USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > History of Poweshiek County, Iowa: a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 45
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and he has three fine orchards. He carries on general farming and raises hogs on quite an extensive scale, selling a part of the time to shippers, while some- times he ships his stock to the Chicago markets.
Mr. Read has been married twice. He was first married, March 17. 1887. to Miss Dolly Billick, a daughter of George and Julia Billick, both natives of Illinois. The mother died January 13, 1911, but the father still survives and now makes his home in Brooklyn, lowa. By his first marriage Mr. Read has two sons : Roy, who lives at home but is working for himself ; and Glenn, also at home and assisting his father in his farm work. The wife and mother died at her father's home in Brooklyn, October 15. 1901. On the 27th of March, 1904, Mr. Read was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Mary Graham, widow of Samuel Graham, who was engaged in farming in Poweshick county. Mrs. Read is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Sanders ) Shaw. both natives of Pennsylvania. They removed from the Keystone state to Mis- souri, where the birth of Mrs. Read occurred. After a residence of three years in the latter state, they removed to Tama county, Iowa, but eventually moved farther west, establishing their home in Kansas, where the mother passed away twenty years ago. The father later went to Nebraska and died near Lincoln. that state, in 1904. By her former marriage Mrs. Read has three sons and one daugliter, namely: Alpha A., who follows farming near Chelsea, Iowa; Ed. who is a farmer of Malcom township, Poweshiek county ; Fred, who is engaged in farming at Newell, South Dakota ; and Della, who is with her mother.
Mr. Read formerly gave his support to the democratic party, but for the past fifteen years has been a stanch advocate of republican principles. Mrs. Read is a member of the Christian church in Madison township. Mr. Read follows practical and progressive methods in the conduct of his farm, all fields being platted and arranged so that the best results may be obtained from the labor expended, and a view of his place is in itself a lesson in thrift, persever- ance and industry.
W. L. JOHNSON.
W. L. Johnson, a prominent and well known insurance agent of Brooklyn. deserves special mention in this volume as a veteran of the Civil war. He is numbered among Ohio's native sons, his birth occurring in Ashtabula county on the 24th of November, 1845.
He is a son of William and Betsy (Cleveland) Johnson, the former a native of Steuben county. New York, and the latter of Canada. The father, who was a blacksmith and wagonmaker by occupation, was engaged at his trade in Ohio and also owned a farm there, which was operated by his sons. Later he came to lowa and here followed his trade for a time, and subsequently went to Cal- ifornia, his death occurring in Cottonwood, that state, on the 20th of July, 1906, at the age of eighty-seven years. His wife, Mrs. Betsy ( Cleveland) John- son, passed away in March, 1861, in Ohio. They were the parents of six children. as follows: F. N., of Fayetteville, Arkansas, who served for three
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years in the Union army as a member of Company E, Twenty-ninth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry : W. L., of this review; N. M., of Dakota; Emma, the widow of Ed Hill, of Estherville, Iowa : Ernest M., of Primghar, Iowa ; and Frank .1., of Chicago. By a second marriage William Johnson had two children : Albert. of Cottonwood, California ; and Addie Olmstead, now deceased.
W. L. Johnson spent the period of his boyhood and early youth upon the home farm in Ohio and under his father's direction learned the blacksmith and wagonmaker's trade, at which he became quite proficient. He was but fifteen years of age when the Civil war broke out between the north and the south, but he accepted the invitation of a lieutenant of the Union army, who suggested that he join the army. Consequently he enlisted in September, 1861, as a soldier in Company A. Thirty-sixth New York Volunteer Infantry, and served for twenty-two months. In January, 1864, he reenlisted as a member of Battery E. First Ohio Light Artillery, for three years, and at the close of the war was honorably discharged at Camp Dennison, Ohio. He took part in seven important battles. as well as many minor engagements, participating in the battle of Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, the second battle of Bull Run, and the battle of Nashville. During his service he was taken ill with smallpox, and an uncle who visited him at that time caught the disease and died from the effects of it.
When the country no longer needed his services Mr. Johnson returned to civil life with a most creditable military record. He joined his parents, who had taken up their abode in Fayette County, Iowa, during his term of service, and on the 24th of January, 1866, was united in marriage to Miss Persis E. East- man, who was born in southern Illinois, December 6, 1849, and went to Fayette county, Iowa, with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Eastman.
