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 16
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The ancestry of the Stichter family can be traced back to a still more remote period. In fact, authentic history gives the information that the Stichter family belongs to a most ancient and illustrious nobility of West- phalia and possessed some rich estates near Paderborn and Osnabrueck, whence emigrations were made by members of the family to other countries. The first known ancestor was Woldemar Stichter who, about the year 1189 of the Christian era, was knighted and ennobled by the Duke Henry for his many faithful services. His wife was Meta of Thornburg. Barnhart Stich- ter, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Germany and came to America about 1800, settling in Union county, Pennsylvania, where he reared a family of ten children. His sons were Valentine. Samuel, John, Jacob and Levi. In the maternal line it is known that the grandfather of Henry Stichter was a native of Union county, Pennsylvania. He married Elizabeth Schontz, whose mother was shot through by an Indian arrow in the Wyoming massacre. Mr. and Mrs. Wingart had a large family. includ- ing Ann, Julia, Catharine, Henry and Sophia.
Until thirteen years of age Henry Stichter of this review lived in Penn- sylvania and then removed to Ohio. Three years later. when but a boy of sixteen years, he offered his services to the government and enlisted as a member of Company E. Forty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for four and a half years. For six months he was in the rebel prison at Camp Ford, Tyler, Texas, and suffered the hardships incident to life in the southern prison pens. At Vicksburg, on the 22d of May, he was slightly wounded. He participated in the following engagement : Shiloh, siege of Corinth : Chickasaw Bayou ; Arkansas Post ; Port Gibson : Raymond ; Champion Hills : Black River Bridge ; the assault on and siege of Vicksburg ; Jackson, Mississippi : Sabine Cross Roads, Louisiana: the capture of Fort Blakely ; and in numerous skirmishes. Mr. Stichter never missed a day from his regiment, was never in the hospital through illness, and was always found at his post of duty, whether on the firing line or on the lonely picket line. Ile was at the front while five birthdays passed and in five different states at the time, and he served under five different captains. His was an honorable military experience, bringing him a most creditable record.
When the war was over Mr. Stichter removed to Livingston county, Illinois, where his parents had taken up their abode while he was at the front. Ile lived there for a year and was married the next spring. after
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which he came to Washington, Iowa, in the summer of 1867. Here he worked as a day laborer for a few years and later served as deputy sheriff for ten years under Bunker, Sweet and O'Laughlin, who successively filled the office of sheriff. He was likewise a member of the city council for eight years and was marshal and constable for four years. About 1878 he bought twelve acres of land inside the corporation limits and has since grown small fruits, giving his attention to this business with excellent success for about thirty years. In 1888 he built a fine home on land near the dwelling which he had occupied since 1870. On the 30th of May, 1867, Mr. Stichter was married to Miss Susan Yetter, who was born in Miami county, Ohio, Decem- ber 9. 1838. She was a daughter of Louis and Elizabeth ( Baer) Yetter. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania and on leaving that state removed to Ohio, while later they settled in Hancock county, Illinois. There the father died in 1886 at the age of seventy-five years, while his wife died in 1857. They were the parents of fifteen children, six sons and nine daughters, of whom the following are now living: Simon, Mary, Barbara, Louis, Wil- liam, Catharine, Christopher, John, and Henry. The home of Mr. and Alrs. Stichter has been blessed with eight children: Minnie M., who married Charles J. Fulton, of Fairfield, Iowa, and has three children, Charles Clark, Catharine Eliza and Susan Elizabeth; Eugene, a boot and shoe diealer in Chelan, Washington, who married Laura Springer and has one daughter, Genevieve: Catharine, a teacher in the Washington public schools ; Owen, who died in infancy ; Bernice, also deceased ; Otto B., who married Fannie Shearer, was born in Washington, Iowa, in 1877, and enlisted in the Span- ish-American war as a sergeant in Company D. Fiftieth Iowa Regiment ; Bessie E., who died at the age of five years ; and Royal, single, who conducts the East Side Restaurant in Washington. Mr. Stichter belongs to I. G. White Post, No. 108, G. A. R., of which he is a past commander. His politi- cal allegiance is given to the republican party and he is a citizen of progres- sive public spirit, interested in all matters relating to the general welfare. His worth as a factor in the life of the community is disputed by none. In business he has made a creditable record, bringing him into prominent rela- tions with commercial interests and gaining for him a substantial competence as the years have gone by.
