USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > History of Poweshiek County, Iowa: a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 21
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He is a native of Richland county, Ohio, and was born November 25, 1821, a son of William and Catherine ( Dempsey ) Prosser, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. The father removed with the family to Brown county, In- diana, and engaged in farming, and later continued in the same occupation in Morgan county, Illinois. In the spring of 1848 he arrived with his family in Poweshiek county, where he and his wife spent the remaining years of their lives. They were both members of the Presbyterian church. In politics Mr. Prosser adhered to the democratic party. He was a patriotic man and served as a private in the war of 1812, enlisting from Pennsylvania. Of the seven children reared at the fireside of Mr. and Mrs. Prosser, William, of this re- view, is the only survivor. The others were Polly, Margaret, Daniel, Isaac, George and Rachel.
William Prosser received his preliminary education in the district schools of Ohio and Indiana. At the age of twenty-one he began working for wages in Indiana, and continued as a wage earper in Illinois. In 1848, being then twenty-seven years of age, he cameto On the 16th of April, 1858, Mr. Prosser was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Jenkins, who was born June 3. 1832, in West Virginia and is a daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Stafford) Jenkins. The parents were both born in West Virginia and the family removed to Madison, Indiana, where the father died April 30. 1837. Later the mother took up her residence in Poweshiek county. Iowa, where she died December 16, 1875. Both she and her husband were members of the Methodist church. Politically Mr. Prosser affiliates with the democratic party. He has, how- ever. devoted his attention to business rather than to politics, and his beauti- ful farm is evidence of his judgment and enterprise. He is one of the honored Vol. II-11 222 HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY survivors of the white race that opened the way for the millions that now occupy the fertile lands of the west and have made them blossom as a garden. The work of the venerable pioneer is now accomplished and he is in the enjoyment of the peace and plenty that rightfully belong to those who, in the heat of the day and the midst of the battle, attempted to perform their duty. ALBERT W. READ. Almost a half century has come and gone since the arrival of Albert W. Read in Iowa, and with the passing years he has witnessed the development of one of the finest agricultural districts in the country. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born in Clearfield county on the 9th of September, 1857, a son of Thomas and Jane (Irwin) Read, who were natives of Ireland and Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, respectively. The father, a farmer by occupation, came west in 1866, locating on a farm in Madison town- ship, Poweshiek county, upon which his son now makes his home. His pur- chase consisted of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 16, and here he continued to reside, engaged in agricultural pursuits, until his death, which occurred on the 31st of October. 1908. He survived his wife for about seven years, her death occurring April 11, 1901. Reared in the Keystone state Albert W. Read accompanied his parents on their westward trip in 1866, and assisted his father in the work of the home farm in Madison township until he was fifteen years of age, when he started out on his own account, working at farm labor by the month until he reached man's estate. When he had attained his twenty-second year he rented a farm in Madison township which he operated for five years, and then rented a farm in Tama county, Iowa, for two years, although he still retained his residence in Madison township, Poweshiek county. At the end of that period he returned to the homestead farm and here cared for his parents until their demise. Hle then purchased the home farm of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he has since added forty acres, making it today an excellent place of two hun- dred acres. The place contains no waste land but is all under a high state of cultivation and is a well developed tract. It contains a fine orchard of one acre, and is well watered and well tiled throughout. Mr. Read has recently greatly enhanced the value of the property by installing an up-to-date acetylene lighting system, operated by electricity generated by storage batteries, there being only three such plants in Madison township. He has remodeled his dwell- ing, adding all of the modern conveniences of a city home, making it one of the well improved and attractive homes of the district. He engages extensively in the raising of grain, cattle and hogs, which he sells to shippers direct, and the high grade of his grain and stock makes it possible for him to realize excellent returns. He is practical and progressive in the management of his affairs and his well directed efforts are meeting with substantial and merited success. On the 16th of December. 1903. Mr. Read was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Leach, a daughter of Jonathan and Liza Jane (Lawn) Leach, natives 223 HISTORY OF POWESHRIEK COUNTY of Virginia and Pickaway county, Ohio, respectively. The mother passed away at the age of twenty-nine years, but the father still survives and is now en- gaged in business at Harrisburg, Franklin county, Ohio. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Read has been born one daughter, Ruth Naomi, whose birth occurred on the 28th of March, 1908, and who is the life and light of the household. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which they are greatly interested, and both are held in the highest esteem in the community in which they reside. Mr. Read gives his political support to the democracy, and is now serving as township trustee of Madison township, having been elected to that office in the fall of 1910 for a term of two years. He has now made his home in this county for almost a half century and his life, ever upright and honorable, has gained for him the warm esteem and un- qualified confidence of those with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact. WILLIAM W. CUMMINGS. Among the citizens of Union township who have contributed toward the de- velopment of the agricultural interests of Poweshiek county is William W. Cummings, who was born in the township where he now resides on the 17th of February. 1858. His parents were Alexander and Jane ( Duffus) Cummings, natives of Scotland, from which country they emigrated to the United States, locating in Ohio. Later they removed to lowa, settling upon a farm in the vicinity of Ewart, in Pleasant township. The father, who was a stone-mason by trade, engaged in the cultivation of his homestead until he passed away. Both parents were members of the Presbyterian church, and his political sup- port was accorded the republican party. They were the parents of six children. the order of their birth being as follows: Margaret, the widow of Moses Jacob, of Ewart : James A., who is a resident of Malcom ; Ellen D., the wife of James Donnan, of Ewart: William W., our subject ; George W., also a resident of Ewart ; and John L., deceased. After the completion of his education which was acquired in the common schools of Poweshiek county, William W. Cummings laid aside his text-books and gave his undivided attention to agricultural pursuits, assisting his father in the cultivation of the homestead. He remained a member of the parental house- hold until he was twenty-two years of age, following which he rented some land, which he operated for three years. Subsequently he went to Ewart, where he engaged in the mercantile and stock business for several years. In 1898 he purchased his present homestead, containing four hundred and fifty-two acres within the corporate limits of Montezuma. Here he is engaging in the breed- ing and raising of stock in addition to the cultivation of his fields. Mr. Cummings was married on the 17th of February. 1881, to Miss Ella J. Donnan, a daughter of James and Nancy ( Hamilton) Donnan, of Ewart. Her parents were natives of Belfast, Ireland, coming from there to the United States and locating in Rock Island, Illinois, where the father engaged in agricultural 224 HISTORY OF POWESHIER COUNTY pursuits. Subsequently they came to Ewart, lowa, again settling on a farm, and here the father passed away on the 31st of August, 1871, but the mother survived until the 20th of October. 1891. Six children were born to them as follows: Susanna, the wife of W. A. McGonigan, of Chicago: James, who is a resident of Ewart, Iowa ; Ella J., now Mrs. Cummings, who was born in Rock Island on the 10th of March, 1857: Mary A., the wife of William McCormick, of Ewart : Elizabeth N., who is at home; and Sarah, the wife of Andrew Mc- Cormick, also of Ewart. The family affiliated with the Presbyterian church, of which the parents were active and earnest members, Mr. Donnan having been both an elder and trustee. His political support he always gave to the democratic party and he served his district in the capacity of school director. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cummings were born five daughters and three sons in the following order : Charles G., who is a resident of Montezuma ; James A .; Mae Agnes ; Pearl Elizabeth ; Sarah Jane: William J .; Florence S .; and Margaret, all of whom are at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cummings hold membership in the Presbyterian church, and fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His political support he gives to the men and measures of the republican party. He is one of the representative citizens of U'nion town- ship, where he and his family are held in high regard. WILLIAM NEVILLE. Left at an early age to the mercy of strangers through the death of both par- ents, and handicapped by the loss of one hand, William Neville has nevertheless become one of the representative agriculturists of Malcom township and one of the substantial men of Poweshiek county. He was born in New York city on the 15th of November. 1861. a son of Frank and Elizabeth ( Barrett ) Neville. both natives of England. They were reared in their native country and were there married, and ere leaving for this country be- came the parents of one son. Upon their arrival in the United States they located in New York, and Mr. Neville passed away in Brooklyn from the effects of small- pox when William Neville was but four years of age. At the time of the father's death the widowed mother also lost two children from the same disease, and was left with four small children. Her death occurred when her son, William, was cleven years old. He was the second in order of birth in a family of six chil- dren, as follows : Frank, who died in youth from smallpox : William : Albert, who until recently resided in Poweshiek county, but now makes his home in Virginia : Martha, the wife of J. C. Clemmens, of Tacoma. Washington : Nellie, who passed away at the time of her father's death : and Sarah, whose whereabouts are tin- known. After the mother's demise the children were taken by the Children's Aid So- ciety of the Episcopal church of Brooklyn, and in June, 1873, William Neville and his younger brother, Albert, were brought to Poweshiek county at first being located at Brooklyn. Later they went to Grinnell and subsequently went to live with C. H. Verbeck, who was residing on a farm near Grinnell, in Malcom town- 225 HISTORY OF POWESHIER COUNTY ship. Not long afterward they sent for their sister, Martha, and she, too, was reared in this county. William Neville remained in the home of Mr. Verbeck until twenty years of age, when, in 1881, he took up agriculture on his own ac- count. cultivating a rented farm for three years. He was then married, after which he operated Mr. Verbeck's farm on shares for several years, being thus engaged until 1898, when his carefully saved earnings made it possible for him to invest in property of