After his marriage Mr. Johnson was associated with his father-in-law in the wagonmaking business for about two years, and then he removed to Fred- ericksburg, Iowa, where he was engaged at that trade for about four years. He then went to Dixon county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded a farm, but he was obliged to give up that place on account of the grasshopper plague,, and he returned to Fredericksburg and again worked at his trade there. Later he went to Mitchellville, Polk county, lowa, where as a member of the firm of Eastman & Johnson he engaged in the wagon and carriage-making business for four years, and during that period the partners marketed more new wagons than any other shop of its kind in Polk county. At the end of that time Mr. Johnson traded his interest in the firm for a farm and then entered the hard- ware business at Gowrie, Webster county. After a year there he removed his stock to Melford, Dixon county, establishing the first hardware enterprise at that place. In the following December he sold out his store and returned to Mitchellville, where he traded his farm for a stock of hardware and located at Baxter, at which place he carried on business for four years. The year 1886 witnessed his arrival in Brooklyn and here he conducted a hardware concern for four years, after which he sold out to enter the fire insurance business. In 1898 he went on the road as a special agent for the Hawkeye Insurance Com- pany, whom he represented for seven years, and was then employed by the Iowa State Insurance Company for one year. The losses incurred through the
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great San Francisco fire were such that that company was obliged to reinsure in other firms, and Mr. Johnson became connected with the German Insurance Company of Freeport, Illinois.
Subsequently he accepted a position with the Security Insurance Company of Davenport, and then, on the Ist of January, 1909, he left the road and has since conducted an agency in Brooklyn, representing several well known com- panies at this point. His office is in the new Brooklyn Opera House, and he handles a large amount of insurance, being accorded a most excellent patronage. His efforts in the various channels of business in which he has engaged have been successful, and today the consensus of public opinion accords him a prom- inent place among Poweshiek county's progressive and prosperous citizens. He has recently built a residence in Brooklyn, which is now the home of his family, and he is the owner of forty acres of land adjoining the corporation limits of the town, while in connection with his son-in-law he owns another valuable farm near Brooklyn.
With the passing of the years Mr. and Mrs. Johnson became the parents of four children, namely: Mabel E .. the wife of W. R. Pierson, cashier of the Poweshiek County Savings Bank of Brooklyn : Paul E., who is engaged in the dairy business near Minneapolis, Minnesota ; Genevieve, a teacher of music at San Fernando, California ; and William Glenn, who passed away at the age of ten months.
In politics Mr. Johnson gives his support to the republican party, while fraternally he is a Master Mason and also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Johnson is a well developed man physically, giving the idea of great strength and reserve force, elements which have had their expression in a strenuous business life. His has been a career of constant activity along various lines, in which his well directed efforts, his keen sagacity and his un- faltering energy have been potent factors in the accumulation of a degree of prosperity which is both creditable and honorable.
N. J. WELLS.
Progress, enterprise and perseverance have characterized the efforts of N. J. W'ells in the conduct of his agricultural pursuits, and as a logical and well merited result he is now enjoying a degree of prosperity that is substantial and honorable. Born in Mahaska county, Iowa, on the 4th of September. 1854, he is a son of Cyrus and Emeline (Stewart ) Wells, natives of New York and Illinois re- spectively. The father was a son of Chester Wells, also a native of the Empire state, who became an early settler of Illinois, taking up his abode in that state in pioneer days. Later he removed to Mahaska county, Iowa, and there passed away. He was a well educated man for his day and was an expert carpenter and cabinet-maker, and also at one time had a contract for the building of one of the pioneer railroads. He devoted much night-time to cabinet-making and this strain on his eyes later caused his blindness.
N J. WELLS
ERK
ASTER LE PR TILTENT JY A.S.
