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 41
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
in the district schools of Washington county for fifteen years, and during this period he proved himself an able instructor, readily and clearly impart- ing to his students the knowledge he himself had acquired. After the death of his mother, however, he purchased the old home farm of one hundred- sixty acres and has since made this his home. It is one of the finest farms in the state of Iowa and annually returns to its owner golden harvests in rc- turn for the time and energy expended upon it. Aside from tilling the soil Mr. Gardner has, for the past ten years, been extensively engaged in dealing in cattle, horses and mules and has for years been feeding cattle on a moderate scale. He is known among stockmen as a scalper, buying and selling much of his stock among the neighboring farmers of the surrounding counties. He has also extended his activity in other channels and is now a stockholder and director in the Security Savings Bank of Wellinan. He is eminently a man of affairs, and the success which has attended his various business interests entitles him to a prominent place among the prosperous and influential citizens of this county.
The year 1878 witnessed the marriage of Mr. Gardner and Miss Capitola Brindley, a native of Cedar township, this county, and they have become the parents of eight children, seven of whom still survive: Lloyd, deceased ; Roy, a farmer of Cedar township, Washington county ; Mamie, a teacher of music who makes her home with her parents; Nettic, Harry, Phoebe, James, and Norma, all at home.
Although stalwart in his advocacy of the principles of the republican party, Mr. Gardner has never been an aspirant for public office. preferring to devote his entire time and attention to the management of his private business affairs. He is, however, public-spirited in his citizenship and his devotion to the public welfare remains unquestioned, arising from a sincere desire for the substantial growth and upbuilding of the community. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and also the Knights of Pythias, both at Wellman. As the architect of his own fortune he has builded wisely and well and the success which he now enjoys has come to him as the direct re- sult of a life of well spent activity, the salient characteristics of which have been sound judgment, good business management and unfaltering per- severance.
PAUL OLDFIELD.
Paul Oldfield, deceased, was for a long period successfully connected with agricultural interests in Cedar township. His birth occurred in Philadelphia on the 4th of June, 1825. His education was obtained in the common schools and in early manhood he came to Iowa, purchasing the farm of eighty acres in Cedar township, Washington county. where his widow now resides. Subsequently he extended the boundaries of his farm by an additional pur- chase of forty acres and was actively and successfully engaged in the work of the fields until the time of his demise.
PAUL OLDFIELD
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
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Mr. Oldfield married Miss Rebecca Bitting, who was born in Pennsyl- vania, April 18, 1839, her parents being Jacob and Lydia Bitting. The father, who came to this state in 1855, continued to reside here until called to his final rest. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bitting were born six children, namely : David, of Cedar township; John, who is deceased; Mary, the wife of John Shafer, of Nebraska ; Charles, a resident of Lime Creek township : Samuel, living in Nebraska ; and Mrs. Oldfield. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Oldfield were born eleven children, as follows: Isaiah, of Cedar township: Lydia, de- ceased; Samuel, also residing in Cedar township: Martha, who has also passed away ; Mary, the wife of Samuel Nicola, of Lime Creek township ; Margaret, the wife of Charles Schulty, of Cedar township ; John and William, both at home; Perry, who is likewise deceased; Effie, the wife of Henry Stiner, of Lime Creek township ; and Elizabeth, also at home.
In his political views Mr. Oldfield was a stalwart republican and an active and helpful worker in the local ranks of the party. His religious belief was indicated by his membership in the Dunkard church, in the faith of which he passed away on the 14th of October, 1892. His life was actuated by high principles and characterized by manly conduct and in his home community he enjoyed that warm personal friendship and kindly esteem which are always given in recognition of genuine worth in the individual. His widow, who is likewise a devoted member of the Dunkard church, still resides on the farm in Cedar township. Of kind and loving disposition, she has a host of friends throughout the community in which she has so long made her home and deserves and receives the respect and esteem of all.
