USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > History of Poweshiek County, Iowa: a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 31
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One of the older members of the family and the son of a widow, Oscar Mil- ton McNeal early had to assist in the cultivation of the farm, acquiring his edu- cation in the district schools, at such times as his services were not required at home. After laying aside his text-books he worked for his mother until he was able to buy a farm in Union township, this county. This contained one hundred and sixty acres, in the cultivation of which he met with such success that he was later able to buy the eighty acres upon which his widow is now residing, making the aggregate of his holdings two hundred and forty acres.
On the 9th of March, 1879, Mr. McNeal was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Johnson, a daughter of Virgil H. and Mary V. ( Wilson) Johnson, of Union township. Her parents were both natives of Greene county, Ohio, where they were married and began their domestic life. They were among the pioneer set- tlers of Poweshiek county, filing on one hundred and sixty acres of government
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land in Union township. This the father cleared and improved, continuing its cultivation for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, both of whom have now passed away, were members of the Baptist church, and in politics he was a re- publican. Of the five children born to them Mrs. McNeal is the youngest, her birth having occurred in Union township on the 15th of September, 1858. The others are as follows: Lorenzo D., who is also a resident of Union township; Harvey P., who is living in Montezuma ; Joseph A., who is residing in Maryland ; and William P., of Union township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. McNeal were born nine children : William T., who is a resident of Jackson township; Walter W., at home : Jessie M., the wife of Fred Whitaker, of Canada ; Lela, who died on the 28th of February, 1895, at the age of eight years, one month and twenty-seven days ; Mary V., the wife of Lewis Stanford, of Montezuma; Benjamin H., who lives in Canada ; and John M., Roy R. and Herman C., all of whom are at home.
Mr. McNeal, who passed away on the 17th of September, 1909, was one of the public-spirited and progressive citizens of his township. His ballot he always cast in support of the candidates of the republican party. His widow continues to cultivate the home farm and has by her capable supervision fully attested her ability not only as an agriculturist but as a business woman.
JACOB B. NISWANDER.
Jacob B. Niswander, one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of Poweshiek county, is now living retired on his farm of one hundred and fifty- six acres on section 19, Warren township, on which he has made his home for the past thirty-six years. His birth occurred in Rockingham county, Virginia, on the 10th of November, 1838, his parents being Samuel and Barbara (Burner) Niswander, who, though born in this country, came of good old German stock. In 1875 they established their home in Iowa, locating in Warren township, Poweshiek county. Samuel Niswander here passed away in 1901, at the age of cighty-three years, while his wife died in 1906, her demise occurring at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Anna Lincoln, of Brooklyn, this state.
At the time of the Civil war Jacob B. Niswander went to the front in de- fense of his loved southland, serving for four years as a member of Company A, First Virginia Infantry. He was wounded in Morgan county, West Virginia, and subsequently reenlisted. serving with the Home Guards during the Shen- andoah Valley campaign. Mr. Niswander was at Piedmont, West Virginia, where he was wounded when General Hunter led his men through the Shen- andoah valley. At the time of Lee's surrender he was at home recovering from a wound. In 1872 he came west, locating in Jefferson township, Poweshiek county. Iowa, where he devoted his attention to the cultivation of rented land for four years. On the expiration of that period he purchased and located on a tract of forty acres in Warren township, later adding a quarter section of. land to his holdings. At the present time he owns a fine farm of one hundred and fifty-six acres but leases the property, having put aside the active work of the fields in order that he may enjoy the evening of life in well earned ease.
THEN_ YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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J. B. NISWANDER
MRS. J. B. NISWANDER
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He spends a part of each year in the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Grietch, whose husband is an agriculturist of Warren township.
