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 14
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William H. Blumenstein, who was the third in order of birth, spent the days of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof. In fact he remained at home until thirty-six years of age. After acquiring his education in the
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public schools he devoted his entire attention to the task of cultivating his father's fields and when twenty-four years of age he rented the home farm, continuing its further development and improvement until thirty-six years of age. He still makes his home in Lime Creek township and has a good prop- erty of one hundred and eighty-six acres. Not only does he till the soil but also successfully raises Galloway cattle, having some of the finest speci- mens of this breed in the county. He has done not a little to improve the grade of stock raised and is recognized as an authority upon fine stock.
On the 6th of February, 1892, Mr. Blumenstein was married to Miss Ellen Singleman, a daughter of William and Sophia ( Bruer ) Singleman, in whose family were twelve children. The father died April 3, 1890, at the age of sixty years, while the mother still survives and makes her home in Wellman. Both were natives of Germany and were numbered among the prominent representatives of the fatherland in this part of the state. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Blumenstein has been blessed with five children: May Frances and Glen Harrison, at home ; Fred, deceased ; and Cecil William and Geneva Alta, also at home.
In his political views Mr. Blumenstein is a democrat and always keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. At present he is a director and also the president of the school board of district No. 2, in Lime Creek township, with which he has been officially connected for many years. He served as school treasurer for about fifteen years and is much interested in the cause of education, advocating good schools and the employment of competent teachers. He withholds his cooperation from no movement which he believes will prove of substantial value in the upbuilding and progress of the county and is a man whose progressive citizenship and sterling worth causes him to be classed with the leading residents of Lime Creek town- ship.
GEORGE MARESH, M. D.
George Maresh, a physician and surgeon of Riverside, was born in lowa City, lowa, on the 26th of October, 1880, and is a son of William and Antoinette (Miller) Maresh. The father was a native of Prussia and the mother of Bohemia. In her girlhood days she came to America with her parents who located in lowa City, Iowa. William Maresh left home very young, going to St. Petersburg when about eleven years of age and was one of twenty-five foreigners who were appointed by the czar to light the palace, and in this capacity he became well acquainted with the reigning sovereign of the empire. Ile served an apprenticeship at cornice-making and when but fifteen or sixteen years of age came to the United States. Subsequently he located in Iowa City, being one of the early settlers of this part of the country. He is now living retired there at the age of sixty-nine years, while his wife has reached the age of sixty-seven. After taking up his abode in Iowa City he was for many years identified with cornice-making there
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and was classed as one of the leading representatives of industrial interests in that part of the state.
Reared under the parental roof, Dr. Maresh acquired his early education in the public schools and in the fall of 1898 he entered the medical depart- ment of the lowa State University at Iowa City, completing his course there with the class of 1902. Four months later he settled in Riverside, lowa, and in the intervening years he has built up an extensive and important practice for he has proven his ability to cope with the intricate problems which continually confront the physician and at the same time he keeps in close touch with the advance of the profession as experiment, investigation and research are continually bringing to light valuable points of knowledge bearing upon his chosen life work. Ile is a member of the Iowa State Medical Society and the Washington County Medical Society.
Dr. Maresh was married on the 13th of July, 1904, to Miss Boynton, of Strawberry Point, lowa, and they have two children : Lillian May and Marian Mildred. Mrs. Maresh is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is well known socially, presiding with gracious hospitality over their pleasant home. The Doctor belongs to Victoria Lodge, No. 576, A. F. & A. M. ; to Riverside Camp, No. 3762, M. W. A .; and to lowa City Lodge, No. 590, B. P. O. E. His political support is given to the democracy but, while he manifests a citizen's interest in the political situation of the day, he does not seek or desire office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his professional duties which are of an important character. Ilis practice makes more and more demand upon his time and energies and the ability that he has displayed therein has gained him a place of distinction in the ranks of the medical fraternity of this county.
LIZZA BOTTENFIELD.
