USA > Iowa > Wapello County > History of Wapello County, Iowa, and representative citizens > Part 22
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S. H. HARPER.
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trade, supplying the feed and grocery stores. and the business is in a thriving condition. He was alone in this business until 1899, when he took a trip to his native country, England. leaving his affairs in charge of his son and Mr. Weidenfeller. Since that time, the firm name has been Vinley & Weidenfeller.
Mr. Vinley was united in marriage, in Eng- land. with Hannah Crowther, who died in 1877, leaving four children, as follows: J. W., a railroad man who died in 1893, at the age of thirty-five years; Edwin, who is thirty-five years old, and is connected with the Union Stock Yards of Chicago: Sarah Elizabeth ( Weidenfeller ), whose husband manages the mill and lives in South Ottumwa ; and Sewell C., who is located in the West. Politically, Mr. Ainley has always been a Republican. In religious views, he is an Episcopalian. Ile owns residence property in South Ottumwa, and has a pleasant home.
11. HARPER, who has been prom- inently identified with the growth of Ottumwa for more than thirty years past, is a member of the Harper & Mc- Intire Company, wholesale dealers in hardware. He was Born near Zanesville. Muskingum coun- 11. Ohio. April 23. 1843.
listed as a private in Company B, 30th Reg .. lowa Vol. Inf. In June, 1863. he was commis- sioned by the Secretary of War as a second lieutenant in the 46th Reg., U. S. Colored In- fantry. Ile was later promoted to be a first lieutenant, and then to a captaincy, and was honorably discharged from the army in Feb- ruary, 1866, after three years and seven months of service.
In 1867. Mr. Harper entered the employ of the hardware firm of Henry & Haw, of Ot- tunwa, and thus continued until 1869. when he embarked in business for himself, as a member of the firm of Egan & Harper. In 1873. the building and stock of this firm were destroyed by fire, and the same year they purchased the stock of Daggett & Eagerly, their competitors in the hardware business. The business was then conducted under the firm name of Egan, Harper & Company, Mr. Edgerly remaining with the new firm. In 1875. Mr. Edgerly sold his interest to E. N. Chambers, and in 1870 the firm embarked in the wholesale business by putting two traveling men on the road. In 1881, Mr. Egan sold his interest in the busi- ness, and R. C. Wilson and Frank Melntire entered the firm, -the name being changed to Harper, Chambers & Company. In 1881, a fire starting in an adjoining drug store de- stroyed the building. and seriously damaged the goods of the firm. In 1885, Mr. Wilson retired from the firm, and in 1802 Mr. Cham- bers retired, the firm name being changed to the Harper & MeIntire Company, which has
Mr. Harper came to Ottumwa, Wapello county, lowa, in 1853, and settled on a farm with his father's family, about one and a quar- ter miles north of the present city limits. He "remained its designation up to the present time. remained on the farm until 1862, when he en- The large four-story building now occupied
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by the company was erected in 1893, and the business has grown to enormous proportions, -the firm being rated as one of the largest commercial houses of lowa.
Mr. Harper has always taken an active in- terest in public matters, and has assisted in se- curing all of the enterprises which have lo- cated in Ottumwa during the past thirty years. lle has been a member of the school board. president of the Mississippi & Missouri Valley Hardware Association, a presidential elector. and for the past two years president of the Wapello County Old Settlers' Association. He has been a director of the lowa National Bank for twenty years, and was a delegate to the na- tional monetary convention held at Indian- apolis. in 1897 and 1898. He is a man of great influence, and has many friends in the state. His portrait accompanies this sketch, being presented on a foregoing page.
ILLIAM M. REECE, who holds an important position with the government as secretary of the committee on public lands, is a prominent contractor and builder of Ottumwa, Iowa. When he came to this state he was without means, and it was only by hard work and perseverance that he attained his high standing in the community. He was born in Wood county, West Virginia, November 25. 1856, and is a son of Alphens R. and Phoebe ( Lowther ) Reece.
