USA > Iowa > Madison County > History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 4
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
fifty-eight years, dying in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she had long been a consistent member. In their family were seven children : William F .; Warren, deceased; Kate, who became the wife of Arthur Goshorn and died in 1911 ; Hattie, who has departed this life ; Alvin B., who is engaged in the real-estate business at Los Angeles, California; Frank I., deceased; and James G.
The last named was reared in Winterset and is indebted to the public-school system for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. When twenty-one years of age he began working in real-estate offices and thoroughly acquainted himself with the business, having wide experience and accurate knowledge when in 1906 he embarked in the real-estate business on his own account. He has since handled city and farm property and has secured a good clientage. He became one of the organizers of the Security Loan & Title Company and is now its vice president. This is one of the strong concerns of the kind in the county and the business is growing year by year.
On the 22d of May, 1906, Mr. Shriver was united in marriage to Miss Edith Eastman, a native of Winterset, and they have one son, John E., who is seven years of age. Mrs. Shriver is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Shriver has membership in the Masonic order, being affiliated with the lodge, chapter. commandery and Mystic Shrine. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party but is not an office seeker. His entire attention has been given to his business interests and his close application, his thorough study and his unfaltering enterprise have been the salient factors in his growing success.
VINCENT WAINWRIGHT.
Vincent Wainwright, who was a successful lawyer of Winterset, was born in the state of New York on the 19th of May, 1835, a son of John and Catherine (Andrews) Wainwright. He received his education in his native state and in 1858, when twenty-three years of age, migrated westward, locating at Leon, Decatur county, Iowa. He was there admitted to the bar and practiced there until 1864, which year witnessed his arrival in Winterset. He at once opened an office here and followed his profession successfully until his death, which occurred about twenty-six years later, on the 14th of January, 1890. He was connected with many important cases and proved a formidable opponent, as his incisive logical mind seized upon the essential points in a controversy and as his power of direct, forcible speech impressed his arguments upon judge and jury.
Mr. Wainwright married Miss Letitia Ellis, who was born in East Tennessee, a daughter of William W. and Lucinda ( Hunt ) Ellis, natives of the same locality, who removed to Iowa when their daughter was a child. The family home was established in Decatur county and there the father farmed for some time. He held a number of county offices and for many years was county judge. Both he and his wife have passed to their reward. Mr. and Mrs. Wainwright had six children, only two of whom grew to maturity, namely: Bertha, who is the widow of S. W. Foster and resides with her mother; and Edith, the wife of W. S.
VINCENT WAINWRIGHT
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
Cooper, an attorney of Winterset, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
Mr. Wainwright was a member of the Presbyterian church and his political belief was that of the democratic party, which he stanchly supported. He was made a Mason in New York state at the age of twenty-one years and joined the lodge here after coming to Winterset. He was also a member of the Eastern Star, to which Mrs. Wainwright belongs. She is still living on South Second avenue, where she has resided for the last forty-nine years. She has made many friends in Winterset and all esteem her highly for her many excellent traits of character. She too is a member of the Presbyterian church and in her life embodies the teachings of Christianity.
EUGENE WILSON.
Eugene Wilson, mayor of Winterset and a well known grain dealer and ele- vator man of this city, was born in Adair county, Iowa, near the line separating that county from Madison county, on the 12th of February, 1871. His parents were Jerry M. and Laura M. (Darby) Wilson, of whom mention is made on another page of this volume. He spent his boyhood upon the home farm and early became familiar with agricultural work. He was given more than usual educational advantages, as, following his completion of the public-school course, he entered Highland Park College of Des Moines Iowa. Upon leaving that in- stitution he engaged in farming a one hundred and twenty acre tract, which his father gave him in Grand River township, this county. After a time, however, he leased the home place and continued to operate it until his father's death. The property was then divided among the heirs and Eugene Wilson inherited three hundred and twenty acres of excellent land. He carried on general farming and stock-raising until 1908, when he rented his land and came to Winterset. He then engaged in the real-estate business, which he had previously followed to a small extent, and about a year later concentrated his attention upon the set- tling up of his father's estate, of which he was administrator and which repre- sented about two hundred thousand dollars. He next engaged in the automobile business but after about two years turned his attention to the buying and shipping of grain, in which he is still engaged. He has an excellent elevator and handles many carloads of grain annually. His business methods are above suspicion and as he possesses excellent judgment and is energetic and aggressive the volume of his business is constantly increasing. He is president of the National Bank of Macksburg and is a stockholder and director of the First National Bank of Winterset.
