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 61
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ren county and in the state since 1875. Ohio claims him as a native son for his birth occurred in Clermont county, February 7, 1849.
His father, Jonathan N. Howser, was likewise a native of the Buckeye state, where he was reared and followed the occupation of farming. He was married in Ohio to Miss Margaret J. Dillman, a native of that state, and they removed from Ohio to eastern Illinois settling in Champaign county. where Mr. Howser opened up a farm in 1860. Prospering in his undertaking he added to his original holdings until he was owner of seven hundred acres. The work of improvement was carried on along the most progressive lines and he continued to reside upon his farm there until called to his final rest when seventy-three years of age. His wife's death which occurred when she was sixty-five years of age was due to an accident. They were the parents of six children, five of whom reached manhood and womanhood.
Robert C. Howser was reared on the home farm and as his age and strength increased he worked more and more largely in the fields. devoting the summer months to farm labor. while in the winter seasons he attended the public schools, also spending three months in a college. He continued on the home farm until his twerty-fifth year and was engaged in breaking prairie in Illinois and in all the work incident to its cultivation and improvement. In 1875 he arrived in Page county, Iowa, where he made investment in two hundred and forty aeres of land near Northboro. This was raw land on which he broke the sod. also fenced the place and made good improvements. He erected a dwelling there together with other substantial buildings, set out a good orchard and made the place his home for twenty years, its neat and thrifty appearance indicating his careful supervision and practical progres- sive methods.
On the 2d of April, 1879. Mr. Howser was united in marriage to Miss Pris- eille E. Hahn. a native of Knox county. Illinois, and a daughter of Edward I. Hahn, a farmer of that state. Her parents died in Illinois during her girlhood days and she was reared by her grandmother in Towa. Mr. Howser began his domestie life upon a farm and as the years have passed has continued in the work of the fields, meeting with well merited success by reason of his carefully directed labor, keen discrimination in business affairs and unfaltering perse- verance. He has also been a local preacher since 1885 and has been an earnest worker in behalf of the church. He continued to reside in Page county until 1895. when he removed to Indianola for the purpose of educating his chil- dren. Here he has a good home property and is most pleasantly located.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Howser have been born two sons and a daughter: O. C., the eldest, is a graduate of Simpson College and is now located in Poinsett county. Arkansas. where he follows farming and stock-raising. He was married in Indianola to Miss Mary Cook and they have a large farm of sixteen hundred acres, which is owned by his father. Robert C., and which is largely devoted to the raising of cotton. They employ forty cotton pickers in the season and the business is proving profitable. Robert E. Howser. the second son also attended Simpson College. is a graduate of the law de- partment of the Northwestern University at Chicago and is practicing law in
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that city, having been associated with Baldwin Brothers, attorneys, since 1904. He was married in Indianola to Miss Vivian Brackney, a daughter of Joseph Brackney of Indianola and they have one child, Elizabeth. Olive Jessie, the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Howser was graduated from the high school of Indianola in 1908. .
Rev. Howser has preached in this locality as a local minister for about ten years and he yet occasionally fills a pulpit.
He has always given his political support to the republican party where questions of national or state importance are involved, but at local elections when there is no issue before the people, he votes independently. He has been road supervisor, township clerk and school director, filling all of those posi- tions in Page county. He has frequently been a delegate to the republican county conventions and has also been a delegate to the Sunday school conven- tions at Des Moines. Almost throughout his entire life he has been connected with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is also a member and in the Sunday school work they have taken an active and helpful interest. Mr. Howser came to Iowa when a young man and has here reared his family. witnessing the development of the state as the years have gone by and it has been transformed from a frontier district into one of the richest state in the Union, leading all others in the production of corn and in the number and character of its public schools. Of her record in other ways Towa citizens may well be proud and at all times Mr. Howser has given his aid and his influence in support of those measures which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride and promote the welfare of the commonwealth.