HENRY G. MAGIST.
Henry G. Hagist made purchase of his present farm in 1905, thus coming into possession of one hundred and sixty acres of land which he has now greatly improved not only through cultivation according to modern methods but also by the erection of a number of modern buildings. Illinois places him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Bureau county on the 7th of April, 1863. He is a son of George and Wilhelmina (Mahlin) Hagist, both of whom were natives of Germany, where they were reared and married. Subsequently they determined to try their fortune in the new
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world and crossed the Atlantic, arriving in Bureau county, Illinois, where they lived for a number of years. In 1867 they came to Iowa, establishing their home in Keokuk county, where they purchased a quarter section of land for which he gave nine hundred dollars. Thereon he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 1908, while his wife passed away in 1906. He was more than eighty-two years of age at the time of his demise while his wife died when seventy-six years of age.
Henry G. Hagist was but four years old when his parents left Illinois and came to Iowa. His education was, therefore, acquired in the public schools of this state and his training was such as most farm boys receive, for when not busy with the duties of the schoolroom or occupied with the pleasures of the playground he worked in the fields, assisting his father until he had attained his majority. He then started out in life on his own account and was occupied for one yeear with the care of a farm which he rented in Keokuk county. In 1885 he removed to Seventy-Six township. Washington county, and rented the J. W. Tallman farm of three hundred and twenty acres, which he cultivated continuously and successfully for seven- teen or eighteen years. In 1905 he purchased his present farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres from the P. H. Tallman estate and has since made nota- ble changes in its appearance through the many modern improvements he has put upon it. He has erected good farm buildings, which are most attrac- tive in appearance and substantial in workmanship. He is actuated in all that he does by a spirit of progress and is justly accounted one of the lead- ing farmers of the community.
In 1890 Mr. Hagist was married to Miss Florence Tallman, a daughter of P. H. Tallman, now deceased, and unto them have been born two chil- dren, Hazel and Gertrude, who are still at home. Mr. Hagist is a stalwart advocate of republican principles and fraternally he is connected with Cretona Lodge, No. 365, K. of P., of Keota. Almost his entire life has been passed in Iowa and he is a typical representative of the citizenship of the middle west, manifesting that spirit of endurance, of enterprise and of progress which has been the dominant factor in the upbuilding of this sec- tion of the country.
ADAM WOMBACHER.
In the history of Washington county's successful and honored citizens none is more worthy of mention than Adam Wombacher, who far a half century was identified with the farming interests of that part of the state. Coming to lowa when this region was largely unimproved and undeveloped, he set himself resolutely to the task of breaking and cultivating the land, and as he promoted his individual interests he also contributed to the gen- eral prosperity, for every effort along lines of improvement is an element in the county's substantial upbuilding. Moreover, his integrity stood as an unquestioned factor in his career, and in his life he displayed many sterling characteristics which are worthy of emulation.
Adam Hambacher
Leur. Die.
Vanilaction
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX THEDEN FOUNDATION
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He was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 25, 1824, and was one of a family of two sons and a daughter, his brother being John Wombacher, while the sister, Margaret, became the wife of Conrad Streb and has now passed away. The parents, John and Catharine ( Hoffman) Wombacher, were both natives of Bavaria and the father followed farming in that coun- try until about 1833, when he heard and heeded the call of the new world. On crossing the Atlantic, he settled in Maryland, near Cumberland, and was employed by the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Company and also by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company. Again believing that better opportuni- ties were to be found further westward he crossed the mountains in 1847 and made his way over the prairies of the middle west to Iowa, settling in Wash- ington county. For a year or two he lived in the city of Washington, after which he purchased land in Riverside. His death resulted from the kick of a horse in 1865 when he was past middle life. He had lost his first wife in Germany about 1827. To him and his second wife, Mrs. Eva Wombacher, there were born ten children: Peter; Andrew; Joseph; William ; George, deceased ; Sylvester ; George, the second of the name; Elizabeth, the wife of Rocus Kneleb, of Hill Siding, Iowa ; Mrs. Mary Heitzman, of Riverside ; and Ann, the wife of Constantine Armbruster.
