USA > Iowa > Wapello County > History of Wapello County, Iowa, and representative citizens > Part 48
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On March 6, 1895, Mr. Bennett was joined in marriage with Lydia Shawver, who was born in Ohio. In political affiliations he is a Democrat, and takes an earnest interest in party affairs. He possesses many fine qualities, is honest and upright in business transactions and is very popular in his vicinity.
A J. GARDNER, one of the repre- sentative farmers of Columbia town- ship, Wapello county, lowa, is en- gaged in general farming and stock- raising and owns a valuable farm of 200 acres. Ile was born near Montreal, Canada, February 21. 1850, and is a son of John R. and Amelia ( Barrington ) Gardner, both natives of Can- ada, and of Scotch descent.
John R. Gardner and his wife lived in Can-
ada all their lives. He was a farmer by vocation, and for many years was a justice of the peace, being known as "Squire" Gardner. lle died in 1894. at the age of seventy years, and Mrs. Gardner died in the same year, at about the same age. They were members of the Presbyterian church. He was a Liberal in politics. They became parents of 10 chil- dren, namely : A. J. : William T. : Susannah : Elizabeth: Thomas B .: John R .: James: Amelia: Margaret : and George W.
A. J. Gardner was mentally instructed in the provincial schools of Canada, and also at- tended Huntingdon AAcademy. His first work after leaving school was in Huron county, Michigan, in the Saginaw district, where he engaged in farming and lumbering. Ile re- mained there until 1875, and then came to lowa, and settled in Wapello county, near Eddyville. He first purchased a small farm, which he later soll, and purchased his present property, in 1886, of James Anderson. Since locating here Mr. Gardner has devoted all his time to general farming and stock-raising. making a specialty of the latter branch. He keeps on an average 60 head of cattle and about 40 head of hogs, and is very successful in this line.
In 18;8 Mr. Gardner was united in matri- mony with Jennie Buchanan, of Monroe coun- ty. Iowa, by whom he has five children, as fol- lows: Edna M .: Walter E .: Clara B. : Ralph W .: and Elmer R. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian. He is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and is now serving his third term as trustee of Columbia
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township. He is a candidate for county super- Hiram J., now farms the old homestead in visor at the next election. He is a man of . Washington township, and his father, Moses high character, and enjoys the respect of his neighbors and his many friends in the county. C. Israel, lives with him; he married Nora Peebler, who was born in Warren county. lowa, and they have two children: Maggie R., aged eleven years; and Charles S., aged eight years.
5 R.AM J. ISRAEL, a representative farmer of Washington township. Wapello county, lowa, is located on section 10, and owns a farm of 127 acres. Ile is a good manager, and by hard work has made a great success of farming. He was born in Washington township. Wapello county, lowa. October 4, 1849, and is a son of Moses C. and Ruth ( Brownfield ) Israel. Moses C. Israel is an influential farmer of Washington township, a record of whose life may be found elsewhere in this work.
Hiram J. Israel received his mental train- ing in the common schools of Wapello county. where he first attended Elm Grove school. He lived with his father until he was twenty-two years of age, when he started out to make his own way in the work. Hle first purchased a tract of to acres in section TO, Washington township, where he has lived since his mar- rage. Ile worked hard and has since increased his holdings to 137 acres, located in sections 10. 20 and 21. He has followed general farm- ing and stock-raising and success has attended His efforts on every hand. In 1899 he erected a two-story, 10-room house, which adds greatly to the appearance of his farm, and is one of the best country homes in this section of the county. George P. Israel, the youngest brother of
In 1881 Hiram J. Israel was joined in marriage with Augusta Vass, who was born in Washington township, in 1864, and is a daughter of J. C. Vass. They have reared four children,-all living and at home .- their names and ages being: Ira, nineteen years ; Fred. fifteen years : John, ten years ; and Ada. four years. Politically Mr. Israel is a Demo- crat, and has served on the school board of his township a number of years. He and his wife are faithful members of the Missionary Bap- tist church.
AMTES II. R. SPILMAN, one of the leading agriculturists of Washington township, Wapello county, lowa, has a farm of 146 acres of valuable land in section 32, and carries on general farming and stock-raising. He was born in Indiana. in 1855, and is a son of Thomas B. Spilman.