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Cyrus Wells, his son, was but a small boy at the time of the removal to Illi- nois, and he remained in that state until about 1850, when he accompanied his parents to Mahaska county, Iowa, where he was married shortly afterward. Prior to the Civil war he took up his abode on a farm about three miles southeast of Montezuma and subsequently, in 1866, removed to Union township. Later he went to Pleasant township and there both he and his wife passed away. He was a carpenter by trade, following that occupation in early life, but later took up farming. He served in the Mexican war as a cavalryman and became an extensive landowner, possessing five hundred acres of land in Pleasant township at the time of his death. His wife died on the 8th of March, 1891. In their family were ten children, of which the subject of this review was the second in order of birth, the others being: Fidelia, the wife of S. R. Wisner, of Nebraska; H. W., of Grinnell ; C. M. also of Grinnell; W. A., of Pleasant township; Dora, who mar- ried G. W. Morrison, of Ewart; Sarah Emeline, the deceased wife of W. F. Blaine ; Minnie, who passed away in early childhood ; Ida, of Nebraska ; and Fred, of this township.
When a lad of twelve years N. J. Wells came to Pleasant township and since that period has resided continuously within its borders. He has made agri- culture his life work, gaining thorough preparation in that branch of activity on the home farm under the direction of his father, with whom he remained until his marriage. He then embarked independently in the business world and is now the owner of an excellent farm, consisting of two hundred and forty acres located on sections 25 and 26, eighty acres of which was a part of his father's estate. This is a valuable property, all of the improvements found thereon having been introduced by our subject. He engages in general farming and stock-raising and makes a specialty of feeding shorthorn cattle. In both branches of his business he has been successful, surrounding himself with a most gratifying degree of prosperity, and as his financial resources have permitted he has purchased other property, so that he now owns in addition to his home farm one hundred and five acres on section 34 and forty acres on section 35.
On the 18th of February, 1880, Mr. Wells was united in marriage to Miss Margaret A. Daly, who was born in Montezuma on the 2d of September, 1856. She is a daughter of MI. and Margaret ( Duffus) Daly, natives of Vermont and Scotland respectively. Mr. Daly, whose birth occurred on the 6th of May, 1824, was reared in his New England home and, belonging to a poor family, was early forced to provide for his own livelihood. As a boy he worked along the coast at Boston, taking oysters from the shells, and later he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until the time of his marriage. In early manhood he came west, first locating in Illinois, and about 1853 arrived in Iowa, taking up his abode in Poweshiek county. Here he engaged for a time at his trade and erected sev- eral of the first structures in Montezuma. Later he took up farming in Pleasant township and then. in 1878. entered land in Nebraska and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years. He became very successful and at one time owned five hundred and sixty acres in that state. During his later years he lived retired. He was a republican in early life but subsequently espoused the cause of the greenback party and was very active in party affairs. He was a self-educated man, being a great reader, was fond of debate and for some time
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was county lecturer for the Farmers Alliance in Antelope county, Nebraska. He also assisted in establishing the first mutual fire company in that county. In 1855 he was married to Miss Margaret Duffus, who was born in Scotland on the 18th of September, 1836, and came to the United States at the age of eighteen years with her parents. She was a daughter of James and Ann Duffus, who, on arriving in this country, made their way direct to Poweshiek county, Iowa, where the father passed away. Mrs. Duffus, however, died at Storm Lake, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Daly both passed away in Elgin, Nebraska, the former on the 14th of December, 1903, and the latter on the 7th of October, 1891. In their family were ten children, as follows: Margaret A., who married our subject; Lucy J., the widow of J. B. Jackman, of Chicago; Carrie E., the deceased wife of A. L. Perry; Orlando, deceased; C. F., of Los Angeles, California ; Oliver, residing in Ne- braska ; Professor M. S., was educated at Fremont, Nebraska, and is now a pro- fessor in Alberta, Canada; James O., who passed away at the of age of nineteen years; Joseph Franklin, a dentist of Wisener, Nebraska; and Lillian, the wife of H. N. Link, of Elgin, Nebraska.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Wells has been blessed with three children, namely : Charles Edwin, operating a portion of his father's estate, who married Miss Hattie Evans; May, the wife of C. F. Ludeman. of Scott township, by whom she has one child, Marie Pauline ; and Edith, attending the Montezuma high school.
In politics Mr. Wells casts an independent ballot, unhampered by party ties or machine rule. He always stands for the best men and most desirable meas- ures and has ever given his influence for sound platforms and worthy candidates. He is deeply interested in the welfare of Pleasant township and cooperates in all measures for its upbuilding and development, and his many good qualities have won for him a place in the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.