In 1869, in Virginia, Mr. Niswander was united in marriage to Miss Catharine Miller, her father being John J. Miller, a well known farmer of Rockingham county, Virginia. Unto them were born seven children, two of whom died in infancy. Rebecca is the wife of Quinter Connell, an agriculturist of Warren township, by whom she has five children, namely: Earl, Ivan, Guy, Ross and Ada. All attend district school No. 9 in Warren township. John S., a farmer of Warren township, wedded Miss Ida Adams, a daughter of Warren Adams. Their union has been blessed with four children: Nina, Freemtn, Katie and Roy. Bettie is the wife of John Grietch, who follows farming in Warren town- ship and by whom she has four children: Marvin, Celia, John and Howard. The parents of John Grietch were Joseph and Celia Grietch, natives of Germany, who emigrated to the United States and spent the remainder of their lives in Warren township, this county. Walter, an agriculturist of Warren township, married Miss Eda Adams, a sister of Mrs. John Niswander. Their children are two in number, Audrey and Thelma. Benjamin Niswander, who follows farming near Prairie City, Iowa, wedded Miss Susan Kagey, a daughter of Samuel Kagey of Virginia. Unto them were born two children, as follows: Walter ; and Owen, who was killed in 1910, when a little lad of six years, being run over by a wagon. Mrs. Catharine Niswander died on the 2d of February, 1910, passing away on the old homestead in Warren township, this county.
Mr. Niswander is a democrat in his political views and held the office of road supervisor for six years. For a similar period he also served as a mem- ber of the school board in district. No. 6, Warren township. He is a devoted and exemplary member of the Church of the Brethren in Warren township, to which his wife also belonged. A typical southern gentlemen of the old school, Mr. Niswander has won and retained many friends. He has now passed the seventy-second milestone on this earthly. pilgrimage and enjoys the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded one who has traveled thus far on life's journey and whose career has been at all times upright and honorable.
JOHN M. CHAMBERLAIN.
John M. Chamberlain has been a resident of Poweshiek county for more than sixty years, having arrived in this county with his parents in his infancy, and few men can claim better acquaintance with this part of the state. He may be designated as a pioneer, having witnessed the development from the crude forest and prairie to the wonderful improvements of the twentieth century, in the course of which a complete change has been wrought in the methods of farm- ing as well as in marketing the products of the farm.
He was born in Ohio, September 25, 1848, and is a son of John and Rosanna (Mitchell) Chamberlain. The father was a farmer and, seeking larger oppor- tunities, came to Poweshiek county in 1849 and located in Jackson township, where he entered three hundred acres of government land. He followed his Vol. II-10
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vocation successfully until he retired a few years before his death, which oc- curred March 1, 1900. The beloved wife and mother died July 23, 1880. In politics Mr. Chamberlain gave his adherence to the democratic party. He was reared in the Society of Friends and continued in that faith until some time after his arrival in Iowa, when he became a member of the Presbyterian church. He was a man of excellent character, who always exercised an influence for good upon those with whom he was associated, and was known as one of the highly useful members of the community. There were nine children in his family, namely : William and James, who are deceased; Margaret, the wife of Joseph Saults, of Gregory, Nebraska ; John M., of this review ; Anna, Mary and Sarah, all of whom are deceased ; Alexander M., who is now living in Kansas City, Missouri ; and Martha J., the widow of Thomas Wiley, of Des Moines.
John M. Chamberlain received his early education in the schools of Monte- zuma. As he grew up he assisted his father upon the home farm and continued on the home place until February, 1902, when he moved to Washington town- ship, Poweshiek county, having acquired a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He follows general farming and stock-raising and has been an active factor in the work of developing this region into one of great fertility and productiveness.
On the 28th of December, 1882, Mr. Chamberlain was married to Miss Sarah E. Bryan, who was born on a farm near Montezuma, in this county, February 21, 1856, being a daughter of Bedy and Margaret A. (Victor) Bryan, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain : Sylvia Ann, who is the wife of Frank I. Temple, of Provo, Utah : Charles L., now in California, but who makes his home with his parents; Wil- liam L., of Valley Junction, Iowa ; and Lawrence and Clarence, twins, both of whom are at home.
Politically Mr. Chamberlain supports the democratic party, whose principles he has indorsed ever since he reached his majority. He is not identified with any religions denomination, but his wife is a valued member of the Methodist church. On account of their genial social characteristics and their long residence in the county they can claim a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Chamberlain is an intelligent, liberal-minded and patriotic citizen, and is rightly classed among the representative men of the great state of Iowa.