On the 14th of December, 1907, Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Pearl Rowe, a native of this county and a daughter of Henry and Almira (Johns ) Rowe. Her father is a horse dealer, who is residing in Macksburg. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been born two children : Winter Mamie and Wyman.
Mr. Wilson is a standpat republican, believing in the integrity and wisdom of the party that for so many years successfully governed the country and that still has so large a voice in the control of affairs. In the spring of 1913 he was elected
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
mayor of Winterset and is still holding that office, proving an efficient and incor- ruptible official. For two terms he held the office of county surveyor of Adair county while living in that county. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and the Odd Fellows, belonging to the lodges of those organizations at Macks- burg. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and takes an active part in its work. He comes of a family that has long been honored in this county and is proving a worthy successor of his father and grandfather, mani- festing marked business ability and at all times conforming his life to high ethical standards.
HERMAN A. KINSMAN.
One of the most respected and well known residents of Douglas township is Herman A. Kinsman, who is farming on section 27. He was born March 26, 1844. in Williamstown, Orange county. Vermont, a son of Dennison and Mary (Martin) Kinsman, also natives of Williamstown. The father was born on the 6th of July, 1818, and the mother on the 11th of March of that year. He began farming in early manhood and became a landowner in the Green Mountain state, but in 1855 removed with his family to Princeton, Illinois, where he became a well known farmer and landowner. In 1867 he left Illinois and came to this county when there were still many evidences of frontier life. He was a member of the Congregational church while living in Illinois, but after coming to this county united with the Presbyterian church, in which he served as elder for a number of years. He was active in all phases of church work and his influence was powerful for good in his community. He took a prominent part in public affairs and gave his political allegiance to the republican party. There were five children in the family, three sons and two daughters. James W. enlisted in the Ninety-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry for service in the Civil war and was many times under fire, participating, among other engagements, in the siege of Vicks- burg. He was also with Sherman on the famous march to the sea. Jason and Sarah both died in childhood. The elder daughter, Rosanna, makes her home with the subject of this review. At the time of his death in June, 1903, the father was a resident of this county.
Herman A. Kinsman attended the district schools in Illinois, and later Mr. Smith's private school, the Princeton Academy and the Dover (Ill.) Academy. At the age of twenty years he enlisted for one hundred days in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was made first cor- poral of his company. He did garrison duty at Cairo, Illinois, and in answer to President Lincoln's call served extra time and went with his regiment to Missouri to meet General Price's army. However, he saw no actual fighting. Upon his return home he resumed his education.
In company with his future brother-in-law, Mr. Kinsman started for St. Joseph, Missouri, expecting to journey west with emigrant trains, but he was not able to make such arrangements and returned to Illinois. He was there mar- ried and in 1870 removed with his family to this county, where he began farming. Although without financial resources at the time of his arrival here, he became in
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
time the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of fine land, which is still in his possession and he carries on general farming and stock-raising, being considered one of the efficient and successful agriculturists of his township.
