USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > History of Poweshiek County, Iowa: a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 23
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W. R. LEWIS
PU LIC LISFARY
ASTCP, EN. K AND ILDENEN AT , VS.
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than a half century he has been a resident of Poweshiek county, having come here in the days of his early manhood, his birth having occurred near Zanesville, Mus- kingum county, Ohio, on the 12th of October, 1835. He was, therefore, about twenty-two years of age when he arrived in Poweshiek county and nine years later was admitted to the bar.
lle comes of Welsh and German ancestry. His father, John M. Lewis, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, his natal year being 1811. He was a son of Abel Lewis, who was born near White Sulphur Springs, Virginia, and was a college graduate. In the latter part of the eighteenth century he removed to Ohio and became a government surveyor in Muskingum and Coshocton counties. He took part in several of the Indian wars and was closely associated with many of the events which led to the reclamation of Ohio for the purpose of civiliza- tion. Following his marriage he established his home in Zanesville and there served as clerk of the court for four years. He was also the author of some mathematical works. Entering a large tract of land, he became interested in agricultural pursuits, took up his abode on his farm and spent the residue of his days there. For many years he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and his entire life was the exemplification of his Christian belief.
John M. Lewis, the father of Judge Lewis, married Louisa A. Ramey and set- tled upon a part of the old homestead, five and a half miles from Zanesville. Sub- sequently he took up his abode at New Castle, Coshocton county, Ohio, and en- gaged in merchandising as a member of the firm of Thornhill, Berry & Lewis. The discovery of gold, however, attractedl him to. California in 1851, the journey to the coast being made by way of the isthints of Panama. He spent two years in prospecting and mining, in which he was fairly successful. He then returned to New Castle and soon afterward retired from business. He, too, belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, and, his political allegiance was given to the re- publican party. His wife was born in Muskingum county, a daughter of Sanford Ramey, a native of Virginia and of German descent. He became one of the early settlers of Ohio and his daughter Louisa was born and reared in that state. Her death occurred in 1886.
Judge Lewis, the eldest in a family of ten children, spent the first ten years of his life in his native county and then removed with his parents to Coshocton county, Ohio. For four or five years he attended school during the winter months, the remainder of the year being spent in assisting his father in the store. He was also at intervals engaged in farm work and took up the study of surveying. He read law in New Castle and while thus engaged followed the profession of surveying for several years. In 1856 he took the first step in the removals which brought him eventually to Iowa. In that year he be- came a resident of Southport, Peoria county, Illinois, where he worked at the carpenter's trade and also spent a month in farm labor. During the winter he taught school at Southport and in the spring of 1857 he came to Montezuma, then a little village of four or five hundred inhabitants. Since that time he has continuously resided in Poweshiek county and has made for himself a high and eviable position in the regard of his fellowmen. Through the summer months he worked at carpentering or at other employment which he could secure and his evening hours were devoted to the further study of law. He
Vol. II-12
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thus soon qualified for admission to the bar but he determined not to seek admission until he felt that he could give his entire attention to law practice. He recognized the fact that to do this he must have a certain amount of capital to tide him over that initial period in the life of every lawyer when he must spend some time in waiting for clients.
In the fall of 1857 Judge Lewis secured the position of principal of the public schools and did splendid works as one of the early educators of Poweshiek county. While active in that capacity he was largely instrumental in organizing the teachers' institute and he also graded the schools of Montezuma. This work alone would entitle him to the lasting gratitude of his fellow townsmen. In 1862 he was elected county superintendent of schools and before the expira- tion of his term was chosen by popular suffrage for the office of clerk of the county and district courts. In the latter position he served acceptably for a term, after which he resigned to form a partnership with Hon. M. E. Cutts, former men- ber of congress, to conduct a milling business, which was carried on success- fully for a great period, after which he sold out. For a year he occupied the position of deputy treasurer and for two years as a member of the county board of supervisors served as its chairman. He has ever regarded a public office as a public trust and it is well known that no public trust reposed in Judge Lewis has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree. Capable, diligent and loyal, he won the confidence and good-will of the public through his devotion to duty in the offices which he was called upon to fill in the earlier years of his residence here.
