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 34
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On the 16th of February, 1858, Mr. Eitermiller was married to Miss Phoebe Steiner who was born in Germany and came to the United States in 1852. She lived for a time in the Empire state, but in 1857 removed from New York to Washington county, Iowa, and the following year gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Eitermiller. She was one of a family of eight children whose parents are mentioned in connection with the sketch of Wil- liam Steiner on another page of this volume. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Eitermiller were born a daughter and a son. The former, Anna, is now the wife of John
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Greene, a prosperous farmer and landowner of Lime Creek township, and they have four children and four grandchildren. The son, William, married Miss Carrie Herr, a native of Keokuk county, Iowa. He is now living on the home farm with his mother and cultivates the property for her. He also owns a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Lime Creek township and thirty acres of good timber land. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, his membership being with the lodge at Wellman, while both he and his wife are connected with the Rebekah degree at that place.
Mrs. Peter Eitermiller still owns and occupies the old homestead and is highly esteemed in the community in which she resides. Her father was a member of the Mennonite church but she attends the Lutheran church. Her entire life has been in harmony with Christian teachings and her belief is manifest in her many acts of kindness and deeds of mercy. In 1889 she was called upon to mourn the loss of her husband whose death was also deeply felt throughout the entire community for he was respected and honored by all who knew him. He was a man of unswerving truthfulness, straight- forward in his business transactions and at all times advocated progressive movements in citizenship.
HON. JOSEPH WARREN STEWART.
The salient points in the life record of the Hon. Joseph Warren Stewart are such as have gained for him the respect and good will of his fellow townsmen. He has made a most creditable public record, including service in the thirty-second general assembly and he is even more widely known as one of the most prominent and successful stock buyers of the west His is the record of a strenuous life-the record of a strong individuality, sure of itself, stable in purpose, quick in perception, swift in decision and energetic and persistent in action.
Mr. Stewart was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, September 6, 1846, and is a son of Archibald K. and Mary Ann (Lawrence) Stewart. The father, a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, was born March 23, 1820, and when fifteen years of age accompanied his parents on their removal to Dearborn county, Indiana, his parents traveling westward by boat, while Archibald K. Stewart drove across the country with a four-horse team, tak- ing with him a portion of the household effects. He attained his majority in Dearborn county and was there married to Miss Mary Ann Lawrence, who was a native of that county. They began their domestic life in that locality, where they continued to reside until 1856. In 1852, 1854 and again in 1855, however, Mr. Stewart had made trips to lowa and on the first occasion purchased two hundred and forty acres of wild and unimproved land five miles east of the city of Washington in Washington county. Two years later he bought a farm of four hundred and eighty acres in Dallas county and in 1855 made investment in a tract of land of three hundred and
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
J. W. STEWART
MRS. I. W. STEWART
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
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fifty-four acres in Louisa county, to which he removed in 1856. Upon that place he resided until 1865. when he came to Washington county, locating on the farm he had purchased thirteen years before. For about eleven years he was busily occupied with the work of the fields and in 1876 he came to Keota, where he purchased three farms adjoining the town in Keokuk county. Throughout his entire life he depended upon agricultural pursuits as a source of livelihood and the extent and importance of his business affairs brought him a very gratifying measure of success. He was justly numbered among the most prominent representatives of agricultural interests in Iowa. During the Mexican war he raised a company of soldiers and was commis- sioned its captain but was never called to active service. In his early man- hood he affiliated with the Know Nothing party but in later years was a demo- crat. For many years he acted as president or treasurer of the school board and the cause of education found in him a stalwart champion whose labors in its behalf were effective and far-reaching. He was one of the best known and most highly honored men in this section of the state, his labors being a patent force in the growth and progress of the district along many lines. He died December 19, 1901. His family numbered four sons and five daughters, namely : Arthur E., who is engaged in the stock business at Keota ; Archibald K., who is serving as police judge of Des Moines, Iowa ; Lee, also a resident of Keota ; Joseph Warren, of this review ; Lavinia, who makes her home in Keota; Eliza J., who is the widow of A. L. Erdice and resides in Keota ; Louie B., the wife of Charles Harter, of Perry, Iowa; Grace, the wife of C. E. Arnold, of Keokuk county ; and Sarah D., the wife of Clem Butler, of Oklahoma.
