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 32
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In the common schools John Kennedy received his preliminary educa- tion, subsequently being given the advantage of a course of study in a select school under Professor McKee. After the Civil war, being the only surviving member of the family, he resided with an uncle and aunt and at the same time worked for wages on neighboring farms until 1872, when he engaged in farming for himself. After his marriage he removed to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, clerking in a store there for three years, at the expiration of which time he returned to Washington county and resided with his grandmother, caring for her. Subsequently he removed to Hancock county, Iowa. driving across the country with teams. There he engaged in general farming until the spring of 1885, when he again returned to this county, making it his home
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ever since. He now owns and operates a farm of two hundred and forty acres on section 23, Washington township, and besides this property also has an eighty-acre farm in Marion township. In connection with general farming he gives considerable interest to the breeding of stock and is one of the most extensive cattle breeders in Washington township.
On October 18, 1874, Mr. Kennedy wedded Miss Alice C. Titus, a native of this county and a daughter of Harlan David and Jane Eliza ( Robinson ) Titus. Her father, who was a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, came to lowa in 1852, and after renting lands for a time entered the farm upon which the subject of this review now resides. There he engaged in farming until his death, which occurred June 10, 1894. His wife was a native of New York state but they were united in marriage in Ohio. She entered into rest here in 1885. They reared a family of five children : Mary, deceased : Janet, the wife of Ebon Wilkins, an agriculturist of Marshall county, Kan- sas ; John Duncan, deceased : John ; and Ora, the wife of Joseph Dilley, who follows farming in Brown county, Kansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy have been born: George Duncan, deceased, who was an electrical engineer : a child who died in infancy: James Harlan, who assists his father on the farm : Jolin L., who also resides with his father and is united in marriage to Pearl Fishbirn ; Raymond, who passed away in May, 1908; and Lloyd, at home with his parents.
The republican party has always commanded the support of Mr. Ken- nedy, and taking a deep interest in local affairs he is now serving as a trustee of the township and has also filled the office of assessor for eleven terins. having also for four years performed the duties of the same office in Han- cock county. He has for a number of years been a director of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, for which he has written a number of policies, and is a member of the Presbyterian church, to which his wife also belongs. Being a man of high moral character, his enterprise and upright work have always enabled him to enjoy the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens.
HENRY SCHULTY.
Among the honored and representative citizens of Washington county is numbered Henry Schulty. More than a half century has passed since he came to the county, arriving here in very straitened circumstances. Dur- ing the first winter he and his family lived in an upstairs room in the city of Washington, but he planned to some day have a home of his own and worked toward this end. Today he is one of the large landholders of the county, having over five hundred acres, which constitutes a very valuable and pro- ductive farm. His property is the visible evidence of a life of well directed thrift and enterprise, and the plans which he has pursued in the attainment of his success are in keeping with the highest principles of honor and business integrity.
HENRY SCHULTY
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
A native of Germany, Henry Schulty was born in the southern part of Oldenburg on the ist of January, 1818, and remained a resident of the father- land until he reached the age of fifteen years when he sailed for the western world, landing in Baltimore. He had only ten dollars when he reached his destination and his financial resources, therefore, rendered it imperative that he seek immediate employment. He secured a position in a warehouse, re- ceiving one dollar per day for his services, but after working one day he went to Hagerstown, Maryland, and engaged with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company at one dollar per day. He filled that position for more than a year. after which he went to Cumberland and secured employment on the Chesa- peake & Ohio canal, his remuneration for his services there being one dollar and a quarter per day. Like many other youths he decided to see something of the west and, giving up his position, started for Sandusky, Ohio. Again he secured work on a canal but soon became ill with ague and spent the last cent which he had saved in order to pay his board and his doctor bills. Alone and on foot he returned to Cumberland with no capital, and being so weak that he was unable to work he begged his meals. When he had recovered he took the first work that offered and began breaking ballast for a railroad bed. He did not find this work congenial, however. He wished to feel that he had some kind of a home and when a farmer offered him eight dollars per month for a year's labor he accepted the proffered position and remained there for three years.
