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 12
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As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life, James A. Walker chose Miss Martha J. Dayton, whom he wedded on the 12th of September, 1876. She was born in this county December 6, 1855, a daughter of David and Mary (Long) Dayton, natives of Maryland and Illinois respectively. Their last days, however, were passed in Iowa and when they were called to their final rest it was with deep regret that their many friends received the news of their demise. In their family were eight children: Josiah, who is still living in this county ; Francis, deceased ; Cordelia, the wife of George Davidson, a resident of Waterloo, Iowa; Albert, living at Hedrick, Iowa ; Lettie, the wife of George Hutton of Oskaloosa; Elizabeth A. and William both of whom are deceased : and Mrs. Walker. The last named by her mar- riage has become the mother of two daughters and a son: Belle, the oldest, born February 3, 1877, is now the wife of Cash Crossett of Keokuk county, Iowa, nd unto them were born four children; Jennie, born November 13, 1882, is the wife of Carl Herring and they have one child; and Joseph, born January 8, 1884, is living in West Chester, Iowa, and has one son. Mr. and Mrs. Walker also now have six living grandchildren.
In his political views Mr. Walker is a democrat, staunchly advocating the principles of the party and doing all in his power to further its growth and to secure its success. He has been a member of the school board for thirty years and is connected with West Chester Lodge, No. 396. Knights of
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Pythias, in which he has filled all of the chairs and has five times been a dele- gate to the Grand Lodge. His wife is a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They are both highly esteemed in the community where they reside, enjoying the warm regard of many friends. A life of diligence and well directed labor has brought Mr. Walker substantial success and his record should serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others, showing what may be accomplished when one is enterprising and determined.
JOHN H. SQUIRE.
John H. Squire, who has large land interests here and is numbered among the substantial farmers of the community, was born in Scioto county, Ohio, March 17. 1857. a son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Mead) Squire. His father was also a native of that county, where he was reared until he was twenty-one years of age, at which period of his life he took up the occupation of freight boating on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, going as far as New Orleans. After following that pursuit for about three years he came to Iowa, locating in Lime Creek township, Washington county, about a half mile east of Wellman. In 1844 he entered land on the present site of the town of Wellman, and remained upon his farm for about four years when, owing to the illness of his father and mother, he returned to Ohio, where he was married. In the fall of 1857 he drove back to lowa in a prairie schooner drawn by a span of mules, bringing with him his wife and their six months old child. He located in Davis county, where he lived for several years, and then removed to Van Buren county, farming there until 1865, during which year he again returned to his native county, where for one year he engaged in the general merchandise business. He next operated a farm, but in 1882 he again came to this state. He settled on a farm about ten miles north of Washington, pursuing agriculture there and on another farm five miles northwest of Washington for several years, when he retired from active life and removed to the town of Washington. There he resided until the time of his death in 1904. his remains being interred in the Elm Grove cemetery. His wife, who entered into rest in 1906, was also interred in the same lot.
They had eleven children: Chloe, who died at the age of two years ; John H. ; Sarah Ellen, wife of J. W. White, an agriculturist of Washington township; Mary Adeline, the wife of L. A. Crull, a Methodist Episcopal clergyman of Malcolm, this state; Julia Abigail, the wife of Harry A. Brindley, of South Dakota, a horse and cattle dealer: Ennice Lucetta, who became the wife of J. S. Adams, an agriculturist of Aitkin, Minnesota; Lydia Jessie, the wife of E. S. Bishop, who operates a farm and cattle ranch in Cedar township; William Melvin, deceased; Grace Frances, the wife of J. W. Bishop, a thresher and machinist of Washington ; Elizabeth Jane, the wife of L. H. Brindley, a stock-dealer of this county ; and Nathaniel Green, a local carpenter.
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On his father's farm J. H. Squire spent his boyhood days, acquiring a knowledge of the various departments of agriculture, and receiving his edu- cation in the neighboring schools. He remained at home until he was twenty-two years of age, when he went to Indiana, where he followed farm- ing as a wage earner for about two years, subsequently returning home and working with his father for about one year. He next went to Ohio, where he was married, and upon returning to Iowa with his wife he engaged in farming rented land in Keokuk county. After residing there for about five years he removed to Washington county, where he rented land and carried on agriculture for four years, and then purchased a farm in Cedar township, which he sold eighteen years later. He then purchased his present farm, which contains eighty acres located on section 13. His place is highly im- proved and here he engages in general farming, paying some attention to the raising of cattle, horses and hogs.
