USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, from the earliest historic times to 1907, Vol. II > Part 54
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Mr. Wager was reared in the Catholic faith and in early youth served as choir boy or messenger to the priest and learned to speak and read Latin. He has an excellent education, acquired through his own efforts since reach- ing the age of twelve years. He had no opportunity to attend school after that time, yet he has continually studied and now speaks and reads German, French, Latin and English. Such a man is always a progressive one and Mr. Wager's life has been characterized by advancement in all of its different phases. In polities he is a democrat and when he cast his first vote at Council Bluffs there were only five Germans in the city to support that party, and has served as township trustee, as road supervisor, assessor, township clerk, and justice of the peace, the duties of these positions being discharged with prompt- ness and fidelity. For many years he was a Mason and in his life exempli- fied the beneficient spirit of the craft. Remarkably well preserved for one of his years, he yet gives supervision to the work of the farm and in spirit and interest seems yet in his prime. Strong in his honor and good name, having lived a life of industry, activity and uprightness, he commands the confidence and trust of all with whom he has been associated.
THOMAS SHEETS.
Thomas Sheets, whose name is on the list of Pottawattamie county's respected dead, was throughout the years of his connection with the busi- ness interests of Pottawattamie county recognized as a man of genuine per- sonal worth, of laudable ambition and of keen foresight. These qualities brought him a fair measure of success, while. moreover, he gained many warm friends among those with whom he came in contact. The place of his nativity was Seneca county. Ohio, and the date December 6, 1834. He was born of the marriage of Greenbury and Elizabeth (Pettiton) Sheets, who were born, reared and married in Maryland. whence they removed to Ohio at an early period in the settlement and development of the latter state. They had four children, of whom Angeline died in early childhood.
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Charles died in 1905 at the advanced age of eighty-two years and Edwin died during the Civil war.
Thomas Sheets, who was the youngest of the family, acquired a com- mon-school education and started out in life on his own account when six- teen years of age as a stocktrader, buying for W. H. Gibson, of Upper San- dusky, Ohio, for four years. In 1857 he removed westward to Belmond, Iowa, and engaged in buying furs and in trapping for about ten years in the employ of W. H. Gibson and others. In the fall of 1866 he arrived at Wheeler's Grove, Pottawattamie county, and his remaining days were devoted to general farming and dealing in real estate. He was at one time the largest buyer, shipper and feeder of stock in this locality and gained a wide reputation because of the extent of his operations in that line. At the time of his death he owned four hundred and eighty acres of valuable land in Grove township, constituting a fine farming property. He also carried a heavy life insurance for the benefit of his widow, which enabled her to buy out the interest of the other heirs in the home place and she now owns four hundred acres of that land.
On the 31st of December, 1860, Mr. Sheets was united in marriage to ยท Miss Emily Dumond, who was born in Lake county, Indiana, July 22, 1842, and in 1857 became a resident of Wright county, Iowa, with her parents, Archie and Elizabeth (Martin) Dumond. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania and with his parents removed to Ohio, being reared near Sandusky. Having attained adult age, he was married in Michigan to Miss Elizabeth Martin, who was born at Put-in-Bay, Ohio, in 1832. Following their marriage they removed to Indiana, where occurred the birth of their daughter. Emily. The mother spent her last days in Pottawattamie county, departing this life in Grove township at the advanced age of eighty-four years and nine months after having lived a widow for about thirty-eight years. Her uncle, Thomas Oliver, was at one time the owner of Put-in- Bay. Mr. and Mrs. Dumond were the parents of twelve children, eight of whom grew to years of maturity, four sons and four daughters, of whom Emily Dumond was the eldest. When she had attained womanhood she gave her hand in marriage to Thomas Sheets and to them were born six children, of whom three are yet living: Lewellyn, now of Carson ; Earl of Shenandoah, lowa; and Alma M., in Macedonia, Iowa.
