USA > Iowa > Muscatine County > History of Muscatine County, Iowa, from the earliest settlements to the present time, Volume II > Part 18
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Politically Mr. James has ever been a stanch republican, supporting the men and measures of that party by his ballot. He has held the offices of supervisor and trustee, discharging his duties in these connections with notable promptness and fidelity. He was reared a Congregationalist but attends the services of the Methodist church, while fraternally he is a Knights Templar Mason. Fifty-eight years have come and gone since Gad James first came to Muscatine county, and its history is therefore largely familiar to him. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to emigrate to America, but on the contrary has always regarded it as a most fortunate step in his life history. Here he found the op- portunities he sought and by the improvement of the chances which came to him has gradually progressed in the business world until he is now enabled to spend his declining years amid all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
HANSON B. WATTERS.
Hanson B. Watters, one of the honored veterans of the Civil war, is deserving of prominent mention in this volume not only by reason of the loyal support which he gave to his country in her hour of need but also because of the credi- table place to which he attained in agricultural and political circles. A native of Ohio, he was born in Belmont county on the 9th of December, 1840, a son of Dr. William W. and Teressa D. (Gregg) Watters, natives of Maryland and
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Ohio respectively. Dr. William W. Watters came with his family to Muscatine county, Iowa, in April, 1851, and here purchased farm land in what is now known as Goshen township. He was a physician by profession and successfully prac- ticed medicine in Ohio for a number of years before coming to this state but did not practice here except in a friendly way. He passed away in Muscatine county on the 20th of March, 1884, and his wife's demise occurred in June, 1886. Their family consisted of nine children, of whom seven are yet living: Mary E., a resident of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Hanson B., of this review; William G., of California; Louise, deceased; Henry G., of Muscatine county; Walter P., residing in Atalissa, Iowa; Emma I., the deceased wife of Dr. E. S. Lawrence, of Des Moines; Sarah, who makes her home in Fort Dodge, Iowa; and Clara, the widow of Theodore Noble, of Oakland, California.
Spending his early boyhood in his native state, Hanson B. Watters was a lad of ten years when he came with his parents to Muscatine county in 1851, and in the schools of Ohio and Iowa he was accorded excellent educational advantages. After completing the course of study offered in the public schools by graduation from the high school, he attended Western College at Western, Iowa. He had not yet attained his majority when civil war was inaugurated between the north and south, and was but twenty years of age when, prompted by a spirit of pa- triotism, he enlisted in the Union army, becoming in August, 1861, a member of Company G. Second Iowa Cavalry, with which he served for a term of two and a half years. At the expiration of that period he reenlisted in the same company, being identified therewith until the close of the war, serving most of the time with the rank of sergeant. With his regiment he participated in the charge on Farmington and took part in a number of important and hotly contested engagements, while at Coffeeville, Mississippi, he was wounded in the left side. He responded readily and fearlessly to every call of duty, and his courage and valor never faltered in the face of danger. He received honorable discharge in Alabama on the 19th of September, 1865, and after the close of hostilities returned home with a most excellent military record.
Returning to the pursuits of civil life, Mr. Watters took up farming on the old homestead in Muscatine county, in the operation of which he continued until his marriage, in 1868, to Miss Ruth H. Parker, who was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, and is the only surviving member of a family of nine children born unto Lot and Susanna (Lundy) Parker, the latter a sister of Cap- tain William Lundy. Her parents came to Iowa in 1867 and here their remain- ing days were spent. After his marriage Mr. Watters removed with his bride to a farm of forty acres in Goshen township, which he had previously purchased, and it remained the scene of his busy activities for more than a decade. That his efforts during that period were effective elements in the acquirement of suc- cess is indicated by the fact that as the years passed by he was able to add ex- tensively to his original holdings, becoming eventually the owner of four hun- dred acres of valuable land. Indeed the modern methods which he employed, combined with the spirit of energy and perseverance which characterized all of his labors, made it possible for him at the end of but eleven years to withdraw from active life and enjoy in well earned retirement those pleasures which a substantial competence could afford. In 1899 he left the farm and took up his
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abode in West Liberty, where he has since made his home. His present resi- dence, erected by himself, is one of the finest and most attractive in the town and is the visible evidence of the success which crowned his efforts during his active connection with agricultural pursuits.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Watters have been born five sons, as follows: Allan P., postmaster of Dexter, New Mexico; William L., engaged in the drug business in West Liberty; George Stanley, who was drowned while attending the Iowa State College in 1899; Henry B., a civil engineer of Cleveland, Ohio; and Ver- non G., who graduated from the Iowa State College and is also a civil engineer, making his home in Florida.