Miss Lizza Bottenfield is well known in Lime Creek township and this part of Washington county, whither she was brought by her parents during her infancy. She is a daughter of 1. M. and Ellen Bottenfield. the former a native of Greene county, Pennsylvania, and the latter of West Virginia. The father was born October 17. 1818, and maintained his residence in the county of his nativity for about forty-six years, removing westward to this county in 1864. On reaching his destination he purchased the farm upon which his daughter Lizza now resides. He became the owner of one hundred and twenty acres and lived upon this place until his death. In his carly manhood he had engaged in school teaching but subsequently concentrated his energies upon general agricultural pursuits and as the years went by he won a measure of prosperity that was most creditable owing to the honor- able business methods he ever followed. His political allegiance was ever given to the republican party and his fellow citizens recognizing his worth and ability, frequently called him to office. He served in nearly all of the
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township positions and his record was at all times creditable and commend- able.
Mr. Bottenfield was married three times and by the first union had seven children, but Miss Lizza Bottenfield, of this review, is the only one living. There were no children born of the second and third marriages. The father died May 4, 1904. His third wife still survives and is now in her eightieth year. Before her last marriage she was Mrs. Ellen Hunter, a native of Har- rison county, West Virginia, born in 1829.
Miss Lizza Bottenfield still lives with her father's third wife. She was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1862 and was liberally educated, supplementing her early school training by study in the Normal School at Columbus Junction, Iowa, from which she was graduated. Subsequently she engaged in teaching school for twelve years and her work in that connection was most acceptable, for she imparted readily and clearly to others the knowledge which she had acquired. She is now giving her attention to the management of the farm which she owns, and displays excellent business ability and keen discrimination in the control of her affairs. She adopted a baby boy, Alvin Smith, when he was but four months old and he is still with her and her mother.
JOHN WOMBACHER.
John Wombacher is now living retired in Washington, but for many years he was a factor in the agricultural development of the county and his work was so successfully conducted that in the course of years he became possessed of a handsome competence. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, in the village of Alsenau in Gunsenbach, February 22, 1827, a son of John and Catharine (Hoffman) Wombacher, who were also natives of Bavaria, and of whom mention is made on another page of this volume. He was a little lad of six years when in October, 1833, the family started for the new world, reaching Baltimore harbor in March, 1834. He was reared in Cum- berland, Maryland, and worked with his father on the construction of the Chesapeake & Ohio canal, and also on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He was likewise employed at the Mount Savage Iron Works and in the coal mines. He had lived for about fourteen years in Maryland, when in 1847 he and his brother Adam left Frostburg, that state, and made their way to St. Louis, where he was employed until 1849. The cholera was epidemic there that year and because of this the brothers left the city for a time, but John Wombacher afterward returned to St. Louis and was again employed in the mines until 1850, when he went to the east. In April, 1850, he visited Iowa, but again made his way to St. Louis, and there purchased a ticket enabling him to cross the plains in a wagon and hack train to California. They crossed the Missouri river at St. Joseph on the Ist day of May, and struck out from the bluffs by way of Arkansas and Fort Kearney to the forks of the North Platte river, thence proceeded to Sweetwater, on to
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South Pass and to Salt Lake. Before reaching that point the supply of pro- visions of the party was exhausted and they had nothing to eat. Mr. Wom- bacher, on reaching the Mormon settlement, began work in the harvest fields in order to earn money with which to buy food. Supplies were pur- chased at Salt Lake and the flour and other provisions were loaded on a wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen and driven by a negro. While crossing the Weber river the negro became excited at the depth of the water and instead of coolly managing his team called out a command so suddenly that the oxen, swerving to the left, upset the wagon and dumped the flour and provisions into the river. They saved the flour, but it was water-soaked. No unusual incidents occurred from that time on until the end of the trip. At length the party reached their destination and Mr. Wombacher at once went to work in the foothills mining gold. For six years he remained in California, the last three years being spent at Michigan Bluff, on the middle fork of the American river.