As every true American citizen should do, Mr. Sheets took a deep in- terest in political affairs and his opinions on the leading questions and issues of the day led him to give a stanch support to the republican party. His follow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, called him to various political positions. He filled all of the township offices, was for one term county supervisor and at the time of his death was serving as road com- missioner. It was owing to his hard work to improve the condition of the roads that he contracted heart trouble, which resulted in his demise Janu- ary 12, 1889. He was a man of kindly and benevolent spirit and a gen- erous contributor to many worthy causes. One who knew him well said: "He was a careful family provider, a faithful and devoted husband. a kind
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and indulgent parent and an excellent neighbor. A more charitable man than he is seldom met. He was always ready with his purse to aid in all public advancement and the needy who were ready to help themselves were never turned away empty-handed." It is a uniformly conceded fact that these words of praise were well merited and such was his life that his mem- ory is yet enshrined in the hearts all who knew him.
HERMAN E. WITTLAND.
Herman E. Wittland, who is extensively and successfully engaged in farming, stock-raising and feeding on section 18, Keg Creek township, was born in Moniteau county, Missouri, July 16, 1863, of the marriage of Frederick and Louisa (Frantrup) Wittland, both of whom were natives of Germany. In the year 1848 the parents crossed the briny deep to the new world, taking up their abode in Moniteau county, Missouri, where they purchased land and successfully carried on agricultural pursuits until 1864, when they sold the farm and removed to Lewis township, Pottawattamie county. In 1870 they came to Keg Creek township, where they resided until called to their final rest, the father passing away in 1889 when he had reached the age of seventy-five years, while the mother died in 1893, hav- ing attained the age of seventy-four years. Of the eleven children born unto this worthy couple, seven are yet living: William, who died in July, 1885, at the age of forty-five years; Gottlieb, who makes his home in Coun- cil Bluffs: Mrs. Louisa Basch, of Keg Creek township: Mrs. Annie Meyer and Mrs. Wilhelmina Heuwinkel, also residents of Keg Creek township; Mrs. Carrie Meyer, a widow residing in Woodbury county, Iowa; Mrs. Fredricka Fisher, a widow 'who makes her home in Lewis township: Mrs. Sophia Ellerbeck, of Lewis township, who died the fall of 1903; and Herman E .. of this review. The others died in infancy.
IIerman E. Wittland was but a year old at the time of the removal of his parents to Pottawattamie county. He acquired his education in the comomn schools and when he had attained his majority began business life on his own account by renting the old homestead farm, which he operated sue- cessfully until the time of his parents' death. He then received one hundred and sixty acres of the place, on which he still resides, the old homestead having therefore been his place of abode from early boyhood to the present time. Through the exercise of diligence and capable business management he has been enabled to add to his original holdings until he is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres of rich and arable land, eighty aeres of which lies in Lewis township. In addition to carrying on the work of the fields Mr. Wittland is also engaged in stock raising and feeding, both branches of his business proving profitable and bringing to him a gratify- ing financial return.
On the 26th of August. 1886. Mr. Wittland was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Funke, whose birth occurred in Missouri in 1864, her parents
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being Garrett and Freda (Ricke) Funke, both natives of Germany. On coming to America in 1847 they took up their abode in St. Louis, Missouri, but after a year there spent removed to Moniteau county, where the father carried on agricultural pursuits until 1876, when the family came to Keg Creek township, Pottawattamie county, Iowa. Here the father was success- fully engaged in farming until 1900, when he sold out and both he and his wife are now living with our subject. Mr. Funke has passed the eighty- fourth milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred November 25, 1823, while his wife, who was born April 19, 1833, is now more than seventy- four years of age. They became the parents of eleven children, five of whom still survive: Mrs. Lizzie Kirchoff, living in Keg Creek township; Mrs. Wittland; Mrs. Galena Syfert, who makes her home in Idaho; Mrs. Katie Basch and Mrs. Ida Heuwinkel, both of Keg Creek township. Unto Mrs. and Mrs. Wittland have been born seven children: Ida, Henry, Annie, Emma, Lydia, Lena and Freddie, all at home.
In his political views Mr. Wittland is a republican but does not care for office, finding that his time and attention are fully occupied by his business interests, the successful control of which has brought to him a grati- fying measure of success. Both he and his wife are members of the Ger- man Evangelical church and are esteemed throughout the entire commun- ity as people of genuine personal worth and sterling traits of character. Mr. Wittland has spent almost his entire life in this county and the fact that the friends of his early boyhood are still his friends is an indication of the fact that his life has been an upright and honorable one.
FRANCIS MARION ASHLEY.
