USA > Iowa > Muscatine County > History of Muscatine County, Iowa, from the earliest settlements to the present time, Volume II > Part 37
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On the 27th day of June, 1906, he was united in marriage to Miss Lillian Smith, daughter of Sarah and William Smith of Cedar Valley, Iowa. The union proved to be most congenial and the greatest sorrow of his life was the death of his beloved companion December 8, 1907, their only child, Dora Lucile, passing away about the same time. Mrs. Schmitt was a lady of beautiful char- acter and was greatly beloved by a wide circle of friends. She was a member of the Church of Christ, which she joined in 1904, and also belonged to the Rebekahs. The following resolution indicates the respect in which she was held by her associates :
Resolutions in Memory of Our Beloved Sister, Lillian Schmitt, who Died December 8, 1907.
Whereas, our Heavenly Father has deemed it wise to take from our midst our beloved sister, Mrs. Lillian Schmitt, be it therefore
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Resolved, that we the members of Bridgeman Rebekah Lodge No. 14, extend our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved husband and relatives.
Resolved, that we lost a true friend and the order a faithful member, and that we feel her loss deeply on account of her loving and cheerful disposition.
Resolved, that as a token of respect for our departed sister, our charter be draped in mourning for a period of thirty days and that this tribute of love to her memory be placed upon the minutes of the lodge and a copy be sent to the husband of our deceased sister and a copy to our local paper for publication.
EDNA HESSER, EVA JEANS, ANNA STAFFORD,
Committee.
Mr. Schmitt is a member of the Christian church and an active worker in its behalf, being at the present time superintendent of the Sunday school. Fra- ternally, he is connected with Lodge No. 664, I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 445, A. F. & A. M., and Camp No. 4195, M. W. A., and has served as clerk for five years in the last named organization. He has passed through all the chairs in the subordinate lodge of the Odd Fellows and was noble grand for several terms. Politically he is allied with the democratic party and is prominent in its councils in this part of the county. He has served as township clerk for eight years, being the present incumbent, and is now a member of the city council. In all of his activities he has shown an interest and ability that have been highly grati- fying, and of him it may truly be said that he occupies the position of an honored and trusted citizen.
FRANK B. GAY.
Frank B. Gay, the cashier of the Conesville Savings Bank at Conesville, Iowa, is a native of Muscatine county, born in 1869, and the son of John and Hannalı (Sharp) Gay. The parents were both born in England but emigrated to the United States when young. They located in Iowa and here the father followed his trade, which was that of contractor and builder, until his retire- ment in 1890, since which time he has resided in Conesville. They were the parents of eiglit children, who are as follows: Millie, wife of Charles Cecil, of Hedrick, Iowa; Frank B .; Richard H., an electrical engineer of Washington, D. C .; Fannie E., a resident of Iowa City ; John C., a dentist of Conesville ; Al- bert M., game and fish warden, living at Conesville, Iowa; Anna M., a music teacher at Fairfield, Iowa; and one who died in infancy.
Frank B. Gay acquired his preliminary education in the common schools of Muscatine county and later attended the Iowa City Academy for more ad- vanced work and subsequently took a commercial course. At the age of twenty years he embarked in the jewelry business and continued the same for ten years, but in 1901 he was appointed postmaster in Conesville. continuing in that office for seven years, at the end of which time he accepted the position of cashier in the Conesville Savings Bank, where he is still engaged.
On the 27th of September, 1893, Mr. Gay was united in marriage to Miss Ida Merrill, who was born in Columbus Junction, Iowa, in 1871, a daughter of
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
John L. and Alice M. (Hight) Merrill. Mr. and Mrs. Merrill were married in Vermont, in which state the mother was born, but the father was a native of New Hampshire. They came west in 1855 and located on a farm near Columbus Junction, lowa, and for nineteen years that continued to be their home, but in 1874 Mr. Merrill was elected to the office of county treasurer, and at the expira- tion of his term he turned his attention to the mercantile business, continuing in that line until his death in 1891. Mrs. Merrill passed away in 1893. They were the parents of five children, three of whom still survive: Will A., of New Mexico; Nettie E., the wife of Robert Owen, Columbus Junction; and Mrs. Frank B. Gay, the wife of our subject. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gay: Feral G., aged sixteen years, now attending the high school at Columbus Junction; Alice H., aged twelve, attending grammar school; Frances C., aged six; and Lillian, who died at the age of four years. The family are affiliated with Grace Reformed church.