A. T. KAUFMAN.
A. I. Kaufman resides on a desirable and well improved farm of eighty acres located on section 28. Lincoln township, which he has acquired wholly through his own efforts and which, taken in connection with his stock-raising and feeding, yields him a substantial income and an independent livelihood. He was born near Princeton, in Bureau county, Illinois. November 12. 1847. the son of D. M. and Louisa (Van Ormer) Kaufman. His father was a native of Juniata county, Pennsylvania, where he was born on May 4, 1829, and where he remained until after his marriage, his wife being also a native of the same county and state. He first engaged in farming in Pennsylvania, but in 1860 removed to Illinois, where he bought land near Princeton and opened up a new farm. He also ran an omnibus line and transfer wagon between Wyanet and Pond Creek. In 1870 he disposed of his Illinois interests and removed to Towa, where he first bought land in Marion county but afterward, in 1873. he removed to Warren county and invested in a piece of land in Greenfield township. Later he sold that place and bought a farm in Lincoln township. where he remained for a number of years and here his family was reared.
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Eventually he sold this farm and removed to Wharton county, Texas, where he remained until the time of his death.
A. I. Kaufman was actively identified with his father's interests until he was twenty-eight years of age. His boyhood and youth were spent on the farm in Warren county, to whose school system he is indebted for a sound. practical education. On starting out for himself he not only assumed the responsibility and management of a part of his father's place, but he also took a ten years' lease on a four hundred acre unimproved tract of land, which he cleared and broke, paying his rent with a certain percentage of the crops raised. After his marriage he bought a portion of this place and built a good substantial residence thereon. together with a barn, fences, outbuildings and stock scales. He also made other necessary improvements, converting it into an ideal stock and grain farm. He set out an orchard and planned it all with the determination of making out of it an ideal home for the future.
On January 14, 1891, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Kaufman and Miss Lou Graham, daughter of J. M. Graham, one of the early settlers of Warren county, who came here from Indiana in 1849. Mrs. Kaufman was born, reared and educated in this county. Unto this union have been born two sons, D. M. and Frank E., both of whom reside at home with their parents.
In national polities Mr. Kaufman is a democrat, but in local affairs he votes for the man whom he believes best qualified to fill the office, regardless of party ties. He has never aspired to public office for himself, though his interest in educational matters has prompted him to serve on the school board as one of its directors. His estimable wife attends the United Presbyterian church in Indianola, in which faith she was reared. Mr. Kaufman has now lived in this county some thirty-five years, and in reflecting on its wild and un- cultivated state at the time he chose it as the place of his adoption it must afford him no small amount of satisfaction to feel and know that he has played no unimportant part in its growth and development.
DATHLEF H. MARTENS.
Dathlef H. Martens, owning and operating two hundred acres of valuable land on section 3, Jefferson township, was born on the old homestead farm in Jefferson township, Warren county, May 4, 1874, a son of Fred Martens. The latter was a native of Holstein, Germany, and a farmer by occupation. When a young man he came to the new world, settling in Will county. Illinois, where he followed farming and developed and improved a good tract of land. He had served in the Revolutionary war in Germany in 1848, and as this movement was unsuccessful he determined to seek a home in the new world where he might enjoy the fruits of liberty and independence. Ac- cordingly he crossed the Atlantic and took up his abode in Will county, Illinois, where he married Miss Margaret Huss, a native of Germany. In 1861 they came to Warren county, lowa, where the father broke the sod
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MR. AND MRS. D. H. MARTENS
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RESIDENCE OF D. H. MARTENS
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and opened up a farm. He became one of the most prominent and prosperous agriculturists of Jefferson township, where he accumulated sixteen hundred aeres of land. This he developed until his last years and in July, 1905. he was called to his final rest at the age of seventy-eight years. He had for several years survived his wife, who died in 1893, at the age of sixty-three years. They were the parents of six children, four of whom reached adult age, namely: John F., who is mentioned on another page of this volume; William; Mrs. Katherine Huglin, of Madison county, and Dathlef H. Two sons died in infancy.