Alpheus R. Reece was born in Wood coun- ty, West Virginia, and came from a promi-
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nent old family of Virginia, of English and Welsh descent. Ilis great-grandfather was also a native of Virginia. The members of the family have been largely mechanics and tradesman. but few entering professions. Abraham Rees, the compiler of the first Eng- lish encyclopedia, was a relative of .Alpheus R. Reece. The latter was a soldier of the Civil war. serving in the 15th Reg .. W. Va. Vol. Inf., and after the war engaged in the boot and shoe and other mercantile business. Hle married Phoebe Lowther, who was born in 1828, in Ritchie county. West Virginia. Her father crossed the AAlleghany mountains as early as 1790, and settled in what is now Ritchie county, West Virginia. He en- gaged with a pack-train in carrying salt to settlers in the Ohio River Valley in the vi- cinity of Marietta. Ile experienced all the hardships incident to that early pioneer life. and had many fierce skirmishes with the In- dians. His oldest son, William M., moved to Clay county, Illinois, and engaged in farming on an extensive scale. His youngest daughter married David McGregor, an influential man in the Democratic party of West Virginia for many years, who was also extensively engaged in oil operations; he was somewhat unfortu- nate in speculations prior to his death, but left his wife 1,700 acres of land, upon which an abundance of petroleum has since been found. from which land she derives a handsome in- come, leasing it to operators. Mr. and Mrs. Reece reared two sons and three daughters, as follows : William M. : Abraham L., a Christian minister located in Fresno county, California :
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Anna M., wife of Clark Wigner, an oil opera- tor ; and Electa J., wife of William Dilly, a car- penter, both residing in Ritchie county, West Virginia : and Ella, who resides with an aunt in the same county.
Wiliam M. Reece was reared in Virginia until he reached the age of twenty years, and then came west to strive for himself. Hle stop- ped at Keosauqua. Van Buren county, lowa. having, as he expressed it, "75 cents and a good appetitie." He resolved to make a start and succeed in life or never return to Virginia. Twelve years later he and his wife visited the old home friends, and viewed the hills and the valleys where he had played as a boy. now all covered with oil derricks. Although he had only common school advantages as a boy. he has always been a student, and now has a valuable library. He learned the trade of a cooper and carpenter early in life, and has done large contract work at different places. At Keosauqua, he was engaged at carpenter work until 1881, when he came to Ottumwa. He then began work at the cooper trade at Morrell & Seymour's, and, later, worked by the day as a carpenter for Charles Simons, who was then contracting. In 1884, he formed a partnership with Mr. Simmons, which lasted one year, and. in 1885. built for George H. Shaffer the large house now occupied by Dr. Bonham. He built the Ottumwa Coal Palace. in 1889. He planned John McIntire's resi- dence on North Market street. in 1892. In 1803. he built the Franklin school-house, and Leighton Block, in 1895. He employed over 100 men, and built school-houses and churches
in different parts of the state. He was elect- ed a member of the city council from the sec- end ward, in 1889, and served one term. In 1804, he was chairman of the Republican coun- ty central committee, and chairman of the judicial district Republican committee. He was appointed, in the latter part of 1895, sec- retary of the committee on public lands by Congressman John F. Lacy, and has since held that position. He has discharged its duties in a most satisfactory manner, and is in Wash- ington, D. C., during every session of Con- gress. Ile made a trip to the northern coast of the Behring Sea in the summer of 1900. and has visited all the public land states to better acquaint himself with the public domain. spending considerable time in the Yosemite Valley and in Yellowstone Park. Recently. accompanied by his son Carroll MI., aged nine years, he made a trip to Alaska, going up Nome River and had a very fine time.
In 1901. Mr. Reece visited the Kiowa and Comanche country, and since his return he or- ganized a company with an authorized capital stock of $100,000, to engage in producing oil and deal in oil lands. Mr. Reece was elected president of this company, known as the Ot- tumwa Oil & Developing Company.
Mr. Reece was united in marriage, in 1880, in Van Buren county, lowa, with Clara Houk, who was born in that county in 1857, and is a daughter of Henry Houk, who was killed at the battle of Fort Donelson in the Civil War. This union was productive of two children : Harlan M., aged seventeen years ; and Carroll M., aged nine years. Fraternally, he belongs
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to the Royal Arcanum, of which he is chap- lain : to the Modern Woodmen of America ; and to the Sons of Veterans. Religiously, he is affil- iated with the Methodist Episcopal church. lle first built a modest home on the corner of Fourth and Birch streets, and, later, the house where he now resides, at No. 447 North Jef- ferson street.
OHN TRISLER, who for many years was successfully engaged in agricult- ural pursuits, is at the present time located in South Ottumwa, where he owns a comfortable home and two acres of land, which he devotes to fruit raising,-main- ly cherries and plums. He was born in 1843 in Bartholomew county, Indiana, and is a son of Isaac Trisler.
