USA > Iowa > Warren County > History of Warren County, Iowa : from its earliest settlement to 1908; with biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county > Part 52
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Don L. Berry was reared in his native city and was primarily instructed in the common branches of English learning. by his mother. He afterward pursued a course of study, however, and was graduated at Simpson College as a member of the class of 1903. He became a reporter in Des Moines on the Register and Leader and in that manner spent more than a year. He after- ward returned to Indianola and about that time was married to Miss Bertha Sloan, the wedding being celebrated in Des Moines, October 10, 1905. The lady is a native of Dexter, Iowa, pursued her studies in the Dexter Academy and also in the Conservatory of Music, of Indianola, a department of Simp- son College, later becoming instructor in that institution.
In the spring of 1905, Mr. Berry located on his present farm, which was formerly owned by his paternal grandfather, who settled on the farm in 1867 and owned and cultivated it for a quarter of a century. after which he disposed of the property. He was one of the first stock-breeders and dealers of Warren county and engaged in raising registered shorthorn cat- tle. When Don L. Berry took up his abode on the farm, he purchased some registered shorthorn stock and began breeding, now having a herd of twenty- five pure-blooded cows and heifers, together with other high-grade stock. Mr. Berry also breeds Percheron and French draft horses and has some fine animals and has won a number of premiums at the Warren county fair on his horses. He is becoming widely known as a breeder and dealer in pure- blooded stock. conducting an extensive and prosperous business in this line.
Mr. and Mrs. Berry have one son. Thomas Sloan, and a daughter. Martha Rachel. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Indianola, and are interested in its work and helpful in its support. Poli- tically. he is a stanch republican, but is best known in connection with his business interests and is now serving as secretary of the Farmers' Institute, having filled the position since its organization.
STEPHEN FLESHER.
Stephen Flesher has spent his entire life in Warren county and throughout his business career has been prominently identified with its farming and stock- raising interests. Ile now operates a fine farm of one hundred and fifty-four acres near Hartford in Richland township, and also rents another place of one hundred and twenty-five aeres. both being well improved and highly cul- tivated.
Mr. Flesher was born in Lincoln township. October 24, 1860, a son of Benjamin F .. and Caroline Flesher who came to this state from MeLean county. Illinois, and were pioneers of Warren county. The father, who was also a farmer by occupation, died in May, 1891, and the mother, surviving hint for a few years, has also passed away. They were the parents of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, of whom six sons and two daughters are still living.
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Upon his father's farm in Palmyra township, Stephen Flesher spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and his education was acquired in the schools of the neighborhood. On the 25th of December, 1890, he was married in Palmyra, to Miss Clara Kerr, who was born and reared near that village. Her father, L. H. Kerr, was one of the pioneers of this county and a soldier of the civil war. He owned and operated a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Palmyra township, where he died on the 15th of May, 1905, but his wife is still living and now makes her home in Palmyra. Mr. and Mrs. Flesher have two sons: Everett and Warren.
They began their married life upon the farm now owned and operated by Coy Craig, but two years later Mr. Flesher purchased a farm in Palmyra township, upon which the following two years were spent. At the end of that time he sold out and removed to a farm west of Palmyra, being engaged in its cultivation for three years. In 1896 he located upon his present place and has since rented other property, so that he now cultivates about two hun- dred and eighty acres of highly improved land. Stock-raising claims a large share of his attention and he has upon his place some fine pure-blooded shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. At a sale of shorthorn in 1905 he sold twenty-five head of registered stock. He also owns some high-grade horses, which he has exhibited at the Indianola fairs and has secured some good prizes. He fattens about two carloads of hogs for market annually and also a number of steers. He is regarded as one of the leading farmers and stock- raisers of his community and as a public-spirited and enterprising citizen he receives and merits the esteem of all with whom he is brought in contact either in business or social life. His political support is given the democratic party but he has never cared for official honors.
ELZA FREEMAN.