Adam Wombacher spent the first thirteen years of his life in the land of his nativity and then crossed the broad Atlantic to the new world. The ocean voyage was an experience which he never forgot, and his first impressions concerning the new land also remained vivdily in his memory to his dying day. He lived for one year in Baltimore, Maryland, also in Hancock, that state, for a year and afterward removed to Cumberland, Maryland, where he remained until twenty-one years of age. On attaining his majority he re- moved westward to St. Louis, where he worked in a coal mine, and while there employed he was married.
It was in October, 1850, that Mr. Wombacher wedded Mrs. Leocada Cayou, a daughter of Anton and Elizabeth (Veain) Marshall. Mrs. Wom- bacher was born in Carondelet, Missouri, August 4, 1828. She had an own brother and sister, the latter being Margaret Marshall, and also had three half-sisters and two half-brothers: Hyppolite, Antoinette, Catharine, Frank and Amelia Tayon. The Tayons were among the oldest French families of St. Louis and that part of Missouri. By her first marriage Mrs. Wombacher had two children: Louis, who died when three years of age ; and Sylvester, living at Riverton, Nebraska. He wedded Mary Morris and they had eleven children : Elizabeth, John, Robert, James, Margaret, William, Ira, Ralph, George, and two whose names are not known. Having lost her first hus- band Mrs. Cayou became the wife of Adam Wombacher, as previously stated.
In 1851, the year following their marriage, they removed westward to Washington county, Iowa, and lived in a part of Jonathan Wilson's house, while Mr. Wombacher rented and cultivated the Wilson farm for a year. He had first visited the state in 1845, at which time he entered land from the government and bought other land at one dollar and a quarter per acre. After cultivating the Wilson place for a year, he built a cabin on his own
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land in Cedar township and as the years passed added to his property, own- ing six hundred and forty acres, of which six hundred acres lies in Cedar township and the remainder in Franklin township. With characteristic energy he began to cultivate the land and transformed the wild prairie into highly improved fields that annually brought forth rich crops. Year after year he carefully conducted the work of the farm and transformed it into a valuable tract, its rich harvests enabling him to provide liberally for his family.
After living on his farm for half a century Mr. Wombacher took up his abode in Washington, purchasing and remodeling a good residence before he returned to the town. His home was at No. 608 West Main street, and there his daughter, Miss Louisa C. Wombacher, still resides, while her father's brother, John Wombacher, also makes his home there, having lived with the family since 1856.
Mr. and Mrs. Wombacher were parents of one son and four daughters : Mary Josephine, the eldest, became the wife of James Dautremont, now de- deceased. She lives in Riverside, Iowa, and by her marriage she became the mother of twelve children, but the first born, Louis, died at the age of one year. The others were: Ellen, William, Charles V., Edward Adam, Henry. Hannah, George, Raymond. Rose, Oscar and Richard. John Paul. the only son of the family, died at the age of three years. Sarah Elizabeth, the second daughter, became the wife of Henry Swift, of Riverside, and their family numbers twelve children : Mary Louisa, who is now a Sister of Charity : Lily Margaret, a Franciscan sister; Lucy; John Loras; Esther; Charles V .: Claudius ; Hubert and Clare, twins ; Francis ; and Stella Margaret and Sarah Elizabeth, both of whom died in early childhood. Margaret Ann is the wife of Frank Swift, a brother of Henry Swift, and they reside in Dayton, Ohio. Their family numbers eleven sons and daughters: Mary, who died in infancy ; and Stella, also deceased : Edward Adam ; Isabel Elizabeth ; Louisa Elvira ; Josephine Appolonia ; Elizabeth Catharine; Bertha Margaret ; Leonard; Paul ; and Loretta. The other member of the family of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Wombacher is Miss Louisa Catherine Wombacher, to whom we are indebted for the information concerning her worthy and honored parents. Her mother died on the home farm, January 4, 1901, at the age of seventy- two years and five months, while the death of Mr. Wombacher occurred January 25, 1904, when he had reached the age of seventy-nine years and ten months. Both were of the Catholic faith and were highly esteemed for their many good traits of heart and mind.
