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 21
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The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson has been blessed with nine children : Charles, who met his death by accident when fourteen years of age : Myrtle V., the wife of George F. Foster, a resident of Washington
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township: Frank E., a farmer, who married Myrtle Good and has three children, Lloyd S., Marguerite and Walter ; George F., a carpenter of Wash- ington, who married Effie Belle Crosby and has three children, Verne, Glen and Mabel : John T., who married Myrtle La Motte and is engaged in farm- ing with his brother, Samuel B., who is the next younger ; Harry L., a farmer who married Lulu La Motte ; Grace E., at home ; and Elsie Maude, who died in infancy.
The parents are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Anderson is a republican in politics, loyal to the party and thoroughly conversant with the vital questions and issues of the day. He served for seven years as a member of the board of supervisors and is a man of fine character who, in political life and in business relations, has proven worthy of the trust and confidence reposed in him and of the high regard in which he is uniformly held. His salient qualities are those of upright, honorable manhood and progressive citizenship and his life record constitutes a valuable asset in the agricultural progress of the county.
W. A. CURL.
W. A. Curl, who owns, occupies and operates a good farm in Lime Creek township, where he is also well known as a successful dealer in live stock, was born in Peoria county, Illinois, March 11, 1860. His parents were R. H. and Emeline ( Anderson ) Curl, both of whom were natives of Greene county, Pennsylvania. In early life they became residents of Illinois and R. H. Curl purchased a tract of land in Peoria county, where he followed general agri- cultural pursuits for a long period. In 1880, however, he sold his property in that county and removed to Washington county, Iowa. Here he invested in land which he cultivated and improved until 1891 when he again sold out and removed to Clarke county, Iowa. There his death occurred August 3, 1900, while his widow still survives at the age of eighty-nine years. She now makes her home with her daughter Mrs. Rachel Frits, in Lime Creek township.
W. A. Curl, who was one of a family of eleven children, spent the first two decades of his life in the county of his nativity, working with his father on the home farm and pursuing his education in the common schools. In 1880 he accompanied his parents to lowa and remained at home until twenty- nine years of age when he started out upon an independent business career and rented land which he cultivated for twelve years. He then bought the farm whereon he now resides in Lime Creek township, having saved the money from his earnings with which to invest in this property. To its fur- ther cultivation and improvement he has since given his attention and his practical and progressive labors are manifest in the fine appearance of his place. He has always made a specialty of raising and feeding stock and keeps on his place good grades of cattle and hogs. He pays close attention to the conditions existing on his farm that his stock may ever be healthy and in
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good condition when shipped to the market. He practices the rotation of crops in tilling the fields and gathers harvests as a reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon his land.
In February, 1889, Mr. Curl was united in marriage to Miss Allie M. Dodds, who was born December 17, 1869. She is a daughter of James M. and Katherine (Tatman) Dodds, both of whom were natives of Ohio. They arrived in Iowa in 1869 and first located in Highlaand township, Washington county, where for a considerable period the father engaged in general agri- cultural pursuits. At length, however, he put aside active work on the farm and retired to private life. He is now living in the village of Wellman in the enjoyment of well earned rest. His family numbered four children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Curl have been born six children: J. Everett, who was born July 15, 1892 ; Hugh M., deceased ; W. Irvin, born September 15, 1895 ; Clif- ford R., born November 20, 1901 ; Myrtle J., born July 25, 1900 ; and Rachel Bessie, whose birth occurred February 16, 1909. The parents are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an active and helpful interest in its work. Mr. Curl is a republican in his political vews. He be- lieves in well kept highways and advocates substantial improvements of this character. For six years le has served as school director, the cause of edu- cation finding in him a stalwart champion. His entire life record is a com- mendable one, winning for him the unqualified regard of all who know him. Industry and integrity stand as salient features in his record and he is widely known as a citizen whose influence and aid have always been given in behalf of material, political, social, intellectual and moral progress.
CURTIS R. WELLS.