Elza Freeman, extensively and successfully engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock in New Virginia, was born in Taylor county, West Virginia, January 29, 1847 His father, Benjamin Freeman, a native of West Virginia, was a blacksmith and carpenter by trade, and his demise occurred in that state. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Minerva Ann Yates, also a native of West Virginia, likewise passed away in that state. Their family numbered eleven children. all of whom grew to maturity and were married, but only two sons and three daughters still survive.
Elza Freeman, who was the only one of the children to come west of the Ohio river, spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the state of his na- tivity, acquiring his education in the common or subscription schools. In the fall of 1864 he enlisted as a private in Company G. Sixth Virginia Volun- teer Infantry. serving until the close of hostilities. He participated in no engagements, however, being assigned to do guard duty. At the age of twenty-one years he came to Iowa, without capital, and purchased forty acres
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of unimproved land on five years' time. After bringing the property under a high state of cultivation he sold it at a good profit, and subsequently bought another forty-acre tract of raw land, which he also disposed of after improving it. He then purchased land in Virginia township and is today the owner of two hundred and seven acres of rich and productive farming property his prosperity having come to him entirely as the result of his own well directed labor and capable management. For the past eleven years he has been extensively and profitably engaged in buying and shipping cattle and hogs, and with the exception of possibly two or three weeks in all this time he has never failed to ship at least one carload of hogs each weck, and very often he has shipped several loads a week. He has had many competi- tors in this business but has outlived them all, for he possesses excellent judg- ment, perseverance and energy that enables him to overcome obstacles and dif- ficulties which others have found insurmountable. For the past six years he has lived in New Virginia and is widely known as a progressive, enter- prising and successful business man.
In West Virginia, on the 30th of January, 1868, Mr. Freeman was united in marriage to Miss Hannah MeIntosh, a native of that state and a sister of A. B. McIntosh, who is mentioned on another page of this volume. She presides with gracious dignity over her household and has carefully reared her family of five children, the record of whom is as follows: Dora, the wife of C. E. Stiles, an agriculturist of Squaw township; Sina Effie, the wife of Ed Stickell, of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Ida, the wife of Frank Farr, residing in Virginia township; Evan, who married Serena Proudfoot and lives on his father's farm; and Chester E., who wedded Meta Pousch and also resides on his father's farm. Two children of Mr. and Mrs. Freeman died in infancy.
A stanch republican in his political views, Mr. Freeman has taken an active interest in the local work of the party, serving as trustee for six years, as road supervisor for four years and as school director for several years. He has ever discharged his publie duties promptly and faithfully and in a manner highly satisfactory to his fellow townsmen. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and both he and wife are highly esteemed residents of the community, having gained an extensive circle of warm friends during the years of their residence here.
SAMUEL OXENREIDER.
Samuel Oxenreider, a stockholder and one of the directors of the Bank of Lacona, was for many years identified with the agricultural interests cf Warren county but is now living retired in Lacona, although he still retains possession of his valuable landed interests, comprising four hundred and eighty acres, from which he derives a good annual income. Mr. Oxenreider is a native of Morrow county. Ohio, born March 31. 1844, a son of Henry and
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Margaret (Everhart) Oxenreider, the former a native of Pennsylvania, while the latter elaimed Virginia as the place of her birth. The father removed from his native state to Ohio, where he was engaged in the conduct of a flour and saw mill, continuing his residence in Morrow county for some years. In 1854, however, he removed to Warren county and entered about three hun- dred and twenty aeres of land and also purchased one hundred and twenty acres. There he continued to engage in farming throughout his remaining days, owning at the time of his death in 1871, about four hundred and forty acres of valuable and well improved land. His wife survived him for several years, passing away in 1884.
