children, of whom Mrs. Gilpin is the youngest. One of her brothers served in the Civil war for a time.
To Major and Mrs. Gilpin were born the following children : Ellerslie Freed was born May 15, 1857, and died May 23, 1908. He was married and was engaged in the hotel business in the city of New York. Curtis Nelson, born May 25, 1862, passed away on the 19th of February, 1902. He was operating a farm belonging to his father and was married. He left a son, Walter C., wlio is residing at Sacramento, California. Frederick L., born March 4, 1864, died in April of that year. Grace Upton, named for Mrs. Grace Upton, the wife of General Upton, gave her hand in marriage to E. E. Bean, a Wyoming rancher, and they reside in Fremont county, that state. She is a music teacher and is the mother of a daughter, Mary M., who was born July 6, 1897, and is now attending Forest Grove College, at Portland, Oregon. Victor C., born October 29, 1869, is an electrician and resides at Brooklyn, New York. He is married and has two children : Thomas C., who was born in October, 1897; and Victoria, whose birth occurred in January, 1907. Finley Warner, named for President Finley of Hanover College, Indiana, was born July 19, 1874, and has followed agricultural pursuits to some extent, but is now a light opera singer and resides in New York. Eva May, born December 18, 1875, is the wife of Dr. R. S. Cooper, who is a prominent dentist of Winterset.
Major Gilpin has always taken a keen interest in everything relating to the welfare of the public schools and has served acceptably as president of the school board. He is an influential member of the Presbyterian church and for many years was elder and Sunday-school superintendent. He has kept up his associa- tion with his comrades in arms through his membership in Pitzer Post, No. 55, G. A. R., and is now quartermaster thereof. On the 11th of May, 1866, he became a member of Evening Star Lodge, No. 43, A. F. & A. M., of Winterset and has held all of its offices. He was master from 1869 to 1872 and again in 1880 and 1881. In 1868 he became a member of the Royal Arch Chapter and has held all of the offices in that body. He is likewise identified with the council of the Royal & Select Masters and with Temple Commandery, K. T., of Des Moines. Many and varied interests have benefited by his cooperation, and there is no better known or more popular man in Winterset than Major Gilpin.
ELLSWORTH PALMER.
Ellsworth Palmer is one of those efficient agriculturists who are contributing to the wealth of the county through their labors and he is highly esteemed by all who know him. He was born in Illinois, March 13, 1873, a son of Henry and Eva (Harris) Palmer, both natives of Ohio. The father was a farmer and as a
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
young man emigrated to Illinois, where he engaged in cultivating the soil and raising live stock until 1892. He then sold out and came to this county, buying land in Jefferson township, which he has since operated. His wife is also living.
Ellsworth Palmer was reared in his native state and there obtained his education. He accompanied his parents to this county and remained with them until he attained his majority. He then rented land and began farming on his own account. At the end of ten years he had accumulated sufficient capital to enable him to buy a quarter section of land in Madison township, to which he removed and has since concentrated his energies upon its improvement. Hle con- serves the fertility of the soil by wise methods of cultivation and as he is fore- handed in all of the work of the farm and manages the business phase of agricul- ture well he is able to add to his capital from year to year.
Mr. Palmer was married on the 15th of February, 1894, to Miss Mary M. Raitt, a daughter of Robert and Mary ( Kinnon) Raitt, both natives of the east. The father was born in New York and the mother in Pennsylvania. Mr. Raitt was a harnessmaker by trade and removed to Madison county in an early day, locating at Patterson. After working at harnessmaking for several years his health failed and he removed to a farm near Winterset, which he operated during the remainder of his life. He passed away on the 9th of January, 1912, and is survived by his wife, who still resides at Winterset.
Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have three children : Floyd and Herman, both at home ; and Hazel B., attending school. Mr. Palmer is a republican and takes the interest of a good citizen in local governmental affairs. His religious allegiance is given to the United Presbyterian church, of which both he and his wife are devout mem- bers and their lives are forces for good in the community.
HAMILTON R. YOUNG.
Hamilton R. Young, who came to Madison county in the `6os, has remained within its borders continuously since and now owns and operates an excellent farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 32, Scott township. His birth occurred in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on the 9th of January, 18.16, his parents being Samuel R. and Sarah ( Roberts) Young, the former born in Mary- land and the latter in Washington county, Pennsylvania, where their marriage was celebrated. They came to Iowa in 1865, making their way to Burlington by way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and thence overland to Madison county. They settled on a farm in Walnut township which the father operated continu- ously and successfully until he put aside the active work of the fields, spending the evening of life in honorable retirement at Winterset, where he passed away at the age of seventy-six years. His wife was called to her final rest when eighty- one years old, and both were devoted and consistent members of the Methodist church. To them were born ten children but only three are now residents of Madison county, namely : Hamilton R., of this review; Permelia, who is the widow of James Osborn and lives in Walnut township; and Emma, the wife of William Baker, of Walnut township.
