USA > Iowa > Muscatine County > History of Muscatine County, Iowa, from the earliest settlements to the present time, Volume II > Part 48
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483
HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
James O'Toole grew to manhood on the home farm and after receiving his preliminary education in the district school carried his studies further in the schools of Iowa City. He taught school for some time but, being naturally in- clined toward agricultural pursuits, for which he was well fitted by early training under his father, he rented the old homestead, which he now owns and which is to him of special value on account of its associations. His farm comprises three hundred and sixty acres on section 20, Seventy-six township. Here he carries on general agriculture, also specializing in the raising and feeding of cattle and hogs, in which he has attained a high degree of success.
In 1884 Mr. O'Toole was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Ryan, who was born in Muscatine county in 1861 and is a daughter of Dennis and Kathrine (Dalton) Ryan. The parents were born in Ireland and came to America in the early '50s. They spent their latter days at Davenport, Iowa. Eight children have come to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. O'Toole, namely : William P., who is a graduate of the State University of Iowa ; Philip J., at home ; Winifred A., also at home; Mary J .; Edward D. and James F., twins; and Emmett J. and Louis Gerald, also twins.
Mr. O'Toole affiliates with the democratic party and is a stanch upholder of its principles. He has served as clerk of the township for four years and also as member of the school board. He and his family are sincere believers in Chris- tianity and hold membership in the Catholic church. By many kindly acts he has won the regard of those with whom he has associated and no man in the township is more highly respected by citizens generally than the one whose name introduces this sketch. Generous in sentiment and true in the discharge of every obligation, he has brought up his children under the same favoring influences and they are now a credit not only to their parents but to their state and country.
WILLIAM H. NEIL.
William H. Neil, a respected citizen of Seventy-six township, where he has made his home for more than forty years, was born in the state of Maine, October 22, 1826, and is a son of William and Isabel (Dugan) Neil, the mother also a native of Maine and the father of New Hampshire. William Neil. Sr., removed with his family to Iowa in 1842 and for twenty-two years lived upon a farm in Des Moines county. In 1864 he came to Muscatine county, where he purchased land and continued until his death, which occurred four years later. The mother was called away in 1900, at the venerable age of ninety-nine years, six months and three days. She was the mother of six children, only one of whom, the sub- ject of this review, is now living.
William H. Neil was educated in the district schools and remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, when he commenced farming for himself upon rented land. In 1868, having prospered financially, he removed to the farm where he now lives. It comprises forty acres on section 29. Seventy-six town- ship, and he has made many substantial improvements thereon.
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
In 1865 Mr. Neil was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Price, who was born in Pike county, Ohio, in 1844, a daughter of Michael and Rachel (Foster) Price. Her father was a native of Virginia and her mother of Ohio. They came to Mus- catine county in 1848, and continued here during the remainder of their lives. Mr. Price was representative of Muscatine County for one term in the legisla- ture at Des Moines about 1860. There were ten children in their family, only one of whom is now living. To Mr. and Mrs. Neil two children were born: Carrie N. received a good education and became one of the popular school teachers of the township. She makes her home with her father. Laura E., who was born July II, 1868, grew to beautiful womanhood but was called away August 27, 1897, at the age of twenty-nine years.
Mr. Neil gives his allegiance to the republican party and although he has not sought political office he has served to the general satisfaction of tax payers of the township as trustee and assessor. He is a stanch friend of education and has filled the office of secretary of the school board. Fraternally he is identified with Lodge No. 671, I. O. O. F., of Letts, Iowa, and has passed through all the chairs of the lodge. One of the greatest sorrows of his life was the loss of his beloved wife, who passed away January 19, 1908, and her remains were deposited by loving hands in Letts cemetery. Mr. Neil and his daughter are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are sustained by a faith in a reunion with those who have gone before which is founded on divine promise. The life of Mr. Neil has been an open book, and as he rests from his labors he has the satisfaction of knowing that he has assisted to the extent of his ability in advancing the happiness of those with whom he has been associated.
