USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > History of Poweshiek County, Iowa: a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 42
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ing cultivated with the exception of six acres, which are covered with timber. He carries on general farming and raises and feeds cattle and hogs, which he sells to shippers. He also raises much small fruit, devoting one and a half acres to this purpose. Closely adhering to a systematic rule of crop rotation a close study is made of the adaptability of certain crops to certain soils, and that he has a thorough knowledge of the work which he follows is indicated in the splendid appearance of his farm property.
Mr. Wylie was united in marriage, November 25, 1903, to Miss Ethel Ja- cobs. She is a daughter of Thomas Franklin and Emma ( Hogue) Jacobs, the former a native of Virginia and of Irish descent, while the latter was of Ger- man descent. The father located in lowa in 1837, purchasing a farm of eighty acres in Deep River township, Poweshiek county. He lived there for forty years, in the meantime adding two hundred acres to his original holdings. He eventually sold his farm and moved to a place two miles east of Grinnell, but later took up his abode near Rowan, in Wright county, this state, where he still follows farming. His wife died in Montezuma, lowa. Mr. and Mrs. Wylie have four little daughters: Naomi, Ruth, Fern and Thelma, aged re- spectfully six, five, three and one year.
Mr. Wylie is a stanch advocate of the republican party and both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church at Brooklyn. They are people of sterling worth and enjoy the high regard of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
WILLIAM ELMER STECIIER.
One of the enterprising and highly successful agriculturists of Sheridan township is William Elmer Stecher, who owns an excellent farm of two hun- dred and forty acres on section 30.
He is a native of Poweshiek county, his birth having occurred on a farm one and a half miles north of Grinnell on the 20th of May, 1872, and is a son of Otto and Helen (Sherman-Peck) Stecher. The father was born in Ger- many, from which country he emigrated to the United States in 1855, locating in Bureau county. Illinois, in the vicinity of Princeton. In 1860 he removed to Poweshiek county. where he farmed as a renter for sixteen years, during which time he saved sufficient capital to enable him to purchase forty acres of land in Sheridan township. Later he bought another eighty acres but subsequently sold both farms, following which he again rented land for several years, then bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 28, where he has ever since con- tinued to reside. The mother passed away at the family homestead in Sheridan township on the 28th of September, 1895.
Reared at home William Elmer Stecher acquired his education in the district schools of his native county, which he continued to attend until he felt qualified to assume the heavier responsibilities of life. His vacations and such. times as he was not engaged with his studies was always devoted to assisting his father in the cultivation of the farm, and he had thus acquired a very thorough knowl-
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edge of agricultural methods when he left school. He remained a member of the paternal household until he was twenty-three years of age, at the expiration of which period he had accumulated the necessary means to enable him to begin his career, so he rented two hundred and forty acres of land on section 30, Sheridan township. After cultivating this property four years he purchased it, and has ever since continued to make it his home. The land is all well drained and in a high state of cultivation, while the improvements are in good condition. Mr. Stecher engages in general farming and stock-raising, feeding annually a carload of cattle and hogs for the Chicago market. He is an indefatigable worker and judicious manager, giving his fields the careful supervision that brings full and abundant harvests and which always command a good price.
On the 14th of February, 1900, Mr. Stecher was united in marriage to Miss lda Schmidt, a daughter of Adam and Laura (Frankenhausen ) Schmidt, her natal :lay being the 27th of November, 1881. Mr. Schmidt, who was born in Germany, December 27, 1838. emigrated to the United States with his parents when a youth of sixteen years, locating in the vicinity of Sheffield, Illinois. He migrated from Illinois to Poweshiek county, settling in Sheridan township, where he worked as a farm hand for two years. Subsequently he bought a good farm, in the cultivation of which he was engaged during the remainder of his active career. He passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Zella Mat- zen, of Chester township, on the 15th of August, 1905. Mrs. Schmidt was born in Ottawa, Illinois, in 1860, and in 1881 she was married to Mr. Schmidt. She only lived to be thirty-eight years of age, her demise occurring on the 28th of January, 1898. One child has been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Stecher: Hazel, whose birth occurred on the 15th of August, 1901, and who is a pupil of dis- trict No. 9 school, Sheridan township.