The parents hold membership in the Christian church and Mr. Watters belongs to Lodge No. 95, A. F. & A. M., of West Liberty, while as a member of Silas Jackson Post, No. 255, G. A. R., at West Liberty, he keeps in touch with his old army comrades. In politics he has been a stalwart republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and he has ever had the interests of the party at heart, doing all in his power to extend its influence in the com- munities in which he has resided although never a politician in the usually ac- cepted sense of office seeking. His fellowmen, however, recognizing and demon- strating their appreciation of the disinterestedness of his service and his high personal worth and ability, chose him to represent his district in the state legisla- ture, which honor was conferred upon him in 1893, and in 1895 he was reelected to the office, serving for two terms. It was during the session of 1896 and the special session of 1897, while he was a member, that the code was revised, and he was actively and helpfully interested in other important legislative measures during the period of his incumbency. As a private citizen he has ever remained a close student of the questions and issues of the day and although he has now passed the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten he yet takes a deep interest in current events of the day relating to community, state and na- tional politics. His life has indeed been a useful and helpful one, actuated at all times by high purposes, and the enviable position which he has won for him- self in the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens speaks in higher terms of a successful career than does the substantial material gain which crowned his life's labors.
WARREN W. JAMES.
Among the young men who have made a fair start as agriculturists in Mus- catine county and give promise of increasing usefulness as the years pass in a business that calls for energy, judgment and the close attention of an intelligent mind is Warren W. James. He is now in his twenty-second year and, having been reared under the most favorable conditions for obtaining a thorough knowl- edge of farming, he was well prepared upon arriving at manhood to assume responsibilities generally undertaken by those much older than himself. He was born in Wapsinonoc township, June 30, 1889, and comes of a family well known in Muscatine county, being a son of Gad and Harriet (Kile) James, a record of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
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Warren W. James possessed good opportunities of education, first attending the common schools and then becoming a student in the high school, where he pursued advanced studies adapted to develop clear reasoning and thinking. He has found time also to read the standard books and is well informed regarding the progress of America and the world. At the age of twenty he began farm- ing upon his own account by renting a part of the old homestead for one year and he acquitted himself so creditably that lie now owns one hundred and sixty acres, which he manages with good judgment so that it yields handsome returns. He engages in general farming, also in raising hogs and cattle, which he sends to the market in prime condition, and is recognized by experienced farmers of the neigh- borhood as a young man of unusual promise both in business and in the discharge of the duties of intelligent citizenship.
On the 31st of August, 1910, Mr. James was united in marriage to Miss Beu- lah May Ayers, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, and a daughter of Spencer and Rose Ayers, now living on a farm in Goshen township. There were two chil- dren in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ayers, the son being Roy, who is still at home.
Politically Mr. James is in thorough sympathy with the republican party, and he gives to its candidates his undivided support. He and his estimable wife are members of the Methodist church and are active workers in the promotion of kindly and generous social relations in the community with which their inter- ests are closely identified. The friends of Mr. James prophecy for him a career which will reflect credit not only upon himself but upon all with whom he is associated.
JAMES A. NAY.