Joseph Warren Stewart spent the first ten years of his life in the state of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their westward removal to Iowa. His early education, acquired in the common schools of Indiana, was supplemented by further study in the public schools of this state and in the Ainsworth Academy, while later he attended the Iowa City Commercial College. In May, 1867, he started out in life on his own account, making an overland trip to the Pacific coast. He drove a four-mule team through to Walla Walla, Washington, and for two years remained on the coast, teaching school through the winter seasons. In 1869, however, he returned to Iowa by way of the Isthmus route and New York city. After arriving home he engaged in breaking prairie for two summers in Washington county and for many years has been closely associated with the agricultural development and progress of this part of the state, aiding in gaining for Iowa its reputation as one of the foremost producers of grain and stock in all the Union. In 1870 he began buying stock in partnership with E. A. Stone and since that time has been prominently identified with the stock business for several years. He went to Keota in May, 1872, and was associated in business with his two brothers, A. E. and A. K. Stewart, and later with a half brother, Lee, who came into the firm when A. K. Stewart withdrew. They developed an extensive business, shipping as high as six hundred carloads of stock in a year. J. W. Stewart is said to be recognized by eastern stockmen as the leading representative of this department of business west of the Mississippi
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river. He is thoroughly conversant with the different grades of stock pro- duced and his opinions are recognized as almost infallible concerning the value of any animal that is upon the market. In 1873 Mr. Stewart purchased land at Keota, becoming owner of ten acres, on which he now resides. In 1872 he built the stockyards, at which time the town contained nothing but the railroad depot and corn fields. As the result of his enterprise and ability the town has steadily developed and stands as a monument to the enterpris- ing spirit of Mr. Stewart. Not only has he been very successful as a dealer in live stock but is also the vice president and one of the directors of the Keota Bank and for a short time was its president.
In 1875 Mr. Stewart was united in marriage to Miss Naomi Stoutner, of Washington county, Iowa, by whom he had eight children, six of whom stili survive, as follows: Edith, the wife of George F. McCarty, who is cashier of the Peoples Savings Bank at Delta, Iowa ; Grace, the wife of Clarence Lacey, who is cashier at Keota, Iowa : Warren Ray, who is associated with his father in the cattle business: Naomi, who is attending the Iowa State University ; Howard K., a high school student; and Arthur D., attending the public schools.
In his political views, Mr. Stewart has been a stalwart democrat since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has been actively connected with the work of the party and in the fall of 1906 he was the choice of the district for representative to the state legislature, serving in the thirty-second general assembly. He has never been a politician, however, but gave his services from a sense of duty. At all times he is a public-spirited citizen. cooperating in any movement for the general good. His worth is widely acknowledged and without invidious distinction he may be termed one of the foremost men of this part of the state. The extent of his operations as a stock dealer and his ability in that line have gained him wide and deserved prominence and the methods which he has ever pursued in his business career have made his an untarnished name.
WILLIAM S. BARTHOLOMEW.
Nature seems to have intended that man shall enjoy a season of rest in the evening of life. In his younger years he is full of hope, energy and ambi- tion and later his activities are guided by the wisdom and experience which his former years have brought. If his labors are well directed he can attain the competence that will enable him in the evening of life to rest from former labor. Such has been the record of William S. Bartholomew, now a retired farmer of Washington who for twenty-two years has made his home in this city although he did not dispose of his farm property consisting of three hundred and twenty-three acres of land, until about five years ago. Since 1845 he has made his home in Washington county, Iowa.
He is a native of Washington county, New York, the day of his birth being March 7, 1832. He represents one of the old families of the Empire
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state. His grandfather, Thomas Bartholomew, was a soldier of the war of 1812. He followed the occupation of farming as a life work and spent his last years in New York. When his wife passed away she lacked only a few days of being a hundred years old. During pioneer times in the Empire state they slept in the woods for fear of being killed by the Indians if they remained in their cabin. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Bartholomew was Cornelius Jones, who was likewise a native of New York and of Welsh descent. Removing westward to Illinois, he spent his last days in Dupage county, that state, passing away near Warrenville, when well advanced in years.