In 1883 Mr. Squire wedded Miss Sarah Catherine White, a native of Scioto county, Ohio, by whom he has five children : J. R., born March 19, 1884, a clerk and bookkeeper of a general mercantile establishment in Jack- son county, Ohio ; C. L., born May 4, 1885, who resides at home ; Mabel B., born June 16, 1888, who wedded H. Kilgore in 1906, the couple living on a farm near Ainsworth, this county; Grace B., born November 30, 1889, a local school teacher ; and Helen G., born March 24, 1895, who lives with her parents.
Mr. Squire gives his political allegiance to the republican party and, being a public-spirited man, he takes considerable interest in local affairs. He has been township assessor for the past four years, the duties of which office he performed for the same period of time in Cedar township. He belongs to the Court of Honor and to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is also a member, and he is numbered among the honored citi- zens and substantial agriculturists of his locality.
W. B. KERR.
W. B. Kerr, who is devoting his time and energies to the cultivation and improvement of his farm of eighty acres on section 27, Jackson township, was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, January 31, 1856, his parents being Jonathan and Jane (Scott) Kerr, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state. In 1860 they made their way to Henry county, Illinois, where they resided for seven years and then came to Washington county, Iowa, in 1867, taking up their abode in Washington township. Here they remained until called to their final rest, the father passing away on the 13th of January, 1889, while the mother's death occurred April 20, 1908. Their family numbered seven children, namely: W. B., of this review : Plummer S., who is deceased: David S., a resident of Audrain county, Missouri ; Margaret J., who is the wife of R. W. Cook, of Missouri ; Mary E., residing
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in Washington county ; Laura B., the wife of R. P. Mintier, of this county ; and Eliza A., who has also passed away.
W. B. Kerr attended the common schools in the acquirement of an edu- cation that would equip him for the practical and responsible duties of life and remained at home until he had attained his majority. Subsequently he was engaged in the operation of a rented farm for seven years, on the ex- piration of which period he purchased a tract of one hundred and twenty acres, on which he resided for nine years, when he sold the property and made his home in Washington for a year. He then purchased his present farm of eighty acres on section 27, Jackson township, in the cultivation of which he has since been successfully engaged and it is now a desirable property, from which he annually derives a good income. He is practical in his methods and as the result of his work in the fields he yearly harvests good crops, for which he finds a ready sale on the market.
On the 7th of November, 1883, Mr. Kerr was united in marriage to Miss Mattie E. McFarlane, whose birth occurred in Mahoning county, Ohio, February 5, 1863, her parents being R. D. and Anna M. (Dickson) McFar- lane, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. In 1868 Mr. and Mrs. McFarlane came to Washington county, Iowa, and are still living in the city of Washington. In their family were nine children, as follows: Etta, who is deceased; Mrs. Kerr; L. E., a resident of South Dakota ; R. F., who is living in West Chester, Washington county ; Mary E., who has passed away ; Nettie J., the wife of William Mayhew, of Marion township, this county ; James D., who is likewise deceased ; and Cora B. and May G., who are at home. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kerr have been born three children : Elsie, whose birth occurred September 27, 1884, and who died July 30, 1894 ; Cloyce B., who was born July 19, 1889, and is now attending the academy at Washington, Iowa ; and Beulah, born November 15, 1895, who is at home.
In his political views Mr. Kerr is a staunch republican and for fourteen years has capably served as a member of the school board. Both he and his wife belong to the Second United Presbyterian church at Washington and are widely and favorably known throughout the entire community, having ever displayed those sterling traits of character which in every land and clime command admiration and regard.
HENRY CLAY HULL.