Mrs. Stecher and daughter are members of the German Lutheran church of Malcom township, and politically Mr. Stecher is affiliated with the republi- can party. He takes an active and helpful interest in local affairs and for the past six years has been serving as treasurer of school board district No. 9, Sheridan township. Mr. Stecher is recognized as one of the representative and substantial farmers of the township in which he has resided for so many years, and where both he and his wife are highly regarded.
CHARLEY O. HARMAN.
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The farm in Madison township on which Charley O. Harman makes his home has always been his place of residence, for here he was born on the 23d of April, 1881, a son of llenry and Julia A. ( Boyle) Harman, the former born in Montgomery county, Illinois, October 11, 1839, and the latter in Crawfords- ville Indiana, December 14, 1848. From the time of the father's return from the Civil war until four years ago he followed farming in Madison township on the place on which our subject now resides. He is now living retired in Brooklyn but the mother is deceased, her death occurring on the 21st of March,
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1910. More extended mention of the parents is made in connection with the sketch of Roland O. Harman, printed elsewhere in this volume.
Charley. O. Harman was reared in the usual manner of farm lads, his time and attention during the period of his boyhood and youth being devoted to the various duties of the home farm such as the work of plowing, planting and har- vesting. When his services could be spared on the farm he attended district school No. 4 and there received the education that fitted him to face the re- sponsibilities of life. In 1908 he rented the homestead farm on section 10, Mad- ison township, and is here engaged in general farming and stock-raising. deal- ing in the better grades of cattle, horses and hogs.
Mr. Harman was married on the 14th of June. 1903, to Miss Margaret Mayo, a daughter of John and Jane ( Milligan) Mayo. The father was born in Eng- land, while the mother was born in Kirkcudbright, Scotland. They emigrated to America in their childhood days, he at the age of eleven years and she at the age of fourteen years. The two families located in Illinois and it was in that state that Mr. and Mrs. Mayo were married, after which they removed to Tama county, Iowa, where the father was engaged in farming until his death. The wife and mother had previously passed away. They were the parents of seven children, but only four are now living: Edward, who follows farming in Tama county ; James, also a farmer of that county; Bessie, the wife of Charles Bach- man, a farmer residing near Rockford, Illinois; and Margaret. now Mrs. Har- man.
Mr. Harman gives his political support to the democratic party. while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belongs. He belongs to that class of representative young men who rapidly discern opportunities of improvement and who are rapidly forging to the front, and no doubt the future holds for him abundant success and prosperity.
JOHN BUTT.
One of Poweshiek county's former agriculturists whose intelligently and capably directed efforts now enables him to live in retirement is John Butt, who was born in Lewis county, Virginia, on the 3d of September, 1839. He is the eldest son of William and Susan ( Rigger) Butt, also natives of Lewis county. The parents came to Iowa in 1841. locating on a farm in Van Buren county, in the cultivation of which William Butt engaged for ten years. At the expiration of that period he disposed of his property and removed to Poweshiek county. He purchased a farm in Union township, upon which he settled in 1851, continu- ing to engage in general farming and stock-raising until his retirement to Oska- loosa and later to New Sharon, Mahaska county, where he was residing at the time of his demise. The mother passed away in Van Buren county, this state, in 1847. They were the parents of the following children: John, our subject ; Mathilda, who is deceased; and Henry, a resident of Republic county, Kansas. The family always worshiped with the Methodist Episcopal denomination, of
JOHN BUTT
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V. X AND V A ON&
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which church the parents were members of many years standing. Mr. Butt al- ways cast his ballot in support of the democratic candidates and at one time served as constable.
Being but a lad of twelve years when his father removed to Union township, the greater portion of the education of John Butt was acquired in the district schools of Poweshiek county. He remained a member of the paternal house- hold until he was twenty-one years of age, assisting in the cultivation of the home farm. In 1860 he purchased his present home, which contains one hundred and twenty acres in Union township, and there he continues to reside although he has retired from active farming. Mr. Butt always devoted the greater part of his at- tention to stock-raising, making a specialty of the breeding and raising of thor- oughbred Duroc Jersey hogs. During the long period of his residence on this farm he has wrought many improvements, having erected some very fine build- ings which are always kept repaired, and as a result he owns one of the very vali- able properties of the township.