Thomas F. Spilman was born in Campbell county, Kentucky, in 1821. and followed farm- ing most of his life, although he kept a dry goods store in Indiana for a number of years. On October 15. 1844. he was united in mar- riage with E. Ann Mccullough, who was born in Kentucky, November 29, 1821, and both now make their home with their son. James
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II. R. They became parents of the following children : William H., born August 20, 1840; John M. 11., born in March, 1849, and Sarah D .. horn December 5, 1852, both deceased; James H. K., born August 25. 1855: and George C. 11 .. born April 15. 1801.
James 11. R. Spilman moved to lowa in 1865. and located in Marion county. In 1885 he came to Wapello county, where he spent one year at Eldon. He then moved to Ottumwa, where he followed civil engineering and build- ing for several years. In 1802 he located on his present farm in section 32. Washington township. He has followed general farming and stock-raising with much success.
Mr. Spilman was united in marriage with Inna Baker, deceased, and they had two chil- dren : William and John. Eliza Dodson, who was born in Davis county, Iowa, in 1852, be- came his second wife, and they have seven chil- dren : Gussie: Fred; Anna ; Zoe: George: Mary : and 1 .. Mr. Spilman is a Republican in poli- tics, and is serving as a member of the county board of supervisors. In 1886 he served in the capacity of county surveyor in a most cred itable manner. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias.
ARE F. KRUEGER is a well known farmer and horse breeder, of Dahl- omega township. Wapello county. lowa, and has two of the finest stal- lions in the state. Ile was born in Wapello county, lowa. August 15. 1869, and is a son of J. G. and .A. E. ( Martching ) Krueger.
J. G. Krueger was born near Frankfort, Germany, in 1824, and came to the United States when thirty-five years of age, landing at New York. He came to Wapello county, lowa. in 1859, and has resided here since that time. He was in the music business for a number of years, but is now a retired farmer. lle was united in marriage with Miss .A. E. Martching, who was born near Frankfort. Germany, and they reared the following chil- dren : Louisa, wife of Mr. Rose : Mary ( Mul- ler ) : J. G., Jr., who resides in Ottumwa : Dora; J. Henry, deceased ; and Carl F.
Carl F. Krueger was reared in Dahlonega township, and has been engaged in farming most of his life. He now runs his father's farm in section 9, and carries on general farm- ing. He is a trackman and breeder of fancy horses. He has some of the finest-bred stal- lions in the United States, among them being Shadeland Athlete and Nevier. Shadeland Athlete. No. 20,095, was foaled July 10. 18951 small star. 1534 hands high and weighs 1. 125 pounds. He is high styled, and shows high quality and an easy, pure, trotting gait. He is inbred to one of the greatest stallions that ever lived, the mighty Onward. No. 1.41I. through two of his greatest sons, Shadeland Onward, No. 6,010, and ON ... llis breeding combines two of the greatest mares. Dolly, dam of Onward, and Nettie Time. dam of Shadeland Onward. Mr. Krue- ger has refused an offer of $1,600 for this horse. He also has the trotting-bred stallion. Nevier, No. 20.650, with a record of 2:23 over a half-mile track. He stands 1534 hands
J. S. WELLMAN.
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high and weighs 1,200 pounds. He is inbred to the founder of the American trotter, Ham- bletonian, No. 10, on a Mambrino and thor- oughbred foundation. Mr. Krueger has made a great success of this branch of his business. He owns at present 20 registered head of horses.
RS. MINERVA WELLMAN is the widow of J. S. Wellman, whose portrait accompanies this sketch. Mr. Wellman was born in Green township. Wapello county, Iowa,-being one of the first white children born in the township .- and there spent his early days and grew to man- hood. He was a blacksmith and wagonmaker by trade, and at an early day took up a claim and made that place his home through life. Ile was public spirited and gave a tract of land from his farm for a cemetery. It has since become known as the Wellman cemetery, and in it, by his request, he was buried. He was a patriotic lad and when old enough enlisted in Company D. 7th Reg., Iowa Vol. Cav., in March, 1862. The regiment was sent to quell the Indians in the West, who were very troub- lesome during the Civil War. While located at Topeka, Kansas, he contracted typhoid fever and was discharged from the army because of disability on February 1. 1863. He returned home, and upon recovering his health enlisted in Company B. 36th Reg., lowa Vol. Inf., and got south as far as Helena, Arkansas, where he was stricken with epilepsy and again dis- charged from the service. Coming home he
helped recruit a company and joined a 100-day regiment, at the expiration of which period of service he returned. He went south to Nash- ville, Tennessee, to work for the government in the wagon and blacksmith department, and while there was conscripted just before the battle of Atlanta, n whch he was wounded. lle was again discharged and returned home. where he again took up his trade as a black- smith and wagonmaker, which he followed all of his life. Religiously he was a Baptist. In politics he was a good Republican and served as justice of the peace many years. He was also a school director and took an earnest in- terest in educational work in his town. J. S. Wellman died June 23, 1876.