H. C. PLETT.
H. C. Plett, who devotes his time and energies to the pursuits of farming and stock-raising, is the owner of seventy-five acres of rich and productive land in Fulton township. His birth occurred in Scott county, Fowa, on the 24th of Au- gust, 1856, his parents being Hans and Sophia (Arp) Plett, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was twice married, his first wife passing away while en route to the United States. By her he had one son, Henry, who is now engaged in business at Blue Grass, Scott county, Iowa. For his second wife Hans Plett chose Miss Sophia Arp, whom he wedded in Iowa. Subsequently he took up general agricultural pursuits, being actively engaged in the cultivation of rented land until called to his final rest in 1898. His second wife passed away in 1890. The children born of that union were as follows: H. C., of this review ; Louis, who is a resident of Blue Grass, Iowa; Elizabeth, of Muscatine county ; William, living in Scott county ; Charles, a resident of Muscatine; John, who makes his home in Scott county ; August, who acts as general manager of an implement business at Blue Grass, Iowa; George and Frank, of Musactine, Iowa.
H. C. Plett remained under the parental roof until he had attained the age of twenty-seven years, when he started out as an agriculturist on his own account, cultivating rented land for seven years. On the expiration of that period he em-
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
barked in business as a merchant of Blue Grass, Iowa, conducting a store for four years. At the end of that time he sold out and purchased the farm of seventy-five acres in Fulton township, which he has operated continuously since. He has brought the place under a high state of cultivation and improvement, deriving therefrom an excellent annual income. In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he also handles stock, this branch of his business likewise proving profitable.
On the 12th of March, 1884, Mr. Plett was united in marriage to Miss Emma D. Laschamzky, whose birth occurred on the farm which is now the home of our subject, her parents being Christ and Minnie (Body) Laschamzky, natives of Germany. They were married in this country, however, and established their home on a farm in Fulton township, Muscatine county, where the father carried on general agricultural pursuits until the time of his death, which occurred on the 19th of December, 1894. The mother was called to her final rest on the 22d of February, 1896. They were the parents of eight children, namely : August, who is deceased ; Mrs. Plett ; Bertha ; Henry, who has also passed away ; Christ ; Mary ; and William and Sophia, who are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Plett have three chil- dren, as follows: Myrtle, who was born on the 18th of August, 1894; Mayme, whose natal day was June 22, 1897; and Edward, whose birth occurred on the 3d of March, 1901.
In politics Mr. Plett is a republican, loyally supporting the men and measures of that party by his ballot. The cause of education has ever found in him a stanch champion and for two years he served as a member of the school board. Frater- nally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, belonging to Camp No. 2470 at Blue Grass, lowa. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian. His life has ever been upright and honorable, his actions manly and sincere, and as the years have gone by he has proven his right to be classed with the representative and respected agriculturists of Fulton township.
A. J. CECIL.
A. J. Cecil, who with his wife owns a fine farm of two hundred acres on sec- tion 18, Seventy-six township, is one of the prosperous farmers of Muscatine county. He is a native of Kentucky, born in July, 1844, and is a son of James and Polly (Hatcher) Cecil. The parents were both born in Kentucky and spent their lives in that state. There were nine children in their family, six of whom are now living.
The subject of this review was educated in the common schools and remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, when he came to Louisa county, Iowa, and worked upon the farm for four years. At twenty-five years of age he was married and began assisting his father-in-law in Muscatine county. At the present time Mr. Cecil and his wife are the owners of a well improved farm, which is provided with all modern facilities and has been brought to a high degree of cultivation. He makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock and by close application and good management has become very successful in this line.
