USA > Iowa > Wapello County > History of Wapello County, Iowa, and representative citizens > Part 47
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county poor-farm; Ida J., wife of John Shep- herd, of Richland township; C. Etta ( Berry ). of Arizona; and an infant named Lincoln. Mr. Wilson is a Republican in politics, and has served as justice of the peace for twenty years, and for seven years on the school board of his township. Religiously, he belongs to the Pres- byterian church. He is the founder of the Wil- son Presbyterian church, of Richland town- ship, erected at a cost of between $1.200 and $1.500. ile has been an elder of the church for fifteen years, and has been liberal in its support.
DAMI DECKER. one of the well- known residents and farmers of Wa- pello county, lowa, is living on a farm of 218 acres of land in Com- petine township, section 28. He was born in Indiana in 1844, and is a son of William and Lydia ( Baney ) Decker.
William Decker was born in Pennsylvania. in 1815. He married Lydia Baney, who was also a native of Pennsylvania. She died when Adam was but four years old. She was the mother of four children, namely : John. David. Adam and Elizabeth. William Decker mar- ried, secondly, Mary Hondyshell, and to them were born two children, -Lydia and Jacob.
Adam Decker enlisted in the Civil War in 1802. He entered Company E. 17th Reg .. lowa Vol. Inf., at Competine. He remained with this regiment some time, and after being mustered out at St. Louis, Missouri, by a gen- eral order from the war department, to enable
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him to go into the marine service. he enlisted for a term of three years in the First Missis- sippi Marine Brigade, commanded by General Elliott. He was chiefly employed in doing scout duty on the Mississippi. He was at the siege of Vicksburg, and in a number of other important engagements. The command was mustered out by general order at Vicksburg. in 1805.
After returning from the army Mr. Decker went into the Rocky Mountains, where he drove an ox team as a freighter. He was at Cheyenne before the advent of the railroad. and has been all over the western country as a frontiersman. While in charge of a wagon train he was attacked by a band of Indians and narrowly escaped death. lle has also freighted on the overland trail between Utah and Idaho, and had much practical experience of the rough and dangerous life of a plains- man.
Mr. Decker located in Iowa with his par- ents in 1858. They lived on a farm in Com- petine township. Mr. Decker bought his pres- ent home farm of 218 acres in Competine township, on section 28, township 73, range 12, and there he is engaged in the tilling of the soil. His land is well improved and kept in excellent condition, and constitutes one of the most attractive farms in the township.
In 1872 Mr. Decker married Editha Sny- der, a daughter of Benjamin and Rebecca Sny- der. She died at the age of twenty-five years. Mr. Decker then married Nancy J. Glenn, who was born in 1849. a daughter of James and Annie Glenn. Three children have blessed
this union, namely: Elizabeth, who was born in 1877: Cora E .. born in 1885; and William J .. born in 1883.
Mr. Dexter and his wife are members of the Christian church. In politics he is a Re- publican. Ile has served as trustee of his township for nine years, as school director and as secretary and treasurer of that board for cighteen years. He is a public-spirited man. and takes a deep and active interest in all pub- lic enterprises which are for the good of the community. On preceding pages are shown portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Decker and of their children. Elizabeth, Cora E. and Will- iamı J.
RA WILSON. a highly respected resi- deut of Wapello county, lowa, is en- gaged in farming in Richland town- ship, where he has resided for many years. He was born in Indiana, in 1833, and is a son of David Wilson.
David Wilson was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, June 23. 1785, and was eight years of age when he moved with his parents to Ohio. He afterward located in In- diana and was engaged in farming until 1852. when he came to Iowa. He stopped six weeks in Des Moines county, and then moved to Rich- land township. Wapello county, and took up the farm on which Ira Wilson now resides. He had previously purchased a farm of 280 acres, on which he resided at the time of his death. in 1863. He was a Republican in politics, and served as trustee of the township one term.
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He married Margaret Conaway, who was born in South Carolina, and they reared the fol- lowing children : Charles, Hannah and Henry, deceased : lra ; and Lucy, deceased.
Ira Wilson was eighteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to lowa, and here he lived with his father until after his mar- riage. He then purchased a portion of his fa- ther's farm, on which he has since resided. He 1 carries on general farming and has raised some stock. He has lived a life of great activity. and success has attended his efforts. He is a man of high character, and is held in the high- est esteem wherever known. He has lived in this county since the spring of 1852, and has formed many warm friendships in that time.
Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Letitia Brown, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1836, and they have reared the following children : Joseph, of Ottumwa ; Laura : Lettie: Eher, who lives at home: and Benjamin F. Mr. Wilson is a Republican in politics.
E DWIN P. STEWART. engaged in general farming in Washington town- ship. Wapello county, lowa, is liv- ing on section 10. He was born in Logan county, Ohio, in 1853, and is a son of James and Nancy ( Whiteley) Stewart.
James Stewart was born in New York in 1806. In his youth he went to Ohio. Hle moved to lowa in 1857, and located in Mahaska county, where he lived until 1861, and then settled in Wapello county. He died in 1877. Mr. Stewart married Nancy Whiteley, who
was born in Clark county, Ohio, in 1820. Her death occurred in 1862. They reared the fol- lowing children, namely: Andy. a farmer living at Lincoln, Nebraska: Kitty Ann, the wife of Cyrus Ray, of Missouri; Esther, the wife of Ernest Otto, of Holt county, Nebraska : Joseph and Wilson, of Boone county. Ne- braska: Edwin P., the subject of this sketch : Laura, who lives in Noble county, Indiana ; Nancy, who lives in Pleasant township. Wa- pello county ; and Edie, who lives in Boone county, Nebraska.
Edwin P. Stewart, whose name heads this sketch, has 60 acres of well improved farming land in Washington township. He is engaged in general farming, and is making quite a suc- cess of this occupation. Mr. Stewart married Nellie Stangland, who was born in Noble county, Indiana, in 1865, and they have reared three children, namely : Ernest, born in Noble county, Indiana : and Gladys and Lena. born in Wapello county, lowa.
Politically, Mr. Stewart is a firm believer in the principles of the Republican party. Re- ligiously, he is a Methodist. He has a wide circle of friends in Wapello county, and is al- ways a ready supporter of any worthy cause, or any measure which tends to advance the welfare of the people in the community.
AVID THOMAS EVANS, a prosper- ous farmer residing in Richland township. Wapello county, Iowa, was born in California. in 1861. Ile is a son of E. J. and Mary ( Edwards ) Evans.
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
1. J. Evans was born near Cardiff, North Wales, in 1840. He came to the United States when he was twenty-four years old, landing in New York, and afterward located in Pennsyl- vania. He was engaged in mining for a num- ber of years. In 1858 Mr. Evans went to Cali- fornia, making the voyage by way of South America. He lived in California five years. and after accumulating $8,000 returned to Pennsylvania. His next location in the West was in Illinois, and in 1863 he settled in Jowa. Ile named and laid out the town of Enter- prise. the postoffice of which town is Beacon, where he bought ito acres of farming land. Mr. Evans died in 1885, and his death was much mourned by all who knew him. His wife was Mary Edwards, who was born in North Wales. They reared three children, namely : T. F. ; David Thomas ; and Mary E., who mar- ried a Mr. Jones.
David Thomas Evans was but four years old when his parents settled in Iowa. He re- mained with his father until his death. Mr. Evans settled on his present farm in Richland township in 1886. He owns 255 acres of land in sections 2 and 11, where he carries on gen- eral farming and sheep raising. Hle is very successful, and is well known in the county. A man of energy and good business ability. he has made much headway in his chosen oc- cupation, and is among the foremost farmers in his vicinity.
Mr. Evans was married to Hester C. Smith in 1885. She was born in Mahaska county. lowa, in 1863. Two children resulted from this union, namely : Harry S. and Edward J.
In politics Mr. Evans is a Republican. Fra- ternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
R OBERT T. ISRAEL. a gentleman who has filled many positions of trust in this county and in other places where he has resided, is a prominent farmer of Washington township. Wapello county, Iowa. He was born in this county, February 19. 1856, and is a son of Moses C. and Ruth ( Brownfield ) Israel.
Moses C. Israel was born in Butler county, Ohio, November 20, 1820, and at an early day located in lowa and entered a claim. Ile is a very successful farmer. and owns about 300 acres of land in Washington township. He married Ruth Brownfield. a native of Pennsyl- vania, and they became parents of the follow- ing children: Joseph A .; Mary; Robert T .; Hiram J. : and George P. He was originally a Whig in politics, and voted for William Henry Harrison, but since 1844 he has been a Democrat, having voted in that year for James K. Polk. Religiously he is a Baptist.