While thus residing in Hampshire county, West Virginia, Mr. Schulty formed the acquaintance of Miss Margaret Ellen Snodgrass, who was born on the banks of the Potomac river in 1825. She was left an orphan in her early childhood and was reared by an uncle. Mr. Schulty sought her hand in marriage and on the Ist of January, 1846, the wedding ceremony was performed on the ice of the Potomac river on a very cold day.
Mr. Schulty's cash capital at that time was but sixty-five dollars, nor had he any investments of any kind. He possessed firm purpose, undaunted energy and laudable ambitions, however, and upon those qualities as a firm foundation he builded his later success. He and his bride began their domes- tic life upon a rented farm in a little log cabin with a clapboard roof. Around them were the rocks and hills of Hampshire county and with resolute spirit he undertook to dig a living out of the soil. He soon saw that renting was not profitable and realized that he might as well enjoy all the profits that should accrue from his place. He therefore purchased a farm in West Vir- ginia, but the idea of clearing the land and picking up the stones so largely scattered over the place did not coincide with his ideas of what farming should be. There was also little nutrition in the soil and it required the most strenuous, earnest effort to produce crops that amounted to anything. Then, too, there dwelt in his memory pleasant recollections concerning the middle west and its productive soil and he determined that he would establish his home in the Mississippi valley and seek there the opportunity for advance- ment in business lines. Accordingly he left his old home in the south and traveled westward to Burlington, Iowa, and from that point by stage coach to Mount Pleasant. There he secured a chance to come to Washington,
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Iowa, and on reaching that city rented a room upstairs for six dollars per- month. It had only one coat of plastering upon it and during that winter the family often suffered with the cold. The next summer Mr. Schulty worked as a hodcarrier at one dollar and a half a day, carrying mortar for some of the first brick houses that were built in the city. The next spring he rented the land where the Rock Island depot now stands and put in a crop of corn and later he purchased eighty acres of land near Lexington at ten dollars per acre and from that time to the present has kept investing in property as his financial resources have increased. Thus year by year he has added to his holdings until he now owns seven hundred acres of fine land in Cedar town- ship and is one of the prosperous residents of the community. His success is well merited as it is the direct reward of earnest, persistent labor, guided by sound and intelligent judgment. He has never feared hard work nor given way to discouragement but at all times has persistently and energet- ically prosecuted his daily tasks with the result that he is now one of the prosperous farmers of Washington county.
HENRY SCHULTY, JR.
Henry Schulty, Jr., has devoted his entire life to general agricultural pur- suits and is now the owner of a valuable and productive tract of one hundred acres of land in Cedar township upon which he resides. He was born in West Virginia, November 28, 1849, and spent his youthful days in his parents' home. He is a son of Henry and Ellen Schulty, who in pioneer times came with their family to this county. They were in limited financial circumstances then but the father was a man of resolute and determined spirit and worked diligently and persistently, and as the years passed by he gained a place among the prosperous farmers of the county. Today he is living retired, deriving a handsome income from his valuable farms, com- prising over five hundred acres of rich land. Extended mention of him is made on another page of this volume.
Henry Schulty, Jr., continued at home and assisted his father in the labors of the farm until twenty-five years of age, when he married and began farming on his own account. He wedded Miss Jennie Rickey, who was born in this county on the 5th of June, 1857, and is a daughter of Reuben and Ruth E. Rickey. They began their domestic life upon a farm and as the years have gone by Mr. Schulty has continuously cultivated his fields. His labors have been of a most practical character, producing highly satis- factory results. He now owns a fine farm in Cedar township, where he yet resides, and his fields have been brought under a high state of cultivation, so that he annually gathers therefrom abundant harvests. He uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate his work and has a well improved property which in its attractive appearance indicates his careful supervision.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Schulty has been blessed with one son, Leroy F., who is now a farmer of this county. The parents are widely and favor-
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ably known and enjoy the high regard of all with whom they have come in contact. Mrs. Schulty is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Schulty belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, his affiliation being with the lodge at Kalona, lowa. In his political views he is a democrat and although he has never sought nor desired office he has served as school director for several years and is a stalwart champion of the cause of educa- tion. Almost his entire life has been spent in this county and his many good qualities have gained for him a creditable position among the progressive farmers and worthy citizens of Cedar township.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Schulty were born seven children: Henry and Thomas, who are residents of Washington county ; Mary, the wife of Rev. A. Gilson, now living in North Loup, Nebraska; Charles, a resident of this county; James, at home, operating the farm for his father; Samuel, also living in this county ; and Amanda B., who is acting as housekeeper for her father. The wife and mother passed away September 10, 1897, and her remains were laid to rest in the Lexington cemetery. Her death was deeply regretted by the many who knew her, for her good qualities of heart and mind had gained for her warm regard among her friends as well as the love of her family.