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
In 1869 Mr. Cecil was united in marriage to Miss Eliza M. Fullmer, who was born in Muscatine county in 1847 and is a daughter of John and Margery ( Meeker) Fullmer, the former of whom was a native of Maryland and the latter of Ohio. Mr. Fullmer came to Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1844, and entered land in Seventy-six township, where he built a log cabin according to the primi- tive style, covering it with clapboards and providing it with a puncheon floor and door. He lived in this cabin with his family until 1854, when he built a substan- tial brick house, which is still standing on the farm. He was an industrious man of high character and one of the best farmers of his neighborhood. He departed this life in February, 1903, at the advanced age of ninety-three years, his wife having been called away in 1872. Seven children were born of their union, three of whom are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Cecil have four children : J. Burt, now engaged in the grocery business at Wapello, Iowa ; Mary K., the wife of Maurice Poling, of Ottumwa, this state; Fred D., of Kimball county, Nebraska; and Effie I., the wife of Jacob Colbert, of Louisa county, Iowa.
Mr. Cecil has ever since boyhood been active and energetic and however dark the day has been able to draw lessons of encouragement which have assisted him in the discharge of his duties. As a result he has many friends and is highly re- spected by those who best know him. Politically he is in sympathy with the democratic party and he has served to the general satisfaction of the people ot his district as school director. Mrs. Cecil is a well educated woman and taught school before her marriage. She is a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The house in which she now lives is greatly endeared to her by many as- sociations, as here she was born and here for fifty-four years she has made her home.
ALBERT MARTEN.
Among the citizens of this county who have come to America from Germany and founded a home under the protection of the republic is Albert Marten, now living on a highly improved farm in Seventy-six township. He sees no reason to regret the separation from old home and friends twenty-eight years ago, as it has resulted even more favorably than he deemed possible when he left his native shores. He was born February 26, 1859, and is the son of William and Wilhel- mina (Wolf) Marten, both natives of Germany. The father came to America in 1884 and made his home at La Crosse, Wisconsin, until 1892, when he re- moved to Muscatine county. He was called from earthly scenes three years after his arrival in this county. The mother returned to Wisconsin and there departed this life in 1908. There were eight children in the family, six of whom are now living: Paulina, the wife of William Wentland of Muscatine, Iowa; Herman, of Jackson county ; Albert, our subject ; August, of Wisconsin; Bertha, the wife of Charles Frazer, of La Crosse, Wisconsin ; and Frederick, of Muscatine.
Albert Marten was educated in the public schools of his native land and grew to manhood under the kindly protection of a well regulated home. At the age of twenty-three years, in 1882, he decided to seek his fortune in America and
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
for two years made his home at La Crosse, Wisconsin. In 1884, desiring more favorable conditions, he was attracted to Muscatine, Iowa, and for six years was employed in a sawmill in the city. Being an industrious man of good habits, he acquired sufficient money to purchase eighty acres of land in Moscow township, Muscatine county, which he cultivated until 1900, when he disposed of it and removed to Wapsinonoc township, where he lived for three years. In 1903 he located in Seventy-six township, where he has since lived. Here he rents two hundred and thirty acres, which by his industry he has greatly improved, trans- forming it into one of the most valuable farms of the township.
In 1884 Mr. Marten was united in marriage to Miss Wilhelmina Blazing, who was born in Germany, January 15, 1863, and is a daughter of August and Mary Blazing. Her father died in the old country but her mother came to America and located in Muscatine. She passed away in 1907. There were nine children in her family. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Marten has been blessed by five chil- dren : William A., at home ; Minnie, the wife of George Jenson, of Cedar county, Iowa; Frank F., Henry A. and Harry P., all at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Marten are both connected with the Lutheran church and are liberal supporters of that organization. He is identified with the democratic party, and the esteem in which he is held by the people of the township is shown by the fact that he served for three years as a member of the school board and is now occupying the office of trustee of the township.
JOSEPH L. BAILEY.
