USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, from the earliest historic times to 1907, Vol. II > Part 41
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county about 1830 when Iowa was still under territorial rule, when the Indians were alnost as numerous as the white settlers and when great tracts of land had not yet been explored by those who wished to utilize the natural resources of the state and found here a substantial commonwealth. William Bolton bore his full part in the work of development and progress here, aiding in the reclamation of wild land and since that time the family have ever been loyal to the interests of the state and patriotic in their support of whatever has tended to advance its interests or promote its welfare. William Bolton died in Cedar county and his widow, surviving him for some time, passed away at the home of a daughter in Pottawattamie county.
George Bolton was one of a family of nine children. He was reared and educated in Cedar county and following his marriage he removed to Pottawatta- mie county in March, 1877, locating here with his family upon the farm which is still the home of his widow. He prospered in his undertakings and at one time owned four farms which are still a part of the estate, aggregating over five hundred acres of rich and productive land. As the years passed he carefully conducted his agricultural interests, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation and adding many modern equipments to his place. He was prac- tical and progressive in his methods and his labors resulted in winning for him a goodly measure of success.
It was on the Sth of November, 1860, that George Bolton was united in marriage to Miss Anna Pearce, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, March 20, 1838, her parents being Dennis and Mary (Pollock) Pearce, who removed from the Buckeye state to Illinois and afterward came to Iowa, where the father died when his daughter, Mrs. Bolton, was but a young girl. The mother reached a very venerable age, passing away in 1902, at the age of ninety years, her birth having occurred in 1811. Mrs. Bolton was about sixteen years of age when the family went to Illinois, coming thence to Iowa a year later. She was one of nine children, of whom four brothers and a sister are yet living. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bolton were born nine children, of whom three died in childhood, while those who still survive are: Charles E .; A. W .; Ida, the wife of David McKee, of Grove township; Albert, also living in the same township; Nellic, the wife of Dennis Osler, of Grove township; and James, who married Olive Barnes, of Carson, Iowa, and resides upon the old homestead farm.
In taking up the personal history of Charles E. Bolton we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in Pottawatta- mie county, where he has made his home since the spring of 1877, coming to this locality with his father's family when in his sixteenth year. He has since lived in Grove township and under the parental roof he remained until he had attained his majority. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his boyhood days. He received practical train- ing in the labor which he has chosen as a life work and when he started out on his own account he was well equipped to take up the duties of the farm.
In 1886 Mr. Bolton was united in marriage to Miss Esther Starts, a daugh- ter of Lewis and Ruie Starts, who are old settlers of Grove township, well known in the community. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bolton have been born three children: Elmer K., Verna B. and Sheldon R., aged respectively twenty,
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eighteen and sixteen years. The family circle still remains unbroken by the hand of death.
In politics Mr. Bolton has always been a stalwart republican, unswerving in his advocacy of the principles of the party. He has served in some of the local township offices and is interested in all matters of progressive citizenship. He belongs to the Methodist Protestant church and is a well known and worthy representative of a prominent pioneer family. As stated, the name of Bolton is well known in Pottawattamie county and has figured in connection with the history of the state for more than three-quarters of a century. The work in- stituted by the grandfather and carried on by the father is continued by the son and the agricultural development of Iowa is attributable in no small degree to the members of this family, who at all times have been recognized as respected residents of the state, loyal to the interests of the commonwealth, honorable in business affairs and trustworthy in every relation of life.
WILLIAM CONVERSE.
William Converse is numbered among Iowa's pioneers of the year 1842. The state organization had not then been effected and in fact it was four years before it ceased to be under territorial rule. There were great tracts of wild land still unclaimed and uncultivated and over the prairies roamed deer and other wild game. The land was rich in possibilities but the tide of immigration had not yet brought to the state the vast number of people who were to make use of its natural resources in the founding of the splendid commonwealth here.