his own. He accordingly purchased his present farm of two hundred and ten acres, located on section 10, Malcom township, while he later invested in another traet of eighty aeres on section 29. The home place is a highly improved property which, in its neat appearance, indicates progressive and practical methods on the part of its owner. He is an extensive stock-raiser, breeding on an average of one hundred head of cattle per year, while in 1910 he shipped one hundred and fifty head to the Chicago market. He likewise raises and ships a large number of hogs and the high grade of his stock commands for him ready sale and excellent prices. He has been eminently successful in his agricultural enterprise and as he has prospered he has assumed other interests, being now known in the financial circles of this community as a stockholder in the Mutual Home & Loan Bank of Grinnell, and also of the Malcom Savings Bank. On the ISth of February, 1890, Mr. Neville was united in marriage to Miss Cora Nutting, who was born in Scott county, Iowa, a daughter of D. W. and Helen Nutting, the former now deceased and the latter a resident of Grinnell. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Neville have been born four children, as follows : Ina, Martha, Rex and Orville. Mr. Neville has ever supported the democratic party and on that ticket was elected to the office of trustee of Malcom township. He also served as director- at-large of the school board, and is public-spirited in citizenship, lending his in- fluence and cooperation to all measures and movements for the betterment and improvement of the community. Few residents of Poweshiek county more rightly deserve the proud American title of a self-made man, for through difficulties and obstacles he has forged his way upward, allowing nothing to bar his path that might be overcome by persistent, earnest effort, and today he stands among the most prominent, progressive and substantial business men of the county. WILLIAM H. FISHER. Among the wide-awake and progressive farmers of Poweshiek county should be named William H. Fisher, whose beautiful place of three hundred and twenty aeres in Jefferson township presents abundant evidence of his interest in his calling and his ability as an agriculturist and stock-raiser. He was born in the township where he now lives December 19, 1878, a son of Luther and Margaret (Kelly) Fisher. The father was born in Ohio and the mother in Massachusetts, and both came to Iowa in their childhood. They were married in Mahaska county, this state, and in 1874 located in Poweshiek 226 HISTORY OF POWESHIER COUNTY county, where Mr. Fisher purchased a farm of three hundred and twenty acres. which he later increased to four hundred acres, becoming the owner of one of the best developed properties in his part of the county. He distributed a large portion of his land among his children and is now living retired at Belle Plaine. He has adhered to the democratic party ever since he cast his first ballot and has served as township trustee, township treasurer and also as school director. He has for years been known as a man of excellent judgment in financial matters and is a member of the board of directors of the Hartwick Bank. William H. Fisher, of this review, had the advantage of education in the common schools, and later attended the high school at Belle Plaine and at Dixon, Illinois, finally taking a course in the Iowa City Commercial College. He re- ceived his first lessons in agriculture upon his father's farm and at twenty-one years of age began farming upon land owned by his father. Three years later, in March, 1902, he moved to his present location on section 24, Jefferson town- ship, where he has one of the most attractive residences of the township and also has provided his place with large and well built barns. He raises cattle and hogs and is usually successful in securing the best prices that are quoted for the class of stock which he delivers. On February 5, 1902, Mr. Fisher was married to Miss Nellie Hakeman, a daughter of George Hakeman, of Sanborn, Iowa. The father is a veteran of the Civil war and is now living retired, but still owns the old homestead in O'Brien county, Iowa. Two children, Zada M. and Edev C., have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fisher. Mr. Fisher votes in support of the republican party, believing firmly in its principles as essential to the prosperity of the country. He has served as town- ship treasurer and trustee, but his business has demanded most of his attention. and the excellent results he has obtained could not have been secured except by thoughtful attention. He is a representative of the younger element in farming and is always on the lookout for methods that will produce the best results at a reasonable cost in time, money and labor. Earnest, energetic and ambitious of advancement, there is every reason to believe that he will be known in years to come as one of the prominent factors of Poweshiek county. GIDEON W. MERRILL. Gideon W. Merrill, who has reached the sixty-fourth mile-stone in life's journey, is one of the best known residents of Grinnell. He is a native of Plain- field, New Hampshire, born April 18, 1847, a son of Philo G. C. and Sophia W. (Woodward) Merrill, both of whom were born in Vermont. The father was reared as a farmer and in 1851 took up his residence at Wilton, New York, where he remained for a year and a half, coming west to Warren county, Iowa, in 1853. He conducted a store and gristmill at his new home in this state and had attained a goodly measure of prosperity at the outbreak of the Civil war. To him belongs the honor of being the first man from Warren county to enlist in the Union army. His name was enrolled as first lieutenant of Company G, 227 HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY Third Iowa Regiment. At the battle of Shiloh he was wounded and captured and was confined for six months in a Confederate prison at Savannah, Georgia, and later at Tuskegee and Mobile, Alabama. He was finally exchanged and returned to his company, with which he served until 