USA > Iowa > Wapello County > History of Wapello County, Iowa, and representative citizens > Part 57
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Abram Oldham spent the early part of his life as a farmer in Mahaska county, Iowa, but later moved to Eddyville, where he engaged in mercantile business. This he followed several years, and built up a thriving trade. He died in 1894, at the age of sixty-four years. He and his wife were the parents of to children, as follows: R. J., Lizzie. Jasper N., Frank. .A. L., J. S., Ida M., Effie J., Charles and John. Mr. Olham was a Republican, and served in township offices and on the school board.
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R. J. Oklham attended the public schools cf Mahaska county, Iowa, and remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age. Hle then purchased a farm, which he cultivated, and engaged in stock raising .- a business he has followed throughout his career. He has mct with great success and handles on an average 30 carloads of cattle a year, besides feeding about 200 head ; he ships principally to Chica- go. He is a hustler in every sense of the word. and has established a very prosperous busi- ness.
In 1893 Mr. Oldham was united in matri-
mony with Sarah B. Moore, a native of Indi- ana, and they have two children, -Mary and Thomas. Fraternally he is a member of Eddy- ville Lodge, No. 74. A. F. & A. M .; Hiram Chapter, R. A. M. ; and De Payne Command- ery. K. T., of Oskaloosa. Religiously he is inclined to be liberal.
RS. ELIZA IL (DAVIS) LEWIS, a highly respected resident of Cen- m® ter township, Wapello county, towa, is the widow of William Lewis. She was born in Tazewell county, Ili- nois, November 27, 1826, and is a daughter of William and Jane ( Eades ) Davis.
William Lewis, deceased, late husband of Mrs. Lewis, was born in Kentucky, May 15, 1810, and married Eliza H. Davis in Illinois, August 21. 1845. After her marriage, her father gave her 8 acres of land in Tazewell county, Illinois, and on this she and her hus- band lived until they came to lowa. They lo- cated on her present farm in Center township, Wapello county, in 1850, and there Mr. Lewis resided until his death on December 20, 1891. Politically he was a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis became the parents of the following children: Mrs. S. E. MeLain: Mrs. O. Bare; Abner Monzo, who resides in Ottumwa: Mar- tha \ .; John F., a farmer of Wapello county ; Joseph C., of Ottumwa; Charlie: Nellie L. ; and Lincoln 1 ..
Willam Davis, father of Mrs. Lewis, was born in eastern Tennessee in 1802, and died in
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1868. Ile married Jane Eades, who was born January 22, 1805. Their marriage occurred May 14. 1822, and in 1824 they removed to Tazewell county, Ilinois, ind settled in Ehn Grove, where both died. They reared nine children, of whom three are now living, as fol- lows: Thomas J., of Tremont, Illinois ; John, of Almena, Kansas; and Eliza H., the sub- ject of this biography. Both belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Davis died at the age of eighty-four years, leaving eight children. 55 grandchildren, and 75 great- grandchildren.
Mrs. Lewis has a fine farm of 15834 acres in Center township, a portion of which she rents. She is engaged in general farming. and has met with great success. She is a woman of many excellent qualities, possesses good business ability, and has a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout the county. She is a member of the United Breth- ren church.
AMES TIMONDS, for many years a prominent farmer of Pleasant town- ship. Wapello county, lowa, has lived a retired life for the past six years, but still owns a farm of 325 acres in the township. He was born in Pennsylvania. in 1827. and is a son of Andrew Timends.
Andrew Timonds was born in Maryland. and became a very wealthy man. He was killed when James was two years of age. His union with Miss Frazee resulted in the birth
of the following children : Ophelia ; Barbara, deceased : James; Susan; and Squire,
James Timonds learned the trade of a sad- (lle making at an early day, and lived in Penn- sylvania until he reached the age of twenty- two years. In 1850 he went to California by way of Cape Horn, the trip consuming 177 days. lle made several stops in South . Amer- ica and met with some eventful experiences on the way. Although there was small-pox on board his ship, he luckily escaped the disease. He operated a sawmill for three years in Cali- fornia, and then bought a gold claim, which he worked for about six months. After spending four years in the West he returned to New York City, and then went to Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farming. In 1854 he came to lowa, and for two years hauled goods from Keokuk to Des Moines, after which he rented 400 acres of land in Agency township, Wapello county, for one year. lle was then engaged in threshing at Libertyville for seven years. When the Civil War broke out he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and worked in a government shop at harness making. He went to Tennessee, where he made harness for a quartermaster, and was recognized as the best saddler in the western division of the army. and at one time made a saddle for General Miller. Upon the close of the war he returned to Wapello county and bought his present farm, in 1866. He made harness and collars for ten years, but, finding he could not take care of his trade, he relinquished it and en- gaged in farming exclusively. During the past six years he has lived practically a retired
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life, although he still owns the farm of 325 acres in Pleasant township, where he lives. He is an excellent business man and has ac- cumulated a handsome property, which will permit him to spend his declining years in com- fort.