Joseph L. Bailey, who occupies a portion of the family homestead in Wilton township, was born in this county February 29, 1864. He is a son of Joseph and Eliza (Harrison) Bailey, both of whom were natives of Lincolnshire, England. The parents were married in their native country and came to the United States in a sailing vessel in 1851. While on the ocean there was an outbreak of small- pox among the passengers of the ship and many of them died and were buried at sea. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey lived for a time at Salem, Ohio, and then came to Muscatine county, Iowa, where they made their home upon a farm in Wilton township. The father departed this life in 1889. At the time of the Civil war, while he was living in Ohio, he was twice urged to come west and raise onions on a large scale for a period of five years, delivering them by wagon to Daven- port, which was then the terminal of the railroad. According to the terms pro- posed the onions were to be sown broadcast for three years and drilled the last two years. Our subject's grandfather Bailey was a Methodist minister and became prominent as a missionary of that denomination. The mother of our subject is still living and makes her home at Wilton Junction, Iowa. There were seven children in the family: Charles, deceased; William, of Reswick, Iowa; Marjorie, the wife of William Harrison, of Perry, lowa; Fanny, the wife of William Marchant, a farmer of Wilton township; John H., of Minburn, Iowa; George T., of Omaha, Nebraska ; and Joseph L., our subject.
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
Educated in the common schools, Joseph L. Bailey was reared upon the home farm and after the death of his father located on half of the old homestead, where he still lives. He now owns eighty acres and his wife is the owner of twenty acres of timber land. He has made many improvements upon his place, including a comfortable dwelling, a commodious barn, outhouses, fences, etc., and has set out an orchard and shade trees, so that it is one of the attractive farms of the region. It is known as Pleasant View Stock Farm. Here he raises a good grade of stock and also does general farming.
In 1887 Mr. Bailey was united in marriage to Miss Emma Snyder, of Crest- line, Crawford county, Ohio, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Schlembaker) Snyder, both of German descent. Mr. Snyder spent all his life in Ohio and was a contractor and builder. He served through the entire Civil war in the Union army and was called away in 1902, his beloved wife having died in 1893. They were the parents of four children: Josephine, the wife of George Patterson, of Alliance, Ohio; William, deceased; Emma, now Mrs. Bailey; and Elizabeth, who died in 1899. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Bailey has been blessed by one child, Florence Oneida, who was born July 14, 1897, and is now attending the public schools.
Mr. Bailey is one of the well known citizens of Muscatine county, where he has spent his entire life. He inherited many of the sterling characteristics of his English ancestors and is highly respected by all who know him. Politically he is identified with the republican party and served for two terms as constable of his township. He is a member of the Methodist church and of the Masonic lodge at Wilton Junction, he and his wife both being connected with the Order of the Eastern Star.
JOHN AND LENA SCHMIDT.
One of the best and most highly cultivated farms in Fulton township is the property of John Schmidt, the son of the late John H. and Karolene (Zabel) Schmidt. Both he and his sister Lena are natives of Davenport, Scott county, Iowa, John being born on the 6th of April, 1858, and Lena on the 14th of De- cember four years later. The parents were natives of Germany, the father emigrating to the United States in 1847 and the mother in 1855. They both located in Davenport, lowa, where they first met and later were married. Mr. Schmidt was a carpenter, following that trade until 1870, when he bought forty acres of land in Montpelier township, Muscatine county, upon which he located, continuing to make it his home during the remainder of his life. He was quite successful in his agricultural pursuits and added to his original tract another forty acres and had at the time of his death one of the best eighty acre farms in that township. He passed away in December, 1894, and his wife only sur- vived him one year, both being laid to rest in Pleasant Prairie cemetery. They were Christians and held membership in the Lutheran church. They were the parents of six children, three of whom died in infancy, while the surviving are : John; Minnie, the wife of Robert Nugent of Muscatine county ; and Lena.
MR. AND MRS. JOHN H. SCHMIDT
T
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
John and Lena Schmidt always remained at home and after the death of their parents removed to Fulton township, locating on an eighty acre farm which Jolin had previously purchased and where they have since continued to reside. During the fifteen years they have lived here he has made all of the improve- ments on the place and now owns one of the finest improved farms in the vicinity. He has a nice line of stock, the buildings are all substantial and well repaired, while the carefully cultivated fields each season yield an abundant and profitable harvest. He is energetic and progressive and in addition to this farm he and his sister yet retain their interest in the property of their parents. Mr. Schmidt bought and now owns an additional forty acres in Montpelier township.