On his return from the far west, in 1856, Mr. Wombacher purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land :in Cedar township, Washington county, and thus became closely associated with the agricultural interests of this portion of the state. For forty-seven years he continued to carry on general farming and took an important part.in reclaiming wild prairie land for the uses of civilization. His energy and diligence brought the fields under a high state of cultivation, and year by year he continued the task of plowing, planting and harvesting in association with his brother Adam until 1903, when he removed to Washington with his brother and lived with him until the latter's death. He now makes his home with his niece, Miss Louisa Wombacher, at No. 608 West Main street.
In religious faith Mr. Wombacher is a Catholic, while his political views accord with the teachings of the Jacksonian democracy. He attributes his long life and the good health he has enjoyed to the fact that he has always abstained from the use of narcotics and stimulants. His life of unfaltering industry has been crowned with success. There have been several interesting chapters in his history, not the least of which have been his California ex- periences, incidents of his western trip being related by him in a most enter- taining manner.
FRANK L. WILSON.
Among the prominent representatives of commercial lines in Washington is numbered Frank L. Wilson, a dealer in shoes who was born in this city, February 20, 1863. He is a son of Charles H. and Lucy (Gray) Wilson, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of West Virginia. The paternal grandfather, William Wilson, was also born in the Keystone state and in early life was a hatter who afterward became closely connected with financial interests as a banker. His was an active and progressive busi- ness career and he lived to the advanced age of eighty-one or eighty-two years. His wife died in early womanhood.
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Charles H. Wilson learned the printer's trade in early manhood and in 1850 came to the west, settling in Muscatine, lowa, where he established a paper and lived for a short time. He then came to Washington where he has since made his home and for several years was proprietor of a grocery store here. Later he established a hardware store but eventually returned to the groeery line in which he continued for a long period. Later he took up the plumbing and heating business, in which he still continues and thus for more than half a century he has been connected with business interests of this city. He wedded Miss Lucy Gray, whose parents were natives of West Virginia. Her father died in middle life while her mother passed away when about seventy-five years of age. She was one of nine children and her death occurred July 3. 1869, when she was only thirty-four years of age. After losing his first wife Charles H. Wilson wedded Miss Alice Beard and their only child is Laura, now the widow of W. R. Maxwell. By the father's first marriage there were three sons and a daughter, namely : Ella, the wife of N. Corbin, of Washington ; Charles G., of Chicago : Frank L. ; and Bert, deceased. The father reared his family in Washington. where for many years he has been known as an honored and representative citizen and leading business man. He has also figured somewhat prominently in public life, acting as a member of the state legislature for two terms, during which period his support of vital public measures made him a tactor in pro- moting the substantial development of the commonwealth.
Throughout his entire life Frank L. Wilson has remained in Washington and at the usual age he entered the public schools, passing through con- secutive grades. When he had put aside his text-books he engaged in clerk- ing in a grocery store for about five years. He then began clerking in a shoe store after conducting the grocery business for a time in partnership with his father. Entering the shoe trade he was employed by J. Albert Williams and soon purchased an interest in the business which was conducted under the firm style of J. Albert Williams & Company. The senior partner died January 25, 1890, but the business was continued under the old name until January 1, 1904, when the name was changed to Frank L. Wilson & Com- pany. The store is well appointed and a large and attractive line of goods is carried for which a ready sale is found, Mr. Wilson having from the begin- ning enjoyed a liberal and constantly increasing patronage.