The last named was reared in the county of his nativity and acquired his education in St. Benedict's College at Atchison, Kansas, while for one term he was a student at Simpson College. In 1892 he enlisted in the United States regular army at Omaha as a member of Company A, Second Infantry, serving for three years and three months and then being honorably dis- charged on the 17th of December, 1895. On the 18th of April, 1896, he re- enlisted at Fort Logan, Colorado, but was sent back to Company A at Omaha, there remaining until June 29, 1896, when he was sent to Fort Keogh, Montana. There he continued until July, 1898, and served on the Indian detachment. issuing rations to the Indians. On the 30th of July, 1897, he received an ax wound in the knee, which caused his discharge February 20, 1898. Going for treatment to the Army and Navy Government Hospital at Hot Springs, Arkansas. he there remained until January 6, 1898, and in February was honorably discharged, after five years of faithful service in the regular army. He is the youngest government pensioner in Warren county and one of the youngest in the state of Iowa.
On taking up the pursuits of civil life. Mr. Martens rented the farm on which he now lives and subsequently purchased one hundred and twenty aeres. His property now comprises two hundred acres, eighty acres having come to him as his share of his father's estate. He has two sets of im- provemets, has erected a modern and substantial home. barns and outbuild- ings, has set out an orchard and has enclosed his fields with hog-tight feneing. In addition to the work of general farming he raises and feeds from one to two carloads of Duroc Jersey hogs annually, and likewise has some shorthorn cattle and Percheron horses. He also conducts a dairy and in 'his various undertakings is meeting with a gratifying and well merited measure of pros- perity, owing to his untiring perseverance and excellent business ability.
On the 2d of January, 1901. Mr. Martens was united in marriage to Miss Laura B. Serivner, a native of Madison county and a daughter of William F. Scrivner. She is a first consin of Senator Crossley. now attorney general of Alaska. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Martens have been born four children, namely : Judson B., who has passed away; Marjorie M .; Mildred I .; and Velma I.
Where national questions and issues are involved Mr. Martens gives his political allegiance to the republican party but casts an independent local ballot. He was elected and served as constable for two years, and for one year has been secretary of the school board. His fraternal relations connect him with the Modern Woodmen of America at Indianola ; he was secretary
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of the Camp at Churchville for five years. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Spring Hill, of which he was secretary for one year, and the Masonic lodge at Spring Hill. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church of Prole, and are well and favorably known throughout the county as people of genuine personal worth and up- right lives.
HORACE M. WILSON.
Prominent among the business men of Lacona for the past fifteen years is Horace M. Wilson, who for the past six years has been cashier of the Bank of Lacona. one of the best managed and safest financial institutions in this section of the country. Mr. Wilson was born in Fulton county, Illinois, De- cember 11, 1868, a son of G. W. Wilson, who was born in the Keystone state. but became an early settler of Fulton county, Illinois, removing thence at an early day. However, in 1868, he removed to Lucas county, Iowa, where he opened up a farm and carried on agricultural pursuits.
The son was taken from his native state to Lucas county, this state, during his infancy and there grew to mature years. He was educated in the common and high schools of Lucas county and was employed as a bookkeeper in a grain and lumber business at Chariton for a time. He then took up his abode in Lacona and accepted the position as manager of a grain and lumber business at this place for G. J. Stewart Company, with whom he continued for nine years. He then, in 1902, severed his connection with the latter firm and upon the reorganization of the Bank of Lacona at this place was elected its cashier and has continued in that capacity to the present time. The prosperity which has attended this institution is certainly due in large measures to the efforts of Mr. Wilson, for he is ever found courteous and painstaking with the patrons of the bank and therefore the volume of business transacted over its counters is now of great importance and magnitude. In addition to his duties as cashier of the bank, Mr. Wilson is also conducting a fire insurance business, in which he is meeting with success and the volume of this business has also grown to extensive proportions.