Among the substantial citizens of Muscatine county is James A. Nay, the owner of a valuable farm in Wapsinonoc township which he acquired by years of labor and with the able assistance of his estimable wife. They are now en- joying the fruits of their toil and each year witnesses a gratifying increase in their financial resources. Mr. Nay was born in Indiana, March 31, 1859, a son of William and Elizabeth ( Baker) Nay, both of whom passed their entire lives in the Hoosier state. There were two children in their family: James A., of this review ; and William, who still lives in Indiana.
James A. Nay acquired his early education in the public schools and continued at home until eighteen years of age, when he started out to make his way in the world upon his own account. He worked upon a farm in Cedar county, Iowa, until twenty-three years of age and then married and began renting land in the same county. After seven years of close application he purchased a farm on sec- tions 3 and 4, Wapsinonoc township, Muscatine county, which he cultivated to such good advantage that he now owns one hundred and sixty-four and three- fourths acres of well improved and highly productive land. In addition to rais- ing grain he makes a specialty of raising and feeding hogs and cattle, and being thoroughly acquainted with the work, he generally receives handsome returns for the time and money expended.
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
In 1882 Mr. Nay was united in marriage to Miss Lissa C. Cornwall, a na- tive of Ohio and a daughter of V. R. and Elizabeth (Merritt) Cornwall, the former of whom was born in New York state and the latter in Pike county, Ohio. In 1856 the family removed to Cedar county, Iowa, where the father died in 1893. The mother is still living and makes her home with her daughter. She has arrived at the venerable age of eighty-four years. There were nine children in their family, four of whom are now living. One son, Everett S., was born to Mr. and Mrs. Nay, December 21, 1883. He received a high-school education and is now interested in the grocery business in West Liberty. He is married and is the father of one child, Evelyn B.
Mr. Nay ever since arriving at manhood has given his adherence to the re- publican party but has never sought political honors, preferring to devote liis at- tention to his private affairs. Fraternally he is identified with the lodge of the Knights of Pythias at West Liberty. He and his wife are valued members of the Methodist Protestant church, in which she is an active worker, and he takes a great interest in the study of religious subjects, serving for eighteen years with general acceptance as superintendent of the Sunday school. Mrs. Nay was for ten years postmistress at Downey, serving in that position at the time President Garfield was assassinated. They have overcome many difficulties in life and hav- ing won their way to fortune, are well aware of the obstacles that must be sur- mounted by the ambitious individual who seeks to attain financial independence. They are held in great respect by the entire community.
WILLIAM D. RIDENOUR.
William D. Ridenour, a retired resident of West Liberty, was long and suc- cessfully identified with agricultural interests in this part of the state and is still the owner of two hundred and forty acres of valuable land in Cedar county. His birth occurred in Sugar Creek township, Cedar county, Iowa, on the 20th of Sep- tember, 1853, his parents being David and Elizabeth (Swisher) Ridenour, who were natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania respectively. Coming to this state in 1849, they purchased a farm in Cedar county and continued to reside there throughout the remainder of their lives, the father passing away on the 6th of May, 1874, and the mother in the year 1883. Unto them were born six children, as follows: Emanuel, who is now a resident of Poweshiek county, Iowa; Nancy E .. the wife of John Utsler, of Dawson county, Nebraska ; John D., also living in Dawson county, Nebraska; J. N., of Custer county, Nebraska; J. E., who is deceased ; and William D., of this review.
The last named was reared under the parental roof and educated in the com- mon schools. At the time of his father's death he purchased the old homestead in Cedar county, continuing to reside thereon for three years. On the expiration of that period he disposed of the property and bought a farm in Audubon county, Iowa, where he made his home for seven years. Selling the place, he returned to Cedar county and at the end of eighteen months there purchased a farm in Rochester township, on which he lived for fourteen years. After disposing of
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that property he bought a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Iowa township, which is still in his possession and which he brought under a high state of culti- vation and improvement during the eight years of his residence thereon. In connection with the tilling of the soil he made a specialty of raising and feeding cattle and hogs, both branches of his business returning to him a gratifying annual income. In 1909 he put aside the active work of the fields and on the Ioth of December of that year took up his abode in a fine residence which he had purchased in West Liberty, where he has since made his home.