On the 7th of October, 1884, Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Hattie Williams, who was born in Feeding Hills, Massachusetts, an only daughter of J. Albert and Cornelia I. (Bidwell) Williams. Her father was a native of Connectieut and on the 9th of February. 1864, arrived in Washington. Iowa, where he established a boot and shoe business, in which he continued until his death. His widow still survives him and now lives with her daugh- ter. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been born three children: Lucy Gray. Nena Frances and Ruth Harriet. The parents are members of the Methodist church and Mr. Wilson is serving on the official board. In various activities of the church they are interested and are generous contributors to its sup- port. Mr. Wilson is also a member of Washington Lodge, No. 26. A. F. & A. M .: Cyrus Chapter. R. A. M. : and Orion Lodge, No. 75. K. P. Polit-
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ically he is a republican who, as every true American citizen should do, keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but has no aspirations for office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, which are well managed and bring to him a substantial return. He is thoroughly reilable in all of his undertakings and has never been known to overreach a fellowman in any business transaction, his success being due to close application, well directed energy and the employment of progressive modern business methods.
THOMAS SIMPSON, JR.
Thomas Simpson, Jr., who was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. April 15, 1850, is engaged in general agriculture in this county, where he makes a specialty of raising potatoes, which vegetable he has brought to a high state of perfection. His parents were Peter and Elizabeth ( Kerr ) Simpson. both of whom spent their lives in Scotland, where they reared a family of six children : Elizabeth and Isabel, still residents of Scotland: Barbara and James, deceased ; Thomas; and John, the whereabouts of the latter being unknown.
The common schools of his native land afforded Thomas Simpson his educational advantages, and. leaving school at the age of thirteen years, he became employed on a neighboring farm. His first work was that of watch- ing the fields to keep the birds from destroying the budding crops. Upon this farm he remained for six years and at the age of nineteen years, being ambitious to come to the United States, the opportunities of which had inspired him to make every effort to reach its shores, he finally embarked and landed in New York city. He first located in Onondaga county, near Syra- cuse. There he remained for about one year and in 1868 removed to Wash- ington county, Iowa, where he made his home with an uncle about four and one-half miles from Washington. He at once hired out on the neighboring farms, saving his scant earnings until finally he had sufficient means with which to purchase forty acres of land in Washington township, where he remained for twelve years engaging in general agriculture. At the end of that time he settled upon an adjoining farm, cultivating it for one year, and then removing upon his present tract of land, which consists of eighty acres. He made every improvement upon the place, which is now provided with a fine dwelling house, a substantial barn, and all conveniences with which to carry on the occupation of farming. It is as productive a plot of land as exists in the township, and the attention which it has received evi- dences in every particular the thrift of its owner. While he produces general crops and is interested in stock-breeding he makes a specialty of raising potatoes, in which commodity he carries on an extensive business and is known in the domestic markets for the high state of perfection to which he has developed that vegetable.
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January 1, 1877, Mr. Simpson wedded Miss Martha Elma Eckles, a native of this county, and to them have been born: Emma Elizabeth ; Mary Ella ; Irena Bell ; and one child who died in infancy. Mr. Simpson is a man of high moral character, always dutiful in the performance of his religious obligations, and belongs to the Free church of Scotland. lle is a man of great energy and industry who has done much toward developing the natural resources of the community, in which he is justly held in high respect as a leading agriculturist.
HENRY MARTIN EICHER.
Henry Martin Eicher, to whom public opinion accords a foremost place at the Washington bar, is practicing as senior partner of the firm of Eicher & Livingston, with a clientage commensurate with the skill and ability which he displays in the solution of intricate legal problemis. He was born in Marion township, Washington county, Iowa, May 29, 1858, and comes of an old German family. His grandfather, Joseph Eicher, lived and died in Alsace, where he followed the occupation of farming until his life's labors were ended by death. He married Elizabeth Conrad, who died when about sixty-five years of age. They were the parents of eight sons and two or three daughters, the family including Joseph, Peter, Christian, John, Daniel, Martin, Benjamin, Mrs. Witmer and Mrs. Sommer.