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Hamilton R. Young came to this county a short time prior to the arrival of his parents and subsequently settled with his wife on an unimproved tract of forty acres on section 32, Scott township, whereon he has remained continuously since. He erected a small dwelling which was afterward remodeled and en- larged and later built his present commodious residence. His farm now com- prises one hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land and many sub- stantial improvements have been made on the property, the attractiveness of which is further enhanced by a large orchard, a grove of evergreens and other shade trees, all of which have been set out by Mr. Young. He has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits with excellent success and is widely recognized as one of the progressive, enterprising and representative farmers of the com- munity. He is likewise an artist of great natural ability, doing portrait and landscape painting as well as crayon work for his own pleasure and having now a collection of pictures of which he may well be proud.
In 1870 Mr. Young was united in marriage to Miss Edna E. Osborn, a native of Vermont and a daughter of Jed Osborn, who was an early settler of Walnut township, this county. They have four children, as follows: Dee, who married Miss Myrtle Lorimor and is a baker of Fort Dodge, Iowa ; Minnie, who gave her hand in marriage to Lee Deal, an agriculturist of Scott township; Samuel, who wedded Miss Lida Deal and follows farming in Scott township; and Tom C., who married Miss Garnet Baird and is a regular physician, surgeon and osteopath of Glenwood, California. Mr. Young is a democrat in politics and has held several township offices. He is prominent and well known throughout Madison county and has many sincere friends.
N. B. HOLLINGSWORTH.
N. B. Hollingsworth, deceased, was the owner of about five hundred acres of excellent land in Madison county. He was born in Grant county, Indiana, on the oth of March, 1840, a son of James and Mary ( Brooks) Hollingsworth. The father was a native of North Carolina and the mother of Preble county, Ohio. They removed to this county, where both passed away.
N. B. Hollingsworth was eighteen years of age when he came to this county and purchased a forty-acre claim near the old town of Peru in Walnut town- ship, entered his land and resided there for two years. He then began the improvement of forty acres on section 34, Scott township, which his wife had inherited from her father. He proved unusually successful as an agriculturist and gradually added to his holdings until he became the owner of about five hundred acres of land, most of which was situated in Walnut township. He used the latest machinery in his work, was alert and energetic and continued to operate his farm until two years before his death.
Mr. Hollingsworth was married on Christmas Day, 1862, to Miss Eveline Hiatt, a native of Grant county, Indiana, born November 5, 1840. Her father, Aaron Hiatt, was a native of Preble county, Ohio, but when but a boy was taken to Grant county, Indiana, where in early manhood he was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Roberts, a native of Grant county. She passed away in that
MR. AND MRS. N. B. HOLLINGSWORTH
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
county. Mr. Hiatt, who later married Sarah Tillson of Darke county, Ohio, came to Madison county in 1857 and became the owner of two hundred and sixty acres in Walnut township. He died in Colorado. The children of his first marriage were: Mrs. Mary A. Brown, of the state of Washington; Mrs. N. B. Hollingsworth; Sylvanus, who died in the Civil war; Elam, a veteran of the Civil war, who is now living in Oklahoma; and Stephen, who enlisted in the Union army when a boy of sixteen and is a resident of Holt county, Nebraska. The five children of the father's second marriage were as follows: one who died in infancy; Nancy Alice, who died in childhood; Molancy, now Mrs. Baker ; Arthur W., of Peru, Iowa, who formerly conducted a hotel there; and Leslie P., of Payette, Idaho. To Mr. and Mrs. Hollingsworth were born four children : Calvin Sherman and Myra, who died in childhood; Darius; and D. E., a farmer of Scott township.
Mr. Hollingsworth was a republican and served acceptably for one term as county supervisor. He was one of the leading members of the Christian church in his locality. He passed away on the 22d of July, 1914, and is survived by his widow, who resides on the old home place on section 34, Scott township. Their son Darius was born upon the homestead and received his education in the com- mon schools of Winterset and at Le Grand, Iowa. He taught school for a time but now cultivates a fine farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres in Walnut township which he owns. It is a part of the farm on which his grandfather Hiatt settled in 1851.