R. S. WHITE.
R. S. White, who gives his time and energies to general farming and stock raising, is today the owner of three hundred and sixty-five acres of valuable land near Crawfordsville. In all of his business affairs he displays an aptitude for successful management and his judgment in his investments is most sound and reliable. His birth occurred in Highland township, Washington county, Iowa, on the 11th of September, 1867, his parents be- ing E. W. White and Louisa (Cunningham) White, both of whom are na- tives of Pennsylvania. The father's birth occurred in Beaver county, that state. Early in 1851 he went to California, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific slope and also for the benefit of his health, which was in a somewhat precarious condition. In 1854, after almost four years spent in the far west, he returned to New York city and from that point proceeded to Pennsylvania, purchasing a farm near old Wurtemburg in that state. He was then married and engaged in farming in the east for four years, after which oil was struck upon his place. He then disposed of his farm for ten thousand dollars and came to Iowa, where he invested in four hundred acres. This was the nucleus of his later extensive possessions, for he added to his
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holdings from time to time by various purchases until he became the owner of eleven hundred acres in Washington county and one hundred and sixty acres in Kansas. He likewise became a prominent factor in financial circles, being elected president of the Ainsworth Savings Bank, with which he was thus associated until his retirement. Desiring to spend his remaining days in well earned rest, he put aside business cares and is now pleasantly located in Colorado. His wife was also a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Dr. Cunningham, a well-to-do citizen of the Keystone state. He gave his daughter excellent educational opportunities which she utilized and in early womanhood she was married. Her death occurred in 1895 and her family mourned the loss of a loving and devoted wife and mother and her acquaint- ances, a faithful friend. Unto Mr. and Mrs. White were born nine chil- dren : Lillie, who is the wife of S. W. Stone, who is in the mail service in the government employ in New York city; Flora, the wife of Dr. L. C. Moore, who is engaged in the general practice of medicine in Reynolds, Illi- nois; Ida, the wife of W. L. Patterson, of Pittsburg, Kansas; Maud, the wife of H. H. Smith, a traveling salesman living in Des Moines ; J. R., a con- tractor and builder of Denver, Colorado; R. S., of this review ; H. A., a farmer and stock-raiser of Ainsworth, Iowa; Eva Edna, the wife of W. C. Nelson, a jeweler and optician of Omaha, Nebraska ; and Luella, the wife of T. H. Barnes, a farmer.
R. S. White pursued his early education in the public schools of High- land township and afterward continued his studies in the high school at Burlington, Iowa, and in Elliott's Business College. After thus qualifying for the practical duties of business life he went to Albert Lea, Minnesota, where he became cashier for the American Express Company, filling that position for six months. He then returned to his native county and spent the remainder of the year with his father. He next became associated with William Patterson in the boot and shoe business at Pittsburg, Kansas, for two years, after which he returned to this county and assumed oversight of his father's land. Later he was admitted to partnership by his father and this relation was maintained for two years. He then purchased two hun- dred and forty acres of farm land upon which he has since resided. He afterward bought eighty acres additional and when his father retired four years later he secured another forty-acre tract. He now owns altogether three hundred and sixty-five acres of productive land worth one hundred and sixty dollars per acre. He has put all of the improvements upon the farm, including an attractive residence and substantial barns and outbuildings. He and his brother, H. A. White, manage for their father two thousand six hundred and sixty acres of land in Texas and six hundred acres in Iowa. He is engaged quite extensively in the raising of sheep, hogs and cattle and is well known as a feeder and shipper of stock. His farm and live-stock interests have been very advantageously conducted and have brought to him most gratifying returns.
In 1891 Mr. White was united in marriage to Miss Jennie E. Green, of Washington, Iowa, and they had three children, Harold Gale, Winy Gerald, and Jennie Opal, but the second named is now deceased.
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In his political views Mr. White has always been a republican and un- faltering in his advocacy of the party. He is now one of the official mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. His life is honorable in its pur- pose, far-reaching in its activities and successful in its results. His energy has made him one of the prosperous citizens of the county and he is now numbered among the leading farmers and stock-raisers of this part of the state.
H. D. CHERRYHOLMS.
H. D. Cherryholms is numbered among Washington county's native sons, his birth having occurred in Crawford township on the 20th of October, 1861. He is one of a family of five children whose parents were John and Mary A. (Harper) Cherryholms, both of whom were natives of Ohio and were married in that state. The father's birth occurred in Tus- carawas county and when he left Ohio he brought his family direct to Iowa in the early '50s, locating in Crawford township, where he took up the oc- cupation of farming, continuing it until his death. The only interruption to his active business career came when he offered his aid to the government and went to the front as a member of the Twenty-fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. His political allegiance was unfalteringly given to the republican party and he was a member of the United Presbyterian church, shaping his life by its teachings. In 1905 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who was laid to rest in Crawfordsville cemetery, and in 1906 his grave was made by her side. Their family numbered five children: Austin, de- ceased ; Wallace, who is engaged in dealing in horses in Washington, Iowa ; Ida, the wife of William Ferguson, a farmer of Nebraska : Harper, a farmer of El Dorado, Kansas; and H. D. of this review.