Mr. Ridenour has been married three times. On the 17th of November, 1873, he wedded Miss Mary Turner, a native of Cedar county, Iowa, and a daughter of John and Matilda Turner. By this union there were four sons, only one of whom survives, namely : Morton S., who is now a resident of California. The wife and mother passed away in 1884 and two years later Mr. Ridenour was again married, his second union being with Miss Ellen Hinkhouse, a native of Pennsylvania, by whom he had three children: Fred, who resides on his father's farm; Cora, who is deceased; and Daisy, a high school graduate, who is still at home. Mrs. Ellen Ridenour was called to her final rest in 1904 and on the 28th of August, 1907, our subject wedded Miss Jane Pratt, a native of In- diana and a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Pratt. Her father is deceased but her mother is yet living, now making her home at Wilton Junction, Iowa.
Mr. Ridenour is a republican in politics and has held the offices of trustee and school director. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America at West Liberty, while his religious faith is indicated by his mem- bership in the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belongs. Mr. Ridenour is a man of high principles, his life actuated by worthy purposes and characterized by honorable conduct in every relation. Thus he has won the respect of his fellowmen and is numbered among the representative citizens of his community.
NEELY CREES.
Neely Crees, deceased, was long and successfully identified with general agri- cultural pursuits in this part of the state, owning and operating five hundred acres of land. His birth occurred in Pennsylvania, October 5, 1833, his parents being John and Sarah (McLaughlin) Crees, who in 1835 established their home in Medina county, Ohio. Two years later they removed to Wayne county, that state, there residing until 1844, when they returned to Pennsylvania. At the end of a year they took up their abode in Jefferson county, Iowa, and in 1849 went to Cedar county, where they continued to reside throughout the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of six children, as follows: Nancy, who is now eighty-one years of age; Henry, who followed farming as a life work and passed away in 1905; Thomas, who is likewise deceased; Neely, of this review; Joel, who was called to his final rest in 1908; and Joseph, who is a resident of Oklahoma.
Neely Crees, who was but two years of age when taken to Ohio, accompanied his parents on their various removals, being a youth of twelve at the time of his
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
arrival in this state. His first venture in the business world was as a miller but subsequently he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, purchasing five hun- dred acres of land in Cedar county. The cultivation and improvement of that property claimed his attention until he put aside the active work of the fields in 1894, having won a competence that obviated the necessity of further toil. On leaving the farm he came to Muscatine county, spending the remainder of his life in honorable retirement at West Liberty.
As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Crees chose Miss Emma Jane Wyant, a daughter of Isaac and Judith Ann (Guild) Wyant, who werc natives of New Jersey. Leaving that state, they came to Iowa and here resided until called to their final rest. Their children were nine in number, namely : John, who is deceased; Mrs. Crees ; George W .; Frank C .; Mary Cath- arine, the deceased wife of James Cooper; Elizabeth II., who is the wife of D. W. Butler, a merchant of Alliance, Nebraska; Anna Belle, who died in in- fancy; William; and Otis B. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Crees were born eleven children, as follows: two who died in infancy; Isaac W., a farmer of Cedar county ; Sarah, the deceased wife of George Miller; Julia, the wife of Charles Morrison, of Cedar county ; John T., who follows farming in Cedar county; An- nie, who is the widow of Henry Becson and makes her home in Davenport, Iowa ; Carrie Belle, who is deceased; Emma J., who has likewise passed away ; Neely Edgar, who is employed as a bookkeeper in Davenport, Iowa; and Myrtle Eva.
Mr. Crees gave his political allegiance to the democracy, while in religions faith he was a Presbyterian. Fraternally he was identified with the Knights Templar Masons, being a worthy exemplar of the teachings of the craft. His widow now resides in West Liberty with her youngest daughter, having a nice home there. The circle of her friends is a wide one, for she enjoys the warm regard and esteem of all who know her.
JOHN G. KLEIN.