Samuel Oxenreider, whose name introduces this review, was a little lad of ten years at the time of the removal of the family from the Buckeye state to Warren county. Here he was reared to farm life, assisting his father in the fields from the time of early spirng planting until the crops were har- vested in the late autumn. He acquired his education in the common schools and in Howe Academy and after completing his course in the latter institu- tion he engaged in teaching, being thus employed through thirty-eight terms. He had, however, in the meantime enlisted as a soldier of the Civil war, being enrolled January 15, 1865, as a member of Company G, Tenth Iowa Vol- unteer Infantry. He participated in many of the important engagements and was with Sherman on his march to Savannah, and finally took part in the grand review at Washington, D. C., at the close of the war. He was later sent to Little Roek, Arkansas, and was mustered out in September, 1865, being discharged at Davenport. He had four brothers in the service: Elias, who was a member of the Third Iowa Infantry and died at Vicksburg; John, a member of the Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry; Milton, a member of the Second Iowa Infantry, and Henry, who was with our subjeet in Company G, Tenth Iowa Regiment.
After the close of hostilities between the north and south, Mr. Oxenreider returned to his home in Warren county and engaged in teaching, following that pursuit for several years. During this time he managed to save from his earnings a sum sufficient to enable him to purchase one hundred and twenty acres of land south of Lacona and on this he located. He at once began the further development and improvement of the place, built a good house and barn, and in due course of time placed the land under a high state of cultivation. As the years passed he prospered in his undertakings and as his financnal resources inereased he added to his acreage from time to time until he became the owner of four hundred and eighty aeres, all im- proved and valuable land. He was for many years identified with agricul- tural interests and still owns this land, which he rents. He is now living retired in Lacona, where he owns and occupies a fine modern residence, which was erected by himself. He is a stockholder and one of the directors of the Bank of Laeona and in this connection is well known throughout the community in which he makes his home.
Mr. Oxenreider was married March 4, 1869, to Miss Elizabeth E. Coehran, a daughter of Captain John M. Cochran, who filled that office in the Tenth Iowa Infantry, serving throughout the war. They have beeome the parents
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of the following children: Cecil H., who is married and has one son, and is now operating his father's farm; Lora E., the wife of Claude Funk, a farmer of Liberty township; Mary, who was educated in Cedar Falls Normal and is now engaged in teaching; Sadie E., the wife of Alonzo Goode, a resi- dent of Lacona; Belva L., assistant cashier and bookkeeper in the Bank of Lacona; Blanche; Daisy, who was educated in the Lacona schools and is also engaged in teaching; Bessie, who was graduated from the Lacona high school with the class of 1908; Leona M., who died at the age of three years, and Myrtle,. who died in infancy.
Mr. Oxenreider is a republican and east his first presidential ballot for General U. S. Grant and has voted for every republican nominee since that time. He has served as a delegate to county conventions and was elected and served as clerk of the township but has never been active as an office seeker. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. in which Mr. Oxenreider is serving as trustee. He is also identified with the Grand Army of the Republic at Lacona, of which he is past commander. For many years he was actively associated with agricultural interests in Warren county and through his labor and ceonomy he and his estimable wife are now enjoying in retirement the accumulations of profitable, success- ful and honorable careers. To those whose good fortune and pleasure it is to know him intimately, his companionship, friendship and counsel are appre- ciated and helpful. With him there is no turning aside from right and duty but his everyday life reflects the true Christian character. In his relations with his fellowmen and in his treatment of his neighbor he never loses sight of the principles of the Golden Rule.
GEORGE W. HEINY.
George W. Heiny has now traveled beyond the eightieth milestone on life's journey and yet he is still an active factor in business circles, having since 1885 been a representative of insurance interests in Indianola. He was previously connected with the live-stock business and in fact his entire ca- reer has been characterized by diligence and perseverance. He was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, January 16, 1828, and is the fourth in a family of seven children, whose parents were Jacob and Catherine (Gall) Heiny. Both were natives of the Keystone state. As the name indicates, the family is of German lineage, and its early identification with American interests is indi- cated by the fact that some of its members were soldiers of the Revolutionary war. Jacob Heiny became proprietor of a hotel at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and after his removal westward to Ohio settled upon a farm in Carroll county. Later he removed to Wayne county, Ohio, and afterward to Hamilton county, Indiana, where the residue of his days was passed. In the careful conduct of the work of the fields he managed to acquire a comfortable competence and was numbered among the stalwart residents of his community. In politics he was
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a democrat, and in religious faith a Dunkard, while his wife belonged to the Lutheran church. She, too, was of German descent. The death of Jacob Heiny occurred in 1853, while Mrs. Heiny departed this life at the advanced age of eighty-three years.