Mr. Timonds was united in marriage with Eliza J. Groves, who was born in Harrison county, Indiana, in 1842, and they have the following children: Laura B .: Nora; Mrs. Opha Thomas; Kate: James, deceased; Net- tie; and Cora. Politically Mr. Timonds is affiliated with the Republican party.
RS. CATHERINE MURRAY, a highly respected resident of Pleas- ant township, Wapello county, Iowa, has lived in that county since 1843. She was born in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1820, and later lived in Coshocton county, whence she removed to lowa, in 1841.
Mrs. Murray is the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth ( Shuss) Whitmore. Samuel Whitmore was born in Maryland, in 1795, and was a miller and farmer by occupation. Hle married Elizabeth Shuss, who was also a na- tive of Maryland, and was born in 1800. ()f the 12 children resulting from this union those living are as follows: Catherine, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Fleming, of North Da- kota; Wilson: French; George; and Melissa. who married A. Murray.
Catherine Whitmore was united in mar- riage with John Murray, who was born in Vir-
ginia, in 1810. Early in hie he learned the trade of a tailor, which he followed for a mun ber of years, and later pursued the occupation of a farmer. He was a Democrat in politics. His death occurred in 1878. 1n 1841 Mr. and Mirs. Murray moved to lowa, and settled in Jefferson county. In the spring of 1843, at the opening of the "New Purchase." they en- tered the farm on which Mrs. Murray now lives. It is the southeast quarter of section 10, and is one of the best farms in Pleasant township. Since her husband's death Mrs. Murray has conducted the farm with much suc- cess. There is no better known resident in the township than Mrs. Murray. She has always been deeply interested in the progress and development made in the vicinity of her home, and is highly thought of in the com- munity. Mrs. Murray is a member of the Methodist church. Her friends in the county are legion.
J. WERTZ. a well-known black- 5 smith of Bladensburg. Pleasant township. Wapello county, lowa, was born in Warren county, lowa. in 1800. He is a son of George and Sarah ( Martin ) Wertz.
George Wertz was born in Pennsylvania, and followed the trade of a blacksmith for forty-four years. He worked at his trade in Bladensburg for a number of years, and in 1870 moved to Keokuk county, lowa, where he resided at the time of his death, in 1880. He married Sarah Martin, who is now living
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in Ottumwa. She was born in Illinois. Nine "and when a youth was located in Indiana with children resulted from this union, of whom his parents, where he lived until he came to those living are as follows: Elizabeth : John ; Arminda; 11. J .: C. C .: Anna ; and Clara. lowa in June, 1846. He was a farmer by occu- pation, and had the ability to make almost any- When I. J. Wertz was five years old he went with his parents to MeDonough county. Illinois, where he lived for thirteen years. He then returned to Bladensburg, where he has since lived, engaged in blacksmithing at the stand where his father so long followed that trade. Mr. Wertz is a skillful mechanic, and does a large and lucrative business. Ile opened his present shop January 14, 1899. thing he needed on the farm,-such as wagons, shoes, etc. He married Abigail Inlow, who was born in Virginia, and they reared the fol- lowing children : Philip: Middleton : Samuel ; William I1 .: James H .: George W .: Christo- pher C .: Elias; Jerome: Lincoln: Mary J .: Lydia .\. : and Hettie. He and his wife located in Keokuk county, Iowa, on the Skunk River. where they lived until 1853. when they came to Wapello county, and settled in Highland town- ship. Henry Kitterman died in Elk county; Kansas, in 1877. at the age of sixty-one years.
Mr. Wertz married Mary C. Jones, who is a native of Ohio, and was born in 1865. They have one son. Albert R. Politically Mr. Wertz is a Republican. He belongs to the lu- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 198: and to the Woodmen of the World. Pike's Peak Camp. Colorado Springs, Colo- rado. Ile and his wife are members of the Christian church. Mr. Wertz is well known in Wapello county, and is considered a man of upright and honorable character.
AMUEL KITTERMAN, a gentleman who is extensively engaged in farm- ing in Wapello county, lowa, is lo- cated in section 23. Richland town- ship. He was born December 31, 1845. in Illinois, while his parents were en route to lowa. He is a son of Henry and Abigail ( In- low ) Kitterman.