The life of Francis Marion Ashley in its various phases as a merchant, a soldier and a champion of those principles which develop the highest in man's nature, furnishes an example that is indeed worthy of emulation, commanding the respect of all who know aught of his history. For many years he was closely associated with the business interests of Macedonia as a general merchant and his close application and the concentration of his energies upon a given field of labor brought him a measure of success that enabled him to leave his family in comfortable circumstances.
A native of Greenville, Ohio, Mr. Ashley was born November 23, 1842, his parents being Joel L. and Mary (Martin) Ashley, who were likewise natives of Greenville, Ohio, where they were reared, educated and married. Their last days, however, were spent in Lincoln, Illinois, where the father died at the age of fifty-seven and the mother when seventy-nine years of age. They had a family of five sons: William, deceased; Elisha, who is living in Woodbury county, Iowa; Francis M., John, who is located at Lincoln, Illinois; and Thomas.
Francis M. Ashley was a youth of fifteen years when he accompanied his parents on their removal from the Buckeye state to the vicinity of Lin-
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coln, Illinois. There he was reared on a farm, remaining with his parents until nineteen years of age when he offered his services to the government, enlisting on the 12th of August, 1862, as a member of Company F, One Hundred and Sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. under command of Captain William Beesley and Colonel Robert Latham. The regiment was attached to the Army of the West at Vicksburg and with this command participated in all of the engagements of that division of the army, being mustered out on the 14th of July, 1865. When the country no longer needed his aid he put aside the rifle and the blue uniform and resumed farming on his own account on rented land, which he continued to cultivate for three years. In 1869 he became a resident of Neosha county, Kansas, and entered a claim from the government of one hundred and sixty acres of wild land, on which he lived for ten years. On the expiration of that period he came to Pottawattamie county, settling in Silver Creek township, six miles west of Macedonia, where he purchased eighty acres of land. For five years he was there engaged in farming and then sold out, removing to the village of Macedonia, where he turned his attention to general merchandising. He had conducted the store with good success for five years when it was de- stroyed by fire, and on the expiration of that period he removed to Living Springs, where he had a branch store, which he conducted for two years. Returning to Macedonia he again started in business here and successfully operated as a general merchant until his death, which occurred March 29, 1900, having the store east of the bank. This remained the property of Mrs. Ashley until the Sth of August, 1907, when she disposed of the build- ing. In his business life Mr. Ashley was ever watchful of indications pointing to success and so utilized his opportunities that the best possible results were attained. Moreover, his reputation in commercial circles was unassailable, as he was always known for his business integrity as well as enterprise.
On the 10th of December, 1863, Mr. Ashley was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Covington, who was born near Lincoln, Illinois, November 12, 1845, and there resided until her marriage. She was acquainted with Mr. Ashley from the age of fourteen years and they were the first and only lovers that either had, their affection for each other growing from early childhood until it ripened into love and was consummated by marriage. Mrs. Ashley was a daughter of James and Mary (Stahl) Covington. The former, a native of Maryland, died in Illinois at the age of seventy-seven years, when his daughter, Mrs. Ashley, was a young child. His wife was a native of Union county, Pennsylvania, and became a resident of Illinois in 1816, before the admission of the state into the union. The Stahl family were among the first settlers there and the Indians were far more numerous than the white residents. The nearest market was a hundred and twenty miles away, and a trip thereto entailed much arduous labor and various hardships. Both the Covington and Stahl families located on government land in Illi- nois. Mary Stahl was married in Pennsylvania before removing to the west, Mr. Covington becoming her second husband, and she died in 1870,
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at the age of sixty-eight years. By her first marriage she had seven children and by her second union there were two children, the elder being Joseph Covington, who for fifteen years has been a teacher in the Chicago schools. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ashley were born nine children: Nellie, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Alice, the wife of Charles Allen, who is living near Whiting. Towa: Mrs. Rose Owens, who died leaving three children ; Emma, who is the wife of Frank Ferguson and is living in Lincoln, Nebraska; Lillian. the wife of Leo Gordon, of Colville. Washington; Edgar, who is the father's successor in merchandising at Macedonia; Fred, a bookkeeper of Council Bluffs: Bess, who became the wife of George Beckhart of Atlantic, Iowa, and died in April, 1904; and Ralph, a stenographer for the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company at Omaha.
