USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > History of Poweshiek County, Iowa: a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 53
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Mrs. Cunningham and her daughter are members of the Presbyterian church in Brooklyn and the mother also belongs to the Rebekahs of Brooklyn, Mr. Cun- ningham being a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. A republi- can in politics he gives his support to the candidates of that party and is now serving as a director in school district No. 6 of Madison township. Mr. Cunningham is regarded as one of the competent agriculturists and capable business men of the county whose success is the well merited reward of careful and intelligent effort.
DR. JOSEPHINE WETMORE RUST.
Dr. Josephine Wetmore Rust, one of the leading and successful medical practitioners of Grinnell, has made this town the scene of her professional labors for the past sixteen years, specializing in the diseases of women and children. Her birth occurred in Charles City, Iowa, on the 20th of January, 1870. her parents being George E. and Antoinette ( Miller) Wetmore, who were born, reared and married in the state of New York. Soon after their marriage they journeyed westward to Omaha, Nebraska, where Mr. Wetmore engaged in merchandising. Subsequently he took up his abode in Charles City. Iowa, and there turned his attention to the buying of grain and stock. From Charles City he made his way to Clear Lake, Iowa, where he continued in the grain and stock business. In 1896 he came to Grinnell, being here successfully engaged in the hardware business until impaired health necess- itated his retirement. His demise occurred in July, 1904, and was the occasion of deep and widespread regret. Fraternally he was identified with the Masons, being a worthy exemplar of the craft for many years. He was a republican in politics but never sought office as a reward for his party fealty.
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Josephine Wetmore was reared under the parental roof and early in life de- termined upon the practice of medicine as her future work. For three years she read medicine under the direction of Dr. S. A. Campbell, of Malvern, Iowa, teaching school a part of the time. She began teaching when but sixteen years of age and was only nineteen years of age when she entered the Northwestern University at Chicago, being graduated from the medical department of that institution as the youngest member of the class of 1891. Following her grad- uation she took the position of resident physician of the Industrial School for Girls at Mitchellville, Iowa, where she remained for almost a year. Returning to Chicago, she became resident physician of the Mary Thompson Hospital for women and children, where she likewise remained for a year. Again removing to Mitchellville, Iowa, she resumed her former position in the State Industrial School for Girls, continuing there for two and a half years. On the Ist of April, 1895, she came to Grinnell, where she has been successfully engaged in practice to the present time, making a specialty of the diseases of women and children. Her labors have been attended with gratifying results and have won her an en- viable reputation as a skilled physician and surgeon. In 1902 she pursued a post- graduate course of study in the Chicago Post Graduate School.
On the Ist of March, 1905, Dr. Wetmore was united in marriage to Raymond R. Rust, a native of Dexter, Iowa, who was at that time one of the leading drug- gists of Grinnell. He is at present a commercial salesman for the Meyer Brothers Drug Company of St. Louis. Dr. Rust is now the mother of two children : Har- riet Isabelle and Joseph La Verne. She is popular in professional and social cir- cles alike, her many excellent traits of heart and mind having endeared her to all with whom she has come in contact.
HENRY F. CARL.
The best improved farm in Deep River township is the property of Henry F. Carl, and in its excellent appearance indicates the practical and progressive meth- ods and spirit of industry, enterprise and thrift on the part of its owner. He was born in Geneseo, Henry county, Illinois, on the 19th of November, 1871, a son of Martin and Bertha Amelia (Yahnke) Carl, both natives of Germany, and born in 1840 and 1842 respectively. They were married in the fatherland and shortly af- terward came to the United States, arriving in Illinois in the spring of 1869. The father there carried on farming for a number of years and both passed away in that state, Mr. Carl in 1888, and his wife in 1886. In their family were the fol- lowing children, nine in number : Herman W., of Geneseo, Illinois ; Henry F., of this review ; Frank, of Denison, Iowa ; Louis, of Erie, Illinois ; Otto and John, both residing in Geneseo, Illinois ; Gustave, of Magnolia, Minnesota ; David, of Chicago; and Amelia, who married William Conrad, of Hillsdale, Illinois.