Mr. Wombacher was treasurer of the Dayton Grove school district for twenty-five years. The cause of education found in him a warm and stalwart friend. In fact he was ever interested in those things pertaining to the wel- fare and progress of the county, cooperating in many measures for the general good. Ile lived a life of industry and unfaltering diligence and was a man of domestic tastes, finding his greatest happiness in providing for the welfare and interests of his wife and children. Both he and his wife were devoted to the interests of their daughters and received from them the ut- most filial love and devotion. Mr. Wombacher rejoiced in his success because
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it enabled him to provide liberally for the members of his own household. As the years passed he prospered, employing many men in developing his farms, and in the course of time he became a wealthy agriculturist, but the most envious could not grudge him his success, so honestly was it won and so worthily used.
GEORGE W. REED.
George W. Reed, who is successfully and energetically carrying ou agricultural pursuits on his fine farm of two hundred acres on section 22, Jackson township, was born in Peoria county, Illinois, December 12, 1866. His parents are M. P. and Jane A. ( Whittaker) Reed, the former born in Peoria, Illinois, June 19, 1840, while the latter's birth occurred in Ireland, July 14, 1842. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a native of Pennsylvania. M. P. Reed, the father of George W. Reed, faithfully served as a soldier of the Union army during the Civil war. Both he and his wife are now living retired in Peoria, Illinois. Their family numbered eleven children, namely: George W., of this review; Susan A., who was born July 11, 1868, and is now the wife of George A. Purcell, of McLean county, Illinois ; Louise, born August 6, 1870, who is the wife of C. P. Dunning, of Dundee, Illinois; Nettie J., born December 18, 1871, who is now the wife of Henry A. Blunda, of Peoria county, Illinois ; Lottie B., born September 26, 1873, who is the wife of Harry P. Davis, of Stark county, Illinois ; Ella O., whose birth occurred June 16, 1875, and who is the wife of Gilbert D). Allewelt, of Peoria county, Illinois ; an infant, who was born April 1, 1877, and died on the 28th of August, 1877 ; Henry A., whose natal day was July 13, 1878, and who is now a resident of Peoria county ; Clara E., born November 18, 1881, who is the wife of A. B. Day and is now residing in Texas; Stella M., born May 9, 1884, who passed away January 22, 1885 ; and Margaret, who was born June 26. 1886, and is still at home.
George W. Reed obtained his education in the common schools and remained at home with his parents until he had attained his majority, when he rented a farm in Peoria county, Illinois, being successfully engaged in its cultivation for six years. At the end of that time he came to Washing- ton county, Iowa, in 1896, purchasing the farm of two hundred acres on section 22, Jackson township, where he has since resided, having brought the place under a high state of improvement. In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he makes a specialty of raising horses and in both branches of his business is meeting with a gratifying and com- mendable measure of prosperity, being widely recognized as one of the sub- stantial, progressive and representative citizens of the community.
On the 13th of February, 1890, Mr. Reed was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary M. Moore, whose birth occurred in Peoria county, Illinois, September 23, 1870, her parents being Jacob H. and Martha A. (Reed) Moore, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Wheeling, West Virginia. Mr.
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and Mrs. Moore took up their abode in Peoria county, Illinois, and are still living there, having attained the ages of sixty-three and sixty years respec- tively. They became the parents of five children, as follows: John D., who was born September 5, 1868, and is now a resident of Mount Pleasant, Iowa ; Mrs. Reed ; Angus A., born October 21, 1872, who is at home; Frank W., whose birth occurred November 4, 1874, and who died in August, 1875; and Newell D., who was born May 18, 1885, and is a resident of Peoria county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Reed have been born four children: Spencer B., whose natal day was June 28, 1891; Walter A., whose birth occurred December 14, 1893 ; Edith M., born October 14, 1896; and Morrow P., who first opened his eyes to the light of day on the ioth of July, 1899.
Politically Mr. Reed is a stalwart republican and is now serving as a member of the school board, which position he has held for nine years. Fraternally he is connected with lodge No. 26, A. F. & A. M., at Washing- ton ; chapter No. 13, R. A. M., and likewise belongs to the Modern Wood- men of America at Washington and the Royal Neighbors. His wife is a devoted and faithful member of the Presbyterian church, and they are both people of the highest respectability, whose good qualities of heart and mind have won for them the confidence and friendly regard of all who know them.