Ever since he attained his majority, Mr. Gay has been a strong supporter of the republican party. He has always been quite active in local politics, serving as clerk of his township for one term and also having been mayor of the village of Conesville. He is highly regarded in his community, where he has resided for many years and where he and Mrs. Gay have gained the friendship of the best people.
EMERSON E. OXLEY.
The Buckeye state is represented in Iowa by many worthy sons, among whom may be named Emerson E. Oxley, who lives upon a beautiful farm in Goshen township, Muscatine county. His eyes first opened to the light of day at George- town, Harrison county, Ohio, December 8, 1853, and he is a son of Daniel and Mary (Combs) Oxley, both natives of Ohio. In 1854 the family removed to Pleasant Grove, Belmont county, Ohio, and there the early manhood of Emerson E. Oxley was spent. In 1881 the father came with his family to Atalissa, Iowa, and purchased a farm of one hundred and fifty-six acres, upon which he lived until his death, which occurred November 13. 1909, at the age of eighty-six years. The mother was called away five years previously on May 6, 1904. To them nine children were born, namely: L. F., of Allegheny, Pennsylvania ; Emer- son E., our subject ; Mattie, who became the wife of Britton Stucker of Musca- tine county, and is now deceased ; Kate A., at home; Mary E., the wife of A. M. Hawthorne, of Dexter, Iowa; Ida R., now Mrs. Clarence Hargrave, of Musca- tine county ; George T., at home; Henry W., of Circleville, Kansas; and Hattie L., also at home.
Emerson E. Oxley was educated in the common schools of Ohio, being reared under influences which proved to be quite favorable in the development of a character for usefulness and efficiency in everything he has undertaken. He devoted his attention to farming and after his marriage he purchased seventy acres of land in Goshen township, subsequently buying forty acres of good land two miles eastward. His farm is under a fine state of cultivation and under his admirable management has been well improved. He is a general farmer and
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stock-raiser and as he pays close attention to his business he enjoys a goodly measure of prosperity.
On the 10th of March, 1886, Mr. Oxley was united in marriage to Miss Anna Miller, a daughter of John and Sophia ( Breinninger ) Miller. Her parents were born in Germany and came to America in childhood, making their home at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. They came to Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1871. Eight children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Miller : Louis, deceased in in- fancy ; John W., of Wilton Junction, Muscatine county ; Anna, now Mrs. Oxley ; Emma R., at home; George M., of West Liberty, Iowa ; Bertha, now Mrs. Will- iam Reid, of Wilton Junction; Fred, who went west when twenty-three years of age and has not since been heard from ; and Robert, now in active practice as a physician in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Oxley seven children have been born: Ray L. and Paul V., both now in Canada ; and Ethel V., Wilbur E., John C., Arthur D. and Mildred I., all at home, Mildred being seven years of age.
Mr. Oxley has from his boyhood been industrious and enterprising and as the years passed he acquired a reputation for stability that gained for him many friends. His success is largely due to good judgment and undaunted persever- ance so necessary in carrying out any important undertaking. In early manhood he supported the republican party but for the past twenty years has been a strong advocate of the principles of the prohibition party and supports that party on all occasions. Although he has not sought public office, he has served most creditably as road supervisor and also for fifteen years as member of the school board. In religious belief he and his wife and family adhere to the Methodist church.
JOHN BELL SCHENCK.
John Bell Schenck, whose labors as an agriculturist have been attended with a gratifying measure of success, resides on a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which his father bought of the government, and a half of which is located in Wapsinonoc township, Muscatine county, and the other half in Cedar county. This place has remained his home since he first opened his eyes to the light of day on the 27th of January, 1858.
