USA > Iowa > Washington County > History of Washington County, Iowa from the first white settlements to 1908. Also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county, Vol. II > Part 11
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When the country no longer needed his military aid R. M. Hamilton returned to Mercer county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming. On the 4th of January, 1870, he married Miss Josephine Cabeen, and in that spring they removed to Iowa, taking up their abode in Seventy-Six township, Wash- ington county. Here Mr. Hamilton first purchased forty acres of land on which stood a small, frame house, containing only two rooms. In 1874 he sold that property and bought sixty acres to which he afterward added another sixty acre tract, living upon that farm until 1890, when he purchased and removed to his present home place that contains two hundred and sixty acres and is one of the best improved farms in Washington county. He has gained a wide reputation as a breeder of horses, having raised some of the finest draft horses in the state. He has likewise been extensively engaged in the raising of Aberdeen Angus cattle and it has been through his live- stock interests that he has largely won the success which is today his and which now enables him to practically live retired. Handling stock of the highest grades he has become widely known in this connection, his business interests being of the most important character. He has done not a little to improve the grade of stock raised in this part of the state and has there- by materially advanced prices.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Hamilton were born nine children : Ralph, who is a druggist of Keota ; Clara, the wife of Dr. A. J. Droz, of Keota; John, who is conducting a drug business in Keota ; Margaret, at home ; Effie, the wife of William Holmes, of Keota; Arthur L., of this review; Nora, the wife of James O'Laughlin, of Seventy-Six township; Merle, at home; and Frank, living in Knoxville, Iowa. The parents are both members of the United Presbyterian church and Mr. Hamilton is a stalwart republican in politics. Moreover, he is numbered among the substantial and valued farm- ers and citizens of Washington county-a man of splendid business ability,
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whose activity has won him success in which the community has indirectly shared.
A. L. Hamilton pursued his literary education in the public schools and his business training under the able guidance and direction of his father, who instructed him concerning the breeding of thoroughbred horses. At the age of twenty-one years he began the breeding of thoroughbred heavy draft horses and his judgment in business matters of this connection proved so sound that in 1906 his father made him his successor in business. He is well known as a breeder and raiser of fine horses and has handled some of the best stock in Iowa. He sold draft horses as high as fifteen hundred dol- lars for a pair and he likewise handles fancy driving horses, manifesting his keen judgment and discrimination in his selection of good animals. His valuation of the horses is regarded as authority on the subject and he stands as one of the foremost representatives of this line of business in his native county.
Mr. Hamilton is also well known and popular in social circles and is a valued member of West Chester Lodge, K. of P. He also belongs to the United Presbyterian church and gives his political support to the republican party. Those who know him find him a genial, courteous gentleman, and one whose good qualities are widely recognized by his many friends.
J. H. ROMINE.
J. H. Romine is ranked among the self-made men of Washington county who, through their indefatigable energy and untiring perseverance, have without any special favoring advantages at the start made their way to posi- tions of comparative affluence and prosperity. He is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Seventy-Six township, this county and has become recognized as one of the substantial and representative citizens of the community in which he resides. He was born in Fulton county, Illinois, August 30, 1844, a son of L. B. and Elizabeth ( Taylor ) Romine, natives of Ohio and Indiana respectively. The parents removed to Illinois in the '30s and thence to Iowa, arriving in Washington county in 1856. Here he purchased property upon which he resided until his death, which occurred in 1888. The mother still survives and resides in Seventy-Six township at the age of eighty-six years. In their family were twelve children, namely: Harriet, the wife of J. V. Housel, residing in Nebraska : Catharine, deceased ; Malinda E., the widow of Henry Desing; J. H., of this review ; Eliza J., the deceased wife of George Y. Dusenberry ; Charles L., residing in Seventy-Six township; Joseph F., living retired in Keota, Iowa ; Rachel A., the wife of Alfred Dusenberry, of Washington county ; William E., a resident of Lime Creek township, this county ; Mary, deceased : N. E., of this township : and Mahala F., the wife of C. E. Beatty, of Washington, Iowa.