JAMES W. FUDGE.
The cultivation of a fine farm of one hundred and eighty acres engages the time and attention of James W. Fudge, who was born in Washington county, Virginia, on the 26th of April, 1839.
His parents were Jacob and Rebecca Jane (Seay) Fudge, also natives of Virginia. The father, who was a farmer, migrated to Iowa with his family in 1846, locating in the vicinity of Monroe, Jasper county, where he acquired a farm which he cultivated for some years. Here the mother passed away, but the father was living retired in Brownville, Nebraska, when his demise occurred in 1893. Mr. Fudge was a democrat and both he and his wife were affiliated with the Christian church, in the faith of which denomination they reared their family. Five children were born unto them in the following order : John T., who is a resident of Arkansas; James W., our subject ; Mary Elizabeth, who is deceased; Ann Eliza, the widow of a Mr. Stinson, of Fort Custer, Montana ; and Elvira Jane, the wife of Michael Markey, of Greenfield, Adair county, Iowa.
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It was in the common schools of his native state that James W. Fudge re- ceived his introduction to the rudiments of the common branches, his education being continued in the district schools of Jasper county. When he had acquired such knowledge of the fundamental branches as was deemed essential to enable him to pursue his vocation, which he had elected should be that of agriculture, he laid aside his text-books and devoted his time and attention to the work of the homestead. From that period until he had attained his majority he worked on the farm under the direction and supervision of his father. In 1862 he responded to his country's call and enlisted as a private in Company E, Twenty- third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, where he served for three years. He saw much active service and participated in many notable battles, among the latter being the siege of Vicksburg, battle of Champion's Hill, Black River Bridge and Fort Gibson.
When he received his discharge he returned to Monroe, where he worked for a year at the carpenter trade. At the expiration of that period he went to Madison county, lowa, and farmed for two years. In 1868 he came to Pow- eshiek county, locating in Sugar Creek township, where he bought one hun- (red acres of land in the cultivation and improvement of which he immediately engaged. Here he followed general farming with such success that it was possible for him to increase his holdings later by the addition of another eighty acres. Mr. Fudge is now living retired on the farm.
On the 20th of March, 1866, Mr. Fudge was united in marriage to Miss Ann Highlands, a daughter of William and Eleanor (Slane) Highlands. The father was a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and the mother of Virginia. In his carly manhood Mr. Highlands, who was a farmer, migrated to Coles county, Illinois, where he met the lady who subsequently became his wife. Together with his wife and family he came to Iowa in 1843, settling in the vicinity of the present site of Monroe, having the distinction of being the first settler in Jasper county. He filed on a quarter section of land which he im- proved and cultivated until his demise ; his wife also passed away on the home- stead. In his political allegiance he was ever true to the principles of the democracy and served for seven years as a member of the board of supervisors. The church connection of both Mr. and Mrs. Highlands was that of the Pres- byterian faith. Their family numbered six, five of whom survive, the order of birth being as follows: Thomas M., who is deceased ; Ann, now Mrs. Fudge, who was born in Coles county, Illinois, on the 3Ist of October, 1839: Elizabeth, the widow of Daniel Mortimore, of Linden, Adair county, Iowa; James R., of Alameda, California ; Sarah Jane, the wife of Carry Roush, of Churdan, Greene county, lowa ; and John A., who is a resident of Grant county, Oregon.
Mr. and Mrs. Fudge have two daughters and two sons, namely: Vista Jane. the eldest, and who is the wife of John P. Baker, a sketch of whom ap- pears elsewhere in this volume; John R., a resident of Hand county, South Dakota, who is married and has three children, Ava, Elda and Gerald; Lulu Eleanor, who became the wife of Fred Robertson, of Havelock, Nebraska, and who has three children. Mildred, Russell and Vera; and William T., a resident of Poweshiek county, and who is married and has four children, Ora, Arthur, Glenn and Lela.
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The political views of Mr. Fudge coincide with the principles of the demo- cratic party, for whose candidates he always casts his ballot. He has served as school director and one term as road supervisor, Although he has never taken a prominent part in political activities, he is public-spirited in matters of citizenship and invariably gives his indorsement to all movements and measures the adoption of which would promote the general welfare of the community.