At length, feeling that the time was ripe when he might give his attention to his profession, in 1866 he applied for and secured admission to the bar and entered upon active practice, being associated for a time with the Hon. D. H. Emery, while later he became a partner of C. R. Clark. He won success because he wisely and conscientiously used the talents with which nature endowed him. An analytical mind enabled him to bring a trend of reasoning to its logical con- clusion and to accurately apply the principles of law to the points at issue. His successful handling of cases early in his legal career awakened public confidence and brought him an increased clientage. In the fall of 1880 he was honored with election to the circuit court bench for the district embracing Poweshiek. Jefferson, Washington, Keokuk, Mahaska, Marion and Jasper counties. be- coming the second circuit judge, his predecessor having been Judge Blanchard. After filling the position for four years the district was divided and he was elected judge of the first circuit, which included Jefferson, Washington, Keokuk and Poweshiek counties. He continued upon that bench until 1886, when. upon the abolishment of the circuit court, he was made one of the three judges for the district. There was keen strife for the office and Judge Lewis was not renominated by his party at the time but in response to the unanimous wish of his constituents he permitted his name to be used as an independent candidate and was elected by a sweeping majority. There was a prevailing belief that his defeat in the convention was due to unfair means and this contributed to his success at the polls. He retired from the bench in 1890, after a judicial service of ten years, and resumed the practice of law in Montezuma. A contemporary biographer has said of him:
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"He is a man of great legal ability and while on the bench was a warm friend of the young practitioner. He never permitted a young lawyer to sac- rifice his client's interest if a word or suggestion from the court could help him. His decisions were rarely reversed. No district or circuit judge has a better record in the supreme court than Judge Lewis. So unerring were his views, especially in equity cases, that the attorneys in his court learned it was next to useless to appeal as he was nearly always sustained. He was slow in deciding but his work never had to be done a second time. As special counsel for the county in the famous cases against the Rowes and against the bondsmen of the defaulting treasurer he earned new laurels."
Following his retirement from the bench Judge Lewis during the year 1891 acted as general manager for the Hawkeye Electric Manufacturing Company, with headquarters at Davenport, but in the fall of 1891 again took up his abode in Montezuma and has since been actively associated with the work of the courts and at seventy-five years of age has a large and lucrative law practice, doing as much court work as he ever did in his younger days. In addition he has proved his worth in the management of commercial interests. He was one of the organizers of the Montezuma Electric Light & Power Company, superin- tended the construction of the plant and took up the management of the busi- ness. Ile also superintended the erection and installation of the electric light works at Bloomfield and at Sigourney and assisted in surveying the route for the Grinnell & Montezuma Railroad. He made and published the first map of Poweshiek county and at all times has been closely associated with the growth and progress of the county not alone by reason of his connection with industrial and commercial affairs or with the legal profession but also because he has been the champion of every project and measure which he deemed of value in the public life of the community. He was again called to office in the fall of 1897, when he was nominated by acclamation for the state senate at the republi- can convention of the twelfth senatorial district, comprising Poweshiek and Keokuk counties. The election showed that he was the popular candidate and for four years he remained a member of the upper house. He gave careful consideration to each question which came up for settlement and left the impress of his individuality and ability upon the laws enacted during that period.
In 1865, in Burlington, Vermont, Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Cutts, a daughter of Edwin Cutts, of Brandon, Vermont, and a sister of M. E. Cutts, of Oskaloosa. The marriage relation between them was al- ways of a most ideal character and the deepest grief in the life of Judge Lewis came to him in the death of his wife on the 10th of April, 1893.
Fraternally Judge Lewis is connected with Masonry as a Knight Templar and belongs also to the Iowa Legion, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and to the Iowa State Bar Association. He has never faltered in his stalwart sup- port of the republican party and its principles and has served as chairman of the county central committee. He was a member of the first city council of Monte- zuma and while important political interests relative to the work of the courts and to the law-making body of the state have claimed his attention he has never considered himself above the duties connected with the management of local interests. A lifelong member of the Presbyterian church, he has served as
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elder and trustee and for a number of years was superintendent of the Sunday school, in which position he continued until his election to the bench. He is today one of the oldest residents of Montezuma in years of continuous con- nection with the city, and among the men of Poweshiek county who have been long in public service the record of none has been more constant in honor. fearless in conduct and stainless in reputation.