January 1. 1865. Mr. Wellman was united in marriage with Minerva George, the subject of this sketch, who was born in Monroe county, lowa, and is a daughter of Lewis George. Lewis George was born in Delaware county. Ohio, January 1. 1817, and was reared on a farm. He applied himself to study at every spare opportunity, and qualified himself to teach in the district schools of his native coun- ty. During the remainder of his stay in Ohio he taught school during the winters and in the summers worked on the farm. Having laid by sufficient means, he came west in 1851 with his family, to take up land in lowa. Ile was accompanied by several other families, and made the journey overland in wagons. They forded streams, and on new roads doubled their teams. When they got farther west there were no roads whatever, but only In- (lian trails. They located in Monroe county,
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lowa, about six miles from Albia, and there he purchased and entered about 640 acres of land, on which he founded the town of George- town, named in honor of the founder. In 1853 he received a commission as postmaster. in which capacity he served until his death. In 1851 he began to haul lumber from Keokuk, with which to build a house, and his wagon was the first to make a roadway to that city, where before there had been only Indian trails. Ile built a fine home, for that carly period, and died in it in 1859. Ile was very public spirited and Georgetown felt his loss greatly. He was united in marriage with Samantha MeCreary. a daughter of James McCreary. The Mc- Creary family has been established in this coun- try for many generations, and a history of the family, written by one of its members, and read before a family reunion held in celebra- tion of the birthday anniversary of George W. | McCreary, is herewith given, as follows:
"Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : Doubtless most of you have some time or other met some one who was determined to relate to you from whom and where they descended. I am not going to exempt myself from this class. You have heard of the first families of Kentucky, South Carolina and Georgia, but "inconveniences of the early days, we find a there are none more distinguished than the first families of Virginia, from whom we are de- scended.
"I find that George McCreary was born in the north of Ireland, in 1752, and was one of that strong and rugged type of manhood known as Scotch-Irish. He came to this coun- try at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. years ago.
We first find him at York county, Pennsyl- vania, where, on May 1. 1776, he enlisted in the colonial army, served eight months as a private and afterward was promoted to be a sergeant. Hle served part of the time under Captain Reed and Colonel Gilland. He took part in all the skirmishes in eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, was in the battle of Long Island and was taken prisoner at the surrender of Fort Washington, November 16, 1776. Ilis- tory states that this was one of the most severe blows that the American army received dur- ing the early days of the war. After the ex- piration of his term of service we find him back in Virginia, Loudoun county, bordering the Potomac Rver, one of the most fertile valleys of the East. There he remained until about the year 1801, and then settled in Ohio, in what is now Morrow county, at a time when things were all but pleasant. There are no new places remaining in this country that can compare with the small inducements then existing for one to , leave a settled country, as Virginia was at that time, and come over into Ohio, where there was nothing but the wild forest, swamps, chills and fevers, and last, but not least, our fast depart- ing brother, the red man. But with all the
I sturdy lot of descendants, and one grandson. who is with us to-day, and has related his early life in southern Ohio. Some of us here to-day remember what Wood and Sandusky counties were twenty or thirty years ago, and realize what a picture he can draw of the same con- ditions in Morrow county sixty and sixty-five
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"The colonial George McCreary applied for a pension on January 14. 1834, at the age of eighty-two years, and was placed upon the pension roll AApril 3rd of that year, drawing $40 per annum. He drew a pension from March 4, 1831. He died in Knox county. Ohio, in 1842, and was buried at the Chester burying ground. The following children con- stituted his family: Thomas, Nancy, James. Mary, Benjamin. Elizabeth. William and Sarah.
"Benjamin MeCreary was born in Loudoun county, Virginia. in 1791. He married De- borah Mathews. December 31. 1812. in Licking county, Ohio, where both died in 1866. Their son, John. married Emily Brown. George married Elizabeth George. Nancy married her cousin. John McCreary. Ruth married Noah MeVey, first. and. secondly. C. Me- Cracken. Silas married E. M. Alworth. Ezra died at sixteen years of age. AAsa married E. Williams. Eliza married Eli Sible.