The youthful days of J. H. Romine were passed in the acquirement of an education as a pupil in the common schools of the neighborhood in which
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he lived. He remained under the parental roof until eighteen years of age, when, in response to his country's call for aid, he enlisted as a member of Company H. Second Iowa Infantry, and served for two and a half years as a loyal defender of the Union cause. He saw much active service and although he participated in several hotly contested battles was never wounded. He was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea and at the close of his term of enlistment was honorably discharged at Davenport, lowa.
Returning to Washington county, Iowa, Mr. Romine became identified with farming pursuits. For a few years he rented a farm and then purchased eighty acres of land, which tract constitutes a part of his present farm. He carefully cultivated that tract, saved his earnings and from time to time added to his holdings until today he is the owner of five hundred and sixty acres of as good farm land as can be found anywhere in the state of Iowa. A fine grove surrounds the substantial buildings which he has erected upon the farm and everything about the place indicates thrift and progress upon the part of the owner. Aside from his agricultural pursuits he has made a specialty of raising and feeding cattle and hogs, and in this branch of activity is meeting with substantial success. As he has prospered he has extended his business interests and is today well known in financial circles of Well- inan as the president of the Wellman Savings Bank, which office he has held for nine years.
Mr. Romine has been twice married, his first union being with Miss Marthia A. Frits, a native of Dubuque county, Iowa. Her birth occurred in 1844 and she was one of a family of eight children whose parents are now deceased. The wedding was celebrated in 1866 and unto this union were born two children: William L., identified with mercantile business in Wellman, Iowa ; and Kinney N., deceased. The wife and mother passed away in 1869 and in 1877 Mr. Romine was again married, the lady of his choice being Miss Nancy. C. Cochran. She was a native of Ohio. Her parents, who are yet living, now reside in Norton county, Kansas. In their family were eight children. By her marriage Mrs. Romine became the mother of six children, as follows: Leonora A., the wife of C. W. Taylor, of Murray. Iowa : E. F., residing in Seventy-Six township : Morris E., also of that township; Essa Iris, a graduate of the Quincy College ; Opal R .; and Jessie H., deceased.
The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an active interest in the work of the church. They are well known in the social circles of the community and the hospitality of the best homes in the township is freely accorded them. Mr. Romine has retained pleasant rela- tions with his old army comrades through his membership in the Grand Army Post, No. 112, at Wellman, Iowa, and takes great delight in the camp fires of that organization. For thirty-five years he has served as a member of the school board and the cause of education has found in him a stalwart champion. He has always been a staunch advocate of the republican party and although the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. he is never unmindful of the duties and obligations, as well as the privileges of true citizenship and takes an active interest in all matters per-
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taining to the material, financial, intellectual and moral growth of the com- munity. His has been a life of continuous activity in which he has been accorded due recognition of honest labor. He has utilized the opportunities that were his to the best of his ability and his success has come to him not through speculation or through any fortunate combination of circumstances but has resulted from his perseverance, his wise investments and his habit of carrying forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
WILLIAM STEINER.
William Steiner is numbered among the valued citizens of this county that Germany has furnished to Iowa and in his life he exemplifies many of the sterling traits of the Teutonic race, being a man of persistency of pur- pose and of well known reliability. He was born September 26, 1833, in the fatherland and his parents, Peter and Emma ( Henn ) Steiner, were also natives of that country. In 1850 they came to America, first locating in the state of New York where they continued to reside until called to their final rest. Their family numbered eight children: William; Phillipina, now Mrs. Itermiller, a widow living in Lime Creek township; Jacob, Charles and Henry, who are yet residents of the state of New York ; and three who have passed away.