There was much sincere grief at the death of Mr. Hollingsworth as he had resided in this county for many years and his life had resulted in much good to his community. He was not only scrupulously honest in all the relations of life but was a man of public spirit and cooperated heartily in movements that pro- mote the general welfare. As a farmer he was very successful and aided not a little in the agricultural development of his county.
FREDERICK P. HARTSOOK.
Frederick P. Hartsook, junior member of the firm of Doak & Hartsook, of Winterset, dealers in vehicles and farm machinery, is a native son of Madison county, born on the 18th of January, 1874. A sketch of his father, William Hart- sook, appears elsewhere in this work. Frederick P. Hartsook supplemented his public-school education by attending the Iowa Business College, where he took a thorough commercial course. Upon his return to Winterset he accepted the posi- tion of bookkeeper for Jones, Dickey & Company. implement dealers. He was con- nected with that firm for four years and was then for two years on the road, covering Missouri and Kansas. He next became connected with the firm of Minturn & Silliman, successors to Jones, Dickey & Company, and later purchased an interest in the business. In 1909 he formed a partnership with W. H. Doak under the firm name of Doak & Hartsook and so well have their affairs been managed that they are now the leading dealers in their line in Madison county. Their trade is growing in volume and extending in territory year by year. The thorough knowledge of Mr. Hartsook concerning agricultural implements and
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methods of business has been a factor of no little importance in the steady in- crease in the patronage accorded the firm.
On the 12th of June, 1900, Miss Lavina R. Foresman became the wife of Mr. Hartsook. She is a daughter of James and Mary E. Foresman, both residing in this county, and by her marriage she has become the mother of a daughter, Helen.
Mr. Hartsook is a republican in politics, while his religious allegiance is given to the Presbyterian church and his fraternal affiliation is with Lotus Lodge, No. 48, Knights of Pythias, of Winterset. All who have been brought in contact with him in business, fraternal or social relations agree in pronouncing him a man of honorable principles who strives in all the relations of life to meet fully the obli- gations resting upon him.
GEORGE STORCK.
Germany has given to the United States many citizens who have been a potent force in the development of the country along many lines and George Storck, a well known farmer of Madison township, possesses those sterling traits of char- acter that are usually associated with the Teutonic race. His birth occurred in Germany on the 2d of June, 1843, and his parents, John and Bridget (Wenzel) Storck, were likewise natives of the fatherland. The father was a farmer and also a cooper and worked at his trade in Germany, but upon emigrating to America settled in Clayton county, Iowa, in 1848, and gave the greater part of his attention to agricultural work. He entered land from the government, as the country was still sparsely settled and much land was in possession of the nation. He improved his place and cultivated it until his death, which occurred in 1851, when he was a comparatively young man. His widow survived until 1886.
George Storck has resided in this state since he was five years old, as he was a child of that age when brought by his parents to America. His education was afforded by the district schools and he remained with his mother until he was nineteen years of age. By that time it was evident that the Civil war was not to be decided in a few months and he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry, in Clayton county, in August, 1862. He served with that command until the close of the war and at one time was wounded and disabled for service for about six weeks. Following the close of hostilities he returned to Clayton county and for one year worked as a farm hand. He then went to Delaware county and bought one hundred and sixty acres, which he operated and developed in partnership with a brother. Upon the expiration of three years he sold that place and in 1870 came to Madison county, locating on a quarter section of fine land which he had previously purchased. His farm is situated on section 13, Madison township, and is one of the valuable properties of the township. He has bought land adjoining until he now owns two hundred and ten acres in Madison township and two hundred acres in Jefferson township. He has given his best thought and practically his entire time to its operation and has accumulated more than a competence. In addition to cultivating the usual crops he raises about one hundred head of hogs per year, the sale of which adds materially to his profit on the year's work.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
Mr. Storck married Miss Henrietta Marquardt in August, 1870. Her parents, Carl and Dorothea ( Schaetzke) Marquardt, were born in Germany and became residents of Clayton county, Iowa, in 1859. Her father purchased land there, which he farmed until 1873 and then removed with his family to Madison county, Iowa, becoming a landowner in Jefferson township. His death occurred upon his farm there in 1896, when he had reached the venerable age of ninety-one years. His wife passed away seven years previously, when seventy-six years old. To Mr. and Mrs. Storck were born nine children: Augusta and Lucy, at home ; Richard C., who is living in South Dakota ; Ernest A., a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota ; Fernanda C., Paul G. and Walter H., at home ; Nellie, who died in 1889, when five years old; and Arthur H., who passed away in 1913, at the age of thirty-five years.
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