In a history of the successful men of Washington county mention should be made of Curtis R. Wells, whose earnest effort and carefully managed busi- ness affairs have made liim one of the substantial citizens of this part of the state, for he now owns five hundred acres of valuable land in Dutch Creek township and is extensively engaged in breeding fine stock. He was born in Dutch Creek township on the 12th of March, 1850, and is a son of Wil- liam W. and Becky Ann (Jackson) Wells. The father was a native of Ohio and on coming to Iowa first located in Mount Pleasant, while later he re- moved to Washington county, taking up his abode here sixty-five years ago. He died in the city of Washington in 1908 and thus closed a life of intense and well directed activity. He was one of the foremost farmers and stock- raisers of this portion of the state, belonging to that class of agriculturists whose business ability and enterprise equal that manifested by the merchant or the man in commercial lines in the cities. His estate was estimated at a half million dollars and it was acquired through his own persistent labor and capable control of his business affairs. His political allegiance was given to the democracy but he never sought nor desired public office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business interests. His wife was a native
Curtis R. Wells
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
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of Pennsylvania but they were married in this state, where Mrs. Wells died when her son Curtis was fifteen years of age. In their family were the fol- lowing children: Marie, now the wife of Wesley Smith, a retired farmer living in the city of Washington; Curtis R .; William P., also retired in Washington ; Inez A., the wife of Seymour Martin, a resident farmer of Franklin township; Edgar Eugene, who died at the age of nineteen years ; and two others who have passed away.
In the common schools near his father's farm Curtis R. Wells pursued his education, walking two and a half miles to the little schoolhouse wherein the common branches of learning were taught. His training at farm labor was not meager, for he was early instructed in the best methods of tilling the soil from the time of the early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn. He remained at home until he was married and then began farming on the place whereon he now resides. He started out in life empty-handed but has gradually worked his way upward until his success makes him one of the prosperous farmers of the county, his possessions com- prising five hundred acres of rich and valuable land in Dutch Creek township. His fields respond readily to the care and labor which he bestows upon them and he is equally successful in the breeding and raising of fine stock, keeping only those of the highest grades. Everything about his place is thoroughly modern in its equipment and in addition to his farm property he owns con- siderable real estate elsewhere and also bank stock.
In 1873 Mr. Wells was united in marriage to Miss Missouri Shaffer and unto them have been born six children, of whom three are vet living, James Edgar, Marion and Roy, all at home.
In his political views Mr. Wells is a democrat and has filled some of the township offices. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and he belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity. They are both people of sterling worth and enjoy in large measure the confidence and respect of those with whom they have been brought in contact. For fifty-eight years Mr. Wells has been a witness of the growth and progress of the county and has been connected with its evolutionary activities, promoting its growth in various lines through his co-operation and influence. In business affairs he displays marked discernment and keen sagacity and his capable management is manifest in his substantial success.
FRED L. STEWART.
Among the substantial business enterprises of Washington is the plumb- ing and heating establishment of Fred L. Stewart, who along modern and progressive lines is conducting his interests, meeting with well merited suc- cess which has come as the legitimate sequence of his indefatigable and in- telligently directed effort. Washington numbers him among her native sons, for his birth here occurred January 6, 1873.
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
The Stewart family, as the name indicates, is of Scotch lineage and the American ancestors, coming from Edinburgh, Scotland, settled in different parts of the state of Virginia. There were six brothers. James. Benjamin. Perry, Thomas, Jeremiah and Richard, and they were said to have had one sister, Ann Stewart. William George Stewart, the grandfather of Fred L. Stewart, was born in Virginia. December 5. 1819, and on the 28th of July, 1841, he married Hannah Patterson, of Allegany county, Maryland, who was born October 30. 1822. They became the parents of eight children : John Gilpin, born December 28. 1842: Charles Nelson, April 22, 1845 : William Sylvester. December 11, 1847: Louvinia Elizabeth, July 24. 1850; Franklin Stewart. August 5, 1853: Lloyd Stewart. September 13. 1855 : George Whitefield, March 20, 1857 ; and Hannah Martha, July 3. 1858.