Samuel Kitterman resided in Highland township until he was fifteen years of age. lle then enlisted for service in the Union army, in Company F. 7th Reg .. Jowa Vol. Inf .. and served three years and seven months. He went through the Atlanta campaign, saw much hard service throughout the war, and acquitted himself with credit. He was discharged at Davenport, Iowa, and then returned to his home in Wapello county, where he lived on the Vold homestead until February. 1868. Ile then moved to his present farm in Richland town- ship, where he has 80 acres of highly improved land. He is engaged in general farming and has met with success in his work. He is one of the substantial men of the community, and is held in the highest estecm by all with whom he is acquainted.
Mr. Kitterman was united in marriage with llenry Kitterman was born in Virginia, Mary O. Wilson, a daughter of J. M. Wilson.
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a prominent farmer of Richland township. She early mental training in the common school . i was born in Pennsylvania, in 1847, and her her native county, and at the age of sixteen union with Mr. Kitterman has resulted in the birth of seven children, all of whom are now living, as follows : Jennie ( Crawford ), of Mis- souri : John H., a blacksmith, of Kirkville, Wa- pello county ; George G., shipping clerk for the Haw wholesale hardware company, of Ot- tumwa : Samuel .A., assistant superintendent of the county farm: Ola, who married William Young, a farmer of Kirkville, and Orin . A., and Atla R., both of whom are at home. Mr. Kit- terman is a Republican, and has been justice of the peace in his township for a number of years. He served on the school board for nine years. He is a member of Cloutman Post. No. 69. G. A. R., of Ottumwa ; and of Lodge No. 278. 1. O. O. F., of Highland Center. Kelig- iously, he and his wife belong to the Presby- terian church. years accompanied her parents to Ilmais. They lived in that state until 1870, when they removed to Richland township. Wapella county, lowa, and later to Pleasant township. Edmonia M. Cole was united in marriage with Joseph G. Hanna, who was born in Indiana, in 1833. He lived in Indiana until 1849, when he located in Wapello county, and settled on the farm which is now the property of Mr -. Hanna. It consists of So acres of well-im- proved land in section 18. Mr. Hanna was a successful farmer, and followed that occupa- tiền up to the time of his death, which took place in 1900. He was a man of honesty and integrity, and his demise was sincerely nie urned in the community. In politics he was a Democrat, and took a deep interest in Fact affairs.
m RS. EDMONIA ML. ILANN.A. widow of the late Joseph G llanna, is living on the west half of the northeast quarter of section 18, in Pleasant township. Wapello county. lowa. She was born in Ohio in 1849, and is a daughter of John and Jane ( Welsh ) Cole.
John Cole was a native of Ohio, and a farmer by occupation. He married Jane Welsh, a native of Pennsylvania, and they reared the following children: Edmonia M. : William F. : Idella U .; Virginia: Maggie B .: Phoebe E. ; and Lulu V.
The subject of this sketch received her
Mr. and Mrs. Hanna reared three chil- dren, whose names are Genevieve. Sadie and Sage-the last two being twins. Mrs. Hanna rents the land which she owns. She is a men . ber of the Adventist church of Bladensburg. and is a well-known resident of Pleasant town- ship.
GEORGE ALLEN WILSON, superin- tendem of the County Farm. w .- la 'n in Clarion county, Pennsylva- nia. April o. 1850, and is a - 1 . i John M. and Jane (. (Guthrie ) Wilen. 11 11 residents of Richland township. Wapelle em- 11: The same year of his birth, his parents re -
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moved to Delaware county, lowa ; he came to Wapello county in 1866, and was married March 31. 1880. to Mary E. Parker. Ile has held township office and performed the duties to the satisfaction of his neighbors. It is, how- ever, in the position of superintendent of the county farm that George Allen Wison has made his mark ; he was appointed superintend- ent in 1895, and was last appointed in 1901. There has never been a county farm superin- tendent who has given better satisfaction to the people of the county than Mr. Wilson. In all his duties he has been ably seconded by his wife. who has executive force of the kind that is re- quired by a superintendent. There are no abler men nor women for such duties than Mr. and Mrs. Wilson.
Two views of the Wapello county farm buildings are in this volume ; they are excellent representations. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have had three sons born to them: Ralph P., born .April 19. 1883; Chester A., born September 26. 1886; and John M., born August 2. 1801.
UTHER M. CARPENTER, one of the leading agriculturists of Richland township. Wapello county, Iowa, is located on the southeast quarter of section 36, where he owns a valuable farming property. He was born in Licking county, Ohio, in 1834, and is a son of Benjamin Car- penter.