Mr. Converse was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, on the 20th of October, 1833, and was therefore nine years of age when the family came to this territory. His parents were Erastus and Elizabeth Converse, natives of Vermont and Connecticut respectively. The father always fol- lowed the occupation of farming. On coming to Iowa the Indian reserva- tion extended to within three miles of his claim and the land on which he settled had not yet come into the market. He built a log house with clap- board roofing, puncheon floor and puncheon door, and occupied that primi- tive cabin for five years, meeting with all the hardships and difficulties and bravely facing all the dangers incident to the settlement of the far west. His nearest trading point at that time was Burlington, Iowa, and for five years the family never had any meat except wild game, including deer, turkeys and prairie chickens. Mr. Converse remembers to have seen his father shoot a large deer from the cabin door in the early morning before breakfast. He has seen as many as one hundred wild turkeys in a drove and a herd of twenty-eight deer, in Iowa county, one of which he shot. This scared the others, which disappeared before he could fire again. Deer were killed within three miles of his present home. During his boyhood there were four years that the family did not have wheat flour, sugar, tea or coffee, but lived principally on buckwheat flour ground by hand and sifted
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM CONVERSE.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
with a sieve, while tea was made from red root. At the time they had neither a cow nor a hog. Although they had no sugar for five years, bee trees were often found in the timber and honey was a good substitute.
After a residence in Iowa of five years the father died but the mother reared her children upon the claim in Iowa county, which he had secured, until they had attained majority and started out in life on their own ac- count. In 1880 she came with her son William to Pottawattamie county and here made her home until called to her final rest in 1900 when in her eighty-eighth year. In the family were six children but only three are now living: John, a resident of California; William, of this review; and Erastus T., living in Canada. Two of the sons, George and Henry, were soldiers of the Civil war, the latter belonging to the Illinois Sharpshooters, and both died in the army.
During his boyhood William Converse aided in the arduous task of developing a new farm and bringing the fields to a state of rich fertility. He has known what it is to live many miles from neighbors, the wild un- broken prairie stretching for miles around. Each day brought its task and each night saw their fulfillment, for the members of the Converse household were people of industry who never slighted their work. In those carly days dressed pork sold for a dollar and a half per hundred at Iowa City, and Mr. Converse has seen deer sell for a dollar and a half apiece and prairie chick- ens for eighteen cents per dozen.
Leaving home at the age of seventeen years he entered the employ of the government as a teamster, hauling freight from Fort Snelling, Minne- sota, to where they were building Fort Gaines. He was also employed as a cook at the latter place for a time. Minneapolis was then known as St. Anthony's Falls and contained but one house, in which were boarded the mill hands. After a year spent in that region Mr. Converse returned home and resumed farming, which pursuit he has since followed. In connection with his farming operations he prepared himself for the practice of veterinary surgery and has followed that calling for forty years. In 1871 he arrived in Pottawattamie county and bought four hundred acres of land where he now lives in Valley township, paying seven dollars per acre for three hun- dred and twenty acres and nine dollars per acre for the remainder. He has improved the land by tilling it, has erected substantial buildings and has carried on the work of the fields along modern progressive lines. He uses the latest improved machinery in planting, cultivating and harvesting his crops, and for the past twenty years has made a specialty of the breeding of high grade horses, handling imported stock-French draft Clydesdale and French coach horses.
In 1852 Mr. Converse was united in marriage to Miss Jane Henry, who was born in Ohio, May 24, 1836, and is a daughter of William and Sarah (Richardson) Henry. In their family were twelve children, while unto Mr. and Mrs. Converse were born six children, five of whom are yet living, namely: Mary, the wife of Melvin Macrae, of Valley township; Charles H., of California; Ella, the wife of Archie Talbott. also of Valley township; Emma, the wife of Charles Dewey, of Dexter; and Clara, the wife
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of Leslie Olsen, of Valley township. The wife and mother passed away November 28, 1904, leaving a husband and five children to mourn her loss, beside many friends who esteemed her for her good traits of charac- ter.