Robert T. Israel attended the public schools of Washington township, and lived with his father until he was twenty-three years of age. In 1880 he located in Salida, Colorado, and was deputy postmaster there for five and a half years. He was also baggage master for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad at Salida for two and a half years. He was deputy United States marshal during the railroad strike of 1894, and then returned to Wapello
H. C. HUMBERT.
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county in the fall of that year, and located on his present farm in Washington township. He is engaged in general farming and stock- breeding, and makes a specialty of breeding hogs.
Mr. Israel was united in marriage with Louisa Gonterman, who was born in Jefferson county, Jowa, in 1858, and they have reared two children,-Ata and Carl. In politics he is a strong supporter of the Democratic party. Hle and his faithful wife are members of the Missionary Baptist church.
5 C. HUMBERT. mayor of Agency City. Wapello county, lowa, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page. is a prominent carpenter and contractor of his vicinity. He was born in Pennsylvania. April 22. 1827, and is a son of Jacob Humbert.
Jacob Humbert was born December 31. 1709. in Pennsylvania, and died there in 1881. He was engaged in agricultural, pursuits throughout his entire life. He married Hester Cremer, a sister of Major Cremer, deceased. who was born in Somerset county. Pennsyl- vania. August 20. 1857, and died December 25. 1886. This union resulted in the following offspring: H. C., the subject of this sketch. and Aaron, deceased, who were twins : Samuel : John: Josiah, Adam: Jacob: R: Harriet and Michael, deceased.
Il. C. Humbert lived in Pennsylvania until he reached the age of thirty years, and fol-
lowed the trade of a carpenter during his early career. He came west to łowa in 1857 and located in Agency township. Wapelo county, where he purchased a farm and followed farm- ing and carpenter work. He resided upon this property until 1896, when be removed to Agency City and purchased his present home. He is following carpenter work and contract- ing and owns seven lots and three houses in the town. He is now serving his fourth successive year as mayor of Agency City, and has given general satisfaction as the town executive. .
Mr. Humbert was joined in marriage with Lydia Deitz, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1824. Politically he is a strong supporter of the Republican party and has served as town- ship trustee, treasurer and as president of the school board of the township. He is a veteran of the Civil War. In 1862 he enlisted in Com- pany E. 22d Reg., Iowa Vol. Inf., and became captain of the company. He was in the siege of Vicksburg and served until 2803. when he received an honorable discharge on account of poor health. Ile is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Fraternally he he- longs to the Masonic order. In religious at- tachments he is a faithful member of the Meth- txlist Episcopal church.
SAAC T. FLINT, for many years a well- known journalist, is located on a farm in Washington township. Wapello county, lowa. He was born in But- der county. Ohio. April 18, 1839, and is a som
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
vi Jospeh 11. and Rebecca ( Abraham ) Flint.
Joseph II. Flint was born in Maryland, and was four years of age when taken by his par- cuts to Indiana. There he was reared and mentally trained, and afterward engaged in teaching school. He became a minister of the Baptist church and followed that vocation nearly all his life. Ile moved to lowa, and during the winter of 1841-42 lived in Fair- feld. He then moved to Locust Grove town-" ship, where he remained until the spring of 1843, when he located in Wapello county. Ile took up a claim half a mile east of Eldon, in Washington township, where he lived until 1866, and then bought what is known as the Knight farm in Washington township. There he resided until his death. May 22, 1871. Hle married Rebecca Abraham, who was born in Butler county, Ohio, and they reared the fol- lowing children : Isaac ; William, of Jefferson o unty, Iowa ; Wilson F., who lives in Texas : Rebecca, wife of Edward E. Thompson, of California : and Susanna, wife of Z. T. Knight. of Washington township. He was a Demo- . crat in politics and was elected to the State legislature from Wapello, Jefferson and Van Buren counties in 1846. He was county judge from 1858 to 1862, serving in that capacity for two terms. His service in the State legis- Future covered five terms.
Isaac T. Flint attended the public schools of Washington township, and in 1857 attended school for a year in Ottumwa. Hle resided at home until he was nineteen years of age, and then was married. He was engaged in the
newspaper business for a period of fifteen years. and for a time was identified with Capt. S. B. Evans, on the Ottumwa Democrat. fle was connected with the Ottunica Times, and then with the El Paso Times for three years. In 1899 he purchased his present farm, and re- moved to it in the spring of 1900.
In 1858 Mr. Flint was united in marriage with Anna Thomas, who was born in Wales, and they have one daughter, Mrs. L. J. James, of Mexico, where her husband is a merchant. Mr. Flint is a Baptist, and preaches in the church of that denomination in Washington township. He is a man of high principles, and has always exerted an influence for good in the affairs of the township and county.