On the list of Washington county's honored dead appears the name of Dr. Henry Clay Hull, a man whom to know was to esteem and honor, and who was most respected where best known. He was born in Knox county, Ohio, February 3, 1826, and was a son of Joseph and Elizabeth ( Van Winkle) Hull. His father was a native of Virginia and at an early day removed west- ward to Ohio, where he spent the greater part of his life. After reaching an advanced age, however, he came to Iowa and passed his remaining years
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at the home of his son, Dr. Hull. His birth occurred March 2, 1798, and he died on the 17th of September, 1873, his remains being interred in the Crawfordsville cemetery. His wife, who was also a native of Virginia, had died in Ohio. They were the parents of eight children : Henry Clay ; John, who was born June 14, 1827, and engaged in general practice of medicine until his death ; Isaac, who was born April 11, 1830, and has departed this life; Thaddeus, who was born in 1832 and is now living near Wellington, Kansas ; Margaret, who was born March 13, 1834, and is the wife of Friendly Lewis, of Gambier, Knox county, Ohio; Hester, who was born August 13, 1836, and has passed away; Joseph E., who was born July 5, 1838, and is living in Gillespie, Illinois; and Moses, whose birth occurred August 20, 1840, and who now lives retired in Crawfordsville.
Dr. Hull spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the state of his nativity and acquired his education in the public schools, after which he qualified for practice of medicine in the Cincinnati Medical College, from which he was graduated June 5, 1852. He opened an office in Crawfords- ville and at once gained a reputation as an able and successful physician who was conscientious and painstaking in his efforts. Twelve years ago he decided to give up the active work of his profession but the people would . not have it so and kept going to his house for medicine and for professional service. He was rated as the best therapeutist who has ever lived in this county. He was ever a deep and discriminating student of his profession, seemed to have almost intuitive perception as to thé value of any idea or method of practice promulgated by the medical fraternity and in diagnosis his judgment was seldom, if ever, at fault. He was accorded a very large practice and, carefully husbanding his resources, he at length became recog- nized as one of the substantial citizens of the community. He had no ex- pensive habits, and, making judicious investments from time to time, he left at his death a large estate, owning more than four hundred acres of valuable land, while he was also an extensive stockholder in the Ainsworth and Columbus Junction Banks. For many years he also did a kind of private banking business, loaning money and cashing sales notes, and his business integrity was ever regarded as above question.
Dr. Hull was married twice. Soon after his arrival in this county he wedded Mrs. Jane Nabb in 1854 and they traveled life's journey happily together until her death in 1880. In the following year he wedded Miss Margaret Van Horn, who was born in Miami county, Ohio, near Pickaway, and is a daughter of John and Jane ( Mathers) Van Horn. She survives him, together with their daughter, Nellie, who is now the wife of Rev. W. G Roberston, a United Presbyterian minister of Crawfordsville .. They have one child, Margaret Louise, born April 9, 1909. Dr. J. H. Hull, a son of Dr. H. C. Hull by his first marriage, is now actively engaged in the practice of medicine in Washington. He has two children : H. C., a physician, practicing with his father in Washington ; and Daisy, the wife of Charles Startsman, an electrical engineer, living at North Orange, New Jersey.
Dr. Hull was long a member of the Presbyterian church, with which he united in 1854. and for more than fifty years he contributed over one
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hundred dollars per year for the maintenance of the church. He was a charter member of the Masonic fraternity and was a believer in its spirit of humanitarianism, recognizing the brotherhood of the race. He died November 17, 1907. and his death was the occasion of deep regret to all who knew him, for his honorable manhood, his consideration for others, his loyalty to friendship and devotion to home ties won him the kindly regard and re- spect of all with whom he came in contact. Mrs. Hull still resides in Craw- fordsville and owns and occupies the finest residence in the town.
ELI DEEN.
Eli Deen is now a retired farmer of Wellman but is still the owner of valuable property in Lime Creek township, having two hundred and sixty- two acres on sections 6 and 7. He also owns a beautiful home in the midst of nine and one-half acres of land which adjoins the corporation limits of the village. He is a western man by birth, training and preference and exemplifies in his life the spirit of enterprise and progress which have ever been the dominant factors in the upbuilding of this section of the country.