In politics Mr. Converse was formerly a republican but now affiliates with the democratic party. Although not a politician in the sense of office seeking he has served as township trustee and for fourteen years has been a member of the school board. For seventeen consecutive years he was president of the Anti-Horse Thief Association, and he is a member of the Masonic lodge at Avoca, the Odd Fellows lodge at Hancock, and the Good Templars lodge in Valley township, being connected with the last named order for fifty-five years. His life has been in harmony with the beneficent spirit of these fraternities which have their basic principles in mutual help- fulness and brotherly kindness. Mr. Converse is an early settler of Potta- wattamie county and one of the pioneers of the state, having for sixty-five years resided within its borders. Few men have more intimate knowledge of its history "from the standpoint of personal experience and personal obser- vation. His reminiscences of pioneer life are intensely interesting and his memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the pro- gressive present.
HENRY WEIRICH. i
Henry Weirich derives a good annual income from a valuable farming property of three hundred and fifty-nine and a half acres in Wright township. It is pleasantly and conveniently located about four miles northwest of Gris- wold, so that the advantages of the town are easily obtainable, while the com- forts of rural life are to be continually enjoyed. A native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Weirich was born in Columbia county, April 30, 1853, his parents being Joseph and Elizabeth (Baker) Weirich, who were natives of Geranmy. They came to America at an early date and first settled in Columbia county, Pennsyl- vania, but afterward journeyed across the country until they established their home in Cass county, Iowa, in 1869. The father, who engaged in coal mining throughout his entire life, died in 1887, while the mother is still living in her eighty-seventh year, her home being now in Griswold. They were the parents of eight children, of whom three have passed away, while those still living are : V. J., of Griswold; Henry; Frank, also living in Griswold; John, who makes his home in Cherry county, Nebraska; and Peter, living in Pasadena, Cali- fornia.
Henry Weirich was largely reared in the Keystone state, remaining with his parents until he had reached years of maturity. He came with them to Iowa in 1869, when a youth of sixteen years, and on starting out in life on his own account he learned the carpenter's trade, becoming a first class workman and following that pursuit for sixteen years. In the meantime, through the careful husbanding of his resources, he was enabled to acquire the capital that
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
justified his engaging in mercantile pursuits at Griswold, where he carried on business for four years. At the end of that time he bought a farm lying in Cass and Montgomery counties. This he improved, making it his home for twelve years, when he sold out and bought a farm in Wright township, thus becoming owner of three hundred and fifty-nine and a half acres on sections 34, 35, 26 and 27, where he now lives. Its proximity to Griswold, its naturally rich soil and the many excellent improvements which have been put upon the place make this one of the finest farms of Wright township and in addition to the tilling of the soil Mr. Weirich is successfully and extensively engaged in rais- ing and feeding high grade cattle and hogs.
On the 22d of November, 1877, Mr. Weirich was united in marriage to Miss Nancy J. Eshelman, who was born in Carroll county, Illinois, being one of a family of seven children. Unto our subject and his wife have been born eleven children: Walter W., now living in Kansas; Daisy J., the wife of L. C. Bazer, residing on the old home farm; Stella E., the wife of J. R. Linder, of Mattoon, Illinois; Leonard J., living in Pottawattamie county; Nellie A., the wife of Fred Bazer, of Nebraska ; Elvin O., B. J., Reuben, Agnes, James A. and Mamie L., all at home. The wife and mother passed away July 25, 1905, and her death was deeply regretted not only by her immediate family but by many friends as well, for she possessed excellent traits of character that endeared her to those with whom she came in contact.
Mr. Weirich is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Griswold. His political views accord with the principles of the republican party and although he has never sought or desired political office he is now serving as school director. Fraternally he is connected with the Court of Honor. Starting out in business life with no capital save the substantial quali- ties of energy and ambition, his advancement has come to him as the reward of well directed labor and honest dealing.
THOMAS JAMES YOUNG.
Thomas J. Young, secretary, treasurer and manager of the Michelwait- Young Company, is closely associated with commercial interests in Macedonia, the firm owning here an excellent elevator and engaging in the grain, flour. coal and lumber trades. Alert and enterprising, Mr. Young has manifested a spirit of determination and capable management in all his undertakings that has led to success. A native of Illinois, he was born in Peru, La Salle county, February 8, 1855, his parents being Naasson and Susan (Kerby) Young. The father was born in the north of Ireland in 181C and came to the United States in 1852 with his wife and seven children. He made his way to Chicago, where he resided for two years and then went to Peru, Illinois. In 1882 he returned to Chicago and in that city as well as in Peru engaged in the lumber business, enjoying an extensive patronage, and in Chicago he also engaged in dealing in lumber. His death occurred in Chicago in 1887 when he was seventy-seven
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
years of age, and his wife also passed away in the western metropolis, her death occurring in 1901 when she was eighty-six years of age.