His parents, James Finley and Maria C. (Bell) Schenck, were natives of Ohio and Kentucky, respectively. In the year 1845 the father took up his abode in Muscatine, this county, where he engaged in merchandising until the date of his marriage-October 12, 1854. Subsequently he removed to the farm which is now in possession of our subject, devoting his attention to its operation until called to his final rest on the 12th of July, 1900, when seventy-one years of age. The period of his residence in Muscatine county covered fifty-five years and he enjoyed an extensive acquaintance within its borders. His widow still survives him, making her home with her daughter in Cedar county. They had eight children, as follows: William Rogers, who passed away in 1876; John Bell, of this review; Phoebe, the wife of Joseph Bowman, of Cedar county ; Mary Bell, who is the wife of Willis Crozer and lives in Muscatine; Charles Green ; Ida
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Bell the wife of Robert Brook, of West Liberty; Elizabeth Roger, who gave her hand in marriage to Allan Hemmingway, of Cedar county ; and James F.
John Bell Schenck is indebted to the common schools for the educational privileges which he enjoyed in his youthful years. When not busy with his text- books he assisted his father in the work of the home farm, thus gaining practical knowledge of the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. Gen- eral agricultural pursuits have claimed his attention throughout his entire busi- ness career and have brought him a gratifying annual income.
On the Ist of December, 1897, Mr. Schenck was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Applegate, a daughter of Elijah and Mary E. (Thompson) Applegate, who had nine children, namely : William, deceased; Margaret, the wife of Cyrus Orr, of Iowa City, Johnson county ; Daniel, who died in infancy; Thomas, who is a resident of Iowa City ; Harriet, the wife of W. F. Hill, of Westmoreland, Kansas; Wlylum, of Downey, Iowa; John, also of Downey; Sarilda, the wife of Will Harrington, of Johnson county ; and Mrs. Schenck. The last named is the mother of one daughter, Margaret Lucile, who is now twelve years old.
Mr. Schenck gives his political allegiance to the republican party, but the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him. In religious faith he is a Methodist, while fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. A' resident of this district during his entire life, he has become widely acquainted throughout the locality and occupies a high place in the re- gard and esteem of his fellowmen by reason of his honorable methods and up- right principles.
GEORGE J. HARNEY.
George J. Harney, a successful liveryman of West Liberty, has built up an extensive business of this character by reason of his straightforward dealings and earnest desire to please his patrons. His birth occurred in Iowa City, Iowa, on the 13th of July, 1874, his parents being James M. and Mary (Teefy) Har- ney, both of whom were natives of Ireland. They crossed the Atlantic to the United States at an early day, establishing their home in Johnson county, Iowa. James M. Harney, who fought loyally in defense of the Union during the Civil war, is now deceased. His widow, who still survives, makes her home with one of her daughters at Lima, Ohio. Their children were three in number, namely : Helen and Carrie, both of whom are residents of Ohio; and George J., of this review.
The last named obtained his education in the common schools and remained at home until seventeen years of age, when he began working as a farm hand, be- ing thus employed until his marriage in 1899. Following that important event in his life he operated a rented farm for four years, on the expiration of which period he embarked in the dray and transfer business at West Liberty. Two years later he became engaged in the livery business and has since conducted an up-to-date livery, feed and sales stable. He keeps on hand a number of first- class conveyances and is well able to supply the needs of his patrons in this connection. Mr. Harney also has a creditable military record, having served
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in the Spanish-American war as a member of Company I, Fiftieth Iowa Infantry, for one year.
In 1899 Mr. Harney was joined in wedlock to Miss Margaret McCarty, a native of Ireland and a daughter of Patrick and Fannie McCarty, who were likewise born on the Emerald isle. They emigrated to America when their daughter Margaret was still very young and both are yet living, now making their home at West Liberty. Mrs. Harney, who was one of a family of eight children, is a graduate of the high school at West Liberty and followed the profession of teaching for several years prior to her marriage. She is now the mother of six children, namely: Robert; James; Margaret and George, twins ; Helen ; and Ruth.
Mr. Harney is a stanch democrat politically but has never sought office as a reward for his party fealty. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America at West Liberty, while both he and his wife are faithful communicants of the Catholic church. His business interests have been care- fully conducted, his duties of citizenship capably performed and at all times he has been true to the obligations and responsibilities that have devolved upon him in every relation of life, making him one of the worthy .and esteemed citi- zens of West Liberty.