William Steiner came to America when but seventeen years of age. He had acquired a good education in the schools of his native country and. attracted by the opportunities of the new world, he crossed the Atlantic. hoping to benefit by the advantages here offered in business lines. He first secured employment as a farm hand in the Empire state, where be remained for eight years, when in 1858 he came to lowa, settling in Lee county. There he was employed for three years and in 1861 he came to Washington county, Iowa. After being employed for four years as a farm hand in this county, during which time he carefully saved his earnings until his economy and industry had brought him a substantial little sum of money, he then invested in a farm on which he now lives. It has been his home continuously since 1865 and comprises one hundred and fifty-seven acres of land in Lime Creek township. Today it is a well improved property and its attractive appearance is due entirely to the care he has bestowed upon it He has erected commodious and substantial buildings, has planted trees and now has a beautiful farm, his broad acres spreading out around him and annually bringing forth rich crops. He has also made a specialty of raising and feeding hogs and his unremitting industry and unfaltering perseverance have constituted the salient features in his prosperity.
Mr. Steiner has been married twice. In Lee county he wedded Miss Mary Rupp, who was born in Germany. They became the parents of four children : Mary, now deceased : William, at home ; Jacob, who is living in the state of Washington; and Katie, now in California. The wife and mother passed away September 20, 1874, and Mr. Steiner afterward wedded
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Miss Mary Schmitt, who was born in Germany in 1852 and was brought to America by her parents in 1860. Unto this marriage there were born seven children: Henry and John, who are residents of this county ; Anna, wife of Melvin Whetstine, living in Lime Creek township; Daniel, at home ; Emma, who resides with her parents and is engaged in teaching school; and Martha and Charles, who are pupils in the high school at Wellman.
Mr. Steiner votes with the democracy and is a stalwart advocate of the principles of the party. The cause of education finds in him an earnest champion and through sixteen years' service on the school board he did effective work for the interests of public education. He holds membership in the Mennonite church while his wife is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church. They are both highly esteemed and their many good traits of heart and mind have given them firm hold on the affection and regard of those with whom they have been brought in contact.
ELIAS A. APPLEGATE.
Elias A. Applegate, a prosperous and well known agriculturist of Jack- son township, was born in Washington county, Iowa, November 4, 1869, his parents being William and Elizabeth Ann (Unangst) Applegate, both of whom were natives of New Jersey. They made their way to Mercer county. Illinois, at an early day and subsequently came to Washington county, lowa, in 1864, locating in Jackson township, where the father pur- chased a tract of land. William Applegate passed away on the 3d of May, 1007, but his wife still survives and yet makes her home in this county, having now attained the age of sixty-eight years. Unto this worthy couple were born five children, namely: John H., a resident of Oklahoma; Etta May, the wife of Frank McCreedy, of Little Falls. Minnesota ; Anna M. and Cora C., both of whom are deceased ; and Elias A., of this review.
The last named attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education and remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-five years of age. He was then married and rented his father's farm, in the operation of which he was engaged for three years. On the expiration of that period, in 1898, he took up his abode on his present place in Jackson township, where he has since carried on his agricultural interests with such diligence and industry that his labors have been rewarded by bounteous harvests annually. He has placed many modern improvements on his prop- erty and is recognized throughout the community as a most substantial, enterprising and progressive citizen.
As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Applegate chose Miss Mary Korous, whose birth occurred in Jackson township, Washington county, August 25, 1875. Her parents, Albert and Josephine Korous, who were natives of Bohemia, came to Washington county, Iowa, at an early day. The father still survives, residing in this county, but the mother died on the 25th of July, 1884. Their family numbered five children, as follows :
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Mrs. Applegate ; Elizabeth, deceased ; Frances, who is head nurse in a hos- pital at Salt Lake City : Rose Marie, a resident of Utah ; and Anna, who has also passed away. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Applegate were born five children : Howard E., whose birth occurred February 21, 1896; Edna P., born March 14, 1897; Elizabeth M., whose natal day was March 10, 1900; Gladys L., born October 13, 1904 ; and Ora May, who first opened her eyes to the light of day on the 16th of Febraury, 1906.