After the death of the parents the family was broken up and the children were forced to seek employment whereby they might earn their own livelihood. Henry F. Carl, who was seventeen years of age at the time of his father's demise, was employed for thirteen years as a farm hand, working by the month, and during
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that period he gained broad experience and thorough knowledge of the best meth- ods of carrying on agriculture. He was thus engaged until the time of his mar- riage, after which he rented a farm for about a year. In February, 1907, he came to Iowa and purchased his present home in Poweshiek county, consisting of two hundred and eighty-three acres, located on section 19, on the Jackson township line. This place has been brought under a high state of cultivation, contains two large barns and sheds, commodious corn cribs, a silo, and in fact every accessory that goes to make up a model farm, and today it has the distinction of being the best improved property in the township. All these years he has been raising, feed- ing and fattening stock, and prosperity has attended his efforts to the extent that he is accounted one of the substantial agriculturists of this section.
Mr. Carl was married July 7, 1898, to Miss Anna Johnson, who was born in Sweden on January 10, 1879, and came to America in company with her brother Charles. Unto this union have been born the following children: Alice, Elmer and Edna, born in Illinois ; and Melba and Esther, whose births occurred in Powe- shiek county, Iowa; Henry, who is deceased, was born in March, 1900, and was two years and nine months old at the time of his demise.
Mr. Carl holds membership in the Lutheran church and belongs to the Modern Brotherhood of America, at Deep River. He gives stalwart support to the re- publican party but the honors and emoluments of office have never held attraction for him. He prefers to concentrate his energies upon his private affairs and he is justly accounted one of the good business men of the community. He certainly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, as he started out in life at a very early age, with no capital save his natural qualities of industry and deter- mination, and the years have marked his successive progress until he is today one of the substantial citizens of Poweshiek county.
OLIVER GAUSE.
A fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Sugar Creek township does credit to the agricultural skill of Oliver Gause, who was born in the village of Spiceland, Henry county, Indiana, on the 12th of January, 1851. His parents are Eli C. and Martha A. (Harold) Gause, natives of Ohio and North Carolina respectively. The father, who is a wheelwright, followed his trade in connec- tion with that of carpentry in Spiceland until 1854. Together with his wife and family he migrated to Iowa in the latter year purchasing a farm in Sugar Creek township. Poweshiek county, which he cultivated for about eight years. Dis- posing of his property at the end of that time he returned to Henry county, In- diana, where he worked at the carpenter's trade until 1868. He subsequently went to North Carolina, coming from there to Poweshiek county, where he en- gaged in the mercantile business for three years. Selling his interest he went to Lynnville and entered the dry goods business, with which he still continues to be identified. Mr. Gause casts his vote for the democracy and both he and his wife belong to the Society of Friends. Six children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Gause, in the following order: John H., who is a resident of Lynnville,
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Jasper county, Iowa; Oliver, our subject: Albert, who is living in Jasper county, Iowa ; Samuel, a resident of Oregon; Isaac, who makes his home in Hamilton county, Indiana ; and Seth, who resides in Marshalltown, Iowa. .
In the acquirement of his education Oliver Gause attended the common schools of Spiceland, Indiana, in which town he spent the greater portion of his boyhood and youth. Afterward he returned to Poweshiek county, where he farmed as a renter until 1875, when he purchased eighty acres of land in Sugar Creek township, which forms the nucleus of his present homestead. Having met with success in his undertakings he was later able to add another forty acres to his tract, making the aggregate of his holdings one hundred and twenty acres. In connection with the cultivation of his fields Mr. Gause raises cattle and hogs, in which he has met with very fair success.
On January 21, 1872, Mr. Gause and Miss Mary Beals were united in mar- riage, she being a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Beals) Beals, and a na- tive of Tennessee, where she was born on the 13th of January, 1852. The par- ents were also natives of Tennessee, in which state they were married. Mr. Beals, who was a farmer, migrated to lowa with his family, first locating in Henry county, going from there to Jasper county, where both he and his wife passed away. He was a republican and a member of the Home Guards, while both he and his wife affiliated with the Society of Friends. Five children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Gause : Lineus T., who is a resident of Lynn- ville, Iowa ; Ora, the wife of W. B. Hathaway, of Oskaloosa, Iowa ; Elmer O., who is living in Limon, Colorado; Goldie, the wife of A. B. Latham, of Sears- boro, Iowa; and Lester H., who is also a resident of Limon, Colorado.