The father, William G. Stewart, died July 16, 1864. His brother, John Gilpin Stewart. Sr., of Washington, lowa, wrote a history of the Stewart family in January, 1900. while in his eighty-seventh year and the record covers a period of one hundred and twenty years. John Gilpin Stewart was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, May 18, 1818, and was a minister in the United Brethren church, preaching at different times in Virginia, Mary- land and lowa, his ministry covering a period of twenty-five years. He came to Washington county in October, 1853, or about nine years after the arrival of William G. Stewart, who came in November, 1844. Since that time the family has figured prominently in connection with the material progress and substantial npbuilding of this part of the state.
William Sylvester Stewart, father of Fred 1. Stewart, was born in this county, was reared amid the wild scenes and environments of frontier life and took up farming as a means of livelihood. In addition to tilling the soil he also engaged in feeding and shipping stock, in which he met with ex- cellent success. He died in Washington, April 14, 1901, and is still survived by his widow. He belonged to the United Brethren church, with which the family have long been connected, and his life was at all times honorable and upright, winning him the esteem and confidence of the entire com- munity. He met with creditable success in business and was regarded as one of the most thorough and best posted stockmen ever connected with live-stock interests in Washington. He married Henrietta Clinton, also a native of this county and a daughter of George Clinton, who was of Scotch- Irish descent and settled in this county at a very early day. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were Fred L., of this review : Belle F., the wife of H. A. Montgomery : W. G. and Helen L., at home.
Fred 1 .. Stewart has always remained a resident of Washington. being reared on his father's farm, where he early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He attended the public schools and, making successive progress was graduated from the high school with the class of 1800. He then worked for four years in the hard- ware store of his father's brothers, Frank and George Stewart, who con- clucted their enterprise under the firm style of Stewart Brothers. He after- ward spent two years on the farm cultivating the home place, and in the spring of 1806 he purchased an implement business, to which he added a
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stock of hardware. In 1904 he sold out and for two years gave his attention to the land emigration business, but in 1908 opened his plumbing and heat- ing establishment and in this connection has secured a liberal patronage. conducting an extensive business in this line. He also looks after his farm- ing property, comprising three hundred and twenty acres of rich land, of which one hundred and sixty acres lies in Washington county and the re- maining one hundred and sixty acres in Louisa county. In addition to this his landed interests comprise one hundred and sixty acres in Canada and one hundred and sixty acres in Kansas. He also owns one-third interest in the West Chester store owned by the mercantile firm operating under the name of the MeFarland Company: is the owner of a store at Columbus Junction : and is a stockholder in the Washington county National Bank. While vet a young man he is capable of managing affairs of great breadth, and his keen sagacity and undaunted enterprise have carried him into important commercial and financial relations.
On the 15th of November. 1893. Mr. Stewart was married to Miss Nellie Faris, a native of Morning Sun, Iowa, where her parents, Isaiah P. and Frances Jane ( Brown ) Faris, were also born. Their family numbered two children, the younger being Roy H. Faris. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart also have a daughter and son, Hazel and George. The parents are members of the Second United Presbyterian church and Mr. Stewart gives his political allegiance to the republican party. On its ticket he was elected councilman for the fourth ward, but while he is interested in matters of public progress he does not seek political preferment for himself. However, he is never remiss in the duties of citizenship but on the contrary cooperates in many movements for the general good, and his business affairs have at all times been of a nature that have advanced public prosperity as well as individual success.
AARON IL. GUZEMAN.