Enterprise, perseverance and good judgment have all assisted John G. Klein in the attainment of unusual success as a farmer. The place he owns in Musca- tine county comprises seven hundred and ten acres and as the farm is in fine condition throughout it is regarded as one of the model landed possessions of the county. Here he was born November 19, 1859, a son of Lawrence and Catherine (Schmidt) Klein, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father came to the United States in 1838 and after spending three or four years in Ohio returned to Germany, where he was married and in 1845, in company with his wife, again turned his face toward the new world. They made the voyage in a sailing vessel which required forty days for the journey across the ocean, and, having decided to establish himself permanently in Iowa, Mr. Klein located on section 28, Moscow township, Muscatine county. Neighbors were far apart in those days, the nearest house to their home being a log structure known as the
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Four Mile house. Mr. Klein was an industrious and hard working man and as he had fully resolved to make a creditable showing in his new home he set to work vigorously and gradually accumulated land until in 1880, at the time of his death, he was the owner of eight hundred and thirty acres in Moscow township, which he acquired entirely through his own indomitable perseverance. His re- mains were interred in Klein cemetery. He was a man of high character and attained deserved success. Politically he was identified with the democratic party and, being a stanch friend of education, he served acceptably for a number of years as member of the school board. Religiously he gave his adherence to the German Lutheran church. The mother was called away in 1892 and she was laid to rest by the side of her husband. There were ten children in their family, three of whom died in infancy and one, Lizzie, at the age of thirty-two years. Those living are : George W., of Wilton, Iowa; Lawrence, now retired, living in Granite, Oklahoma; John G., the subject of this review; Matthew, of Atalissa, Iowa; J. A. J., who is now connected with a button factory at Beardstown, Illi- nois ; and Anna, the wife of Jacob Gittert, a farmer who lives near Summit, Iowa.
John G. Klein was educated in the district schools and continued under the parental roof until after the death of his father, when he removed to section 29, Moscow township, where he still lives. He has put in all the improvements upon his farm, including buildings, fences, drainage and the setting out of shade and ornamental trees, making his home very attractive. He engages on a large scale in general farming and stock-raising and is also a very successful breeder of draft horses. In addition to his farming interests he owns considerable bank stock in various banks and is a member of the board of directors of the bank at Atalissa of which he was an organizer. For fifteen years he has been a director of the White Pigeon Insurance Company.
On the 24th of February, 1887, Mr. Klein was united in marriage to Miss Mary Plitt, who was born in Pennsylvania, January 15, 1864. Two children have blessed this union, of whom Clarence E. is the eldest. He was born Feb- ruary 4, 1888, and after receiving his preliminary education in the common schools became a student of the Wilton high school, from which he was grad- uated, subsequently teaching for a year in Moscow township. He then entered Brown's Business College at St. Louis and after graduating from that institution was for six months identified with Mull's wholesale grocery establishment and later with Meyer Brothers, wholesale druggists of St. Louis. Having decided upon a professional career, he matriculated in the State University at Iowa City, graduating from the law department in June, 1910, with the degree of LL. B. After leaving the university he began practice in his native county and in the fall of the same year he was nominated as clerk of the courts of Muscatine county. He is justly regarded as one of the most promising young men in this part of the state. The second son, Ivan, is now fourteen years of age and is a student in the common schools.
Mr. Klein is politically in sympathy with the democratic party and has served with great acceptance in various positions of responsibility, being constable, road supervisor, township trustee, member of the school board and justice of the peace, filling the last office about six years. He was treasurer of the school
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board for twelve years, director seven years and for five years was president of that body. Socially he holds membership in the Masonic lodge at Wilton. He is not connected directly with any religious organization, though he is a liberal sup- porter of the local churches, but his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church of Atalissa. As it is easily to be seen, Mr. Klein is a man of high char- acter and is regarded as a leader who has won the title by genuine merit. He is public spirited, patriotic and takes deep interest in every movement that as- sists in advancing the standard of citizenship. Hence, it is with pride that his neighbors and friends name him as one of the prominent residents of Moscow township.
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