Mr. Ashley was a member of the Grand Army post at Macedonia and assisted in organizing the Odd Fellow's lodge here. He also belonged to Ruby lodge. No. 415, A. F. & A. M., and for seventeen years prior to his death held membership in the Christian church, his life being in harmony with his professions. He strove to follow the Golden Rule and his life was largely actuated by a spirit of kindliness and of helpfulness. Although reared in the faith of the democratic party he afterward became a stanch republican but never sought nor desired office, content to do his public service as a private citizen. In days of peace, however, he was as loyal to his country as when he followed the nation's starry banner on southern battle-fields. He was never neglectful of duty, but day after day did the tasks which came to him, whether in business or in social life or in citizen- ship. It was thus that he left an enviable record and one which in many respects may well serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to his children.
FRANCIS A. TURNER.
Francis A. Turner, successfully engaged in the practice of law in Avoca, made his entrance into Pottawattamie county in a covered wagon in the fall of 1857. and is therefore numbered among its pioneer settlers-for at that time it was largely an undeveloped region, the wild prairies covered with their native grasses, while few wagon roads led across them and the rail- road had not yet been built. He has lived to demonstrate his worth as a citi- zen and lawyer, being now classed with the leading residents of the locality.
A native of Des Moines county, Iowa, Francis A. Turner was born on the 29th of November. 1856. his parents being Jerome and Margaret J. (Perry) Turner. The father was born near Unionville, Ohio, in 1833, and was reared there to young manhood. His father died about that time and in 1850 Jerome Turner came to Towa, settling in Davis county. A short time afterward he returned to Ohio and brought his mother to Towa. Soon thereafter he removed to. Des Moines county, locating near Leffer's Station, now West Burlington, where he married and where the subject of this review
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was born. In 1856 the father and his brother Charles came to Pottawat- tamie county, entering one hundred and sixty acres of land, constituting the northwest quarter of section 23, Washington township, in partnership. Jerome Turner then returned to Des Moines county and in the fall of 1857 he brought his wife and child-Francis A .- in a covered wagon to his new home in Pottawattamie county. Alice V. Turner, the daughter of Charles Turner, was the first white child born in Washington township, and John Turner, brother of our subject, was the second white child born here. The father kept adding to his original possessions until he owned more than five hundred acres of valuable farm land, which he continued to cultivate and improve until 1885, when he retired from active life and removed to Har- lan, Iowa, seeing favorable chance for investment there. He continued to reside in Harlan up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1904. His first wife died in 1880 and in 1885, soon after his removal to Harlan, he married Mrs. Mary E. Leeson, who still survives him. In his political views the father was a republican. He held membership in the Methodist Protestant church and for years was superintendent of the Sabbath school. He was a man of sterling integrity and earnest Christian character, ever just in his relations with his fellowmen and kindly in spirit. He came to Iowa with very limited capital and on removing to this county he and his brother Charles each had but one horse and one yoke of oxen, together with such household furniture as they could haul in the covered wagon. As the years passed, however, Mr. Turner prospered and became the owner of valu- able property.
Francis A. Turner was one of a family of eleven children, nine of whom are yet living, the others being John H., a farmer of Taylor, Iowa; Elmer A., a farmer and brickmason of Harlan, Iowa; William P., who fol- lows farming in Washington township; Matthew L., a practicing physician of Des Moines; Laura L., the wife of Truman H. Cleveland, of Washington township: Thomas J. R., a farmer and postmaster, at Taylor, Iowa; O. Bruce, also of Taylor, Iowa; and Mildred D., the wife of Edward Anthony, of Harlan, Iowa.
The educational advantages enjoyed by Mr. Turner were those afforded by the district schools, supplemented by one year's study in the high school at Allerton. His course, however, was interrupted by illness and he returned home. He afterward took up the profession of teaching in the district schools, being thus engaged for several years, and later he became principal of the Oakland public schools. in 1883. He was principal of the Neola public school from September, 1884, until the spring of 1885, and in the latter year was elected assistant principal of the Harlan high school, so con- tinuing until 1886. In 1883, immediately after his resignation as principal of the Oakland school, he took up the study of law in the office of Smith & Cullison, at IIarlan, Iowa, where he continued his studies while teaching during the succeeding three years. In the spring of 1887 he was admitted to the bar. one of the examiners being Judge Joseph R. Reed.