Mr. Wilson was married June 1. 1897. to Miss Clara Shupe, who was born and reared in this city and was engaged in teaching prior to her mar- riage. Their home has been blessed with a little daughter and son. Mildred and Lisle.
In his political views Mr. Wilson is a republican. having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He was elected and served as school treasurer but aside from that office has filled no publie positions, preferring rather to give his undivided time and attention to his private business interests. He is a Master Mason and at the present time is serving as secretary of the Masonic lodge at Lacona. and at one time served as a delegate to the grand lodge. He and his wife are identified with the
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Eastern Star and with the Rebekah lodge, while Mr. Wilson is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Odd Fellows lodge, with which he became identified at Chariton at the age of twenty-one years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which they contribute liberally.
In no sense a man in public life, Mr. Wilson has nevertheless exerted an immeasureable influence of the city of his residence; in business life as a financier and promoter of industrial and commercial enterprises; in social circles by reason of a charming and unfeigned cordiality ; in polities by reason of his public spirit and devotion to the general good; and in those depart- ments of activity which ameliorate hard conditions of life for the unfortunate by his benevolence and his liberality.
PETER SCHOOLER.
Peter Schooler is the owner of a good farm of one hundred and twenty aeres on section 20, Allen township, where he is now practically living retired, but for many years he was successfully engaged in its operation. He was born in Paxton, Scotland, July 7. 1830, and was reared and educated in his native land, where he also learned the carpenter's and joiner's trades. Hoping that he might do better in the new world. he went to Liverpool, where he took passage on a sailing vessel, and celebrated the twenty-third birthday on the Atlantic. After a voyage of six weeks he landed in New York and pro- ceeded up the Hudson river to Albany, where he worked at his trade for about eighteen months. He then went to Chicago and later in 1854 removed to Keokuk, Iowa, where he followed carpentering for one season.
In the spring of 1856 Mr. Schooler came to Warren county and took up his residence in Carlisle, where he resumed work at his trade. He then had a brother. Thomas Schooler, living in Greenfield township. Going to Des Moines he was employed on the old state capitol, and continued a resident of that city for about three years, at the end of which time he returned to Warren county and purchased a home in Greenfield. During the following twenty years he worked at his trade and then purchased his present farm in Allen township to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted his time and attention for many years. Although he still resides upon the farm he is now practically living retired. leaving the more active duties of the place to younger hands. while he supervises its operation. When he bought the farm there was an old house upon it but this he has replaced by a good two-story residence. has built a barn and other outbuildings. has fenced the land and placed it under cultivation. so that he now has one of the best improved farms of the locality.
In 1857 Mr. Schooler was married in Des Moines to Miss Jeanette Hastie. who was born and reared in Choicelee, Scotland. and they became the parents of the following children: John, who is at home; William, a business man
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of Palmyra; James, a carpenter of Colorado Springs; Charles and Edwin, both farmers of Lincoln township; Thomas, a farmer of Palmyra township; Arthur and Austin, who have rented the home farm since their father's retirement. having a farm of their own nearby; Mary, who was formerly a teacher but is now at home; Isabell, who died at the age of nineteen years, and George, who died at the age of twenty. Mr. Schooler has also been called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. who passed away December 28. 1903, and was laid to rest in Scotch Ridge cemetery.
In 1896, accompanied by his daughter. Mr. Schooler visited his old home in Scotland after an absence of forty-three years. He found two brothers and a brother-in-law living besides about forty-five nieces and nephews and a number of old school friends, whom he enjoyed meeting. They had a pleas- ant voyage over of ten days and landed in Glasgow but the return trip was not so enjoyable as they encountered two days of very rough weather. Al- though it was a great pleasure to visit the scenes of his boyhood and youth. Mr. Schooler is well contented to make his home on this side of the Atlantic, where he has prospered in his business affairs and has made many warm friends. He is independent in politics and has served as assessor of his town- ship three years and has also held school offices. An earnest and faithful Christian, he is a member of the United Presbyterian church and has served as ruling elder for over thirty-three years.