Mr. Gause is a democrat and always votes for the candidates of that party, and at the present time he is serving as township trustee, having been the in- cumbent of that office for a year. Both he and his wife affiliate with the Society of Friends, in which organization he is very active, being both elder and clerk of the meeting.
CHARLES H. PARSONS.
The name of Parsons is recognized throughout Malcom township as a syno- nym for genuine and warm-hearted hospitality, and the household of which Charles H. Parsons is the head is one of the most interesting and highly re- spected in this locality.
The family is of good New England stock, the parents of Mr. Parsons, Henry and Louisa ( Kingsbury) Parsons, having both been natives of Massachusetts, where the former was born on the 12th of September, IS12, and the latter on the 4th of February, 1810. They were reared and married in the the old Bay state and in 1861 left the east, making their way to Illinois, where they resided until 1872, in which year they came to Iowa. After their arrival in this state they established their home in Marion county, but in the fall of 1874 came to Powe- shiek county and here spent their remaining days, passing away on the home- stead upon which their surviving children now reside. Mr. Parsons engaged in
MR. AND MRS. HENRY PARSONS
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farming during his residence in Iowa, but ere leaving his native state operated a stage line and carried mail in Massachusetts prior to the advent of the railroad. At one time he owned four livery stables and was engaged in that line of activity for many years, acquiring a goodly competence. He and his wife were remark- able people, of exemplary lives, who enjoyed excellent health until the very last. They survived to see four of their children marry and return home after losing husbands and wife. They were not long separated by death, the mother passing away on the 24th of January, 1900, while the father followed her on the 25th of October, 1902. In their family were five children, as follows: Jane Cornelia, who was born on the 28th of May, 1835, and is now the widow of Anson F. Hills : Charles H., of this review : Emma E., born April 12, 1839, the widow of Charles C. Merrick : Delphina D., born April 22, 1844, the widow of Thomas C. C'arroll ; and Isabelle S., who passed away at the age of two years.
Charles H. Parsons, the only son of the family, was born in Ludlow, Massa- chusetts, September 27, 1836, and was therefore thirty-three years of age when he came to Iowa in 1869, first locating in Marion county, where he was later joined by his parents. With them he came to Poweshiek county in 1874, and since that time has continued to make his home within its borders. He and his thrce widowed sisters reside together upon a farm of two hundred and forty acres located on section 13, the property of his niece, the daughter of Mrs. Hills. Aside from the operation of this farm he also superintends the management of a traet of forty acres owned by his sister, Mrs. Hills. Mr. Parsons has a military record covering one year's service in the Civil war. Scarcely had the smoke of Fort Sumter's guns cleared away when he volunteered for service at the first call for troops. At that time seventy-five thousand men went to Springfield in response to the call, and as there were too many to muster in at that time, he was among those who were sent home. When the call for men to serve for three years came, he enlisted, on the 15th of August, 1861, becoming a member of Company C. Ninety-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Brown. After only a year's service, however, he was discharged at Keokuk, lowa, be- cause of disability, and he returned to civil pursuits.
Mr. Parsons was married, in June, 1861, at Wyanet, Illinois, to Miss Eliza K. Barry, who was born in Wyanet and there passed away in 1863, leaving a son, Scott B. Parsons, who was born on the 3d of June, 1862, and passed away on the 4th of March, 1881. Mr. Parsons gives his political allegiance to the republican party, and although the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him, he nevertheless is keenly alive to the questions and issues of the day in which he takes a deep interest, and readily cooperates in and indorses all meas- ures and movements which tend to promote the welfare of the community in which he resides.