Mr. Kinsman was married on the 10th of March, 1870, to Miss Nancy Ward, who was born in Heath, Franklin county, Massachusetts, on the 10th of March, 1849, and died March 25, 1906, many friends mourning her loss. Her parents, Lysander M. and Priscilla (Avery) Ward, were both born in Massachusetts, the father on the 26th of February, 1816, and the mother on the 12th of December, 1818. Lysander M. Ward was a merchant in the old Bay state, but upon remov- ing to Illinois, in 1855, settled upon a farm near Mendota. He lived there until 1882, in which year he went to David City, Nebraska, where he was residing at the time of his death, which occurred on the 24th of April, 1901. His wife had preceded him to the great beyond, her. demise occurring on the 3d of January, 1892. He was a landowner and a substantial citizen and his life was such that he commanded the respect of his fellowmen. He was a member of the Congrega- tional church and quite active in its work. He was married twice and had nine children by the two unions, Mrs. Kinsman being the first born of the second mar- riage. To Mr. and Mrs. Kinsman were born three children. Jennie, who grad- uated with the Bachelor of Arts degree at Monmouth College, is the wife of Professor Charles Steck, who has the degree of Bachelor of Arts from the Uni- versity of Chicago and is professor of mathematics in the State College at Durham, New Hampshire. To their union has been born a daughter, Helen Shirley. Faith D. has kept house for her father since her mother's death in 1906. Priscilla is taking music at Northwestern College at Naperville, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Kinsman reared a young man, John B. Tullis, now a resident of Alvin, Texas, who remained with the family until twenty-one years of age.
Mr. Kinsman is loyal in his support of the men and measures of the republican party and has held all of the township offices. For the past eight years he has served as secretary and treasurer of the Madison County Sunday School Associa- tion. He has also for many years been school treasurer, being thus closely identified with two of the greatest agencies for the intellectual and moral advance- ment of a community. In the late '70s, when the Grange was at its height, he was county deputy and took a great interest in the work of that organization. He is connected with Pitzer Post, G. A. R., of Winterset and has served as vice com- mander. Although he is well-to-do, his life has not been devoted to the acquiring of individual success alone ; on the contrary he has given much time and thought to many public activities and holds a place in the estimation of the public that mere material success could not give.
WALTER E. GRISMER.
Walter E. Grismer is the cashier of the First National Bank of Winterset and the consensus of public opinion places him in a creditable and representative position among the business men of the county. Energy and laudable ambition have carried him steadily forward and give promise of larger success in the future.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
Mr. Grismer was born in Hickory Grove, Sangamon county, Illinois, July 10, 1867, a son of Hiram J. and Alivia ( Bryant) Grismer. The father, a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, was descended from one of the old Pennsylvania families, the name being originally spelled Griesmer, but the present form was adopted by Hiram J. Grismer. He was reared and educated in Pennsylvania and, taking up the study of medicine, completed a course in the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia by graduation with the class of 1853. He then located for practice in Ohio and subsequently removed to Hickory Grove, Illinois, where he resided until January, 1868. when he came with his family to Iowa. establish- ing his home at Mitchellville, Polk county. Because of impaired health he had to abandon the active practice of medicine and in Mitchellville embarked in gen- eral merchandising. He there continued until 1876, when he removed to Clay City, Clay county, Indiana, where he conducted a stave and heading business and also was proprietor of a general store. Some time afterward he removed to Oakland City, Gibson county, Indiana, where he continued in the same lines of business and also conducted a hub and spoke factory. He spent two years at that place and then went to Evansville, Indiana, where he conducted a stave and heading business for several years, meeting with substantial success in his under- takings. He purchased fifteen hundred acres of land in Kentucky, his stave and heading business paying for that property. The timber paid for the land, which was then free from all encumbrance and constituted a valuable property. Having disposed of his interests in Indiana, he removed to Denver, Colorado, where he lived practically retired. After making his home in that state for several years he returned to Mitchellville, Iowa, where his death occurred in December, 1804. when he was about sixty-five years of age.
Hiram J. Grismer deserved great credit for what he had accomplished. He was truly a self-made man and as the architect of his own fortunes builded wisely and well. He never allowed obstacles or difficulties to bar his path if they could be overcome by persistent, earnest and honorable effort and it was the wise use that he made of his opportunities that placed him among the men of affluence in the community in which he lived. His religious faith was that of the Metho- dist church and he ever endeavored to guide his life by the teachings of that or- ganization. Fraternally he was connected with the Masons and the Odd Fel- lows. His wife was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and was a representa- tive of one of the old families of that state. She was educated and married there and became a pioneer resident of Illinois. She survived her husband, but was stricken with paralysis soon after his death and passed away at the home of her daughter in Denver, Colorado, in March, 1902, when sixty-two years of age. She was also a consistent and faithful Christian, holding member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal church.