In his political views Mr. Schulty has always been a staunch democrat but never an office-seeker, preferring to give his undivided time and atten- tion to business affairs. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church, but all of his children lean toward the Methodist Episcopal church. Perhaps no history in this volume serves as a better illustration of the force and value of character as manifest in earnest purpose, indefatigable energy, com- mendable ambition and unfaltering determination. With nothing to aid him at the outset of his career, coming to America as a youth of fifteen years, he has since depended upon his own resources and his energy has enabled him to conquer all the difficulties and obstacles which he has confronted. In spite of the disadvantages of his early life he stands today among the pros- perous residents of Washington county, where he is known as a respected and venerable citizen. He has passed the ninety-first milestone on life's journey and now can look back over the past without regret for he has made splendid use of his opportunities, has lived peacably with all men and has ever been just and reliable in his dealings.
CAPTAIN JOHN S. GRAY.
Among the honored veterans of the Civil war now living in Washington is numbered Captain John S. Gray, who won his title by meritorious conduct on the field of battle. Through the period of his residence in this state he has been largely connected with farming interests but is now living retired in Washington, well meriting the rest which he enjoys.
Captain Gray was born in Marshall county, West Virginia. December 14, 1833. The family has for many generations been represented in America.
HISTORY OF WASINGTON COUNTY
His grandfather, William Gray, was a native of Pennsylvania and followed the occupation of farming as a life work but put aside business pursuits at the time of the second war with England and served under General William Henry Harrison in protecting American interests. He married Hannah Bain and they had two sons, Matthew and Ellis. After losing his first wife, William Gray married a Miss Neiswanger, and they had three sons and three daughters: Rhoda, Eliza, Margaret, Joseph, David and Thomas.
Matthew Gray was born in the old Keystone state and was reared to the occupation of farming, which he followed in both Pennsylvania and Vir- ginia, ere his removal to the west. In May, 1855, he came to Iowa and set- tled five miles southwest of Washington, where he spent the remainder of his days in the home of his son Captain Gray. He was born in 1801 and passed away in June, 1882. in his eighty-second year. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah L. Leizure and was a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Braddock ) Leizure. Her father made farming his life work and for thirty consecutive years filled the office of justice of the peace, his long continuance in the position being indicative of the faithfulness and capability with which he discharged his duties. He lived to be very old and at length met his death by falling from a porch. His wife was also well advanced in years when called to her final rest. Their family included the following named : John, Joseph, Frank, Jesse, Charlotte, Sarah, Mrs. Ellis Gray and Mrs. Ellis Bain. As stated their daughter Sarah became the wife of Matthew Gray. She passed away some years prior to her husband's death, being called to her final rest January 1, 1870, when seventy-five years of age. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gray were reared in the faith of the Methodist church but after many years joined the Baptist church. At all times they were worthy Chris- tian people and their upright lives won for them the confidence and good will of all. Mr. Gray served as justice of the peace for a number of years and whether in office or out of it was always a supporter of the best interests of his community.