Jane Cornelia Parsons, the eldest daughter of the family, was united in mar- riage, in 1859, to Anson F. Hills, who was born in Connecticut in 1810. In the year of his marriage he came west, locating first in Illinois, and later he made his way to Iowa, arriving in Poweshiek county in 1867. This remained his place of residence until his death, which occurred on the 20th of April, 1874. Prior to his marriage he traveled in the east with Judge Knox, of Bureau county, Illinois, in connection with the book business, in which line the latter amassed a goodiy
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fortune. After coming west, however, he became a farmer and capitalist, buy- ing and selling many farms in Illinois. He owned the farm of two hundred and eighty acres on section 13, now occupied by his wife and her sisters and brother. He purchased this property in 1870, at which time the dwelling was being util- ized as a hotel, as many as one hundred emigrant wagons often passing by it each day on their westward journey. He is survived by his wife and one daugh- ter, Hattie L., the wife of Thomas A. Cheshire, who was at one time state sena- tor and is now residing in Des Moines. A son, Harry, passed away in March, 1862, when two years of age.
The second daughter in the Parsons family is Emma E., who in 1866 became the wife of Charles C. Merrick, a native of Munson, Massachusetts, where he was born on the IIth of April, 1824. He was reared and educated in his native city and later went south as a school teacher, being connected with that profes- sion for several years. Subsequently he became a contractor and builder at Memphis, Tennessee, in which line of activity he was most successful until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he lost very heavily. He then went to Chicago, where he enlisted as a private of the Fifty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry in 1861, under command of Captain Wentz. He served throughout the entire pe- riod of hostilities and was promoted to the rank of captain, in which position he was serving when he was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga. He was brev- eted major March 13, 1865. While Mr. Merrick was at the front his half- brother, Jacob B. Merrick, an extensive cotton manufacturer, operating the Mer- rick Cotton Mills of Thorndike, Massachusetts, passed away, leaving him a hand- same fortune of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. After the close of the war he went to Peru, Illinois, where, in connection with his brother, George Mer- rick, he purchased the Peru Coal Company, of which he became president. He was successfully engaged in the conduct of this business for many years, but shortly before his death suffered the loss of his property. He passed away on the 23d of June, 1893, in Malcom township, while on a visit here. Mrs. Merrick is an artist of considerable note, having taken up the study of water color and china painting in childhood. She was one of the first china painters in Chicago, and after the loss of her husband's property devoted her attention to art as a business proposition, from which she reaped substantial financial returns. She painted the picture called the "Cyclone," for the lowa State College, and has many beautiful specimens of her skill in her home.
Delphina D., the youngest living daughter, was married in Michigan, in 1873, to Thomas C. Carroll, whose birth occurred in Middletown, Connecticut, on the 10th of August, 1847. Mr. Carroll spent the first twenty years of his life in his native city, after which he went to Springfield, Massachusetts, and later made his way west, locating in Chicago. For a number of years he conducted a mer- chant tailoring establishment in the western metropolis, and then, in 1876, came to Poweshiek county, Iowa, where he made his home for two years. In 1878 he removed to Montezuma, Iowa, and there engaged in the hotel business, at first as the proprietor of the old Montezuma House, and later as owner of the Emslie. In 1889 he was burned out, after which he erected the present three-story brick hotel at that city. His connection with the hotel business in Montezuma cov- ered the period from 1878 to 1895, a period which witnessed a gradual hut sub-
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stantial advancement. He passed away in Malcom township in 1896, leaving a widow and one son, Charles T., now residing in Portage, Wisconsin.
Mr. Parsons and his three widowed sisters are active, intelligent and refined, forming an interesting and charming household group. They are all fond of the social amenities of life and enjoy entertaining their many friends, and their home is the seat of a warm-hearted and sincere hospitality which is cordially extended to all. They are held in the highest esteem and regard by their friends and neighbors and, indeed, are spoken of in terms of unstinted praise by all who know them.
ALEXANDER WYLIE.
Iowa largely owes her progress and wealth to her agricultural interests. His- tory has ever given proof of the fact that the most prosperous countries are the ones which offer the best opportunities to the agriculturist. Living a life of in- tense and well directed activity Alexander Wylie, residing on section 25, Bear Creek township, is numbered among the active and progressive farmers and stock-breeders of that part of the state. He was born in County Antrim, Ire- land, on the 12th of December, 1854, a son of Robert and Elizabeth J. ( Laven- der) Wylie. The parents were born and reared on the Emerald iste, and there the mother's death occurred. The father later came to America, about twenty-five years ago, and here purchased a farm in Jasper county, Iowa, where he lived until recently, when he sold his property and retired, taking up his abode in the village of Hartwick, Jefferson township, Poweshiek county, where he is now living.