Walter E. Grismer is the youngest of a family of seven children. His boy- hood days were spent at home and his education was acquired in the public schools at Evansville, Indiana, where he continued his course until he had mas- tered the high-school branches. In 1881 he came to lowa, settling at Mitchell. where he learned telegraphy, and the following year he entered the employ of the Rock Island Railroad Company, which he represented in Iowa, Texas and Okla- homa for about twenty years. During that period he also engaged in the drug business and worked in a bank at Mitchellville for three or four years. In 1901
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
he came to Winterset as agent for the Rock Island Railroad Company and in September, 1902, he left that position to accept the proffered position of assist- ant cashier in the Winterset Savings Bank. There he continued until 1900. when he accepted the cashiership of the First National Bank and has continued in that connection to the present time. He is a courteous and obliging official. doing all in his power to accommodate the patrons of the bank and at the same time carefully safeguarding the interests of the institution.
On Christmas Day, of 1888, Mr. Grismer was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude E. Flower, a native of Ohio, who was reared and educated in Iowa. however, pursuing a course in Mitchellville Seminary. They have one daughter, Anna A., who is attending college at Rockford, Illinois. Mrs. Grismer and her daughter are members of the Episcopal church and the family is well known socially, their home being recognized as the abode of a warm-hearted hospitality.
Mr. Grismer exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and is a stalwart advocate of its principles. Ile has filled the office of city treasurer for several terms, covering probably ten years, and he has served on the school board for two terms. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of America and his brethren of those fraternities find him a congenial comrade and one who is ever loyal to the teachings of the orders. He easily wins personal popularity by reason of an affable, genial manner and he retains his friends through his sterling worth.
HENRY A. AND ROBERT GLADSTONE FOSTER.
Henry A. and Robert Gladstone Foster are numbered among the most suc- cessful and enterprising farmers of Madison township and have the respect of their community. Henry A. was born in Scotland, December 18, 1873, and Robert Gladstone was born in that country, August 29, 1884, and their parents, Robert and Grace ( Nlegget ) Foster were also natives of the land of the hills and heather. The father followed farming there until 1889, when he removed with his family to America, locating in Nebraska, where they remained for one year. Thence they went to Adams county, Iowa, where the father purchased land, but after a short time he sold his holdings in that county and removed to Dallas county, this state, leasing a section of land which was called the Givin ranch. He operated that during the remainder of his lifetime and passed away in April, 1895. The demise of his wife occurred in Scotland.
Henry A. and Robert G. Foster both accompanied their father to this country. but after two years Henry A. left the parental roof and went to Montana, where he worked upon the range for about two years. Following that he removed to Kansas and operated a ranch until 1804. He then sold it and returned to Scot- land, but after fourteen months came again to America and leased a farm in Madison county, Iowa, a mile north of Earlham. He continued to operate that place for five years, but after four years purchased two hundred and four acres on section 7, Madison township, which he has now cultivated for several years.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
His brother Robert G. is in partnership with him and they together have made the farm one of the best improved places in this county. They raise nothing but high grade stock and are among the largest feeders in the county, averaging three hun- dred head of cattle per year, and in 1914 they fed twelve hundred head of sheep. In addition to their own land they operate one hundred and sixty acres of leased land and in all that they do display not only energy and initiative, but also excel- lent business judgment.
Henry A. Foster was married on the 26th of December, 1904, to Miss Jame- seen Anderson, a daughter of Peter and Isabella ( King) Anderson, both natives of Scotland. Her father was a farmer and had the reputation of being one of the best judges of stock in all of Scotland. He died on the 20th of November, 1893, but was survived by his wife until June 12, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have a daughter, Isabella King, who is nine years of age.