Mr. Applegate exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and has served as school director, the cause of education ever finding in him a staunch champion. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian church and are well known and highly esteemed throughout the county in which they have spent their entire lives.
CHARLES T. JOHNSON.
Charles T. Johnson is a prosperous farmer of Lime Creck township who has continuously resided at his present place of residence since 1865, at which time he came to this farm with his parents, Eleazer and Eunice ( Fer- nald) Johnson. His birth had occurred in Maine on the 28th of December, 1857. The Johnson family is of English lineage and was founded in America in 1630. Most of the male members of the family were shipbuilders and they had a place of business at the mouth of the Merrimac river, known as the Johnson wharf. The grandfather of our subject served as a soldier in the war of 1812.
Eleazer Johnson, the father of our subject, was born April 26, 1813, and when fourteen years of age left home, shipping as cabin boy on a vessel which sailed from New England ports. Gradually he worked his way upward through successive promotions until he became captain, sailing on the seas until thirty years of age. At that time he purchased a farm in Maine, on which he resided until 1865, when he came to the middle west with his family, settling in Washington county, Iowa. Here he purchased the farm whereon his son Charles now resides and to the cultivation and development of this property he gave his attention throughout his remaining days. His wife was born January 7, 1821, and they became the parents of nine children, of whom Sarah F. and William P., the two eldest, are now deceased. Har- riet is now Mrs. Newcomb, a resident of Kansas. Edward T. is also a resi- dent of Kansas. Fannie T. and Marie L. reside together on a farm of one hundred and eighty-five acres in Lime Creek township, which they own, and in her younger years Miss Fannie engaged in teaching school. Clara T., the next of the household, is deceased. Charles T. is the eighth in order of birth. Margaret A., who completed the family, has also passed away. The mother died January 6, 1869, and the father's death occurred November 27, 1881, their remains being interred in the Lexington cemetery.
Charles T. Johnson is far separated from the place of his birth A native of New England, he spent the first seven years of his life in the Pine Tree
LA.ZER
LEHNSEN
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
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state and then accompanied his parents on their journey to fowa. Since that time he has resided continuously on the farm which is now his home. He was trained in the active work of the fields and was therefore well quali- fied to take charge of the place when he began farming on his own account. He now owns two hundred and forty acres of land on section 31, Lime Creek township, and in addition to tilling the soil he has always made a specialty of raising and feeding stock, handling at all times good grades so that his stock finds a ready sale on the market.
It was on the 30th of November, 1896, that the marriage of Charles T. Johnson and Miss Eliza Sigler was celebrated. The lady was born in this county, February 2, 1858, and was one of the nine children whose parents were John and Goldie ( Fasenbaker) Sigler. Her father died in 1882, but her mother is still living in this county at the advanced age of eighty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have become parents of two sons: Thomas R., born August 29, 1899 ; and Charles T., born December 5, 1901.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, are interested in its work, contribute generously to its support and cooperate in its various activities .. Mr. Johnson votes with the republican party and in all matters of citizenship is progressive and public spirited. The Johnson family is one well known in this county, having a wide acquaintance since Eleazer and Eunice Johnson first came in 1865. The members of their household have ever been held in high esteem, manifesting substantial quali- ties of character whichi have gained for them warm regard.
REV. BERNARD JACOBSMEIER.