Ever since age conferred upon him the full rights of citizenship Mr. Schmidt has cast his vote for the candidates of the republican party but he is not an office seeker. He is a member of the Pleasant Prairie Grange of Fulton town- ship. Both Mr. and Miss Schmidt are held in high regard in the community where they live and during their residence there have made and retained the friendship of many of the best people in their neighborhood.
WILLIAM MILLAR RIGGS.
In a record of the stock-raising interests of Muscatine county prominent men- tion should be made of William Millar Riggs, for few have done more than he toward sustaining a high standard of stock in this and adjoining counties. In community affairs he has also been deeply interested and by the consensus of public opinion has been awarded a prominent place among the public-spirited and influential citizens of his part of the county. The family comes of Revo- lutionary stock, the grandfather, a native of Virginia, having fought in the American army during the war for independence. The watch which he carried throughout that war is now in the possession of W. M. Riggs. The latter was born in Dayton, Ohio, June 13, 1850, a son of John Summers and Eliza (Long- steth) Riggs. The father, who engaged in farming and stock-raising, was well known as a breeder of fast horses, having raised some of the most speedy animals in the county.
Coming to Iowa in his boyhood, William Millar Riggs is indebted to the schools of this state for the excellent educational advantages which he enjoyed. As a pupil in the public schools he passed through consecutive grades until his graduation from the Muscatine high school, after which he pursued a course in the Iowa State University, from which he was graduated in due course of time. A desire for travel then led him to leave the paternal roof and he first sought the gold fields of California, where he remained for some time. His next trip took him to Boston, New York and other points of interest, but after wandering from coast to coast, throughout the southland and the northern country, no place seemed more attractive as a place of residence than Iowa and he returned to this state, content here to make his home and seek what the future had in store for him. It being incumbent upon him to regain some of the money which he had expended during his travels, he at once began teaching school during the
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
winter months, having charge of a country school whose average attendance was more than forty pupils, many of whom were over eighteen years of age. For nine terms he was thus identified with the educational interests of the com- munity, proving a capable instructor who imparted readily and clearly to others the knowledge which he had himself acquired. Aside from being a competent teacher, he thoroughly enjoyed his work and today looks back upon that period as the most pleasant in his entire career. Throughout this time the summer sea- sons had been devoted to farming and the feeding of stock, and after withdraw- ing from professional lines he gave his entire attention to agriculture and stock- raising. He owns a well improved and valuable farm where he cultivates the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, but gives much of his time to raising and shipping live stock, principally cattle, horses and hogs. He makes a specialty of horses, however, and is a breeder of high grade Percheron horses, being the owner of one of the finest stallions in the west. His stables also contain some full blooded mares which cannot be excelled anywhere in the country, and he has come to be recognized as one of the best and most reliable stock-dealers in his section.
On the 18th of December, 1877, Mr. Riggs was married to Miss Anna N. Hitchcock, a relative of Grover Cleveland, former president of the United States, and to this union have been born four children: Lee S., Emma E., Edith and Anna Gertrude. Reared in the faith of the United Brethren church, Mr. Riggs has been a member of that denomination for thirty-five years, the teachings of which have been the guiding influence of his life. He holds membership in the Odd Fellows lodge, and, believing firmly in a government for the people and by the people, has given stalwart support to the democratic party since age con- ferred upon him the right of franchise. Never a politician in the usually ac- cepted sense of the term, he has never sought nor desired public office. He has, however, been called to fill several important positions, but his election thereto was unsolicited on his part, being the expression of the trust and confidence re- posed in his character and ability by his fellow citizens. He has always been interested in measures and enterprises affecting the community and having for their object its material, political, intellectual and moral advancement. Particu- larly has he been active in the development of live-stock interests which have been stimulated by his efforts and have profited by his labors. He has done much to raise the grade of stock in this state to its present high standard.
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