His birth occurred in McLean county, Illinois, May 17. 1846, his parents being Enos and Lucy ( Fordice) Deen, who were natives of West Virginia and of Ohio respectively. The paternal grandfather of our subject served in the Revolutionary war, seeking to win independence for the colonies, while the maternal grandfather took up arms for American rights against English invasion in the war of 1812.
It was in 1832, the year in which the Black Hawk war occurred, that Enos Deen came to the middle west, settling in McLean county, Illinois. He purchased land there and made his home thereon for twenty years. He wedded Miss Lucy Fordice and after the birth of all of their children they removed to Iowa in 1852, taking up their abode in Lime Creek township, Washington county, where they remained until called to the home beyond. The father died in 1855 and the mother, long surviving him, reached an advanced age, passing away on the 17th of February, 1893. In their family were ten children, among whom were: James M., deceased ; Susannah, who became the wife of George Phillips and has departed this life : John F., who has also passed away ; Lucinda O., the deceased wife of R. J. Jones ; Amanda M., the wife of A. J. Treadwell, deceased : Eli, of this review ; and Enos and Lucy, both of whom have passed away. The father was twice married. By his first union there were seven children, but of the entire family of seven- teen Eli Deen is now the only one living.
Reared to farm life, Mr. Deen of this review remained at home until twenty-four years of age, when he made arrangements for having a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Caroline C. Boehme, who was born in Ver- mont, October 12, 1851, and is a daughter of William and Mary Ann (Devlin) Boehme, natives of Germany and England respectively. Her parents were married in Canada, where they located on coming to the new-
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world, but at the end of two years they removed to Brandon, Vermont, and seven years later came to Washington county, Iowa, taking up their abode in Lime Creek township where they continued until the time of their demise. In their family were ten children, eight of whom yet survive. This number includes Mrs. Deen. At the time of the marriage of our subject and his wife they began their domestic life upon the old home farm and he con- tinued to cultivate its fields for several years, or until his economy and industry had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase land for himself. He invested in property in Lime Creek township and is now the owner, as previously stated, of two hundred and sixty-two acres on sec- tions 6 and 7. There he carried on general agricultural pursuits for a long period and also made a specialty of raising and feeding cattle and hogs while on his farm. At length he retired from active business life in 1907 and removed to his home adjoining the village of Wellman. Here he has nine and one-half acres of land in the midst of which stands a beautiful residence, supplied with all of the comforts and some of the luxuries that go to make life worth living. His success is the direct outcome of his per- sistency of purpose and indefatigable energy. In the management of his business affairs he displayed sound judgment, was most careful in making investments, and as the years went by and one by one were added to the cycle of the centuries he gained for himself a place among Washington county's substantial farmers and men of affluence.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Deen were born three children: Clara E., born December 17, 1871, is the wife of U. E. Thomas, a resident of Washington, Iowa. George B., born January 24, 1874, is married and resides in Well- man. Elsie A., born November 5, 1875, is the wife of E. E. Norman and now makes her home with her father and mother.
Mr. and Mrs. Deen attend the Baptist church and are people of genuine personal worth whose influence is always given to the side of justice, truth and progress. Mr. Deen votes with the republican party and for many years served on the school board but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. He has stood, however, as a champion of progressive public measures and in all of liis business affairs has maintained an unassailable reputation for reliability, as well as for enterprise.
BENJAMIN F. DIXON.
A spirit of enterprise, of keen discrimination and of unfaltering purpose at all times characterizes the efforts of Benjamin F. Dixon, the senior part- ner of the firm of B. F. Dixon & Company, largely engaged in handling farm property and other classes of realty. A native of Illinois, Mr. Dixon was born in Logan county, near Lincoln, April 24, 1853, and represents an old American family. His grandfather, Jesse Dixon, was a native of Penn- sylvania and removed westward to Illinois when the Indians were numerous in that state. He lived to see the red men replaced by white settlers and all
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of the advantages and improvements of a modern civilization introduced, his death occurring in Illinois when he had reached an advanced age. He had married Katie Reed, who died when more than sixty-five years of age. They were the parents of eight children who enjoyed remarkable health, a physician never being called for any of them. They were Daniel, David, Joseph, Solomon, Jerry, Mary, Nancy and Betsy. Of this family Solomon Dixon became the father of Benjamin F. Dixon. He was a native of Penn- sylvania, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Jane Farris was born in Kentucky. She was the daughter of "Buck" Farris, a native of Kentucky, who was a farmer and trader and became one of the early settlers of Dewitt county, Illinois, locating at Clinton. Both lived to an advanced age. They were the parents of three daughters and a son: Jane, Elizabeth. Caroline and James.