AMON L. OGG.
Amon L. Ogg. who for some years has been a representative of the insur- ance business in Indianola and has recently extended his operations to the field of real-estate dealing, was born in Knox county. Ohio, May 4. 1837. His father. William H. Ogg. was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and when a boy accompanied his parents on their removal to Knox county. Ohio, where he was reared upon a farm. There he remained until after his marriage and in the year 1852 he arrived in Henry county. Iowa. settling near Mount Pleasant upon a farm, to the further development and improvement of which he devoted his energies throughout his remaining days. He was diligent and active in his farming and stock-raising interests and his careful management and keen busi- ness discernment won him a gratifying measure of prosperity. He married Miss Amanda Bevans, who was born in Knox county. Ohio, and was a daughter of William Bevans, a lawyer and newspaper man, who was prominent in the Buckeye state in many ways. He served as a general in the Ohio Militia and afterward located in the town of Mount Vernon. He edited the second news- paper of the town and was prominently associated with its upbuilding and development. He was an abolitionist after the style of Horace Greeley. He served as judge of the probate court and in public affairs wielded a wide in- fluence. Both Mr. and Mrs. William H. Ogg were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Ogg belonged to the Odd Fellows society
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and to the Masonic fraternity, while his political allegiance was given to the democracy. He died in 1858 at the comparatively early age of forty-one years, while his wife spent her last days in lowa and departed this life October 19, 1881. They were the parents of nine children.
Amon L. Ogg, the second in order of birth, was reared in the usual man- ner of farm lads, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He was a youth of about sixteen years when he came with his parents to lowa. He had attended the country schools of his native state and afterward became a student in Howe's Academy at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and also in the Wesleyan University. In early manhood he engaged in teaching school in Henry, Lucas and Warren counties and proved his ability as an instructor and disciplinarian, maintaining good order and imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had ac- quired. While thus engaged the summer months were devoted to farm labor. He became a prominent resident of Warren county in October, 1869, and located in White Oak township, where he purchased a tract of land. Upon this farm he remained until 1882, when he came to Indianola, where he en- gaged in the insurance business. For twenty-six years he continued in this line, writing a large amount of insurance annually, and recently he has also engaged in the real-estate business, in which he has already secured a good patronage. He is a man of determination and energy, carrying forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
In early manhood Mr. Ogg put aside all business and personal considera- tions that he might defend the Union cause in the Civil war and enlisted on the 2d of October, 1861, as a member of Company D, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, leaving at home his wife and two children. He attained the rank of first sergeant and was afterward second lieutenant, holding that position when mustered out August 23, 1865, at Atlanta, Georgia, having been in command of his company much of the time during the last year of his service. Some- thing of the character of his services is indicated by the fact that he was on active duty in the siege of Vicksburg, at the battles of Selma, Columbus and Macon, Georgia, and many others. In one of the earliest engagements in which he participated-the battle of Mariana in Arkansas-he was wounded. He made an excellent war record, of which he has every reason to be proud. His regiment was in sixty-four battles and skirmishes where men were killed on both sides. Mr. Ogg was never off duty save when injured and was numbered among the loyal soldiers, fearless in defense of the old flag, whether his duty called him to the lonely picket line or stationed him in the midst of the firing line. He took part in many of the long hard marches as well as the sanguinary confliets and throughout his entire life he has been as loyal in his citizenship as when he followed the stars and stripes on the battlefields of the south.
Mr. Ogg was married March 10. 1859. to Miss Mary MeCoy, who was born in Guernsey county, Ohio. May 7. 1842. Her parents came to Henry county, Iowa, when she was two years of age. By her marriage she has become the mother of ten children, namely: Charles M., now deceased; Wil-
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