1863, when, on account of ill health occasioned by the hardships through which he had passed, he was discharged from the army and returned home. The estimation in which he was held by the people of Warren county is indicated by the fact that he was elected to the state senate from that county and served in 1863-4. In the spring of 1864 he removed to Pow- eshiek county and engaged with marked success in farming. He died in 1896 but his wife is still living upon the old homestead. Gideon W. Merrill arrived in lowa with his parents at the age of six years and has ever since that time been a resident of this state. He attended the com- mon schools in Warren county and later was a student at Iowa College. After leaving college he devoted his attention to agriculture and stock-raising upon the home place, where he is now living retired. The original farm upon which his father located is within the city limits of Grinnell and its value has increased many fold so that Mr. Merrill enjoys a good income. In 1897 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary E. Dickerson, of Grinnell, a daughter of George and Nancy Jackson, the former of whom was born in New York and the latter in Indiana. They came to Iowa and settled in Iowa City in 1853. Mr. Jackson was by trade a carpenter and assisted in building the first capitol of the state of Iowa. Mr. Merrill has been a resident of Iowa since 1853-a period of fifty-eight years-and for forty-seven years he has made his home at Grinnell. He has seen the country town grow to a thriving modern city and has been one of the factors by which this great transformation was wrought. As the son of a noble defender of the republic, he was early taught the duties of citizenship, and he has ever attempted to discharge his responsibilities fairly and with justice to all con- cerned. He has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, as his in- terests have been concentrated on his business. Fraternally he is a valued mem- ber of the Masonic lodge at Grinnell. H. R. BOOKNAU. One of the finest farms in Poweshiek county is that owned by H. R. Booknau. It comprises nine hundred and sixty acres and is in many respects a model place, the barns being strictly modern and all utensils and appliances the best to be found in the market. This large and valuable property Mr. Booknau has ac- quired through his own exertions and it is, indeed, a monument to his ability and energy. He is a native of Boston, Massachusetts, born June 22. 1848, a son of George and Christina (Lynn) Booknau, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was born in 1809 and devoted his attention to farming in the old country. He came to America in 1842. and in 1850 removed with his family from Boston to Hartford, Wisconsin. He came to Poweshiek county. Iowa, in 1859, and after 228 HISTORY OF POWESHIER COUNTY spending one year at Montezuma removed to Grinnell, and in 1864 purchased a farm in Chester township. He applied himself with such diligence that in a few years he owned four hundred acres, but in 1870 met with financial reverses from which he did not recover. He died in 1890, his wife having passed away at Hart- ford, Wisconsin, forty years previously. There were five children in the family -four boys and one girl. the subject of this review being the fourth in order of birth. Educated in the common schools and in an academy at Grinnell, H. R. Booknau early became acquainted with farm work under his father, and ever since his boyhood has devoted his attention to agriculture and stock-raising. The financial reverses of his father he regards, not as a misfortune, but rather as a blessing to himself. He went to work on his own account and thus developed the strength of character and clearness of judgment which carried him through many diffi- culties and finally made him financially independent. He purchased his first land in 1880, the cost being thirty-six dollars an acre, and in 1881 he acquired more land, being today one of the important landholders of the county. He makes a specialty of raising and feeding Poland China hogs and shorthorn cattle, mar- keting as many as three hundred cattle in a year. He is a large feeder, and as he is a good judge of livestock and understands his business thoroughly he usually receives the best prices quoted for his class of stock in the market. In politics Mr. Booknau supports the republican party, and religiously he is connected with the Congregational church at Grinnell. He is a bachelor, his widowed sister, who has four children, keeping house for him. He has witnessed many changes in Poweshiek county, one of which is the advance in the price of land. He remembers when land sold at three dollars per acre and the same land now commands three hundred dollars per acre. He has also noted the remark- able improvements in farm methods, all branches of agriculture and stock-rais- ing having been revolutionized since the early days of farming in this county. He is fond of building anchor posts, and has one two feet in diameter, which extends seven feet in the ground and six feet above, tapering to eighteen inches at the top. It is reinforced by steel wire and weighs seventy-five hundred pounds, and yet it is a cheap post, as it only cost sixteen dollars. This is believed to be the most remarkable anchor post in the county. if not in the state. He is a man of good education, a constant reader, a clear and logical thinker, and his advice is often sought by neighbors and friends, who seldom make a mistake if they follow the line he suggests. JOHN IVERSON. Among the Norwegian Americans of Poweshiek county John Iverson is prominent, being the owner of a beautiful farm which he acquired through his energy and ability as an agriculturist and stock-raiser. He was born at Stavanger. Norway, May 20. 1862, and is a son of Iver and Bertha (Johanson ) Iverson, both of whom were born in Norway and spent their entire lives in their native country. - JOIN WERSON AND FAMILY THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY ARTCR, LENCA 4 TILDEN FOUNDAT 45. Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.