Reared in the usual manner of farm lads, H. D. Cherryholms acquired his education in the district schools of Crawford township and when not busy with his text-books largely gave his attention to the work of the fields, assisting his father in operating the home farm for six years after his mar- riage. It was in 1888 that he wedded Miss Jennie Crooks, a resident of Craw- fordsville, and unto them have been born eight children: Mamie, the wife of Jean Fletcher, a farmer residing near Columbia City, Louisa county, Iowa ; Glenn ; Ross : Lawrence ; Maggie ; Helen ; Chester ; and Kenneth.
As previously stated, following his marriage Mr. Cherryholms remained a farmer in Crawford township for about six years and then took up his abode in the village of Crawfordsville, where he resided for two years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Wayne, Henry county, where he lived for three years, after which he took up his abode on a farm east of Crawfordsville, where he also spent three years. He next came to his present location and has lived on this farm for six years. It is a well im- proved property and in its neat and thrifty appearance indicates the prac- tical and enterprising spirit of the owner. Eighteen years ago Mr. Cherry- holms began to buy and ship live stock and has been the only regular buyer
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at Crawfordsville for six or eight years. He does a good business in this connection and also meets with success in the cultivation of his farm of one hundred and thirty acres, situated on section 17, Crawford township. He has here erected a fine house. commodious and substantial barns and sheds and has well kept grounds. In fact, his place is one of the attractive fea- tures of the landscape and his work is bringing to him substantial and gratifying results. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he holds membership in the United Presbyterian church, while his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church. They are interested in the moral progress of the community and actively connected in various lines of work that are valuable features, in the upbuilding and the betterment of the com- munity.
JOHN T. BULGER.
An excellent farm of three hundred and fifty acres in lowa township pays tribute to the care and labor bestowed upon it by John T. Bulger, who has also been an extensive stockraiser for many years. He was born March 28. 1861, and comes of Irish lineage, his parents, Thomas and Catherine (Hayden ) Bulger, having been natives of Killarney. Ireland. They came to America in 1856, locating in Iowa township, Washington county, Iowa, upon the farm where our subject now resides. The parents resided upon this farm until their death, the father passing away in August. 1866, while the mother's demise occurred February 9, 1905. at the age of seventy-five years. In their family were four children, namely: James W., residing at Ottumwa, Jowa : John T .. of this review : Mary R., of La Crosse. Wiscon- sin ; and one who died in infancy.
Reared amid the scenes and environments of rural life. John T. Bulger attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education, and while not occupied with his text-books assisted his father about the farm. early becoming familiar with the tasks that fall to the lot of the farm lad. He remained at home until he had reached his majority, and then engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account, renting the home place. which. he thus operated for twelve years. At the expiration of that period he pur- chased eighty acres of the old homestead and has since added to this prop- erty until his holdings now comprise three hundred and fifty acres of land situated on section 2, lowa township. It is not only an extensive but also a very productive tract and the fields have been brought under a high state of cultivation, so that they annually yield rich and large harvests. Mr. Bulger also engages in stockraising to some extent, having made a specialty for the past twenty-five years of raising and feeding cattle and hogs. His stock is all of good grade and therefore commands a ready sale upon the market. He uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate the farm work and in all of his business interests is alert, enterprising and progressive.
On the 30th of April. 1889. Mr. Bulger was united in marriage to Miss Frances Schnoebelen, who was born in Iowa township and was one of seven
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children born to S. and Josephine ( Schitdel) Schnocbelen. The father, now residing in Iowa township, is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. As the years passed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bulger was blessed with eight chil- dren, namely: Ivo I., Ethel B., Agnes E., Ruth B., Bertha F., Augustin J., Hortensia M. and Josephine I., all of whom are now living with the ex- ception of Ruth B. who died in infancy.
The parents are members of St. Mary's Catholic church of Riverside, Iowa, and are deeply and helpfully interested in its work. Mr. Bulger gives stalwart support to the democratic party and is now serving his second term as township trustee. Having passed his entire life in Iowa township, he is prominent in a wide circle of friends, and the fact that he is most re- spected where he is best known indicates that his life has at all times been in accord with the principles that govern upright and honorable manhood.
JESSE MARR.