The parents of William S. Bartholomew were Thomas and Sophia (Jones) Bartholomew, both of whom were natives of New York. The father followed farming as a life work and, after his removal to the Missis- sippi valley, established his home in Dupage county, Illinois, where for many years he successfully carried on general farming. He hadl served his country as a soldier of the war of 1812 and was granted a land warrant in recognition of the military aid which he had rendered the government. He was twice married, his first union being with a Miss Manville, by whom he had four children but only one is now living-Samuel Bartholomew. a resi- dent of Dupage county, Illinois. After losing his first wife Thomas Barth- olomew wedded Sophia Jones and they became the parents of six children, two daughters and four sons, of whom four are now living: Merina, a resi- dent of Geneva, Illinois: Jeremiah, living in Wellman, Iowa ; William S .; and Ira. also of Wellman. The father died in Dupage county, Illinois, when about eighty-five years of age and was laid to rest there. His wife survived him for some time and spent her last days in Washington, Iowa, where she died at the age of seventy-eight years. They were both consistent members of the Methodist church and merited the high regard in which they were uniformly held.
William S. Bartholomew spent his youthful days on the home farm in New York to the age of thirteen years, when he began earning his own living, being at that time bound out to work on a farm. When twenty-one years of age he made his way westward to Illinois and took up his abode in Dupage county. There he was married to Miss Amelia Watson and for many years they traveled life's journey happily together but were separated by the death of the wife on the 15th of October, 1871. In their family were seven children, five of whom reached adult age. William Henry, the eldest. now living at West Liberty, Jowa, married Laura Wells and they have nine living children-Annie, John, Bert, Alice, Lillie, Fern, Verne and Morris and Fred, twins. Clara, the only daughter of the first marriage, became the wife of Samuel Wilkins and is now deceased. Edward and Frank have also passed away. Eliphalet, the youngest, is a jeweler of Sigourney, lowa, and married Flora McMasters.
For his second wife Mr. Bartholomew chose Mrs. Elizabeth Adams, the widow of Moses Adams and a daughter of Richard W. and Nancy (Wad- kinks) Gwin. She was born April 20, 1845, in a little town then called Flint Hills, but now Burlington, Iowa. Her father was a native of Chester.
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England, and a son of William Gwin, who was likewise born in Chester. Coming to America he spent his last days in Tennessee. He at one time owned a number of slaves while living in the south but, becoming convinced that the practice of slavery was wrong, he gave his bondsmen their freedom. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Arteberry. Their son, Richard W. Gwin, came to America when fourteen years of age and was graduated from the college at Nashville, Tennessee. Prior to his marriage he removed to Orange county, Indiana, and subsequently became a resident of Sangamon county, Illinois, whence he went to Des Moines county, Iowa, and arrived in Washington county, in 1846. Iowa was still under territorial govern- ment at that time and many sections of the state were entirely unsettled and unimproved. Mr. Gwin entered a large tract of land, upon whichi he resided until 1856, when he removed to Kansas, being a resident of that state during the troublous times which preceded the Civil war when the territory was a point of contest between the pro-slavery and antislavery parties. Mr. Gwin was a personal friend of John Brown, the noted abolitionist. He married Nancy Wadkinks, a daughter of John Wadkinks, who was a native of Hol- land and on coming to America settled in Grayson county. Kentucky. He was a farmer and a country minister of the Hardshell Baptist church. His wife was Anna Bronk, who was also born in Holland. Their daughter, Nancy became the wife of Richard Gwin, and among their children was Mrs. Bartholomew. The father died at Independence, Kansas, in 1878 at the age of eighty-two years, while the mother passed away in 1879 at the age of eighty-one years. They were the parents of sixteen children, of whom the following are living : Jane, Sarah, Eliza, John, Elizabeth, Caroline, Rich- ard. Anna, Martin Van Buren and Walter. By her former marriage Mrs. Bartholomew had three children: John K., married Augusta Koogler and died leaving two children-Willa May and Albert W .; Richard W., a resi- dent of Casper, Wyoming, married Frances E. Kesler, and they have one child, Hazel: Matta is the wife of Grant Hampton, living near Oskaloosa, Iowa, and they have one daughter, Mary D.