A common-school education was granted George W. Heiny in his boyhood and he was trained to habits of industry, integrity and diligence upon the home farm, where he remained until twenty-one years of age. He afterward engaged in selling clocks for five years, and later embarked in business on his own ac- count. In the early '40's he removed to Hamilton county, Indiana, with his parents, and was there united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Davison, who was born in Highland county, Ohio. Following his marriage he came to Warren county, Iowa, in 1855, settling in Union township. Here he engaged in the sale of clocks and lightning rods and gradually worked into a mercantile business, conducting a store at Sandyville for sixteen years. He then sold out and be- came a buyer and shipper of live stock. While thus engaged he lived on a farm in Union township for several years. taking up his abode there in 1873. In 1885 he removed from the farm to Indianola, where he established an insurance office, and has since been a representative of several old and well known com- panies. Few men of his years are yet active in business, but Mr. Heiny has always led a busy life and his continued connection with business circles indicates his diligence and determination, which have always been among his strongly marked characteristics.
In 1872 Mr. Heiny was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died at the age of fifty-two years. By their marriage they had seven children: William A., president of the Sandyville Bank, of Sandyville; Benjamin F., who is cashier of the Citizens Bank at Pleasantville, this state; Eli, engaged in dry-goods business at Sandyville, and also cashier of the Farmers Bank of that town; Thomas, who was engaged in the dry-goods business in Knoxville, Iowa, and is now a broker of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma ; Charles H., who is a farmer and stockman of Runnells, Iowa; Elizabeth Melsena, the wife of Emer- son Gilbert, who is a stockman and also manager of the Benjamin Heiny farm near Sandyville; and Lydia A., the wife of William Lookenbill, a farmer of Nebraska. After losing his first wife Mr. Heiny was again married, his second union being with Miss Rebecca E. Burch, in 1884. She was born in Indiana, and by this marriage has become the mother of two children: Nellie Grace, who is engaged in teaching school. and is also a teacher of music, and makes her home with her parents; and George W., who is in the employ of the Boone County Telephone Company, at Ames. Mr. Heiny now has altogether eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
In matters of citizenship he has always been interested to the extent of giving his active support to measures for the public good. He votes with the democratic party and has held some township offices. He became a charter member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Sandyville, and in former years was identified with the Masons. Though the snows of many winters have whitened his hair, he yet possesses notable energy and activity and keeps in touch with the spirit of the times and with the country in its various lines of development.
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He has lived to see remarkable changes in Warren county, for when he came here it was largely a pioneer distriet, its lands widland uncultivated, its forests uncut and its streams unbridged. All this has changed as the work of improve- ment and civilization has been carried forward until the county takes rank with the older counties of the great state. Mr. Heiny's memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present, and he relates many interesting stories of the early days.
S. A. GOSE.
S. A. Gose is not only one of the leading citizens of Union township but also fought for the preservation of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war and as such he is justly deserving of prominent mention in the history of his county. Throughout his active business life he has engaged in agricultural pursuits and is today the owner of a fine farm on section 2, Union township.
Mr. Gose was born on the 21st of February, 1841, in Boone county, Indiana, and is a representative of an old Virginia family of German origin. His grandfather, Stephen Gose, and also his father, George W. Gose, were natives of Virginia and in that state the latter grew to manhood. On leaving the Old Dominion they removed to Boone county, Indiana, where in the midst of the wilderness they cleared and improved a farm. There George W. Gose was united in marriage to Miss Frances Brown, a native of Kentucky, and they continued to make their home in Boone county for a number of years. In 1851 they removed to Marion county, Iowa, where he opened up a farm and is still residing at the advanced age of eighty-nine years.