Unto him and his wife were born twelve children, nine sons and three daughters, of whom four are now living: Captain John S. Gray : Leander D., living in Beatrice, Nebraska : Matthew, a resident of Holmesville, Ne- braska : and Elizabeth, the wife of William Phillips, of Marshall county, West Virginia. The deceased are: Hannah, who married William Laugh- ridge ; Thomas L .; Jesse, who served under Grant in the Civil war ; Ellis; Milton ; Alfred : James, who was also in the Union army ; and Frances, who died when about fourteen years of age.
Captain Gray was a resident of Pennsylvania between the ages of three and twenty-two years. His youthful days were spent upon a farm and he early became familiar with the labors and duties incident to the development of the fields. During his boyhood he hauled freight for his brothers Jesse and Ellis, who had a contract with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, then being built through West Virginia, to furnish flour and beef to the workmen. His education was acquired in the subscription school, the little "temple of learning" being a log structure furnished in primitive fashion, while the methods of instruction were very crude as compared with those of the present
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day. On the 25th of September, 1855, he arrived in Washington county, Iowa, following his father, who had come the previous May. He then as- sisted his father in fencing the farm, in digging a well and in making other improvements on the home place. He afterward rented land for two seasons and also engaged in operating a threshing machine for three years. There were no leisure hours in his life, which indeed was a very busy and useful one, until he at length put aside the labors of the farm to enjoy a well earned rest, his activity in former years providing him with a competence sufficient to meet all his needs. The only interruption to his business career came at the time of the Civil war.
In August, 1862, Mr. Gray responded to the country's call and was elected first lieutenant of Company C, Nineteenth Iowa Infantry. On the Ist of January, 1863, he was commissioned captain, his promotion coming to him in recognition of faithful and meritorious service. While at the front he attended five different court-martials. He participated in the battles of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and the siege of Vicksburg, after which he went to New Orleans and thence to Brownsville, Texas, later returning to Fort Morgan, Alabama, and proceeding from that point to Pensacola, Florida. Later he returned to the rear of Mobile and was mustered out in that city, July 10, 1865, receiving his honorable discharge on the 6th of August fol- lowing. He never faltered in the performance of any duty whether on the firing line or the lonely picket line.
When the war was over Captain Gray returned to Washington county, was married and began farming in Marion township where he purchased forty acres of land. On that tract he built a house and there made his home until February, 1902, when he left the farm and removed to the city of Wash- ington, purchasing a comfortable home at the corner of Jefferson street and South Avenue D. In the meantime he had added to his original purchase and now owns eighty acres of well improved land, deriving a good income from this property.
On the 29th of September, 1865, Mr. Gray was united in marriage to Miss Amanda E. Cresswell, a daughter of John B. and Polly, or Mary (Tyler) Cresswell. There were two children of that union: Charles E., who died at the age of twenty-eight years; and Amanda E., who died in infancy. The mother passed away June 7. 1870, and on the 5th of January, 1871, Captain Gray married Mrs. Julia A. Helwick, the widow of Jacob J. Helwick and a daughter of Augustine and Rebecca (Stewart) Burham. Mrs. Gray was born in Maryland, January 15, 1845. Her parents were also natives of that state and became pioneer residents of Washington county, lowa, locating in Cedar township. Later they removed to a farm a mile and a half north in the same township, where the father, who was born June 12, 1800, died on the 28th of June, 1887. The mother, whose birth occurred March 30, 1811, died August 8, 1877. They were the parents of fourteen children : John Thomas, Hiram Bell, William H .. James Gipson, Nelson Cornet, Mar- tha Ann, Harriet Ann, Henry Harrison, Christa Ann, Julia Ann, Lacey Ann, Seymour Rowen, Franklin Perry and Jacob Harvey. Two of the sons were in the army, William H., being a member of the Eighteenth Iowa
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
Volunteer Infantry, and Henry Harrison of the Thirteenth Iowa Regiment. The latter died in the service. Unto Captain Gray and his second wife have been born three children but one died in infancy. Evalena, the eldest, is the wife of Nelson N. Sage, of Washington, and they have a daughter Dorothy. Christina is the wife of Israel B. Hoxworth, who occupies the old home farm and they have one son Ralph Leo.