WILLIAM STROUP FULTZ.
William Stroup Fultz is a well known horticulturist of Muscatine county, living on section 23, Bloomington township, where he has a splendidly developed tract of land devoted to the raising of fruits of all kinds. Success has followed him as the years have passed by because he has labored persistently and intelli- gently. He was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, February 21, 1836, and was the fourth in order of birth in a family of fourteen children, whose parents were William and Sophia (Stroup) Fultz, likewise natives of the Keystone state, the former born in Center county, September 20, 1811, and the latter in Mifflin county, July 11, 1814. The paternal grandfather, Martin Fultz, was a native of Germany and was the eldest and the only son of a large family until he was twenty-one years of age, when the second son was born. About the time he attained his majority Martin Fultz came to America as a "stowaway." He landed at Baltimore and in order to pay his passage the captain of the ship sold him to a Quaker for three years. He had been in that service for a year when the Revolutionary war broke out and he entered the army as a substitute for his master. At the close of his term of service he was at Germantown, Pennsyl- vania, where he remained and later was married there. His wife, Mrs. Eliza- beth Fultz, was born in Londonderry, Ireland, of Scotch parentage, and came to Pennsylvania at the age of seven years.
Their family numbered twelve children, including William Fultz, who was engaged in the forwarding and commission business in Pennsylvania and owned a line of boats on the Pennsylvania canal. After his removal to the west he came with his family to Iowa, settling in Muscatine county, where he operated
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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a sawmill and also engaged in farming on Sugar Creek. In early manhood he had wedded Sophia Stroup, who was of German descent in the paternal line and of English descent in the maternal line. The Stroups, however, have been resi- dents of America for about two hundred and fifty years. The death of William Fultz occurred December 17, 1879, and his wife, surviving him for about eight years, passed away in July, 1887. Nine of their eleven children are now living. An older brother of our subject, Thomas E. Fultz, served in the Ninth Iowa In- fantry during the Civil war and died in California, January 1, 1897.
William S. Fultz of this review was only two years of age when his parents removed to what was then Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, but is now Blair county. He was fourteen years of age when, in the spring of 1850, the family came to Muscatine, Iowa, arriving here on the 15th of April. From Hollidays- burg, Pennsylvania, to Johnstown, that state, they had traveled over the old Portage Railroad, the cars being pulled up the mountains by ropes operated by a stationary engine and endless cables being then used to let them down. From Johnstown the family proceeded by canal boat to Pittsburg and by steamboat to Muscatine. The family home was established a mile north of Moscow on Sugar creek and the father there built a sawmill, making his home upon that place until his death. William S. Fultz aided his father in the operation of the mill . and the work of the home place until 1861.
Aroused by a spirit of patriotism, he enlisted on the 19th of September, 1861, as a member of Company D, Eleventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was mus- tered in at Davenport on the 3d of October. He served with that command until the close of the war and veteranized on the Ist of January, 1864, at Vicksburg, Mississippi. He was never absent from the company or regiment during the entire service and took part in all of the engagements in which the Eleventh Iowa Infantry participated. He was never in the hospital and was mustered out as first duty sergeant. His army life covered the usual experiences and hard- ships which are meted out to the soldier. He was with Sherman in his cam- paigns, took part in the grand review in Washington, where the victorious army marched through the streets of the capital amid the cheers of the multitudes that thronged the line of march, and was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, July 14, 1865.
With a most creditable military record Mr. Fultz returned to Moscow and resumed farming. In the spring of 1872 he came to his present place, a farm of eighty acres, three-fourths of a mile north of the corporation limits of Musca- tine on section 23, Bloomington township. He has since devoted his attention to horticultural pursuits. All kinds of fruit are here grown and the business is most successfully and capably conducted. Mr. Fultz has made a study of the best methods of cultivating the different kinds of fruit, of the nature of the soil required and of climatic conditions and his wide knowledge is manifest in the splendid results which follow his labors.