JAMES M. ABERNATHY, who comes ot a prominent old family of Wapello county, lowa, is an influential farmer of Richland township, where he now owns 17442 acres of land. He was born in Richland township. Wapello County, lowa, in 1852, and is a son of John .\. Abernathy.
John A. Abernathy was born in Virginia in 1796, and when fourteen years of age went to Ohio, where he resided for three years. Hle then located in Indiana, and resided there un- til 1847. when he came to Wapello county. Iowa, and settled at Agency City. He con- ducted a hotel there until 1851, when he moved to Richland township, where he lived until his leath. He married Lucy Schaffer, who was born in Virginia, and they reared five children,
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as follows: James M .: Elias : Sarah C .: Fran- cis M .; and Randolph. He was a Whig in politics, and in religion a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and an active church worker.
Mr. Abernathy was united in marriage with Sarah Comstock, who was born in Richland township, July 27, 1859, and is a daughter of the late Dr. A. B. Comstock. Dr. Comstock was born in Franklin county, Ohio, near Co- lumbus, March 1. 1818. He came to lowa April 9. 1837. crossing the Mississippi at Fort Madison into what was then Wisconsin Territory. He came to Richland township. Wapello county, in the summer of 1843. in which season the county was opened for settle- ment. There were at that time 24 families be- sides his own in the township, and probably 400 inhabitants in the county. He married, June 17. 1838, at Bentonsport. Van Buren county, Iowa, Sarah Ann Sullivan, who was born at Sweet Home, Missouri, July 2, 1821. His first vote was cast for Harrison in 1836, and he always voted the Republican ticket after the formation of that party. He represented his county in the first legislature convened in the State. He had two sons in the Civil War.
one of whom was wounded in the foot by a musket ball. Dr. Comstock was educated at Augusta College, Kentucky, prepared for his profession in the office of his father, Dr. James Comstock, at Hamilton, Ohio, and then fol- lowed the practice of medicine for twenty-five years. For one year after coming here he
James M. Abernathy lived with his father until 1874. and during his early life attended the public schools in Richland township. He , was one of the only three physicians in the then spent four years in Blakesburg, lowa, and county. During his later life he farmed and in 1878 returned to Richland township, where raised stock. he has since followed general farming and stock-raising. In 1800 he purchased 1741/2 acres of land in section 19, on which he non lives.
James M. Abernathy and his wife have it children, all of whom are living at home. as follows: Anna; Frank: Bell: May: AAugustus H .: Carrie : James 11. : Lucy .A. : Ruby : Paul; and Theodore R. Mr. Abernathy is a Re- publican in politics. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows, and belongs to Kirk- ville Lodge, No. 47. Religiously he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
B ENJAMIN F. CHISMAN. a pioneer settler of Wapello county. Iowa. owns and cultivates an excellent farm of go acres in Columbia township. He was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, October 1. 1834, and is a son of James M. and Mary ( Canfield) Chisman.
James M. Chisman was born in Virginia. and was a farmer by occupation. He removed to Indiana at an early age. and there followed farming until 1850, when he removed to Jowa. He located in Polk township. Wapello county. where he purchased a farm and cultivated it the remainder of his life, dying there in 1886,
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife, in accumulating a goodly share of this world's who was born in Indiana, and came of New goods, enabling him to spend his declining years in peace and comfort. He has always been a hard-working man, honest and upright in all his dealings, and well merits the success which has been his reward. He is a man of pleasing personality, and has many wmm friends in the township and county. York parentage, died in 1889. at the age of seventy five years. Religiously they were Methodists. Mr. Chisman was a Republican in politics. They became the parents of the following children : Benjamin F .: Curtis; Noyes: Alfred: Cornelia; Calvin; George; Frances .A. : Zora : and William.