Thomas J. Young is the youngest of a family of three sons and five daugh- ters and the only one born in this country. He remained in La Salle county, Illinois, until twenty-three years of age and is indebted to the public-school system for the educational privileges he enjoyed. After the completion of his course he entered the employ of his brother, Miles Young, who was engaged in the elevator and milling business, continuing with him for three years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Cabery, Ford county, Illinois, where he formed a partnership with William Walker, of Peru, and built an elevator which they conducted for a year. Mr. Young then sold his interest to his partner and in 1879 made his way westward to Omaha, Nebraska, where he formed a partnership with Christ Hartman in the packing and canning of beef. A year later they sold out to the firm of Harris & Fisher and Mr. Young came to Macedonia, where he has since resided. Forming a partnership with T. J. Evans, of Council Bluffs, they built the first elevator at Macedonia in 1880. In 1882 Mr. Evans sold his interest to George and Richard Michelwait, of Glenwood. and the firm of Michelwait & Young conducted business until 1888. In that year the business was incorporated under the name of the Michelwait- Young Company, under which style their interests have since been carried for- ward. They own the elevator at Macedonia and conduct an extensive business as grain dealers, also handling four, coal and lumber. From the beginning Mr. Young has been secretary, treasurer and manager and the success of this enterprise is attributable in large measure to his earnest efforts. Messrs. Michel- wait, too, are men of excellent business ability and that the relation between them has ever been harmonious is indicated by the fact that it has had a con- tinuous existence covering a quarter of a century. Mr. Young has extended his efforts into other fields of labor and his co-operation is regarded as a valued factor, for his business opinions are sound and his enterprise unremitting. He is now the vice president of the Macedonia State Bank and a stockholder in the Macedonia Improvement Company and the Macedonia Implement Company. He has large real-estate interests, owning eleven hundred acres of valuable land in Pottawattamie county, besides city property, including six or more business buildings. He is also a stockholder in the Harle-Haas Drug Company of Coun- cil Bluffs.
Mr. Young has been married twice. In 1887 he wedded Miss Lizzie Gor- don, of Bloomington, Indiana, who died a year later. In 1891 he was joined in wedlock to Miss Laura Kiser, a native of Madison county, Iowa, and a daugh- ter of Reuben Kiser. She was reared in Macedonia, and unto this marriage have been born four children : Florinda, Lenora, Naasson and Margaret.
Mr. Young is a stalwart republican, having always supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has served as a mem- ber of the city council for several years and the progressive interests of the city receive his stalwart endorsement. For twenty-seven years he has been a mem- ber of the school board or since the distriet was formed, and has likewise been president of the board. He gives hearty aid to every movement for the general good and has contributed in substantial measure to the progress of the town
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along many lines. He belongs to the Odd Fellows society of Macedonia and to the Elks lodge of Council Bluffs. His success has been by no means the re- sult of fortunate circumstances. It has come to him through energy, labor and perseverance directed by an evenly balanced mind and by honorable business principles. He finds his greatest source of enjoyment at his own fireside, where his family and friends know him to be a delightful companion.
THOMAS R. STRONG.
Thomas R. Strong, who follows farming and the raising and feeding of stock on section 5, Center township, owns here two hundred acres of land and also cultivates other land, which he leases. His home place has excellent im- provements upon it, in keeping with ideas of model farming and in its excel- lent appearance indicates the supervision of a practical, painstaking and pro- gressive owner. His birth occurred in Center township before it was divided, his natal day being February 9, 1865.