Mr. and Mrs. Bartholomew are members of the Baptist church and are people of genuine personal worth, enjoying in large measure the good will and friendship of those with whom they have been brought in contact. In politics Mr. Bartholomew is a stanch republican, having firm faith in the principles of the party yet never seeking nor desiring office. He has served, however, as a school director and the cause of education finds in him a stal- wart champion. He may well be called a self-made man from the fact that he started out in life on his own account at the age of thirteen years and has since been dependent upon his own resources. He has displayed un- faltering perseverance and this quality has enabled him to overcome many difficulties and obstacles in his path. Year by year he has worked persistent- ly and energetically and thus in time he has won a substantial competence which now enables him to live retired. He has made his home in Washington county for sixty-four years and is therefore one of its oldest settlers. Events which are to others matters of history are familiar to him by reason of the fact that he witnessed them or participated therein. At the time of his arrival in
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the county he bought one hundred and forty acres of land. It was raw and uncultivated and around him stretched the wild prairie, starred in June with a million wild flowers and in December covered with one unbroken sheet of dazzling snow. He broke the sod and in course of time prepared his fields for the planting, and as the years passed the care which he bestowed upon his land made it very productive. As he prospered in his undertakings he added to his holdings until he was the owner of three hundred and twenty acres and every improvement upon it was made by himself. Twenty-two years ago he left the farm and removed to Washington but retained the ownership of the old homestead until five years ago. He now has a fine home at the north edge of the city surrounded by seven acres of land and there amid the comforts of life he is now living, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves.
W. J. MORROW.
W. J. Morrow, a representative citizen and prosperous agriculturist of Washington township, where he tills one of the finest farms in this locality, is a native of New York state, born in Castile, February 25, 1865, a son of Charles and Mary Elizabeth (Clute) Morrow. The father was born in Livingston county, New York, and came to this county in June, 1869, locat- ing where his son W. J. now resides. Here he lived, devoting his time to agricultural pursuits, until death terminated his activities February 6, 1906, at the age of sixty-nine years, his remains being interred in Elm Grove cemetery. His wife, who was also a native of New York state, their mar- riage being celebrated in Livingston county, still survives and makes her home with the subject of this review. To her were born four children: Hiram, a resident of Chicago, Illinois ; W. J .; Ella M., the wife of William R. Craw- ford, an agriculturist of Ainsworth, Iowa; and Lottie B., the wife of W. J. McCully, residing on a farm in Tingley, this state.
Reared upon his father's farm W. J. Morrow passed through the usual experiences common to the country lad, engaging in the daily routine of agricultural life during the summer months and in the winter season acquir- ing his education in the district schools. Upon completing his studies he remained upon the home farm and has since engaged in its cultivation. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, constituting one of the best farms in this part of the country and upon it he has made every improvement, his premises being provided with an excellent dwelling house, substantial barn, outbuildings and other conveniences with which to make farming a paying proposition. Aside from producing general crops such as hay and the various grains, all of which are of the best quality, he takes an interest in stock-rais- ing, keeping on hand a number of specimens of graded stock from which he breeds, at the same time feeding cattle, many head of which he ships to sur- rounding markets.
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Politically Mr. Morrow is a supporter of the republican party, having given a profound study to the merits of its principles and, being convinced of the feasibility of its policies to preserve the permanent prosperity of the nation and place its financial system on a firm and substantial foundation, during campaigns he is an enthusiastic advocate of its principles and a loyal supporter of its candidates. From boyhood he was reared in the United Presbyterian church, of which he is a member and, his daily conduct being in close keeping with the tenets of this organization, he is a faithful Chris- tian man, whose honesty, sobriety and temperance have won him the respect of all who know him, and he is justly numbered among the representative citizens of the community.