LYMAN DUNLAP TUTTLE.
Lyman Dunlap Tuttle is numbered among the well known and prosperous residents of Madison township whose well directed efforts of former years now make it possible for him to live retired, enjoying in merited retirement a goodly competence. He was born in Peoria county, Illinois, on the 30th of December 1848. a son of Andrew and Betsey A. (Dunlap) Tuttle, natives of Oneida county, New York. The family history in this country can be traced back to William Tuttle, who came to America in 1635. The father, who was born and reared in Oneida county, came west to Illinois in the early '40s and there passed the remaining years of his life, his time and attention Leing devoted to the oc- cupation of farming. His death occurred in 1904, but his wife had passed away when the subject of this sketch was but six years of age, her death occurring on the old homestead farm in Illinois.
No event of special importance came to vary the routine of life for Lyman Dunlap Tuttle during the period of his boyhood and youth, which was spent on the home place in Peoria county, Illinois. Reared amid the busy activities of rural life he early mastered the tasks that usually fall to the lot of the country lad, and he continued to give his father the benefit of his assistance until he was twenty-two years of age, when he decided to enter the business world independently.
Consequently, in 1871, he came to Iowa, locating on his present farm on section 32, Madison township, Poweshiek county. This farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, had been purchased by his father a few years prior to his arrival here. for six dollars per acre. He at once applied himeslf to the further development and improvement of this farm, and it was not long ere his unfaltering enterprise, close application and practical methods had brought it under a high state of cultivation. As time passed he labored earnestly, each year witnessing a substantial advance in the business world until, several years ago, he was able to withdraw practically from active life, leaving the actual work of the farm to younger shoulders, while he devoted his attention to the supervision of his affairs. His son is now in charge of the operation of the farm and they are now conducting a very remunerative enterprise. Aside from the raising of a considerable amount of grain annually the place is de- voted also to stock-raising purposes, Mr. Tuttle and his son giving their entire time and attention in this direction to the feeding of hogs. This stock, which is of a high grade, is largely shipped to the Chicago market direct, although they deal to some extent with local shippers.
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Ere coming to Iowa Mr. Tuttle had been married, in Trivoli, Illinois, on the 12th of January, 1871, to Miss Jennie A. Dunton, a daughter of Henry Dunton, and l'hilena ( Conrad) a well known farmer of Bureau county, Illinois, where he and his wife both passed away. Unto this union were born eleven children, buit one daughter, Minnie May Luella, passed away in 1875 at the age of six years. The surviving members are as follows: John Bert, a ditching foreman in northern Iowa; George Orie, a resident farmer of Lockney, Texas, who mar- ried Clara Miller, of Canton, Illinois, and who passed away leaving four children, Pansy, George, Howard and William; Mande, who married Jay Jewell, a farmer residing on a homestead in Colorado, by whom she has four children, Allen, Viola, Pearl and Lucy ; Arthur, a foreman in a glove factory at Kewance, illinois, who wedded Miss Jessie Hodge, of that city; Edward W., a tiler and ditcher of Madison township, who married Miss Mary Willett, of Kewanee, Illinois, and who now has one daughter, Grace; Bernard Stanley, operating the homestead farm for his father, who wedded Edna Hiner, a daughter of Jacob Hiner, a farmer of Madison township, one child having been born of this union, Howard Jacob, aged two years ; Bessie, who became the wife of Rudy Doran, a farmer of Pleasant township, Poweshiek county; William Harrison, residing at home and engaged in the tiling and draining business with his brother, Edward ; Clarence, who is employed as a farm hand in Madison township; and Orris, also working at farm labor near Malcom, Iowa. On the 7th of June, 1906, the mother of this family was called to her final rest, her death occurring on the old home place in Madison township.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Tuttle the right of franchise he has given stal- wart support to the republican party and for four years served as township clerk. He was also census enumerator in 1910, and for several years was a member of the school board in district No. 9, the cause of education finding in him a friend and champion. Although over sixty years of age Mr. Tuttle still remains actively interested in the world's work, and no resident of Madison township has ever proved himself more loyal or public-spirited in citizenship.