In April, 1860, Mr. Butt was united in marriage to Miss Julia Farmer, a daughter of Henry L. and Diantha L. (Sears) Farmer. The father was a native of Virginia and the mother of New York state, but for a time they resided in Indiana, of which state Mrs. Butt is a native, removing from there to Iowa. They located in Poweshiek county in pioneer days, settling on a farm in Pleasant township, which Mr. Farmer operated for many years. Both parents are now deceased. They were members of the United Brethren church, of which de- nomination the father was a local preacher while in politics he was a repub- lican. Four children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Butt, but two, Diantha and Homer, are deceased. Those surviving are: Henry, who is living at home; and Anthony, who is a resident of Union township. . Mr. Butt also has four grand- children : Orval, Earl, Hugh and Mildred, who are the sons and daughter of Anthony Butt. In 1890 Mrs. Butt passed away and he subsequently married Mrs. Harriet M. Farmer, a daughter of Shockley Bryant and the widow of Abner Farmer.
Mr. Butt has always exercised his right of franchise in spport of the candi- `dates of the democratic party and has several times served as school director. He has lived beyond the alloted three score years and ten and has spent the greater portion of his life in Union township, among whose citizens he num- bers many strong friends.
FRED C. SCHULTZ.
Fred C. Schultz, successfully engaged in farming in Malcom township, Powe- shiek county, was born in Bureau county, Illinois, on the 18th of August 1859. a son of J. J. and Mary ( Piel) Schultz. In the fall of 1864 when a little lad of five years, he came with his parents to Poweshiek county, and within the bord- ers of Malcom township he has since made his home. He continued to give his father the benefit of his assistance until his marriage. in 1881, when he began farming independently, purchasing his present place of eighty acres on section
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12. He also rents two hundred acres which he operates in connection with his home farm, and in addition to general agricultural pursuits he is engaged in feeding cattle and hogs for the market. His efforts in both branches have been most successful for he has followed practical, progressive methods, and has ever been actuated by unfaltering industry and untiring perseverance.
In 1881 Mr. Schultz was united in marriage to Miss Ida Eisele, who is also a native of Bureau county, Illinois, her birth occurring there in 1862. In early life she came to Poweshiek county with her parents, Andrew and Phillipina Eisele, of whom extended mention is made under the caption of J. F. Eisele. By her marriage to Mr. Schultz she became the mother of four children, namely : Ellen, the wife of L. C. Tedimann, of Malcom township: Anna, who married John Lideke, also of this township: Mabel, the wife of John Stecher, now mak- ing their home with Mr. Schultz; and Clara, still at home.
In politics Mr. Schultz is allied with that independent movement which does not permit itself to be bound by party ties, supporting the men and measures which in his opinion are best adapted to conserve the public welfare. He has held some minor township offices but is not a politician in the sense of office seeking. He prefers rather to devote his time and attention to private interests, and as a stockholder in the Poweshiek County Central Fair Association and the Grinnell Fair Association has done much to stimulate the interest of his fellow- men in all that tends to promote progress in agricultural and kindred lines.
JOHN A. FLOOK.
For over forty-four years John A. Flook, who is now living retired in Grin- nell, has been a resident of Poweshiek county. He was born in Ontario, Can- ada, on the 15th of February, 1845, and is a son of Hugh and Elizabeth (Good- fellow) Flook, natives of Belfast, Ireland and Scotland respectively. The father, who emigrated to America in 1810, settled upon a farm in Canada, but in addition to the cultivation of his land during the early days of his residence he worked upon the canal. The parents, who were married in Canada, spent their latter days upon their homestead, where the mother passed away in 1851. but the father survived her for some years. They were bothi members of the Presbyterian church, in the faith of which denomination they reared their family.