C. W. HARTZELL.
Agricultural pursuits have always engaged the attention of C. W. Hartzell, who is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on a very attractive farm of eighty acres in Grinnell township. He was born on the 5th of December, 1863, in Hancock county, Illinois, his parents being Nath and Mary (Coontz) Hart- zell, natives of Pennsylvania. " The father, who was born in Westmoreland county on the 28th of July, 1834, migrated to Illinois, locating in Hancock county in 1852, where eight years later he was married. Being an agriculturist, he cul- tivated his farm in Illinois for seventeen years and then, with his wife and family,
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removed to lowa, settling on a farm in Grinnell township, Poweshiek county, in March, 1877. Here the mother passed away in 1901, but the father survived her for six years, his demise occurring on the 7th of August, 1907. He was a quiet, unassuming citizen, but a man of sterling worth and high principles, who was ever striving to inculcate in his children an appreciation of all that is noble and upright in thought and action, which qualities he exemplified in his daily life.
Being but a lad of thirteen years when his parents located in Poweshiek county, C. W. Hartzell obtained much of his education in the district schools of Iowa. When he had acquired such knowledge as he deemed essential to enable him to begin his business career he laid aside his text-books and engaged with his father in the cultivation of the farm, having decided that he, too, would be an agriculturist. He now owns eighty acres of fertile land which is given the careful cultivation and capable supervision that yields abundant harvests, and which is netting him gratifying financial returns. In addition to his farming Mr. Hartzell makes a specialty of raising Poland China hogs, and he is meeting with good success.
On the 28th of December, 1887. Mr. Hartzell married Miss Sarah E. Barnes, a daughter of Ira J. and Eliza ( Higby) Barnes. The father was a native of Ohio and the mother of Pennsylvania, but they were married in Montezuma. Two children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Hartzell : Pearl E., who is a graduate of the high school. and Jessie C., who is attending the district school.
The religious views of the family are evidenced through their identification with the Baptist church of Grinnell, while politically Mr. Hartzell affiliates with the republican party. The family are well known and highly regarded in the com- munity where they have lived for so many years and have hosts of friends, to whom the hospitality of their home is ever extended.
CHARLES F. ROHR.
Charles F. Rohr, one of the most prominent and progressive farmers and stock-raisers of Malcom township, has spent his entire life within the boundaries of Poweshiek county, his birth having occurred in Sheridan township on the 19th of March, 1877. His parents, Henry and Wilhelmina (Schroeder) Rohr, were both natives of Holstein, Germany, where the father's birth occurred on the 5th of January, 1842, and the mother's on April 14, 1852. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, came to the United States at an early day and took up his abode in lowa, carrying on agricultural pursuits in Scott county for about a year. Later he came to Poweshiek county, where he worked for about three years as a farin hand, after which he was married, on the 15th of November, 1874. He then purchased a farm of his own and continued to engage in general farming throughout the remainder of his life. He was a very industrious, enter- prising man, and that success came to him in substantial measure with the passing of the years is indicated by the fact that, although he came to this country with- out any capital, at the time of his demise, which occurred near Grinnell, Iowa, on the 2d of August, 1909, he was the owner of two hundred acres located on sec-
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tion 20, Malcom township; one hundred and seventy-seven acres in Grinnell township ; one hundred and sixty acres in Saskatchewan, Canada ; and a five- acre tract in Grinnell township, upon which his last years were spent. His wife still survives him and makes her home on her farm of one hundred and twenty acres, a part of the original homestead. In their family were eight children, as follows: Lena. the wife of William Bastian, of Newbury ; Charles F., of this review ; Henry W., who passed away at the age of eight months; Lizzie, a trained nurse: Sophia, the wife of William Bost, of Malcom township; Christ H., of Pleasant township; John H., residing with Charles F., on the home farm ; and Ella A., who makes her home with her mother.