Isaac Trisler was born in Ohio about 1810, but learned his trade and was married in Indi- ana. He was a blacksmith and carpenter by trade; he died in 1851. just after removing his family to Davis county, lowa, about nine miles northeast of Bloomfield. He married Nancy Williams, who was born in Virginia, and came to Indiana with her parents. She died in Davis county, lowa, shortly after the death of her husband, leaving seven children: Eman- uel F .: Elizabeth: Jolm; Sarah Ellen: James M .: Matilda: and Isaac. Emanuel F. resides at Glenwood, lowa, and is a mechanic ; Eliza- beth ( Peck ) died in 1883, and left one daugh- ter who resides in Nebraska; John is the sub- ject of this sketch ; Sarah Ellen ( Russell) lives in Nebraska: James M. lives in Calhoun, Ne-
braska; Matilda (Chapman) lives in Arling- ton, Nebraska; and Isaac is a retired farmer and ranchman, of Kansas.
John Trisler was reared in Davis county, lowa, and received his intellectual training in the public schools. He took up the vocation of a farmer, and later owned a fine farm south- west of Drakesville, where he carried on gen- eral farming and stock raising very success- fully. In 1895, he sold his farm. In 1896 he removed to Bloomfield and resided there for a short time, when he moved, to South Ot- tumwa. Purchasing two acres of land, he built a nice house, and planted fruit trees, prin- cipally cherry and phun. of different varieties.
Mr. Trisler was united in matrimony, in 1870. in Davis county, lowa, with Nancy J. Garretson, who was born in Lee county, Iowa, in 1843. Hler father, William Garretson, was born December 1, 1819. in Clark county, Ohio, and moved to Lee county, Jowa, in the carly "forties," and to Davis county, in 1843. where he took a claim. This claim he exchanged for another farm on which he lived and followed the trade of a carpenter, renting his land. He sold the farm in 1891 and moved to Drakes- ville, and later to Floris, where he died April 25. 1920. On March 11, 1841, Mr. Garret- son was married to Christine Newcomb, who was born in Miami county, Ohio, September 27. 1820. They had 10 children, as follows: Alexander: Nancy J .: Mary E .; Sarah E. : Frances E. : Amanda C .; Thomas J. ; Clarissa .1 .; John Wesley; Melissa C. John Wesley died in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Trisler have two children: Eva J .. a teacher in the Nebraska
HON. WILLIAM A. MCINTIRE.
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schools; and Angie L., a music teacher, living at home.
Mr. Trisler is a veteran of the Civil War. having enlisted upon the first call for volun- teers, in 1861, in Company D, 10th Reg., Mo. Vol. Inf., as lowa had at that time filled her quota. He served throughout the war as a private, participated in many important en- gagements, and, although wounded at luka. still remained in the ranks. He was in the battles of Corinth and Iuka, the campaign of Vicksburg, and the engagements at Raymond. Jackson and Champion Hills. Ile was finally transferred to the Veterans Reserve Corps on account of disability, incurred in the siege of Vicksburg. His regiment guarded prisoners at Rock Island, Illinois, just before being mus- tered out, at Milwaukee, August 22. 1864. 116 joined the G. A. R. shortly after its organiza- tion, and is a member of Tuttle Post, No. 497. Ile has served two terms as commander and held all other offices. Ilis wife is a prominent member of the W. R. C. Religiously, they be- long to the Christian church. In politics, he is a Republican, and has served as township trustee, and in other offices.
5 ON. WILLIAM A. MEINTIRE, state senator from this district, and for many years county superintendent of schools, is a resident and business man of Ottumwa. lowa. He was born in Wapello county, April 11. 1849. Ilis fa- ther. William Clark Melntire, was born and reared in Clark county, Ohio. In 1843.
the latter married Eliza AA. Myers and im- mediately moved to Jowa, locating in Keo- kuk township, Wapello county. He took up a claim of government land, engaged actively in its improvement and cultivation, and continued in that vocation until his death, January 30, 1881. Being one of the pioneers of the state, he lived in a log cabin, and en- dured all the hardships incident to a new coun- try, but was possessed of that energy which conquered adversity and brought him success. He always took an active interest in educa- tional matters, and bestowed upon his chil- dren a good education. The family consisted of six children, namely: Caroline C., who died at the age of five years ; Joseph, who died at thirty years of age: John, who was sheriff of Wapello county, and is deceased: Frank. a member of the Harper & MeIntire Company, wholesale and retail dealers in hardware : Har- riett F. ( Davis), deceased; and William .1. The widow of William Clark Melntire died July 1, 1882.