John A. Flook acquired his education in the common schools of his native country, following which he engaged in farm work until the spring of 1865, at which time he migrated to the United States. Hle first located in Scott county, where he resided for two years and then came to Poweshiek county, settling on a farm in Madison township, north of Brooklyn. Here he engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising for twenty-five years, and then removed to Grin- nell where, in connection with a Mr. Goodfellow, he opened a meat market which they conducted under the firm name of Goodfellow & Flook for ten years. Mr. Flook, who is now living retired, enjoying the ease and comfort which is the reward of his early years of toil and self-denial, has met with success in his
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varions ventures and now owns, in addition to his property in town, three hun- dred and twenty acres of land in Chester township, which he rents.
While still residing in Scott county Mr. Flook was united in marriage to Miss Catharine Brownlie on the 31st of October, 1867. Her parents were James and Retchie ( Walker) Brownlie, natives of Scotland. The father, who was born on the ioth of December, ISIo, emigrated to America when very young, locating in Canada. In 1831 he was married at Smith's Falls, Ontario, to Miss Walker, and for five years they continued to reside in Canada. With two of his brothers Mr. Brownlie subsequently came to the United States, locating in Scott county, lowa, where they took up government land in 1836. Mr. Brownlie was a lay preacher and for forty years he ministered to the spir- itual needs of the people in the vicinity of his homestead, in addition to operat- ing his farm. Mrs. Brownlie, who for twenty years prior to her death had been a cripple, passed away on the old homestead in Scott county on the 20th of De- cember, 1889. She was a woman of rare strength and beauty of character, who had greatly endeared herself to those among whom she had lived for so many years. Mr. Brownlie survived her for four years, his demise occurring at the venerable age of eighty-seven years, his natal day having been the 26th of May. 1807. Both he and his wife were members of the Baptist church, and his po- liticai support he had always given the republican party. He possessed a fine mind and was liberal in his views and had always been a warm friend of the colored race.
Mrs. Flook acquired her education in the common schools of Long Grove, Scott county, a village about twelve miles from Davenport, which was founded by the Brownlie family. After the completion of her education she remained at home until her marriage to Mr. Flook. They were the parents of one child : Carrie E., who was educated at Grinnell College and married A. D. Talbott, a druggist of Grinnell ; they also adopted a daughter : Ruth Calderwood. Mrs. Flook passed away in Davenport on the 31st of October, 1909. She was highly regarded by all who knew her, and had by her judgment and advice ever been of great assistance to her husband in the conduet of his business.
Mr. Flook, who has passed his sixty-sixth anniversary, has spent the greater part of his life in Poweshiek county, where he is well known and esteemed as a friend and citizen. His religious faith is manifested by his membership in the Christian church, with which denomination his wife was also affiliated.
JAMES MADISON POWELL.
James Madison Powell, who has been identified with various activities in Searsboro and is now conducting a grocery store, was born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, on the 11th of February, 1837.
His parents were James and Sarah (Turner) Powell, the father a native of Greene county. New York, and the mother of Armstrong county. Pennsyl- vania. Mr. Powell, who was a farmer, removed to Pennsylvania from New York in his early manhood, settling on a farm in Clarion county. He engaged
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in the cultivation of this until 1851, when he came west and located in Musca- tine county, Iowa. Here he also engaged in agricultural pursuits, but at the end of five years he removed to Poweshiek county, purchasing a farm in Sugar Creek township which he operated until about 1864. He disposed of his hold- ings at that time and went to Illinois. There he remained for a time and then came back to Poweshiek county, spending the last fifteen years of his life in the home of his son, James Madison. Mrs. Powell passed away while the family was living in Clarion county, Pennsylvania. In politics Mr. Powell was a dem- ocrat and his church affiliation was the Baptist. Of the seven children born unto Mr. and Mrs. Powell all are deceased with the exception of the son James Madison, who is our subject. The others were as follows: William T., Eliza Jane, Susanna, Hiram Me., Silas and Mary Ann.