His parents, S. C. and Lucy (Clover) Strong, have for the past two years been residents of Oakland, having in the meantime resided in Center township from 1864. Both are natives of Ohio but in childhood came with their re- spective parents to Iowa, settling first in Jefferson county, where they were mar- ried nearly fifty years ago. They began their domestic life there but after sev- eral years removed to Pottawattamie county. They had five children who are yet living: Alice, the wife of A. E. Wert, residing in Granite City, Illinois; W. Fred, who is with the MeAtee Grocery Company of Council Bluffs; James, a farmer living on section 3, Center township; C. C., whose home is on the same section ; and Thomas R. They lost a daughter, Florence, in early womanhood, while another daughter died in childhood.
Thomas R. Strong was reared and has always resided in Center township. At the usual age he began his education in the public schools and has been very successful in the work of the farm since he started out in business life on his own account. He completed arrangements for having a home of his own by his marriage in 1888, when he secured as a companion and helpmate for life's journey Miss Addie Butler, who was born and reared near Des Moines in Polk county, Iowa. When a maiden of fifteen years she came to Pottawattamie county with her parents, W. B. and Margaret (Plummer) Butler. Her father, who was born in Indiana and came to Iowa in his youth, followed farming for many years in Polk and Pottawattamie counties but is now living in Oakland at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife, who was born in Ohio, passed away in 1888 at the age of forty-six years. Mrs. Strong is one of five living children : Izora, the wife of T. J. Johns, one of the supervisors of Pottawattamie county ; W. Kinsman, residing in Center township; Virgil, who owns a farm in Can- ada; Cora, the wife of E. I. James, now of Kansas; and one child who died in infancy.
Mrs. Strong was reared in Pottawattamie county and by her marriage has become the mother of five children, of whom three are living: Florence, now
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fourteen years of age; Gladys, aged thirteen ; and Tacie, eleven years of age. One child, Merle, died at the age of eight years, and a daughter, Hazel, when four months old. The family are well known socially and their own home is a most hospitable one in its reception of their many friends. In his fraternal relations Mr. Strong is connected with the Modern Woodmen camp of Oak- land, while politically he is a republican and has served in various township offices, including that of trustee and treasurer. He has also filled school offices and is interested in all that pertains to the educational progress, the material development and the substantial advancement of his section of the state.
RUFUS LYMAN.
Rufus Lyman, filling the position of postmaster at Carson, while at vari- ous times he has filled other offices, his fidelity and capability making him a valued factor in the official life of the community, was born in Defiance, Ohio, October 21, 1850. When six years of age he came to Big Grove, now Oakland, Pottawattamie county, with his parents. His father, William Lyman, was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, and about the time he attained his majority removed to Michigan, where he was married to Miss Sarah Pierce, a native of Rutland, Vermont. They afterward became residents of Ohio and in 1857 arrived at Big Grove, Pottawattamie county, where the father spent his remaining days, passing away at the age of sixty-one years. His entire life was devoted to general agricultural pursuits and through that occupation he provided a good living for his family. His widow long survived him and died at Audubon, Iowa, at the age of eighty-six years. In their family were six children, namely : Joseph, who was elected to congress and died during his second term as a member of the national legislature; Sereno, deceased; William, who is living in Cedar Rapids; Rufus; Rhoda, the wife of R. J. Creveling, of Audubon ; and Mrs. Anna Royce, deceased.
Rufus Lyman was reared amid the environments of pioneer life in this county. He shared with the family in the arduous task of developing a new farm and as opportunity offered pursued his education, attending the district schools near his father's home and also spending one year as a student in Tabor College. He taught for about ten years in the district schools of the county, proving himself an able educator, imparting readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he had acquired. He continued his residence in Oakland until 1880. While a resident of Hall county, Nebraska, he served as deputy county clerk for one year, maintaining his home during that period at Grand Island. Again coming to Pottawattamie county, he located at Wheeler, where he entered the field of general merchandising in connection with L. D. Woodman- see. The firm of Woodmansee & Lyman had an existence of about three years, on the expiration of which period Mr. Lyman began farming and was closely associated with agricultural interests east of Macedonia until 1900. Putting aside the labors of the fields, he came to Carson and bought a home and five
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