Charles F. Rohr was but eight years of age when his parents came to Malcom township, and consequently almost his entire life has been spent on the old home- stead farm. Reared to agricultural pursuits, he assisted in the work of plowing, planting and harvesting through the spring and summer months, while a short period each winter was devoted to study in the district schools, wherein he mas- tered a fair knowledge of the common branches of learning. He has always made farming the source of his livelihood and in this direction his efforts have been most successful. He owns eighty acres of the old homestead farm, and in addition to its cultivation also operates his mother's farm of one hundred and twenty acres. The place is a well improved one, the father having erected good buildings and introduced many modern improvements which greatly enhanced its value. Mr. Rohr engages in general farming and also is an extensive raiser and feeder of stock, fattening for the market about two carloads of hogs and from two to three carloads of cattle annually. He is a man of energy and persever- ance, possessing sound business ability and keen discrimination, and his interests are so widely conducted that he now ranks among the enterprising and pros- perous agriculturists of this district.
On the 26th of February, 1908. Mr. Rohr was united in marriage to Miss Rosie S. Beck, a native of Germany, born in Brettbach, Weinsburg, Wurtem- burg, on the 11th of December, 1886. In March, 1905, she came to Pow- eshiek county, Iowa, with her parents, Louis and Katharine ( Heinle) Beck, who now reside in Chester township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rohr have been born two children : Henrietta Louise and Erwin Karl.
A resident of Poweshiek county throughout his entire lifetime, Mr. Rohr has become widely known in the community in which he has so long made his home, and that he has ever proved himself a worthy citizen is indicated by the fact that many of his best friends are those who have known him from his boyhood.
LOUIS H. RINEFORT.
The clothing business of Grinnell finds an able representative in Louis H. Rinefort, who is at the head of one of the best appointed clothing establish- ments in this part of the state. He has had a large acquaintance with the business and, being a man of good taste and excellent judgment, he has the ability to meet the wants of his patrons. He is a native of Poweshiek county,
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and was born April 17, 1876, a son of Christian and Lucinda (Stromer) Rine- fort, record of whom appears in the sketch of Andrew C. Rinefort, which is presented elsewhere in this work.
Louis H. Rinefort was reared on the home farm and attended the district schools, later becoming a student of the Grinnell high school, from which he was graduated in 1895. After leaving school he became a clerk in the cloth- ing store of G. H. McMurray, continuing as such for four years, when he purchased a half interest in the business, the style of the firm becoming McMur- ray & Rinefort. In 1907 he sold his interest to his partner, but continued under him as a salesman. In February, 1911, having decided to devote his life to a vocation for which he seemed eminently adapted, he purchased Mr. McMurray's interest and is now sole proprietor of the store. He has been connected with the business for more than fifteen years and is one of the best known men in this line in Poweshiek county.
In October, 1905. Mr. Rinefort was united in marriage at Grinnell to Miss Mable Wetmore, a daughter of George E. and Ella ( Milliman) Wetmore. The father was for many years engaged in the hardware business in this city and is now deceased, but the mother is still living and makes her home with the subject of this review. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Rinefort has been blessed by the birth of one child: Harry Edwin.
Mr. Rinefort politically gives his adherence to the republican party, but in local affairs pays little attention to party lines. He has never been an office seeker, as his energies have been concentrated upon his business. Socially he is well known and highly popular. He is a valued member of Marshalltown Lodge, No. 312. B. P. O. E., and in his life he practices the principles of broth- erhood so beautifully inculcated by that order. He was early actuated by a laudable ambition to acquire a responsible position among his fellowmen, and this ambition has been realized. His good fortune is due to his energy, ability and integrity-three elements that are almost certain to lead to happiness and financial prosperity.
BENJAMIN B. GRIFFITH.
Benjamin B. Griffith, a pioneer of 1845, has now for sixty-six years been a witness of the development of the county and in substantial measure has aided in its progress and improvement. Success has come to him as the years have passed by, enabling him now to live retired. He was born in Jamestown, Ohio, September 1, 1837, and is a son of Isaac N. and Paulina P. (Johnson) Griffith. The father was born in Virginia, March 3, 1813. The mother was born in Ohio, August 10, 1815, of English parentage, while the father of Isaac N. Griffith was a native of Wales and his mother was of Pennsylvania German birth. In the year 1845 Isaac N. Griffith and his wife came to Iowa, settling in Henry county, and throughout his remaining days he was a resi- dlent of this state, his death occurring in Carroll county, August 10, 1890. He had entered land in Henry county, where he lived for two years, and later
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entered land in Mahaska. Poweshiek and Marshall counties. After living in Henry county for two years the family in 1847 settled on the boundary line between Mahaska and Poweshiek counties and here Benjamin B. Griffith has since made his home.