When Illinois was largely an unimproved district inhabited mostly by red men, Solomon Dixon and Jane Farris removed to that state in company with their parents and were among the early settlers of Logan county. The father was a farmer by occupation, following that pursuit in order to pro- vide a comfortable living for his children. He lived most of his life near Lincoln, Illinois, but died at Wellsville, Kansas, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife survived him about fifteen months and died at the same place at the age of seventy-eight. Both were members of the Christian church and their many good qualities won for them the esteem and confidence of all. They were the parents of two sons and two daughters : Mary C., the widow of William Woolley, of Ottawa, Kansas ; Charles Henry, also of Ottawa ; Sarah, who died at the age of fifteen years; and Benjamin F.
The last named was reared on his father's farm in Logan county, Illinois, on Sugar creek, about six miles north of Lincoln. He attended the district schools and when not busy with his text-books gave his attention to the work of the fields from the time of early spring planting until the crops were har- vested in the late autumn. At the age of twenty-four years he left home and removed to Hartsburg, cultivating a farm adjoining that town. He also en- gaged in the grain and livestock business for a number of years and in 1893 came to Washington, Iowa, where he took up immigration work for Washington county and also for the southwestern country along the Rock Island Railroad. In this he has continued to the present time. On the Ist of January, 1898, he admitted J. T. Matthews to a partnership and in 1905 A. J. Dawson, who had been in the employ of the firm for five years, was admitted, these three now constituting the well known and successful real- estate firm of B. F. Dixon & Company. Through this agency sixty-five fam- ilies came here from Logan, Tazewell, Dewitt and McLean counties, Illi- nois, and have met with success in Washington county.
Mr. Dixon was married to Miss Sarah Minsker, a daughter of Daniel and Ann Allen Minsker, of Logan county, Illinois, but formerly of Pennsyl- vania. They were natives of the Keystone state but became residents of Illinois during an epoch in its early development. The father was a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting in the One Hundred and Sixth Illinois Infantry, and while in the army died in the hospital, leaving a widow and daughter,
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Mrs. Dixon being the only child. By her marriage she has become the mother of two children. The daughter, Ollie E., is the wife of Dr. Frank Siberts, of Geneva, Franklin county, Iowa, and they have one daughter, Esther. Charles B., the son, is a clerk in a clothing store in Washington.
In his political views Mr. Dixon has always been a republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, and on the 29th of March, 1909, he was elected mayor of Washington by a majority of one hundred and ninety votes, being the present incumbent in that office. His fraternal rela- tions are with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Wood- men of America and the Court of Honor. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Christian church and enjoy the high esteem of all who know them, while their home is most attractive by reason of its warm-hearted and cordial hospitality. In a history of the representative business men of this section it is imperative that mention be made of Mr. Dixon, for his un- daunted enterprise has carried him into important relations and his labors have been a valuable element in promoting public progress.
JOHN C. MAYER.
When the pioneer settlers made their way westward to the broad prairies of Iowa their attention was naturally, as is always the case, directed to the work of reclaiming the wild prairie for the purposes of cultivation and the sod was broken, the land plowed and harrowed and the seeds planted. In course of time good crops were garnered and acre after acre was thus improved Then the farmers began the work of raising stock, for the broad prairies furnished excellent pasture land and also produced the crops necessary to maintain the stock through the winter months. Today Iowa is in the front rank among the states of the Union producing cereals and live stock. It is to this branch of work that John C. Mayer devotes his attention with excel- lent success, being now the owner of four hundred acres of valuable land on which he breeds, raises and feeds shorthorn cattle. He likewise has other farm property in the county and in all of his undertakings is meeting with substantial and well merited success.
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