S. A. Gose was ten years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Marion county, Iowa, and in the common schools of that county he acquired a good practical education, which well fitted him for teaching, a pro- fession he followed in Marion county for one winter before entering the army. Joining the boys in blue, he enlisted August 8, 1862, as a member of Company A, Thirty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Western Department. His first engagement of any consequence was at Helena, Arkansas, and he was later in the battles of Little Rock, Prairie Deanne, Jenkins Ferry, the siege of Spanish Fort and other engagements. He was never off duty on account of illness or other causes and at the close of the war was mustered out at New Orleans and honorably discharged. Returning home, he then engaged in farming during the summer months, while through the winter he taught school for a few years.
In March, 1869. in Warren county, Mr. Gose married Miss Rebecca Sinnard, a daughter of Thomas J. Sinnard, and they have one child, Ora J., the widow of E. F. Warren, who died here in February. 1898. She has a son, E. F. Warren, Jr., who is now ten years of age.
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FOUR GENERATIONS OF THE GOSE FAMILY
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After his marriage Mr. Gose located on a part of his present farm in Union township, commencing with eighty acers, only a part of which was under cultivation and the only improvement was a small house. As time passed and he prospered in his farming operation he kept adding to his property until he now has four hundred and fifty acres of rich and arable land, on which are two good sets of farm buildings. He raises and feeds quite a large amount of stock and is regarded as one of the most progressive and enterprising agrieulturists of his community.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, Mr. Gose has been a stanch supporter of the republican party, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln while in the army in 1864. He has been a delegate to the county, state and congressional conventions of his party and has filled the office of justice of the peace in this county and as assessor in Marion county. Both he and his wife are prominent members of the Otterbein United Brethren church, the house of worship being built on the Gose farm. He has taken a leading and active part in church and Sunday school work, serving as superintendent of the Sunday school for twenty-two years and is now secretary of the Warren County Sunday School Association. His life has been one of continuous activity, in which has been accorded due recognition of labor and today he is numbered among the substantial citizens of Warren county. At all times he is ready to lend his aid and cooperation to any movement calculated to benefit the moral, intellectual or material welfare of this section of the country or advance its wonderful development.
J. W. HARSH & SON.
The firm of J. W. Harsh & Son, carpenters and contractors of New Vir- ginia, has been prominently and successfully identified with the building in- terests of Warren county for many years. The senior member, John W. Harsh, was born in West Virginia, January 15. 1833. a son of John J. Harsh, likewise a native of that state. The latter drove across the country to Warren county, Iowa, in 1854 and took up a tract of government land west of the village, but later became a blacksmith, being one of the first followers of that vocation in Virginia township. His last days were spent in Clarke county, Iowa, at the home of his daughter, where he passed away at the age of eighty-eight years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Woodring, was also born in West Virginia and accompanied her husband on his re- moval to Iowa. Her death occurred in Clarke county when she had attained the age of eighty-nine years. Of her family of eleven children seven survive, namely : J. W., of this review; Henry and Abraham. residents of Indianola, Iowa; Mrs. Elizabeth Kellen, of Squaw township; Mrs. Margaret E. Wolf, of Washington township; Mrs. Mary Ann Osgood. of Clarke county. Iowa, and Mrs. Ruth Ann Stark, of Oklahoma.
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J. W. Harsh spent his boyhood days in the state of his nativity and acquired his education in the common schools. In 1855 he made his way to Missouri and on the Ist of January, 1856, came to Virginia township, where he engaged in farming for a short time, and then became connected with the carpenter's trade. Hundreds of attractive structures throughout the sur- rounding country stand as monuments to his architectural skill and ability and he has erected more buildings than anyone else here. For a number of years he has been associated in business with his son, C. W., under the style of J. W. Harsh & Son, and they are well and favorably known throughout the county as men of excellent business ability and unfaltering integrity.
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