William A. Melntire was reared on his fa- ther's farm and received his early mental train- ing in the primitive log school-house. He continued to reside upon the old homestead until he reached his majority, having had in the meantime the privilege of attending the high school at Ottumwa two years. In 1870- 71. he attended the agricultural college at Ames, lowa, and on finishing the sophomore course engaged in teaching school in Taylor county. In the fall of 1877. he was elected to the office of superintendent of the public schools of Wapello county. In 1879. he was
13
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defeated for that position, but in the fall of 1881 he was elected again, and reelected in 1883, 1885 and 1887. serving in that capacity ten years.
In 1888, Mr. Melntire established himself in the hardware business in Ottumwa, under the firm name of W. A. MeIntire & Company. He has followed that line ever since.
In the fall of 1897. he was chosen by the Democratic party to represent his party in the state senate for the term expiring January 1. 1902.
Mr. Melntire was married March 26, 1874. to Clara M. Goldsberry. She was born in Ross county, Ohio. July 15. 1849. Socially, Mr. Melntire is a member of the K. of P., halling fellowship with the Wapelo Lodge. No, 12: he is also identified with the Modern Woodmen of America.
The subject of this sketch has been con- neted with the People's Building & Savings Association since 1804, and is now serving as president of the organization. He is a mem- ber, and now president, of the lowa Retail Hardware Association. He belongs to the Iowa's State Teachers' Association and is pres- ident of the school directors section of that as- s: ciation. lle has done much to advance the cause of education throughout the county, as well as the state, and still maintains an interest in school affairs He is now a member of the Ottumwa a school board, on which he has served since 1895. He is also a member of the 14 ard of directors of the Ottumwa Public Lib- very Association. His portrait is shown on a preceding page, in proximity to this.
S. STYRE, junior member of the firm of G. E. Styre & Brother, pro- prietors of the Excelsior coal mine. in Center township, Wapello county, lowa. is one of the prominent young business men of the county. He was born in Nebraska, in 1876, and is a son of G. W. and Celina ( Sickman ) Styre.
G. W. Styre was born in Pennsylvania, and when about eight years old went with his par- ents to Ohio, where he was reared to manhood. lle was engaged in farming and in the dairy business. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the 7Ist Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. ; he served in two regiments. After the war, he removed to Michigan, and later to Nebraska, where he engaged in farming. In 1878 he set- tled in Kirkville. Wapello county, Jowa, and farmed there until 1888, when he located in Center township, on section 1. township 71. range 14. He is engaged in farming, and is one of the best known men in that township. He married Celina Sickman, who was born in Wayne county. Ohio, and their union re- sulted in the birth of six children, namely : B. F .. who lives at home: G. E., senior mem- ber of the firm of G. E. Styre & Brother, who lives in South Ottumwa: S. S., the subject of this sketch, who lives at home with his parents ; Kate ( Pickens), of Cedar county, lowa : D. L., who lives at home ; and Mabel C. ( Porter), who lives in Medina, Ohio.
S. S. Styre was reared and schooled near Kirkville. in Wapello county. He assisted his father in farming and the dairy business, only giving this up to become associated with his
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brother in coal mining. The mine was opened in 1897, on the G. W. Styre land, and has been in operation ever since, giving employ- ment to 40 men. The shaft is 52 feet deep, and the output is 125 tons daily. The mine was opened by G. E. Styre, and S. S. Styre became a partner in 1898. Mr. Styre is one of the brightest young business men in the town- ship, and a bright future awaits him.
S. S. Styre is a member of the Wapello Lodge, No. 62. I. O. O. F. Ilis father and brother are both Odd Fellows, the elder Mr. Styre belonging to Lodge No. 9. G. E. Styre is also a member of the Woodmen of America. The family has been identified with the growth and development of Wapello county for the past twenty-three years, and is highly respect- ed in the community.
OHN MACMILLAN has been in t'ie employ of the Phillips Fuel Company. as weighing boss, since 1884. having charge of all the coal taken from the mine, and his work has been highly satis- factory to his employers. He was born in Ohio, in 1852, and is a son of H. S. Mac- Millan.
11. S. MacMillan was born in Scotland and at an early day immigrated to Canada where he remained but a short time, and then came to this country, locating at Keokuk, lowa. Ile followed railroading most of his life, his last position being that of road master on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. Hle
died at Kahoka, Missouri, at the age of sixty- seven years, having lived in lowa for half a century. His wife died at the age of seventy- eight years. They had four sons and one daughter. MMlexander, the third son, is super- intendent of bridges on the Texas & Pacific Railway, and is located at Marshall, Texas. Sarah, the only daughter, married James M. Welch, a merchant of Keokuk, who has served as mayor of that city.