On the 23d of January, 1867, Mr. Fultz was married to Miss Martha Valet, who was born in Ohio, September 12, 1840, and was brought to Iowa in 1842 by her parents, Jacob and Mary Valet, both of whom were natives of Germany but were married in Philadelphia. After coming to Iowa they spent two years in Cedar county and then removed to this county, both the father and mother
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spending their last days in Muscatine. They had five children who reached ma- ture years. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Fultz has been blessed with seven chil- dren, those living being: Mary Martha, now the wife of William Tohm, of Muscatine; George William, a resident of Guthrie, Oklahoma; Francis Levi, who is operating the home farm; Theodore Noah, who lives at home but is married and follows the carpenter's trade; and John Edmond, a carpenter of Muscatine. Mr. and Mrs. Fultz have lost two children, Charles Henry and William Henry, both of whom died in infancy.
In his political views Mr. Fultz is a republican and was an active worker in party ranks for twenty-five years. He served as justice of the peace for two terms, township trustee for three terms, township clerk for three terms and assessor for three terms. He has also acted as road supervisor and school di- rector, filling the latter position at intervals for about thirty years. In public office he has ever been found loyal to the trusts reposed in him, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity. For one year he served as chairman of the county central committee of the republican party. Fraternally he is connected with Shelby Norman Post, No. 231, G. A. R., of Muscatine. He became a member of an organization known as the First Settlers of Muscatine County but now called the Old Settlers Society and has served as its president and sec- retary. For sixty years he has lived in this county and has, therefore, been a witness of the greater part of its progress, development and improvement. He has always rejoiced in what has been accomplished here and as the years have passed has taken an active and helpful part in promoting the best interests of this section of the state. His life has been well spent and in matters of citizen- ship he is as true and loyal to his country as when he followed the old flag on southern battlefields.
H. H. ENGLISH, M. D.
Dr. H. H. English, who is the only representative of his profession now re- siding in Conesville, was born in Henry county, Illinois, on the 3d of November, 1862, being the son of John and Sarah (Harper) English. The parents were both natives of Ohio but when quite young removed to Illinois with their parents and there they met and were married. Soon after their marriage they located on a farm near the town of Atkinson, Henry county, where the father engaged in stock-raising until 1907, when he removed to Atkinson, where he is now living retired at the age of seventy-two years, but the mother passed away in 1904. Five children were born to them: Dr. H. H. English; J. L., engaged in the stock business in Tiskilwa, Illinois; Mrs. N. E. Hart, who was killed in the Iroquois Theater fire in Chicago; John, a dentist, who died at the age of twenty- five years ; and Blanche, who died in 1904 at the age of twenty-one years.
After Dr. English acquired his high-school education, he was compelled to become self-supporting and it was many years before he realized his ambition of studying medicine. He matriculated in the Keokuk Medical College, of Keokuk, Iowa, from which he graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1900 and
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located in Conesville, Iowa, where he has since continued and is building up a nice country practice.
In 1889 Dr. English was united in marriage to Miss Mary Joyce, who was born in Whiteside county, Illinois, on the 5th of July, 1869, a daughter of Michael and Mary Joyce. The parents were both natives of Ireland, emigrating to the United States in 1865 and locating on a farm in Whiteside county, Illinois, where they continued to live until 1884, when they removed to South Dakota and there the father is still living at the age of sixty-five years, but the mother passed away in 1898. They were the parents of the following children : Mrs. English ; John W. of Wessington, South Dakota ; and Kate, who died at the age of twenty- four years. Dr. and Mrs. English have two children: John J., born on March 24, 1890, is still at home; Winnifred K., born on the 18th of March, 1891, is a high-school graduate and has now been teaching for two years.
The family attend the Methodist church, of which denomination the parents are members. Fraternally Dr. English is identified with the Masonic order, his local affiliation being with the Columbus Junction lodge, also the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Wessington, South Dakota, and the Modern Woodmen of America, being a member of the Conesville Camp. The candidates of the re- publican party have always received Dr. English's support at election, although he does not take an active part in politics, not being an office seeker. During the eleven years of their residence in Conesville both Dr. and Mrs. English have made many friends who hold them in high regard.
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