HENRY FRED SCHMELZER.
Since March, 1893, Henry Fred Schmelzer has occupied the farm on which he now resides in Lime Creek township, Washington county. He was born in Muscatine, Iowa, September 10, 1863, and is a son of Heinrich Carl and Elizabeth (Dering) Schmelzer, both of whom were natives of Ger- many. They came to America in early life, became acquainted in this country and were married. About 1848 they sought a home in Iowa, mak- ing their way direct to Muscatine county, where they cast in their lot with its early settlers. At that time steamboats furnished the only means of public transportation for no railroads had been built in this part of the state. There were still many evidences of frontier life to be seen here, much of the land being still in possession of the government while only here and there had a settlement been made to show that the work of civilization and improve- ment had been begun. Heinrich Carl Schmelzer, who was born in March, 1830, was a wagon maker by trade and followed that pursuit during his residence in Muscatine. He died on the 2d of March, 1898, while his wife, who was born in 1839, passed away on the 12th of January, 1902. She was a daughter of John Dering, who served as a soldier in an Iowa regiment in the Civil war. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Schmelzer were the following children: Anna, who married Henry Heinz, and is living in Mus- catine with their two children, Carl and Harry; Lizzie, who became the wife of C. G. Bates, of Muscatine and died on the 30th of July, 1896, at the age of thirty-five years; Henry Fred, whose name introduces this review ; Wil- liam, who resides in Muscatine with his wife and two children, George and
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Clara ; and Charles, of Muscatine, who married Ella Miller, and has two children, Vada and Gertrude.
At the age of twenty-one years Henry F. Schmelzer left home and has since been dependent upon his own resources. He is, therefore, a self-made man, owing whatever success he has achieved or enjoyed to his persistent, earnest and well directed labor. Ile first went to northwestern Nebraska, where he took up a government claim near Box Butte. There he remained for three years, cultivating his claim, after which he returned to his old home in Muscatine. A year later he went to Washington territory, where he remained for about three years working in the logging camps. On the expiration of that period he came to Iowa and settled in Washington county on the farm which he now occupies. He first rented the place in March, 1893, and when his industry and careful expenditure had brought him suffi- cient capital he purchased the property, paying twenty-five dollars per acre for it in 1808. He has since made many improvements thereon and it is now one of the finest farms of the locality, lacking in none of the equip- ments and accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century.
On the 15th of March, 1893, Mr. Schmelzer was married to Miss Tillie Eckhardt, a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Semler) Eckhardt, who were natives of Germany. They came to America early in life accompanied by an aunt and were for a time residents of Ohio. Two years after their arrival in the new world they were married and subsequently removed to Indiana, while later they established their home in Muscatine county, Iowa. Three children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Schmelzer: Beulah Cath- erine, who was born December 13, 1894; Joe William, born February 17, 1896: and Lee Henry, born April 1, 1899. The parents are widely known in this part of the state and occupy an enviable position in social circles. Mr. Schmelzer is an exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity and also belongs to Wellman lodge, M. W. A. He frequently votes the democratic ticket, but is somewhat independent in politics for he does not regard him- self bound by party ties and casts his ballot as his judgment dictates. He has won creditable success in life and is now numbered among the pros- perous farmers of his county, his advancement in a financial way being all due to his industry and well directed efforts. He has always lived in the middle west and displays the spirit of undaunted enterprise and advance- ment which is characteristic of the Mississippi valley country.
FRANK STEWART.
Frank Stewart, who has been connected with manufacturing lines since 1900, is now president of the American Pearl Button Company, in which connection he is developing one of the important productive industries of Washington. Constantly watchful of opportunities, he is extending his busi- ness along well defined lines of trade and the success which he is now enjoy- ing is well merited. He is one of Washington's native sons and a repre-
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sentative of one of the oldest families of this part of the state. He comes of Virginia ancestry in the paternal line, his grandfather being John Stewart. a native of the Old Dominion, where he followed agricultural pursuits until his life's labors were ended in death.
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