H. H. HANSSEN.
Among lowa's native sons who are meeting with substantial and well merited success along agricultural lines is numbered H. H. Hanssen, who was born in Davenport, on the 20th of September, 1869.
He is the son of Peter Jacob and Phoebe Wiebka (Stoldt) Hanssen, natives of Germany, the father's birth occurring in Meldorf, Holstein, on the 20th of May, 1840. Ilis parents were Peter and Margaret (Maasen) Hanssen, life- long residents of the fatherland, where they engaged in farming. Peter Hans- sen, Sr., was twice married and had a family of eight children, of whom the eldest, Peter Jacob Hanssen, was the only child by the first marriage, his mother passing away when he was but two years of age. Peter Jacob Hans- sen was a young man of twenty-six years when he crossed the Atlantic ocean to the new world in 1866. He landed at New York, but did not tarry on the
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eastern coast, making his way direct to Indiana. He remained in that state, however, for only about two months, after which he came to Iowa and for three years was employed in a sawmill at Davenport. At the expiration of that period he took up farming pursuits in Scott county and there continued in that line of activity until 1885. In that year he came to Poweshiek county and located upon a farm which is now the property of H. H. Hanssen. He was most successful in his undertaking and won a substantial measure of success. At one time he owned two hundred and forty acres of land, but he has since sold one hundred and sixty acres to his son, now making his home on a farm of eighty acres located in section 23, Malcom township. He is a member of the Lutheran church and in politics gives his allegiance to the democracy. He is well known throughout the community in which he resides and few men more justly merit the high regard and respect entertained for him by his fel- lowmen. On the 11th of June, 1866, in Valparaiso, Indiana, he was united in marriage to Miss Phoebe Stoldt, who was born in Meldorf. Holstein, Germany, on the 8th of March, 1836, and came to the United States at the same time that Mr. Hanssen made the journey. In their family are three children, namely : Peter Albert, of Sheridan township; H. H., of this review ; and Joanna, the wife of Fred Rehberg, also at Sheridan township, the family circle remaining un- touched by the hand of death.
H. H. Hanssen, whose name introduces this sketch, spent the first sixteen years of his life in Davenport, where he attained a good public school educa- tion. In 1885 he came with his parents to Poweshiek county, the family home being established in Malcom township, and here he has since continued to reside. He was first engaged in farming in connection with his father, with whom he remained until his marriage, when he took up agricultural pursuits independently, purchasing his present farm from his father, a tract of one hundred and sixty acres on section 22. This is a highly developed farm, upon which Mr. Hanssen and his father have made many improvements, including a large and comfort- able house, substantial barns and outbuildings and good fences, and is equipped with a complete water system and all of the modern accessories for facilitating farm labor. Mr. Hanssen engages in general farming and stock-raising and also operates his father's farm of eighty acres. He is a progressive farmer, keeping in touch with modern ideas of agriculture, and his practical methods. close application and wise management are proving potent forces in the at- tainment of a success which ranks him among the successful and substantial agriculturists of Malcom township.
In 1899 Mr. Hanssen was married to Miss Ella Weise, who was born in Davenport, Iowa. July 20, 1880, and as a little maiden of eight years came to Poweshiek county with her mother. She is a daughter of John and Sophia (Schiller) Weise, both natives of Germany, the former's birth occurring in Hamburg and the latter's at Preetz, Holstein. Mr. Weise passed away in Davenport in 1887, and his wife, who later married William Gropper, now re- sides at Davenport. Mr. and Mrs. Hanssen have two sons, Lester and Delmar, born on the 10th of July, 1901, and the 15th of June, 1904, respectively.
Mr. Hanssen is democratic in politics but has never sought to figure in public life, preferring to do his duty as a private citizen, and he is highly es-
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teemed by his fellow citizens, not only by reason of the success which he has attained along agricultural lines, but also because of his many substantial qual- ities of manhood.
FRANK S. WATSON.
Of good American parentage, Frank S. Watson was given a fair start in life and, as he possesses the essential qualities that lead to success in business affairs, he became the owner of a valuable farm in Washington township. The prosperity which has attended his efforts has been due largely to his good judgment and his practical knowledge of a business with which he has been con- nected from his earliest recollection.