Mr. Chisman was united in marriage, in Benjamin F. Chisman received a meager education in the common schools of Wapello county, lowa, and remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. lle then started life for himself by working in a grist-mill operated by Hamilton Olney, near 1858, with Elizabeth Wolf, a daughter of R. D. Wolf, who settled in Wapello county in 1855. Previous to that time Mr. Wolf and family were residents of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Chisman became the parents of four children, as follows: 11. Wesley, who died in infancy, Columbia church, and received a salary of $14 1 while his father was in the service of his country ; Lida, wife of Wells Chapman ; Sadie, who married George E. Jenkins; and Frank W., who married Nellie Dunkle. Politically Mr. Chisman is an unswerving Republican. He and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist church. Fraternally the former is a member of John Wilcox Post, Grand Army of the Republic.
per month. He then married and received 80 acres of wild land from his father, which he cleared and otherwise improved. He built a small home, in which he lived until the break- ing out of the Civil War. Wishing to serve his country, he enlisted in Company B. 36th Reg .. lowa Vol. Inf .. under Capt. E. L. Joy, of Ottemwa. He served with honor for three years, when he was honorably discharged at Davenport. lowa. Ile returned to his farm. resumed agricultural operations, and remained on that place until 1874. Wishing to engage me re extensively in business, he sold this prop- erty to his brother Curtis, and purchased 170 acres of land, which forms a part of his pres- ent farin. He has added to the original pur- chase, and at one time had a tract of 280 acres of good farming and grazing land. He is engagol in diversified farming and stock-rais- ing, and when in the prime of life succeeded
m OSES C. ISR.VEL, a progressive and influential farmer of Wapello county, lowa, owns about 300 acres of land in Washington town- ship. He was born in Butler county. Ohio. near Middletown, November 20, 1820, and is is son of Thomas Israel.
Thomas Israel was born in Virginia in 1777 and located in Ohio when a young man,
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CHARLES PETER BENNETT.
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trading along the Ohio River. He married Christiana Deem, who was born in Ohio, and they reared the following children: Ellen. Mary, John. William and Joseph, all deceased ; Moses C .; and Lucinda, who resides in Indi- ana. A half-brother, George, was killed while serving in the Civil War.
Moses C. Israel lived in Ohio until he reached the age of six years, and then moved to Indiana with his parents, where he remained until 1849. He moved io lowa in the fall of that year, and located in Van Buren county. He came to Wapello county in 1854, and pur- chased a farm in Washington township .- the north half of the northwest quarter of section 11 .- the one on which he now lives. He , has always followed farming, and has met with good results. He is a man of pleasing personality, and has a large number of friends throughout the county in which he has lived for so many years.
Mr. Israel was united in marriage with Ruth Brownfield, who was born in Pennsyl- vania and went to Indiana with her parents at the age of ten years. She was born in 1825. and is now enjoying life at the age of seventy- six years. This union is blessed with the fol- lowing children: Joseph A .: Mary: Robert T .: Hiram J. : and George P. Moses C. Israel was a Whig originally, and voted for William Henry Harrison, but since 1844 has been a Democrat, having voted for James K. Polk in that year. Religiously he is a member of the Baptist church.
Joseph .A. Israel, the oldest son, now re- sides in Denver, Colorado, and is tax collector
for the Colorado Southern and Colorado Mid- land railways. He is a Democrat in politics, and while a resident of Wapello county was elected to the State legislature. He served as United States marshal of Colorado during the second term of President Cleveland. He also served in the Colorado Senate.
HARLES PETER BENNETT, a prosperous farmer of Columbia township. Wapello county, lowa, whose portrait is herewith shown, was born in Ohio in 1848, and is a son of De Witt and Sarah ( Nunnemaker ) Bennett.
De Witt Bennett was a carpenter and fol- lowed that trade quite extensively for many :years. When Charles Peter Bennett was but six months old his father moved to Wapello county. Jowa, and was located near Kirkville for the first two years. He then purchased a farm southeast of Kirkville, in Pichland town- ship, where he spent the remainder of his life in farming. Upon first coming to this county he followed his trade and built the first grist- mill in Ottumwa. He was an excellent work- man and erected many of the substantial buildings in the vicinity of Kikville, some of which are standing to-day as monuments of his workmanship. He married Sarah Nunnemak- er. and to them were born nine children, name- ly: Margaret. Catherine. Jane. Peter, Melissa, William. Eliza. Lucy and George. In relig- ious belief they were Lutherans for several years and later Presbyterians. Mrs. Bennett
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
is still living at Kirkville, lowa, at the age of seventy-seven years.
Charles Peter Bennett attended the com- mon schools of Wapello county, and then worked with his father for several years at carpentering. Being the eldest son, the care of the farm devolved upon him, and consequently his life work has been farming, which he has found very remunerative. He owns the old homestead, in addition to which his wife owns a farm of 10012 acres. His attention is de- voted to general farming and stock raising. and he is meeting with great success. He has been much interested in breeding fancy ponies. and has a fine black pony stallion, the sire of many valuable ponies.
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