John MacMillan was two years of age when his parents moved to Keokuk, lowa, and there he grew to maturity, receiving a liberal education in private schools. At the carly age of eighteen years he began railroad work, serving first as operator, then as switchman one year, after which he became a brakeman. He held this position until he was set up as con- ductor, and served in that capacity until he ar- copted a position as weighing boss for the Phillips Fuel Company. He has held that po- sition since 1884, and has discharged his du- ties in an eminently satisfactory manner. never in all these years having received a complaint as to the correctness of weight. He is a man of good business ability, faithful to the in- terests of the company, and stands high in the esteem of his employers.
In 1872 Mr. MacMillan was united in mar- riage with Maggie White, who is of Scotch- Irish parentage. Her father was born in Bel- fast, Ireland, and came to this country. He enlisted in the United States army and served with credit during the Mexican War, being promoted to a captainey for bravery on the battle field. Mr. MacMillan and his wife have
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three children, as follows: William W., who was born June 2, 1873, and is a conductor on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad ; Louise, who was born February 17, 1875, mar- ried Mr. Bromley and has one child Marguerite 1 .. ; and Sarah, born July 8, 1877, who is still single, and for seven years has been head packer for the largest cigar manufacturing establish- ment of the city. Mr. MacMillan is a strong Republican in politics. Hle and his wife are members of the Maccabees and Foresters, both being officeholders. Mrs. MaeMillan is chap- lain and district deputy for the Maccabees. In religious belief, both are Baptists.
EVI PUMROY. Among the many well known farmers living in Center township. Wapello county, Iowa, 18 the gentleman whose name opens these lines. Ile resides in section 33. township 72, range 14, where he has successfully farmed for a number of years. He was born in Wa- pello county, Iowa, and is a son of Grimes and Ellen ( Thrush ) Pumroy.
Grimes Pumroy, the father of Levi, was a native of Ohio, and came to lowa in 1851. Hle bought the farm in Center township now owned by our subject, and for many years con- ducted a sawmill on Soap creck. In 1800 lie sold out his interest in the sawmill and moved on his farm, where he remained until his re- moval to Ottumwa. in 1800, where he died in July, 1898. In 18ot he enlisted in Company 1. 15th Reg., Iowa Vol. Inf., and was with this regiment during its famous service at
Shiloh. He afterward joined in the pursuit of General Hood, and was in many battles and marches in Tennessee. He was promoted for bravery, and when he returned home from the war, it was as a corporal of his company. He then raised a company and was made its cap- tain. He married Ellen Thrush, and to them were born nine children, Levi, the subject of this sketch, being the oldest son now living.
Levi Pumroy was reared and schooled in Wapello county, and his early life was spent on the farm on which he now lives. He became the possessor of the place in 1889, and many are the improvements he has made. He has built a new house, and has just finished a model barn, 32 by 48 feet, in dimensions, for his stock and grain, and has also erected several outbuildings. He has made many other im- provements, until the farm is now considered one of the finest in Wapello county. Mr. Pum- roy is a man of much thrift and energy, and his early life on the farm has helped him in the management of the property which was once the pride of his father.
Mr. Pumroy married Sarah E. Simmons, January 27, 1886. She was born September 14. 1865, and is a daughter of Nathan and Rachel Simmons, Nathan Simmons was of Scotch-Irish descent, his father, Edward Sim- mons, having settled in Virginia and Kentucky in the early days of this country. Mr. and Mrs. Pumroy have been blessed by the birth of nine children, whose names are as follows: Ralph Edward, born December 22, 1886; Harry Mortin, horn March 8, 1888: Elmer Marton, born October 8. 1880: Lora Flor-
JAMES T. HACKWORTH
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RESIDENCE OF JAMES T. HACKWORTH.
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ence, born February 2, 1891; Levi Ernest, born June 18, 1892: Arthur Grimes, born March 18, 1894: Sarah Irene, born December 20, 1895; Thomas, born January 17, 1898; and Leslie, born March 13, 1899. Mr. Pum- roy has always been a Republican, in politics. He and his wife attend the Christian church in South Ottumwa.
AMIES T. HAACKWORTH, one of the most progressive spirits in the busi- ness world of Ottumwa, is president of the Johnston Ruffler Company, and one of the proprietors of the Ottumwa Iron Works. He has been engaged in his present business since 1871, and in the meantime has identified himself with many of the leading business enterprise of the city. He was born in Adams county, Ohio, in January, 1839, and is a son of George D. Hackworth.
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