Robert G. Foster is a member of the Masonic order and the Eastern Star. Both brothers are identified with the Presbyterian church and their influence is always given to the side of right and progress. Politically they support the repub- lican party, believing firmly in the wisdom of its policies. They have achieved much in their chosen line of work, as citizens are highly valued and as men hold the confidence and esteem of all who have been brought in contact with them.
ROBERT R. DAVISSON, M. D.
Dr. Robert R. Davisson, a prominent physician of Winterset, is the son of one of the best known pioneer physicians of this part of lowa, and also the grandson of a successful physician. He was born in Winterset on the 10th of October, 1865, his parents being Dr. David DeKalb and Mary A. (Jenkins) Davisson. The father's birth occurred in Clarksburg, Virginia, August 29, 1828, and his parents were David and Maria (De Vecmon ) Davisson, both natives of the Old Dominion. Dr. David Davisson, Sr., was born in Clarks- burg in 1770, and our subject has his commission as surgeon in the militia of Virginia, issued in 1810 and signed by J. G. Jackson, who was an uncle of "Stonewell" Jackson. Dr. Davisson also served through the War of 1812 as a surgeon and lived to more than round out a century, passing away in Virginia when one hundred years and six months old. His father, who bore the name of Andrew Davisson, was born near Aberdeen, Scotland, and served as an offi- cer in the English army. While still a young man he emigrated to the colonies and served in the state militia of Virginia when Patrick Henry was governor. The grandmother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Miss Maria De Vecmon, was born in Virginia, a daughter of Peter De Vecmon, a native of France.
Dr. David DeKalb Davisson, the father of our subject, was born in Clarks- burg, Virginia, and was there educated in a military academy, in which one of the instructors was "Stonewall" Jackson. He later studied medicine in Balti- more, but before completing the course decided to abandon the profession, and came west, locating in Washington county, Iowa, in 1847. As there were no physicians in that locality, he was forced to begin practice. He was later a
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DR. DAVID D. DAVISSON
DR. ROBERT R. DAVISSON
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
resident of Nebraska for a time and upon his return to Iowa, in 1853, settled in Winterset, where he was married and continued to reside until his death, with the exception of about a year spent in Adel, Iowa. He continued to prac- tice and as he was always a student and read widely on medical subjects, he kept abreast with the developments of medical science. His practice covered a large territory, as was usual in the early days, and he often rode many miles over very bad roads. He continued active until about a year before his death, which occurred December 28, 1902, when he was seventy-four years of age. He was a man of magnificent physique, six feet and one-fourth inch tall, and weighed from one hundred and ninety to two hundred and twenty pounds. His strong constitution and great vitality enabled him to endure the hardships of pioneer life and to perform the arduous duties that devolve upon a successful physician. Fraternally he was a member of the Masonic order. His wife, who was in her maidenhood Miss Mary A. Jenkins, was born in Carrollton, Ohio, and was a daughter of William Jenkins, a merchant, who in the spring of 1844 removed to the eastern part of Iowa. Subsequently he took up his residence in Mahaska county, where he entered land and became one of the pioneer farmers, but later engaged in business in Winterset, where he passed away. His daughter, Mary A., was but a girl when the family came to Iowa and was at Fort Des Moines at the time when the Indians signed the treaty giving the land which is now Madison county to the government. Her girlhood experiences here were very interesting, and her reminiscences cover an important chapter in the history of the state. In 1853 she accompanied the family to Madison county and her father built the house in Winterset now owned by our subject. Her brother, Wilton A. Jenkins, became colonel of the Fifth Kansas Regiment, having gone from Winterset to Kansas to enlist. After the war he located in Chicago, where he was living at the time of the great fire and where he engaged in the hotel business with good success. Mrs. Davisson passed away in 1898, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church. She was the mother of four children : Ralph, who died when young; Kate, who died at the age of fourteen years; Robert R .; and Ross, who died in infancy.
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