"James McCreary, the father of George. McCreary, who is with us to-day. married Mary Holt for his first wife, for his second wife, Paga Holt, and for his third wife Paga Clapp. They moved from Ohio to the Black Rock reservation in Illinois, then moved to Ottawa, lowa, near the Des Moines River, where they died and were buried in the Ottum- wa burying ground. He was the father of 24 children. The record of part of them is as, follows: Jochile married and two of his chil- dren are living at some place in Nebraska. George W. McCreary married Mary Hayden March 3. 1830; his second wife was Marilla
Stickney, whom he married October 1. 1861. Charity married Mr. Leyman. Samantha married Mr. Sanford, now living at Speed, Kansas. Even married May Bishop. Thomas married Polly Roland. Minerva married a Mr. Mckinley. Mary married Mr. Mattice. Jeret died when eighteen months ofl.
"Thomas MeCreary, the son of the orig- inal George McCreary, was born in Loudoun county. Virginia, and moved from there to Brooke county, West Virginia. He had a son, William McCreary, who was born in 1852. 1 William MeCreary had one son, William Miller MeCreary, who was also born in Brooke county, West Virginia, and is now living in Centerville, Iowa.
"George W. McCreary, whose birth we are celebrating, was born July 4. 1812. and as above stated. married Mary Hayden. Their children are eight in number and are as fol- lows: Roselta, Hayden, Alfred. Vinal. Jane, Samantha, George and Nable Wortha. They married as follows: Roselta married Amos Ladd. Hayden was married at Marysville. California: there is no record of his wife. Samantha married Louis Houshokler. George is not married. Jane married Jacob Klink. Alfred married Sarah Jones. Vinal married Elizabeth Muir. Nable Wortha died when nine years of age. The sons and daughters from these marriages are nearly all here to- day and without doubt will be able to account for themselves before we take our departure. "The deaths as nearly as I could get them are as follows: Mary McCreary died Febru- ary 28. 1857. Nable Wortha died October 17,
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
1801. Roselta died December 16, 1882. Hay- den died about 1888 or 1880. AAlfred died March 10, 1800.
"I also find that Jamies McCreary, my great- grandfather, served during the War of 1812. fle took part in the battle of northwest- ern Ohio, and I find that a few days before Perry's victory, in 1813. General Harrison was urging Perry to hasten his work nearer Erie and l'ut-in-Bay, and hurry to his assistance up the Maumee River, which the latter prom- ised to do, but before he could do so Harrison had achieved a success at Fort Meigs, where James McCreary was wounded. and from which point he returned home.
"I have found that there are a number of MeCrearys throughout the country, and while I have not positive proof that all of them are descendants of the MeCrearys of Virginia, still they all claim kinship. Some of the most dis- tinguished are: General D. B. MeCreary, of Erie, Pennsylvania; ex-Congressman and ex- Governor Thomas B. MeCreary, of Richment. Kentucky: Mrs. Chalfaut, of Washington, D. C. : ex-City Treasurer of Philadelphia George D. MeCreary, as well as George W. McCreary. who afterwards changed the spelling of his name from 'ea' to 'a,' making MeCrary, and who was secretary of war under President Hayes. John MeCreary, of North Twenty- fourth street, Omaha, Nebraska, is a half- brother to George W. McCreary, and a son of James McCreary. He married a Miss Crayton. sister of John AA. Crayton, and had a family of seven children .- six boys and one girl.
"Benjamin McCreary's son, George, was
born April 19. 1816. in Knox county, Ohio, and died in February, 1847. He married Elizabeth George, and they were the parents of three children .- Mary, Benjamin and Davis M. Davis M. is now a resident of Findlay and was born August 3. 1845. fle married Sarah J. Sanders June 20, 1877. Their son, Charles, is now a resident of Massillon, Ohio.
"It was during the early days of the Revo- lutionary War that our ancester, George Me- Creary, came across the sea and made his home among a much oppressed nation, but we do net find him sitting idly by, but see him putting of the cross of American independence, and throwing off the yoke of British tyranny. . Is previously stated, we find him taking part in the battle of Fort Washington, and it was there that he was taken prisoner. Fort Wash- ington. on the east side of the Hudson, was held by Colonel Magaw and General Greene and was surrendered to General Howe. The capture of Fort Washington was one of the most terrible blows that befell the American army during the whole course of the war. It was there that our ancestor saw one of the most horrible things witnessed in his life. Howe had demanded the surrender of the force or all would be put to the sword, but after the sur- render, he ordered his troops not to put any of the prisoners to the sword. but the ignorant lessians, who thought they were fighting heathens, put to death several of our soldiers. ( Hlowe, a good natured general, once said in England that they could not enlist enough soldiers to subdue the Americans. ) Washing- ton, at Fort Lee, across the Hudson from Fort
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Washington, viewed the whole affair, and in one of his notebooks said that the murdering of soldiers under his own eyes,-and he powerless to do anything .- was the most heart- rending thing he ever witnessed."
Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Wellman became the parents of four children, as follows: George W., who was born in Monroe county, Iowa, April 24, 1867: Charles A., who was born in Wapello county, Iowa, August 10. 1872; Ada M .. born in Lucas county, lowa. September 10. 1800 : and A. J., who was born at George- town. Monroe county, lowa, April 28. 1875.
ARVAIS FAIS, a prominent grain dlealer of Eddyville, Wapello county, lowa, was born in Wurtemberg. Ger- many, March 5. 1831, and is a son of Felix and Theresa ( Eppe) Fais, who lives in Germany all their lives. They were parents of nine children, all of whom are deceased. with the exception of Garvais. The father was a grain and stock dealer in Germany, and at one time was quite well-to-do, but met with re- verses and lost nearly all he possessed.
Garvais Fais attended the schools of his native country, and at the age of twenty-two years came to America, landing in New York City. March 14. 1853. He proceeded to To- lily, Chin, where he expected to meet his uncle, who had located there. but upon making inquiry found that he had died a short time previously. He remained in Toledo one year. and went thence to Indianapolis, hidiana, later
to Dayton, Ohio, and still later to Lebanon, Ohio. In the spring of 1855 he came to Iowa, and settled in Eddyville, where he engaged in work as a brick-mason and stone-mason, a trade which he had learned in the old country. He followed this in Eddyville for twelve years, and then accepted a position in Cheney's dry goods store as a clerk. Afterward he worked for Fish & Whiteman, in the same capacity, for ten years. He next engaged in buying and selling grain and produce, at which he con- tinued until the spring of 1873. when he went to Colorado. After remaining there a short time he returned to Eddyville, and was en- gaged with the lowa Central Railroad Com- pany. as freight and baggage man, until 1885. He then entered the grain business, which he has followed since that time. He is consid- ered an expert in his line and although he has met with some reverses he is considered a good business man. He is honest and upright in his dealings, and has won the con- fidence of his fellow citizens. Mr. Fais was one of the original stockholders of the company which built the bridge over the Des Moines River, in 1856. This was the first bridge across that stream,-the passage previous to that time having been effected by ferry.
In 1855 Mr. Fais was united in marriage with Frederica Hensel, who was born in Han- over. Germany, and came to America in 1854. The marriage took place at Burlington, lowa. December 31. 1855, and the following children were born to them: Frederick W .: Emma: Lucy: Minnie: Addie: and Flora V. Fred- erick W., who is engaged in the ice business at
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Eddyville, married Belle Y. Young, of Ro- chelle, Ilinois, and they have'a son, Garvais, and an adopted son, Oscar Biddle. Emma is the wife of Charles Johnson, of Union, Iowa. and has a son, William W. Lucy is the wife of Frederick Lenkell, and has a son, John F. Minnie is the wife of Ira E. Reed, of Den- ver, Colorado, and has four children, as fol- lows: Glenwood; Truman; Thomas; and Garvais. AAddie is the wife of J. T. Lynch. of Clarksburg. West Virginia, and has two children,-Graham and Winifred. Flora V. married Edward E. Bettrell, of Washington, Arizona. In politics Mr. Fais has been a Re- publican since the Civil War, but is now in- clined to be independent. Fraternally he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
AMUEL A. SHAWVER, the well- known grocer and baker of Eddy- ville, Wapello county, łowa, was born near Philadelphia, Ohio, and is a son of Samuel and Melinda S. (Shober) Shaw ver.
Samuel Shawver was born in Ohio, and there received a common school education. Early in life he engaged in agricultural pur- suits, a vocation he followed the remainder of his days. In 1853 he moved west with his family and settled in Columbia township, Wa- pello county, lowa, where he purchased a farm. Ile was a man of more than ordinary intelli- gence, a kind neighbor and excellent citizen, and was held in the highest esteem. He mar-
ried Melinda S. Shober, who was born in Vir- ginia, and they became the parents of the fol- lowing children: John ; Margaret; Charlotte; Lydia ; Lucinda; Gideon; and Samuel .\. In religious belief they were Lutherans. Samuel Shawver was a Democrat in politics. His wife died in 1888, at the age of seventy-eight vears.
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