Benjamin Eicher, the father of Henry M. Eicher, was born in France and came to America in 1848 when seventeen years of age. He established his home in Wooster. Ohio, where he was reared to manhood. But the opportunities of the country west of the Mississippi attracted him and in 1852 he came to Washington county, Iowa, purchasing a farm of forty acres in Marion township, to which he added from time to time. Here he improved his farm and reared his family. IIe was married in Marion town- ship to Miss Lydia Sommer, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Joseph Sommer, who was born in Pennsylvania and was of German descent. He married Elizabeth Miller and made farming his life work. In 1851 he arrived in lowa, settling in Marion township, Washington county, where he purchased and improved land, bringing his farm under a high state of cultivation. Both he and his wife died in this county, Mrs. Sommer having passed middle life when called to her final rest, while Mr. Sommer reached the age of eighty-two years, his death occurring in 1888. Their children were as follows: Susanna, the wife of Samuel Hage; Catharine, the wife of Danie! Winter ; Lydia, the wife of Benjamin Eicher ; Eve, the wife of Peter Goldsmith : Barbara, the wife of Peter Miller: Henry ; Lou, who wedded Jolin A. Rumble ; and Martha, the wife of G. W. Neff.
Following the marriage of Benjamin Eicher and Lydia Sommer, they established their home upon a farm in Marion township and year by year Mr. Eicher tilled the fields and cultivated his crops. His death occurred upon the place where he first settled, although in the meantime its boundaries
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had been greatly extended, the farm comprising one hundred and sixty acres. He passed away in 1893 at the age of sixty-one years, while his widow survived him until 1905 and was sixty-six years of age at the time of her death. He held various township offices, the duties of which he discharged with promptness and fidelity, and with the moral interests of the community he was closely associated. He was greatly interested in building up the Mennonite church in his community and acted as its preacher for a number of years. Early in the development of this part of the state the Mennonites established a strong colony and for some years the people wor- shipped in private houses. This was the custom among the Amish brethren at that time. The first church building was erected near Noble in 1868 at an actual cost of six hundred dollars. All of the labor and a great part of the material was furnished by the members, for in those days time and wood were more plentiful mediums of exchange than silver and gold. In 1895 this old church was replaced by the present modern structure. Not long after the organization of the church Benjamin Eicher was ordained to the ministry. The congregation affiliated with the Amish conference until 1874 and in that year withdrew and remained an independent Mennonite congre- gation until 1892 when they joined the middle district Mennonite conference. By the year 1893 it had become strongly established with a membership of about one hundred and thirty and a large number of adherants. During this time Rev. Eicher had continued as pastor until his work was ended in death, December 7, 1893.
The home of Rev. Benjamin and Mrs. Eicher was blessed with thirteen children, nine sons and four daughters: Elizabeth, the wife of G. C. Noble, residing in Crete, Nebraska ; Henry M., the subject of this review ; Franklin P., deceased ; Joseph D., of Packwood, Iowa ; John H., of Springdale, Arkan- sas ; Ezra J., residing in Wayland, Iowa; Noah J., whose home is in Win- field, Iowa; William B., residing in Peoria, Illinois; David E., of Johnson, Arkansas; Salina J., the wife of John Swartzendruber, of Pulaski, Iowa; Clara J., the wife of Harvey Allebach, residing in Wayland, Iowa; Cora, who died at the age of two and a half years ; and Edward C., of Chicago.
In taking up the personal history of Henry Martin Eicher, we present the record of one who needs no introduction to the readers of this volume for he has lived all his life in Washington county and has so directed his energies and utilized his innate talents and powers as to win for himself a prominent place in professional circles, at the same time enjoying the respect and honor of all with whom he has come in contact. He was reared on the home farm and pursued his early education in the district schools, after which he entered the Eastern Iowa Normal School at Grandview. Subsequently he engaged in teaching for ten terms in the district schools but regarded this merely as an initial step to other professional labor, it being his desire to become a member of the bar. To this end he began reading law in March, 1880, in the office of Judge A. R. Dewey, and while teaching school his leisure hours were devoted to further law study until he was admitted to the bar in September, 1883, and entered upon the active prac- tice of law. From the beginning his progress has been uniform and rapid.
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