Mr. Turner then located in Avoca and entered upon the practice of his chosen profession, forming a partnership with Smith & Cullison. Mr.
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. Turner having charge of the office at this point. The partnership existed until 1898 when Mr. Smith withdrew from the firm at Harlan and the firm of Turner & Cullison has since existed. Mr. Turner is a strong and able member of the bar, sound in argument and logical in his deductions and the firm has been entrusted with important legal interests.
On the 8th of April, 1896, Mr. Turner was united in marriage to Miss Rose M. Woodward, a daughter of J. D. Woodward, now deceased, who was a prominent farmer of Monona county, Iowa. Their children are Joe W., Frances A., Robert G. and Howard Turner.
In his political views Mr. Turner is a republican and served as post- master of Avoca from 1882 until 1886. Since his admission to the bar, however, he has not sought office but has given undivided attention to his professional duties and is unfaltering in his allegiance to the inter- ests of his clients, yet never forgets that he owes a still higher allegiance to the majesty of the law.
DAVID NIXON.
David Nixon is now living retired on a farm on section 28, Hazel Dell township, but for many years was closely associated with general agricultural interests and did much to advance the development of the county along that line. He was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, June 22, 1848. His father, William Nixon, was also a native of that county, born October 20, 1802, and his last days were spent in the home of his son David in Hazel Dell township, his death occurring on the 3d of February, 1885. He was a son of Moses and Jane (Winn) Nixon, who were representatives of old families of the Keystone state.
William Nixon followed the miller's trade in early life but afterward became a farmer. He continued a resident of the east until 1853, when at- tracted by the discovery of gold in California and the business interests which were there devoleped as a result, he started with his family for the Pacific coast. On reaching Kanesville, now Council Bluffs, he decided to make this county his home, being pleased with its attractive appearance and future possibilities. He purchased from a Mr. Scott a claim of one hun- dred and twenty acres situated on sections 33 and 34 in what was then Crescent township but is now Hazel Dell township. There was a log cabin upon the place and a few acres had been broken but otherwise there were no improvements and upon Mrs. Nixon devolved the arduous task of developing from the wild prairie a productive farm. Upon that place he resided until 1878, when he went to live with his son David. He had improved and culti- vated a valuable tract of land of two hundred and forty acres, making it one of the rich farming properties of the county, but in so doing had encoun- tered many of the hardships incident. to pioneer life. These he faced cour- ageously and by determined spirit overcame them, his labors enabling him to surmount all the difficulties that barred his path. His work, too, was an
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essential element in the progress of the county and his name is now found on the list of Pottawattamie county's honored dead. His first vote was cast for the candidates of the democrats but from that time forth he was a stanch republican, believing that the platform of the latter party contained the best elements of good government. He held minor township offices but was not a politician in the sense of desiring official reward for his fealty.
In early manhood William Nixon married Eliza Collins, who was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. March 2, 1807, and died at the home of her son David, May 20, 1878. Her parents were Joseph and Margaret (Allen) Collins, the former of Irish and the latter of English descent, her father having been the famous Colonel Ethan Allen, who won distinction as an officer of the Revolutionary war in leading his Green Mountain boys to victory. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. William Nixon was celebrated on the 8th of March, 1824, and they became the parents of nine children. Margaret, the eldest, died July 1. 1828. Joseph died October 2, 1828. Mary J. is the wife of Joseph Meginness, a resident of Garner township. John, who enlisted as a member of Company A, Twenty-ninth Iowa Volun- teer Infantry, as color bearer, was taken prisoner and died in the Camden stockade, April 29, 1864, leaving a wife and one child. Hannah became the wife of Benjamin Meginness, who for two years was a soldier of Com- pany A, Twenty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. They afterward resided in Hazel Dell but both are now deceasaed. Moses, who also served as a soldier with the Twenty-ninth Iowa, lost an arm at the battle of Helena, Arkansas. and died November 25, 1883. Frances became the wife of Caleb Kimball, a resident of Garner township, who died August 23, 1883. Sarah became the wife of W. H. Meginness, who for three years was a faithful defender of the stars and stripes, serving as a member of Company A, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry. Ile was discharged as an orderly sergeant. Both he and his wife died in California.
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