WILLIAM W. WILSON.
William W. Wilson cultivates an excellent farm containing three hundred and ninety-six acres in Washington township, this county, upon which he has always resided and his pursuit of husbandry has been so favorable as to enable him to become the owner of considerable valuable real estate and to own stock in a large banking institution. His entire life has been spent on his present farm, where his birth occurred December 16, 1857, his parents being Michael and Catherine ( Hood) Wilson. The father was a native of Maryland, born near Cumberland, and at an early day removed with his parents to Somerset, Perry county, Ohio. In 1840 he came to this state and entered land in Mahaska county, subsequently making his home in this county, where he pursued general agriculture until he entered into rest. He died February 9, 1891. His wife, a native of Perry county, Ohio, where they were united in marriage, passed away here in 1906, leaving a family of four children : C. J., an attorney of this county ; T. J., who engages in farm- ing in Mahaska county ; William W .; and Alice, the wife of Henry Shaver, who is engaged in the furniture business.
William W. Wilson was reared to agricultural life, spending his boyhood days upon his father's farm and the neighboring schools affording him his education. After completing his studies he settled down to farming on the home place, where he has since resided. He owns three hundred and ninety- six acres of land, which is one of the most productive farms in the county and, being provided with a magnificent residence, a substantial barn, good fences and all conveniences with which to pursue the occupation of farming, his place is one of the most desirable in the township and in every particular is suggestive of the thrift and aggressiveness of its owner. He devotes his attention to producing general crops, at the same time taking an interest in stock-raising, and he keeps on hand a number of specimens of the best breeds of cattle, sheep and hogs, which he ships.
On February 28, 1883, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Emma Ream, and they have two children: Charles R., who lives with his parents ; and Anna, a pupil in the Washington high school. As to his political affil-
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iations Mr. Wilson has always voted with the republican party, being firmly convinced of the fundamental character of its principles and of the feasi- bility of its policy to establish the permanent prosperity of the country and place its financial system above the danger of crises. In local affairs he has always taken an interest and is at present serving in the office of township trustee. A member of the Methodist Episcopal church, he strives to live in harmony with its teachings and is a substantial and honorable citizen, who courts the respect and confidence of all who know him.
EZRA H. SMITH.
Ezra H. Smith, the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of finely im- proved and valuable land in Washington county, was born in Cedar township, this county, on the farm where he now resides, his natal day being February 8, 1855. The parents, Thomas M. and Rebecca ( Huntley) Smith, were natives of Pennsylvania and Connecticut respectively. They came to this county in 1852, the father entering a portion of the farm now owned by Ezra Smith. As the years passed by he brought the place under a high state of cultivation and improvement and continued to make his home thereon until 1883, when he took up his abode in the city of Washington, there passing away the following year. His widow was called to her final rest on the 14th of March, 1909, when she had attained the ripe old age of eighty- five years. Their remains lie buried in the Pleasant Plain cemetery. Of their family of eight children Ezra H. Smith, of this review, is the only surviving member. Harriet H., Esther W., Alexander, Eunice S., Mary J., Lucy E. and Malissa H. all having passed away.
Ezra H. Smith enjoyed the advantages of a high school education and continued under the parental roof until he reached his majority. He then rented a part of the homestead farm for a few years and later purchased the same, his place now comprising two hundred and forty acres on section 13, Cedar township. In addition to this he also owns eighty acres in Jackson township, which is a part of the home farm, and forty acres in English River township, his holdings thus embracing three hundred and sixty acres of highly cultivated and valuable land. His property is all tiled and improved with substantial and attractive buildings, while the home place on section 13, Cedar township, is one of the model farms of the twentieth century, its neat and thrifty appearance indicating the supervision of a practical and progressive owner. He is energetic and enterprising in his work and as a result of his labors he has met with a gratifying measure of prosperity, thus being classed with the substantial agriculturists of his native county. His wife owns a third interest in a tract of two hundred and five acres in Jackson township.
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