A native of Poweshiek county, he was born in Sugar Creek township, March 22, 1869, a son of William and Sarah (Cline) Watson. The father was born in Indiana and the mother in Illinois. He came to Poweshiek county, Iowa, as a young man and rented a farm, later purchasing one hundred and sixty acres in Sugar Creek township, upon which he has since lived. Politically he gives his support to the democratic party and, although he has not sought public office, he has served very acceptably as member of the school board. Mrs. Watson died May 5, 1905. She was a woman of many excellent qualities and a consistent member of the Christian church, as is also Mr. Watson. In their family were eight children: Laura, who is deceased; Charles, now living in Grinnell; Frank S .. of this review; Arthur, of Sugar Creek township; Alice, who is the wife of John McMickle, of Davis county, Iowa; Frederick, of An- tigo, Wisconsin ; Robert, also of Sugar Creek township; and Nellie, who mar- ried Fred Rivers, of Sugar Creek township.
Frank S. Watson received his early education in the district schools and as he grew up assisted his father upon the home farm. At the age of nineteen he began working out on his own account and continued so doing for some years, thus becoming well acquainted with the various details of agriculture and stock-raising. In 1900 he purchased one hundred and sixty- four acres, upon which he has established his home. Since assuming possession of his place he has made many improvements and by proper rotation of crops has increased the fertility of the soil, the farm now comparing favorably with any other of its area in the county as to general appearance and abundance of harvests.
On the 22d of February, 1893, Mr. Watson was married to Miss Matilda Prosser, a daughter of Daniel D. and Matilda S. ( Jenkins) Prosser. Her father was born in Richland county, Ohio, August 18, 1813, while the birth of her mother occurred in Virginia, June 8, 1821. They were married in In- liana and came to Iowa in 1851, first locating in Lynnville, Jasper county, where the father improved a farm of one hundred and sixty-four acres, which was all wild land when it came into his possession. He died on the 24th of January, 1896, and his wife passed away February 5. 1898. They were both earnest and consistent members of the Christian church. In their family
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were eight children, namely: Thomas J., now deceased, whose family live in Des Moines ; Catherine, the widow of S. B. Faircloth who died in Grinnell ; Nancy, the wife of A. R. Faircloth, of Des Moines ; George W., also a resident of Des Moines ; William, of Grinnell : Margaret, who married F. C. Dickinson and died in Nebraska : Daniel, a resident of Wisconsin ; and Matilda, the wife of our subject. One son, William, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Watson. His natal day was June 22, 1894.
In religious belief Mr. Watson gives his support to the Christian church, believing that the teachings of that denomination very nearly conform to the standard of the new testament. Politically he is in sympathy with the repub- lican party, and is an earnest advocate of its principles as being conducive to the welfare of the nation. However, he is a broad-minded man, and in local affairs votes for the best man, irrespective of party. He has worked persist- ently, year after year, and his efforts have met with their deserved reward. Hle possesses the unqualified confidence and regard of those with whom he comes into contact and may be designated as one of the fortunate men of Washington township.
JAMES E. McINTIRE.
The life record of James E. McIntire covered almost seventy-three years. He was born in Waveland, Montgomery county, Indiana. September 20, 1831. and died in Montezuma, July 29, 1904, after having lived retired here for twenty years. He came to Iowa in 1849 with his parents, John and Jane ( McMains ) McIntire, both of whom were born near Lexington. Kentucky, the former in 1801 and the latter about 1811. The father was a son of Alexander and Mar- garet (Clark ) Mclntire, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Pennsylvania. In the state of his nativity Alexander McIntire spent his youthful days on the farm and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Ken- tucky, the family home being one of the first established in the present city of Lexington. Following his marriage he devoted his attention to agricultural pur- suits, becoming the owner of a large plantation and a number of slaves. Later he cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Montgomery county, Indiana, where he carried on farming for many years, taking active part in the work of reclain- ing that region for the purposes of civilization. He died at the home of one of his daughters in Montezuma, about 1843, when eighty-seven years of age.
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