Captain and Mrs. Gray are members of the Baptist church and are widely and favorably known in this county where they have so long resided. Cap- tain Gray is a member of I. G. White Post. No. 108. G. A. R .. and has given stalwart support to the republican party since its organization. He has now been a resident of Washington county for fifty-four years and has therefore witnessed almost its entire growth and development. At the time of his arrival its prairie lands were largely uncultivated as the sod had not been broken in many places. As the years have passed he has seen its wild lands transformed into fine farms, equipped with all of the accessories of modern agriculture. He has also witnessed the building and development of towns and cities and in all community affairs his influence has been on the side of progress and improvement. He is recognized as a valued citizen, one well meriting the confidence and good will which are uniformly extended hi:n.
D. C. SITLER.
D. C. Sitler is engaged in blacksmithing at Dayton and is a worthy repre- sentative of the industrial interests of his part of the county. He leads a life of intense and well directed activity and whatever success he has enjoyed is attributable to his own persistent labor. One of Ohio's native sons, he was born in Greene county, on the 24th of March, 1855, his parents being Peter and Maria ( Bowers) Sitler. The father's birth occurred in Pennsylvania, while the mother was born in Maryland. Following their marriage they lived for some years in Greene county, Ohio, and in 1860 came to Iowa, taking up their abode in Lime Creek township, where the father purchased land and carried on blacksmithing and farming. but chiefly the former. As the years passed he brought his fields under a high state of cultivation and won a substantial measure of success in improving and developing his prop- erty. Unto him and his wife were born nine children: Mrs. Martha Adams, now living in the city of Washington. Iowa ; Clark, also a resident of Washing- ton ; Mrs. Emma Austin, whose home is in Colorado : Della, who is living in Nevada ; Amanda, deceased ; Peter, who yet makes his home in this state ; Patience, who was the twin sister of D. C. and is the wife of Clark Brown, of Wellman ; D. C., of this review ; and Charles.
D. C. Sitler remained at home through the period of his boyhood and youth. He was but five years of age when his parents left Ohio, coming with their family to Iowa, so that he was here reared, his youthful days being devoted to the acquirement of an education and to work upon the home farm. When he started out in life on his own account he carried on farming
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for five years, after which he turned his attention to blacksmithing and fol- lowed the trade at Wellman for ten or twelve years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Dayton, where he has since conducted his business, receiving a good share of the public patronage from the village and surrounding country. He is well qualified in this line of work, being thor- ough and accurate in all that he does and his business methods too exemplify the spirit of reliability.
Mr. Sitler has been married twice. In 1879 he wedded Miss Catharine Stump and unto them were born three children : Georgia M., now the wife of Clint Booth, of this township, by whom she has three children, Alva, Bur- rell and Violet ; Winfield, and Ray B., both at home. The wife and mother died in 1886 and Mr. Sitler afterward married Miss Emma Shoff, by whom he had one child, Galen, also at home. In 1907 the second wife passed away.
Mr. Sitler has always given his political allegiance to the republican party, espousing its principles on attaining his majority and probably casting his first presidential vote for Hayes. He is an interested and exemplary mem- ber of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Wellman, in which he has filled all the chairs. He is a man loyal to the duties that devolve upon him, is faithful in his citizenship and true to the ties of friendship. Almost his entire life has been spent in this locality, so that his history is as an open book. Diligence and determination have been the salient qualities of his record and have brought to him a comfortable living as the years have gone by.
HENRY KREBS.
More than a century ago George Washington said that "Farming is the most useful as well as the most honorable occupation of man," and this truth has been verified throughout all ages. It is a matter of history that agricul- ture is the basis of the wealth of different countries, yielding a greater rev- enue than mining and commercial interests combined. The great agricul- tural states claim in their citizenship many men of genuine worth and excel- lent business ability whose labors contribute to the upbuilding of large com- monwealths. To this class in Iowa belongs Henry Krebs, who is success- fully identified with the farming and stock-raising interests of Washington county.
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