In a history of Washington's worthy and representative citizens who are now living retired after years of active connection with business life, mention should be made of Aaron H. Guzeman, who has now passed the ninety-first milestone on life's journey. He is one of the oldest, most venerable and most honored residents of southeastern lowa and there are many points in his record which cannot fail to prove of interest to the readers of this volume. He was born near Morgantown, West Virginia, May 2, 1818, a son of Abraham and Maria Elizabeth ( Rathsnyder ) Guzeman, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Martinsburg. Virginia. The father was both a silversmith and gunsmith. He served for seven years in defense of the colonists in the Revolutionary war and was wounded three times. His birth occurred in 1733 and his death in 1821, being killed on the day which wit- nessed the completion of the mill which he was building. He was twice mar- ried and had ten children by his first wife. Following her death he wedded Elizabeth Rathsnyder and unto them were born eleven children, of whom
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two are now living. Susannah and Aaron H. The former is the widow of Samuel Cobun and lives in Morgantown, West Virginia. She celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of her birth February 14, 1909. The mother of this family died in 1846 in the faith of the Lutheran church, of which she had long been a member.
Aaron H. Guzeman was only about three years old when his father died. Ten years later his mother became the wife of John Foster, who was also killed in a mill at an early age. Mr. Guzeman began learning the cabinet- maker's trade which he followed for three years and then again worked in his step-father's mill, having previously been employed there ere he took up cabinet-making. He was reared near Morgantown, Virginia, and pursued his education in one of the old time subscription schools. His opportunities were somewhat limited but through reading, observation and experience he has learned many valuable lessons of life as the years have gone by. In 1844 he came to Iowa to look over the country and being pleased with what he saw he returned to his old home and in 1845 brought his wife to this state, settling in Washington, where he purchased a residence. Here he has since lived and in the intervening years has witnessed the transformation of a village of about a dozen houses into a thriving and prosperous city. For a long period he was connected with carpentering and has built many dwell- ings in and around Washington during the sixty-four years of his residence here.
On the 21st of January, 1840, Mr. Guzeman was married to Miss Ange- lina Lock, a daughter of Thomas and Cynthia ( Hall) Lock. She was born in Martinsburg, Virginia, May 24, 1819, and died August 6, 1907, at the age of eighty-eight years, two months and thirteen days. There were ten chil- dren of that marriage: William Alpheus, who is a boss carpenter near Colorado Springs, Colorado, married Estaline Parker and has three children, Leolia, Zepharine and Parker. Elza M. lives at home with his father. Joseph C., who married Miss Aughey, is employed in a knitting factory in Iowa City. Mary E. is the wife of James Fitzwater and they reside at West Chester, Iowa, but lost their two children, Angeline and Charley, both of whom died after reaching mature years. Geline V. is the wife of Thomas P. Smith, of Providence, Rhode Island, and they have three children, Marsh, Fern and Earl. James H., who married Anna Denter, is proprietor of a knitting factory in Iowa City, Iowa. Flora E. is the wife of J. H. McMurray, of Grinnell, Iowa. Emma E. is the wife of George W. Heideman. Charles R. is at home ; and one child died in infancy.
In his political views Mr. Guzeman has always been a democrat. He has lived a life of activity and usefulness although for some time he has not engaged in any business owing to his advanced years. He was for a long period a valuable factor in the industrial life of the community and in all of his business undertakings was reliable, enterprising, and energetic. A nonagenarian, he can look back to the time when there were few records in the country and practically none of the improvements and conveniences which now add so much to the comforts of life. He can relate many incidents of the early days when the manner of living was far different than at present
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and when conditions with which we are now familiar through daily usage were regarded as almost miraculous. His reminiscences are interesting and in the public regard he holds the position to which his years and his honorable life well entitle him.
R. F. McFARLANE.
The flourishing little city of West Chester, Iowa, is numbered among other thriving communities throughout the state whose prosperity and com- mercial prospect is due to the energy and enterprise of a class of business men who sacrificed everything for the good of the community to the end that they might contribute to its upbuilding, thereby at the same time sur- rounding themselves with such circumstances as will enable them to attain the highest usefulness in relation to others. Among those who are instru- mental in adding to its financial standing and commercial worth is R. F. McFarlane, who conducts a general merchandise business under the name of The McFarlane Company and the establishment being well stocked and one of the largest concerns of the kind in the community constitutes a lead- ing enterprise.