Alexander Wylie spent the period of his boyhood and youth in the land of his nativity, and when twenty years of age he came to the United States, land- ing in New York in 1874. He did not tarry on the eastern coast, however, but made his way direct into the interior of the country, locating in Scott county, Iowa, where he remained for four years, being engaged as a farm hand. He then moved to Jasper county and with the money which he had been able to save purchased a farm of eighty acres. This he continued to operate for ten years, after which he came to Poweshiek county and bought a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Jefferson township, about two miles west of Hartwick, which remained his home for nine years. At the end of that time he sold that property and came to Bear Creek township, becoming the owner of his present homestead of one hundred and sixty acres located on section 25. This is a well improved farm, being well drained and watered, and under his wise management and supervision it has been brought under a high state of cultivation. He raises large quantities of hay, oats, corn and potatoes, and makes a specialty of feeding hogs, which he sells to shippers. He gives close attention to his farming inter- ests and has everything on hand with which to pursue agriculture by modern methods, while his present degree of prosperity indicates clearly the business ability which he has displayed in the performance of same.
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On the 29th of November. 1886, Mr. Wylie was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Paul, a daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Elder) Paul, both natives of County Antrim, Ireland. The father was a farmer by occupation and in their native country he and his wife spent their entire lives. Their daughter Agnes was a maiden of eighteen summers when she came alone to America in July, 1880, and it was in Jasper county, Iowa, that she first met and was later married to Mr. Wylie. She lost her father in early childhood and her mother passed away in 1890. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wylie have been born nine children, one of whom passed away in infancy. The others are: Edith Jane, living at home ; Lavina, the wife of Glen Beery, a farmer of Warren township, Poweshiek county ; Margaret Ella, who married Carl Burlingame, engaged in farming in Bear Creek township ; and Leslie, Ray, Maude, Adaline and Everett Alexander, all of whom are yet at home. Mr. and Mrs. Wylie and the five eldest children are inembers of the Brooklyn Presbyterian church, and the entire family are held in high es- teem throughout the community in which they reside.
Mr. Wylie gives his support to the republican party and, while he has no de- sire for preferment along political lines, hie yet keeps well informed on the ques- tions and issues of the day. He is a man of noble qualities of character, of strong and resolute purpose, industrious and enterprising, and, well known throughout the community for his uprightness and honesty, he merits and enjoys the respect and confidence of his neighbors and many friends.
AARON MAIN.
The homestead of Aaron Main in Sugar Creek township is entirely devoted to general farming in connection with stock-raising, from both of which he is realizing very satisfactory returns. Mr. Main was born in Darke county, Ohio, on the 24th of September, 1854, and is a son of Joshua A. and Nellie ( Phillips) Main, the father a native of Maryland and the mother of Darke county, Ohio. In his early manhood Joshua A. Main migrated from his native state to Darke county, where he met the woman who subsequently became his wife. There he engaged in farming until he came to Poweshiek county. Upon his arrival here he first located in Union township where he rented land for a time. but later he purchased a farm in Sugar Creek township, which he cultivated until his death, making a specialty of raising cattle. His demise occurred on the 18th of Feb- ruary, 1901, but the mother is still surviving and now makes her home in Sugar Creek township. Mr. Main was a democrat and served as township trustee. Unto him and his wife were born six children in the following order: John, who is deceased : William P., who is living in Leon, North Dakota : Aaron, our sub- ject : Jacob, who resides in Sugar Creek township: Jane. the wife of John Fleener. of Sugar Creek township ; and Elizabeth, who married George Ailender, of Kingman county. Kansas.
Reared to manhood on the old family homestead in Sugar Creek township Aaron Main obtained his education in the district schools in the vicinity. Being called upon to assist with the work of the farm from his very early boyhood by
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