Benjamin Carpenter was born in Pennsyl-
vania, in July, 1790, and lived there until 1802. Ile then moved with his parents to Ohio, where they cut their way through six miles of forest to the farm on which they located. He re- mained there until he came to lowa in 1850, and located on Luther M. Carpenter's present farm in Richland township. He subsequent- ly purchased the northeast quarter of the same section, and resided there until his death, December 28, 1853. He was a Republican, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Sophia Scarle, who was born in Vermont, in 1791. They were married in 1819. and reared the following children : Thompson ; Ilarriet : Charles ; Lemuel D .: Mary: and Luther MI.
Luther M. Carpenter attended the public schools of Wapello county, and has followed farming all his life. He married Margaret Walker, who was born in Delaware county, Ohio, in 1835; she is a daughter of James Walker, who was born in Ohio in 1809. and for many years followed farming in Missouri, where he died July 2. 1876. The following children blessed this union : Marcellus, of Fair- field. lowa, who became a physician, and mar- ried Margaret Junkin: Walter .A .: Ina: and Eva. Mr. Carpenter carries on general farm- ing and stock-raising, and makes a specialty of heavy horses of high grade. He is a Republi- can. and has served on the school board of his township. Fraternally, he has been a Mason for more than forty years, and belongs to Lodge No. 16, of Ottumwa. Religiously, he and his wife are devont members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church.
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C. STECK. attorney-at-law, was high repute by every one. There were born to born September 12, 1852. in West- Mr. and Mrs. Steek : Vice ( Mossy : and Dan- iel F .. Jr .. named for his grandfather ; the latter is it is a student at the State University of Iowa, at lowa City. Mr. Steck has been a resi dent di Ottumwa for twenty -six years : during that time he was for three years general coun- selor for the Colorado Coal & from Company. with headquarters at Pueblo. For the past eight years he has been the senior member of the legal firm of Steck & Smith, the latter be- ing the Hon. J. J. Smith, who was state senator frem Wapello county for four years, and is one of the leading lawyers of Southern lowa. moreland county, Pennsylvania; his parents were Mr. and Mrs. Daniel F. Steck, who were of good old Pennsylvania stock. A. C. Steck was educated in the com- mon schools and took a course in the local acad- emy, and afterward graduated from the law de- partment of Michigan University in 1872. He read law with United States Senator Cowan, one of the most eminent of Pennsylvania law- yers, as his preceptor. He was deputy in each one of the offices at the Westmoreland county court house and was held in high favor by all the old residents. Mr. Steck was admitted to practice in the various courts of the county and came to Iowa in 1875, opening an office in Ot- tumwa: his progress was rapid and well de- I. C. BROWN, a prominent resi- dent of Richland township. Wa- pello county, lowa. is heated on his fine farm of 140 acres. He was born in Wapello county, lowa, in Novem- ber. 1853, and is a son of Hugh Brown, a well known resident of Ottumwa, a record of where life appears on another page of this volume. served : he was elected county attorney in 1886 and re-elected two years later ; in one of these election contests he carried every township in the county and nearly every voting precinct. This indicates to some extent the esteem in which he was held by the people without re- gard to party.
In 1900 Mr. Steck was nominated for Con- gress on the Democratic ticket against his pro- test, and ran about 1,400 votes ahead of his party ticket. In this context he was pitted against Hon. John F. Lacey, a man of national reputation. Mr. Steck was never a candidate on his own motion but on each occasion was nominated by the people.
Mr. Steck was married in 1878 to Ada Washburn, daughter of Erastus Washburn, at one time county auditor, an old settler held in
W. A. C. Brown attended the public school of Richland township, where he was born and has resided all his life, with the es ception of two years spent in Ottumwa. He took a collegiate course in Oskaloosa, and Started out in life with a good education. He has to arres in the northwest quarter of see- tion 26, and carries on general farming and Stock raising.
Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Minerva Whitcomb, who was born in Center
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township. Wapello county, in 1853, and is a daughter of Farnum Whitcomb, an early set- tler of this county. Two children were born to bless this union, namely : Alice, who lives at home : and Frank F .. deceased. Religious- ly. the family are members of the Presbyterian church. In politics, Mr. Brown is a Democrat. He was president of the school board three years, clerk of the township for two years. treasurer of the school board eleven years. township assessor two years, and is now the Democratic nominee for member of the county board of supervisors. Fraternally, he belongs to Lodge No. 9. I. O. O. F., of Ottumwa: Camp No. 103. M. W. of A., Ottumwa: and Ottumwa Lodge No. 129. K. of P.
m AJ. WILLIE CUTTER WYMAN. a well known and successful busi- ness man of Ottumwa. comes of an old New England family. On both sides of his father's and mother's families he is descended from the earliest settlers of Massachusetts, the members of the old Bay State colony. The Wyman family came to America from England in 1634. Some of them were officers in the English army, and were among those who organized the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, of Boston, in 1638,-the organizers being chiefly officers who were members of the Honorable Artillery Company, of London, before they came to this country, either to settle or as officers in the English army. For generations, members of
the Wyman family have belonged to this com- pany, and Major Wyman holds a commission in it. His father was Edward Wyman, Jr., a Boston merchant and capitalist, and his mother's maiden name was Mary Anna Doyle, of Salem, Massachusetts, where the subject of this sketch was born.
Major Wyman received a liberal education, attending the Boston Latin School. a military academy, and other New England educational institutions, of the best class. He was ap- pointed a captain's clerk in the United States navy, in 1870, and was later promoted to be acting admiral's secretary ( ranking as lieu- tenant in the navy), and after serving in the North Atlantic, West Indian and European fleets, resigned in 1874. He came to Iowa the same year, located in Ottumwa, and two years later engaged in business with J. Prugh, -the firm consisting of Mr. Prugh and him- self, and being known as J. Prugh & Company. Upon the death of Mr. Prugh, some years lat- er. Mr. Wyman continued the business. They are importers and wholesale dealers in crock- ery, china, etc .. and the concern is one of the heaviest of its kind in the state.
Major Wyman has always been a Repub- lican, as his father and his grandfather on both sides were before him. Ile has been quite ac- tive and influential in the politics of his state. Ilis military ancestry and training led him to take an interest in the Iowa National Guard, with which he has been actively associated for fifteen years, or more. He is now serving his seventh term as military secretary to the Gov- ernor of Iowa, which is longer than any other
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man in the United States ever held this posi- tion. He had previously served as first lieuten- ant. acting as regimental adjutant and quarter- master, and as brigade quartermaster. Hc is one of the best known and most popular military men in the state. Ma- jor Wyman is a Thirty-second degree Mason and Knight Templar, and a Knight of Pythias, besides belonging to other orders. He is a member of the society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and is either a member of, or eligible to membership in. nearly all the colonial societies. His people held various military and civil positions. One of his ancestors on his mother's side was assistant governor of the Massachusetts Bay colony. un- der Governor Winthrop. He belongs to the Episcopal church. Mr. Wyman was married. in 1876, to Alice Prugh, a daughter of his late partner. They have one son .- William Charles Wyman, born in 1882.
OHN M. MCELROY, a prominent farmer of Center township. Wapello county, Iowa, was elected county com- missioner in November, 1900, and is serving in that capacity in a most creditable manner. Ile was born in Fayette county. Ohio, April 6. 1857, and is a son of T. G. and Esther K. ( Kerr) MeElroy, and a grandson of Ebenezer and Sarah (Ghormley ) MeElroy.
Ebenezer MeElroy was born in Pennsyl- vania, and after his marriage moved with his wife to Fayette county, Ohio, in 1817. Ile
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bought a farm upon which he made many im- provements and there lived until his death. John M. MeElroy and his father were born in the same house on this farm. T. G. MeElroy was born in Fayette county, Ohio, May 20. 1827, and was reared and schooled there. He always followed farming, and in 1864 enlisted in the army for one hundred days. He was killed in a wreck at Lees Creek, Ohio, Febru- ary 4, 1805, and his widow now resides in South Ottumwa. To them were born six chil- dren, as follows: E. E .. an attorney of Ot- tumwa ; R. N., proprietor of MeElroy's restau- rant in Ottumwa : J. F., an inventor and manu- facturer of car heaters at Mbany. New York : Mary E. ( Duncan), of Fayette county, Ohio; John M .; and 1. N. a farmer who came to Wapello county in 1888, and resides in Rich- land township.
John M. MeElroy was reared in Fayette county, Ohio, and attended the district schools. He has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and in 1884 came to Wapelle county. lowa, and located in Center township. He bought 184 acres of land in section 32. origin- ally entered by a Mr. Bower, which had on it. at the time of purchase, a small log cabin with one small window. He also owns 22 acres adjoining this, in Keokuk township, and town lats in Ottumwa. He has since erected a ground residence and barns, a windmill, has forced the farm, and at the present time has it under the highest state of cultivation. For some years he was not located on any highway. but in 1844 a township line road was built between keokuk. and Center township, thus giving him a good
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