Mr. McFarlane was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, November 22, 1866, a son of R. D. and Ann (Dixon) McFarlane. His father was born in Law- rence county, Pennsylvania, near the county line, and came to this state in 1868, locating in Jackson township, Washington county, and later removing to Cedar township, where he engaged in general farming until he retired from active life in 1906. The mother of our subject is also a native of Mahoning county, Ohio, where she was married. She still survives and with her husband is enjoying the fruits of their many years of earnest and honest labor. To them were born nine children, three of whom passed away in early life, the others being: Mattie, the wife of W. B. Kerr, who follows farming in Jackson township ; L. E., an agriculturist of Lake Andes, South Dakota ; R. F .; Nettie, wife of W. C. Mayhew, Jr., a farmer who resides near Havre, this county ; Blanch, who lives at home ; and May, who is single and lives in Des Moines.
R. F. McFarlane's educational advantages were confined to the common schools and upon completing his studies he remained upon the farm, engag- ing in the labors of the fields until twenty-three years of age. He then went to Emmet county, Iowa, where he engaged in general farming and stock- raising for three years. He next conducted a general store in Havre for five years. Being ambitious and energetic and desirous of a larger field of activity Mr. McFarlane came to West Chester, where for the past ten years he lias conducted a general mercantile business. In this enterprise he has certainly found the vocation for which he is fitted, having built up a thriv- ing trade which has made him one of the leading financial factors of the city. His establishment is one of the largest here and is well stocked with all varieties of commodities and in many particulars is as well equipped as the
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
majority of city stores. He carries a full line of hardware and in fact every- thing which comes under the name of general merchandise. his goods being displayed in an attractive manner.
In 1901 occurred the marriage of Mr. McFarlane and Miss Bessie Crayne, of West Chester and to this union has been born one child, Glenn, who is at home with his parents. Mr. McFarlane as a business man takes a deep interest in the paramount political interests before the country and is a strong supporter of the republican party, in whose principles he finds the secret of the nation's prosperity, being always loyal in the support of its candidates. He is a representative type of the energetic and thriving busi- ness man of the city and the enterprise he now conducts is highly beneficial in enhancing the financial standing of the community and as its proprietor Mr. MeFarlane is numbered among the foremost business men of the county.
MELVIN WHETSTINE.
Melvin Whetstine is one of the representative farmers of Lime Creek township, his birth having occurred on the place where he now resides December 10, 1875. His parents were John and Mary J. ( Norman ) Whet- stine. natives of Indiana and of Tennessee respectively. The father came to this county in 1852 when it was still a pioneer district and from the gov- ernment eftered land in Lime Creek township, whereon he built a log cabin, covering the same with clapboard roof. The little dwelling had a puncheon Hoor and a door on which was fastened the old-fashioned wooden latch with a string which hung out in the daytime and was drawn in at night, so that the door could not be opened from the outside. For a few years that pioneer home remained the abode of the family. The efforts required to live in those ungenerous surroundings, the necessity of making every blow tell and to exercise every inventive faculty developed power of mind and habit which have established honored names on the Iowa prairies. The Whetstine family have borne their full part in the work of general progress and improvement here and the father continued his residence in Lime Creek township until called to his final rest on the 24th of March, 1905. His widow still survives and yet lives in this county. In their family were eleven children: Henry, a resident of Kansas ; George, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this volume ; Robert, now in Idaho; Joseph, deceased ; Ida, the wife of Jacob Goodwin, of this county : William, also a resident of Idaho; Newton, who makes his home in this county ; Melvin, of this review ; and the three young- est, who have passed away.
In his youthful days Melvin Whetstine was trained to the work of the farm and lessons of industry, perseverance and enterprise were early im- pressed upon his mind. He pursued his education in the public schools and in the Centerville Commercial College and in early manhood he successfully engaged in teaching school for eight years, proving a capable educator by reason of the fact that he imparted clearly, readily and concisely to others
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