The greater portion of the education of James Madison Powell. the young- est son and sixth member of the family in order of birth, was obtained in the common schools of his native state. After the family located in lowa his former course was supplemented by two terms in the schools of Poweshiek county. After laying aside his text-books he remained with his father for an- other year, assisting in the cultivation of the homestead. At the expiration of that period he went to Fort Scott, Kansas, where he remained for two years, engaged in buying and selling horses to the Indians. Returning to Poweshiek county he followed agricultural pursuits until 1862, when he enlisted as a private in Company B, Fortieth lowa Volunteer Infantry, where he served for three years, being mustered out at the close of hostilities at Fort Gibson. After re- ceiving his discharge he again returned to Poweshiek county where he again engaged in general farming. At the end of three years he went to Lynnville, Jasper county, lowa, and engaged in the livery business until 1872. In the latter year he again took up his residence in Poweshiek county and erected a hotel and livery barn in Searsboro, which he ran for several years. Disposing of this he purchased the grocery store which he continues to conduct.
Mr. Powell was married on the 10th of June, 1860, to Miss Rachel Bur- rows, a daughter of Roland and Caroline (Carpenter ) Burrows, residents of Sugar Creek township, Poweshiek county, at that time. The father migrated to lowa with his family from Indianapolis, Indiana, locating on an eighty acre tract in Sugar Creek township. He cultivated his farm while working at the carpenter trade, continuing to follow the two vocations during the greater part of his active career. Both he and his wife passed away on the homestead. In politics Mr. Burrows was a republican and served for a time as justice of the peace, while both he and his wife held membership in the Christian church. Mrs. Powell is a native of Indiana, as were also her parents, her birth having occurred in the town of Mooresville in October, 1840.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Powell have been born eight children: Anderson C., who is deceased; Anna L., the wife of Alfred Ewart, of Poweshiek county, lowa; Nellie, who married John Stroud, of Des Moines, Iowa ; James H., of Searsboro, Iowa; Roland, Carrie and Harry, all of whom are deceased ; and Tuni Wyoma, who is a resident of Searsboro.
Mr. Powell votes with the republicans and has served both as marshal and constable, as well as having filled some of the minor township offices. Fra-
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ternally he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he maintains relations with his old comrades of the field by means of his mein- bership in the G. A. R., being identified with the Oskaloosa post. In matters religious he and his wife are connected with the Society of Friends. He is one of the well known citizens of Sugar Creek township, who in all of his relations of life has ever as fearlessly championed the cause of right in times of peace as on the battle fields of the south.
SAMUEL EARL BRUSH.
The attractiveness of Iowa as a place of residence is indicated by the fact that many of her native sons have remained within her borders, believing that her advantages and opportunities are equal if not superior to those to be secured in other parts of the country. Samuel Earl Brush was born in Madison town- ship. Poweshiek county, on the 31st of August, 1869, a son of Thomas P. and Sarah (Polley-Wray) Brush, both natives of New York. The father came to lowa with his parents during his early childhood, the family home being lo- cated on a farm in the northeast part of lowa, and there he resided until 1867, when he came to Poweshiek county. During his active life he engaged in agricultural pursuits as a vocation, but in 1904 retired from the work of the farm and now makes his home in Brooklyn. His wife passed away in that city in 1908.
Samuel Earl Brush is indebted to the common school system of Madison township for the educational advantages which he enjoyed during the period of his boyhood, and he received a thorough practical training under the direction of his father, who early assigned to him tasks about the home farm which in- creased in importance and numbers with the growing years and strength of the lad. He remained under the parental roof, giving his father the benefit of his assistance, until twenty-two years of age, when he was married and started out as an independent farmer, wisely choosing as a life work the occupation to which he had been reared. For about three years he rented the old homestead, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres in Madison township, and then purchased his present home, a tract of one hundred and twenty acres in section 15. Bear Creek township, just west of the village of Brooklyn.
Ile at once took up his abode thereon and has since continued to make it the scene of his activities. It is one of the well improved and valuable properties of the township, equipped with all modern conveniences for facilitating farm labor. and its neat appearance is a monument to a life of industry, enterprise, progressiveness and thrift on the part of Mr. Brush. Aside from tilling the soil he also engages to some extent in stock-raising, making a specialty of breed- ing good horses. He is now the owner of a fine Shire stallion named Richard Thumper, and also has a pair of fine imported Shire mares, one of which won first prize at the Chicago Horse Show in 1908 as a two-year old. The excel- lence of his stock is recognized throughout Poweshiek county and he is num- bered among the most prominent and substantial business men of his section.
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