Rev. Bernard Jacobsmeier, who since the Ist of January, 1905, has been pastor of St. Mary's Catholic parish in Riverside, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on the 17th of September, 1865, a son of William and Theresa Jacobsmeier, who were natives of Germany. When two years of age his parents, who had come to the United States, removed to Lee county, Iowa, where he attended the parochial schools. In 1882 he went to Atchison, Kansas, entering St. Benedict's College, where he re- mained as a student for two years. Going to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the expiration of that period, he there attended St. Francis Seminary for seven years, at the end of which time, in 1891, he was ordained to the priest- hood by Bishop Katzer. He was then appointed parish priest at Audubon, Iowa, where he built a parsonage and remained for two years. His next charge was in Washington, where he continued for a period of eleven and a half years, erecting the parochial school and remodeling the interior of the church. At the same time he conducted a mission at Pleasant Plain, where he built a church in 1902-the year following the erection of the school in Washington. On the ist of January, 1905, he was installed as pastor of St. Mary's parish in Riverside and has since devoted himself to its upbuilding and development with consecrated zeal. Here he has erected a church at
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a cost of forty thousand dollars, together with a rectory valued at eight thousand dollars. The schools are presided over by the Sisters of Charity and have an attendance of about one hundred and fifty pupils. Father Jacobsmeier is one of the popular and prominent representatives of the priesthood in this section of the state and his efforts have proven an im- portant factor in the spread and development of Catholicism in the communi- ties where he has labored.
CLIFFORD THORNE.
Clifford Thorne, attorney-at-law of Washington, was born in Brooklyn, Iowa, January 20, 1878, a son of William G. and Rachel M. (Young) Thorne, who were natives of Ohio and Iowa, respectively. The father was a minister of the Methodist church, who took up the work of preaching at the Eureka church, Washington county, Iowa. Among his charges he spent five years as pastor of the church in Washington. He acted as presiding elder in the Muscatine district for six years, making Washington his place of residence during that time. He is now living at Keosauqua, being pastor of the Methodist church of that place. Unto him and his wife were born but two children, the elder being Rose, now the wife of the Rev. W. L. Clapp, of Brooklyn, Iowa.
Having qualified for the bar, Clifford Thorne has engaged in the practice of law in Washington since 1901 and has made substantial progress in his calling.
JAMES A. WALKER.
James A. Walker is well known in his home locality as a stalwart cham- pion of the cause of education, having served on the school board for thirty years. He is moreover known among his acquaintances and friends as a self- made man whose success is attributable entirely to his own efforts, for when he arrived in this county he had a cash capital of but fifteen dollars. As the years have gone by, however, his unfaltering labor. intelligently directed, has brought to him substantial success and for a long period he has been classed among the leading farmers and stock-raisers of Cedar township where he now owns two hundred acres of valuable land. He was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, October 10, 1852, and is a son of John J. and Hannah R. (McConnell) Walker. The father's birth occurred in Brook county, West Virginia, and now at the age of eighty-five years he is still living on the same farm which has been in possession of the family for three generations and which comprises four hundred acres of land. The family is an old one in the south, having been founded in America by the great- grandfather of our subject, who arrived in the western world in 1753. He lived in Baltimore, Maryland, for eleven years and then secured the four
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hundred-acre farm which is now owned and occupied by John J. Walker. This has proven a valuable property for nine oil wells have been opened upon the land. It was on the old homestead that John J. Walker reared his family which numbered four sons and one daughter: Joseph MI., a resident of West Virginia ; James A., of this review; William P., also living in his native state; John W., still on the old homestead in West Virginia ; and Jane R., now the wife of A. E. Carter of that state.
The boyhood days of James A. Walker passed quietly and uneventfully in the attainment of his education and in the work of the home farm. He there remained until twenty-three years of age, when, thinking to find better business opportunities in the west, he left his native state and came to Iowa. His destination was Washington county where he arrived on the 2d of November, 1875. He worked for a year as a farm hand at twenty dollars per month in the employ of W. A. Moore and afterward rented a farm for five years. He next purchased forty acres on section 19, Cedar township, where he now resides, and as the years have gone by he has greatly im- proved the property, bringing the fields under a high state of cultivation and adding all of the modern equipments and accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century. He was in limited financial circumstances at the time of his arrival here, having but fifteen dollars as his entire cash capital, but his diligence and energy has brought him success of a most substantial character and he now owns two hundred acres in Cedar township, from which he derives a most gratifying annual income. He has made a specialty of raising and feeding stock, keeping on hand high grades, and his lands have also demonstrated the fact that no fields in all America can bring forth finer crops of grain than those of Washington county.
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