Benjamin B. Griffith was but ten years of age when the family took up their abode on the Poweshiek county farm. He rode horseback from here to Iowa City, remaining in the saddle from sunrise to sunset in order to enter a piece of land which his father had staked out, wishing to secure the claim before it could be entered by another man who desired the same property. The entire distance covered by Mr. Griffith in his ride was sixty miles. At the family home were six children born of the father's first marriage: Hannah Ann, now the deceased wife of Rev. John Hestwood; Benjamin B .; John, liv- ing in Chicago; James E., a resident of Carroll, Iowa : Eli P., of Fort Dodge; and Helen, the wife of Louis Barger, of Carroll. The mother of these children passed away in Henry county, December 30, 1850, and the father afterward married again. By this second marriage he had two children: Isaac Newton, now living in Kansas City ; and Mrs. Ella Aiken, of Glidden, Iowa.
The boyhood experiences of Benjamin B. Griffith were those which usually fall to the lot of farm lads. He aided in the arduous task of developing a new farm, the difficult work of breaking the sod and preparing the fields for cul- tivation early falling to his lot. At sixteen years of age he began working his way through school, desirons to enjoy a better education than had been accorded him in the public schools. He attended the state normal at Oskaloosa for a time and later spent two years in Western College at Tama, Iowa. His broadening knowledge better equipped him for life's practical duties and for six or seven years he engaged in teaching in the country schools of Poweshiek and Mahaska counties for a part of the time, devoting other portions of the year to farming.
On the 14th of April, 1858, Mr. Griffith was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Ferneau, who was born in Ohio, September 15, 1841, and in 1856 came to Iowa with her father, Levi William Ferneau. The children of this marriage were ten in number : Mrs. Ada L. Mullen, who is now living with her father and had two children, of whom one is yet living, Hugh E., who is engaged on the construction of the Panama canal; Frank E., of Des Moines : Maude N., who became the wife of Charles Brooks and died, leaving three sons, Ross, William and Mark, who are living with their grandfather ; Blanche Paulina, the wife of C. L. Harris, of Montezuma, and the mother of two chil- dren, Elizabeth and Larid: Ralph H., who is principal of the schools at Thorn- ton, Iowa, and has three children, Lihl, Louise and David; Kate Anna, the wife of C. W. Manatt, of Carroll, and the mother of two children, Naomi and Kath- ryn ; Dick Carl, living in Montezuma; Hugh Bush, who has one son, Gerald, and makes his home in Montezuma : and two children who died in infancy.
Mr. Griffith engaged in farming for two years after his marriage. He put aside all business cares and considerations, however, at the time of the Civil war and from the schoolhouse where he was teaching he enlisted on the 14th of August, 1862, as a member of Company B, Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was on active duty for fourteen months and was then honorably discharged
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on account of disability. He has since resided in Montezuma, where he has followed merchandising most of the time. After the war, however, he estab- lished a barber shop and his two sons living in Montezuma are now engaged in the same business. In his political views Mr. Griffith is a democrat but has never sought nor desired office. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Grand Army of the Republic and his brethren of those fraternities entertain for him warm and kindly regard. During his long resi- dence here he has become very widely known and his many good qualities have gained him the friendship and esteem of all. The story of Poweshiek county's development is a familiar one to him. He came here when Montezuma had no existence, when only here and there had a settlement been made, much of the land being still in possession of the government. The broad prairies were starred with a million wild flowers in June and in winter were covered with an unbroken, dazzling sheet of snow. One could ride a long distance without coming to a fence or house to impede progress and the most farsighted would scarcely have dreamed of the wonderful development which was to take place, making this one of the prosperous and popular counties of the state.
JOHN WESLEY COCHRAN.
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