ABEL DOTY.
Abel Doty, who is one of the well known stockmen and agriculturists of Madison township, where he owns a fine farm, was born in Delaware county, Ohio, on the 17th of October, 1857, a son of Abner and Harriet ( Havens) Doty. The father was born and reared in Canandaigua, New York, and was a son of Ebenezer Doty, also a native of the Empire state. The family is of English descent, the ancestors having come over in the Mayflower. The Doty family migrated to Ohio during the pioneer days and there they were living when gold was discovered in California. In 1849 Ebenezer Doty and four of his sons. Edward, Albert. Martin and Abner crossed the plains from Ohio to the Pacific coast in search of the precious ore. The father passed away in a western mining camp and after searching for five years in hopes of finding a rich vein of metal Abner Doty returned to Ohio to the farm. lle engaged in agricultural pursuits in the Buckeye state until 1866, at which time he removed to Iowa, purchasing a quarter section of land in Iowa county, which he cultivated for seventeen years. Owing to the state of Mr. Doty's health, after the marriage of their son Abel the parents made their home with him and his wife during the re- mainder of their lives. The father passed away on the 7th of August, 1883, at the age of sixty-five years, but the mother survived until the 16th of Feb- ruary, 1910, her demise occurring at the age of ninety-two years,
The elementary education of Abel Doty was acquired in the district schools of Ohio, but after removing to lowa he attended the public schools of Ladora until he had completed his preliminary course, following which he entered Iowa College at Grinnell where he studied for three years. Professor Parker was a member of the faculty at that time and one of the instructors of Mr. Doty. After completing his education Mr. Doty returned to the homestead and assisted his father in the cultivation of the farm until he had attained his ma- jority. He left home in 1878 to begin his real life work and for three years thereafter farmed as a renter in Tama county, lowa. At the end of that time he came to Poweshiek county, renting a farm west of Grinnell which he cul- tivated for a similar period. In 1884 he removed to Bear Creek township, near Brooklyn, where he resided for fifteen years, and in 1901 he came to Mad- ison township. Here he purchased his present homestead, which consists of one hundred and sixty acres and upon which he has ever since lived.
His land, which lies on section 25, is fertile, thoroughly tiled and drained and in a high state of cultivation, with the exception of two acres which is planted in fruit trees. Mr. Doty takes great pride in his property and keeps
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it and his improvements, all of which are substantially constructed and care- fully repaired, in good condition, and the general appearance of the place creates a decidedly favorable impression. He breeds and raises a high grade of Shropshire sheep and cattle and registered Poland China hogs. Although he engages in general farming he feeds and ships stock to the Chicago market.
Mr. Doty was married at the age of twenty-one years, to Miss Laura Sheets, a daughter of John and Mary (Simpson) Sheets. The father, who was a farmer, migrated from Ohio to Iowa in 1865, locating in lowa county, lowa, subsequently settling in Sheridan township, Poweshiek county. In 1891 he went to Hastings, Nebraska, and both he and Mrs. Sheets made their home dur- ing the latter part of their lives with their son, Clement Sheets, who was a res- ident of that town. Mrs. Sheets passed away in April, 1892, but he survived her until 1909. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Doty have been born nine children, eight of whom are living, as follows: Ada, who married Rollin Smith, who was shot and killed at Chelsa, Iowa, during a bank robbery. He was marshal at that time and was shot by one of the robbers while on duty, dying five hours later. Of this union there was born one child. William, who is living with his mother. Later Mrs. Smith married Grant Ostrom, a farmer living near Hartwick, Jefferson county, Iowa, and they have had three children : Grace ; Percy, and Rex, who is de- ceased ; Forrest, a farmer of Bear Creek township, this county, who married Nola Tinker, a daughter of Edward Tinker, a resident of the same township, and who have one child, Martha; Gertrude, the wife of Gordon Rondebush, a farmer of Bear Creek township, and who have one child, John; Bertha, Ethel, Minnie, Cora and Glenn are all at home. Cora and Ethel are attending the high school at Brooklyn and Glenn goes to school in district No. 7, Madison township.
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