One of the most progressive, successful and well known stock buyers. and dealers in land in Washington county is Jesse Marr, of Ainsworth,- a man modest and unassuming in manner and retiring in disposition, yet with a force of character that enables him to accomplish what he undertakes and to win his success along the legitimate lines of trade. His grandfather, Woodford Marr, now deceased, was born near Cynthiana, Harrison county, Kentucky, October 6, 1803, a son of James and Polly Marr, the former a na- tive of Kentucky and of Scotch-Irish descent, while the latter was a na- tive of Virginia. Woodford Marr spent the first fifteen years of his life in the place of his nativity and then removed from Kentucky to Bartholomew county. Indiana, where he remained until 1842, at which time he came to Washington county, Iowa, casting in his lot among its first settlers. He was married in 1827 to Miss Margaret Jones, also a native of Harrison county, Kentucky, born in 1805. They had six children, of whom two are living : Thomas, the father of Jesse Marr and now a resident of Oregon township; and Sophronia, the wife of George Easter. There had been but few set- tlements made in this county when Woodford Marr established his home here in 1842. He aided in reclaiming the wild land for civilization and in planting the seeds of improvement on the western frontier. As the years passed he carefully directed his labors in business lines, became a substantial and progressive farmer and at the time of his death had ac- cumulated quite an estate. His wife died August 21, 1886. In his political views he was a stalwart republican, giving unfaltering support to the prin- ciples of the party.
Thomas Marr, the father of Jesse Marr, still lives in Oregon township and is numbered among the representative agriculturists of this part of the state.
Jesse Marr was born in Oregon township, where he has spent his entire life and as the years have passed he has become well known as a stock buyer
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
and dealer in lands. He is classed among the most energetic and enter- prising business men of the county. He is blessed with a fine personality and commands the respect of all of his associates. He possesses keen in- sight into business situations and believes in exacting his just dues but has never been known to overreach another in any business transaction. In demeanor he is very modest and unassumming and if it were left for him to tell nothing would be known about his record. His fellow townsmen, how- ever, speak of him in terms of praise and of regard and give him classifica- tion with the most successful business men of the county. He owns among other substantial investments the farms of his two grandfathers, Woodford Marr and James Stewart. He shows the keenest discrimination in judging between the essential and the non essential, knows when and where and how to put forth his energies and as the years have gone by has greatly increased his prosperity through his judicious investment and careful management.
J. P. THOMAS.
J. P. Thomas is a large landowner of Washington county, also well known as a real-estate dealer in Washington, while his possessions like- wise include Canada lands. He is a man of sound business judgment whose investments have been judiciously made and have brought to him a substan- tial financial return. Mr. Thomas is one of lowa's native sons, his birth having occurred in Des Moines county on the 25th of April, 1859. his par- ents being T. W. and Ann (Jones) Thomas. The father was a native of South Wales and came to the United States at an early day, accompanying his parents, who located in Ohio. Removing westward, he established his home in Des Moines county, Iowa, and in 1880 he became a resident of Washington county, locating north of the city of Washington. There he resided until his death, which occurred in 1901. His entire life was devoted to general agricultural pursuits and as he had no assistance when he started out for himself, his success was won entirely through his own labors and perseverance. His wife was a native of London, England, and in early womanhood came to the United States. She located in Des Moines county, Iowa, and was there residing at the time of her marriage. She yet survives her husband and now makes her home in Washington, Iowa. In their family were eleven children, nine of whom are yet living.
After acquiring a good common-school education. Mr. Thomas of this review had the advantage of a course of instruction in Elliott's Business Col- lege at Burlington. He remained with his father upon the home farm until twenty-four years of age, during which time he assisted in the work of the fields and gained that practical experience that well qualified him for carry- ing on farm work on his own account. On leaving the parental roof he began the cultivation of a tract of land in Des Moines county, whereon he resided until 1890. He afterward spent one year in the real-estate business in Burlington and on the expiration of that period removed to Wellman,
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where he was employed as special machine man in an agricultural implement store. There he remained until 1902, when he established a real-estate office in Washington, where he engaged in business until May, 1908. At that date he took up his abode on his present farm, which comprises five hundred and twenty-three acres of land in Brighton township, his mother, brothers and sisters owning the property with him. This property is valu- able because of the excellent improvements upon it and the careful and systematic manner in which he conducts his business. He also has prop- erty in Texas, real-estate in Wellman and is interested in Canada lands. Not only does he successfully till the fields but also conducts a good busi- ness as a stockraiser, his annual sales of stock bringing to him a substantial return.
In 1892 Mr. Thomas was united in marriage to Miss Alma E. Downing. a resident of Washington county and a daughter of William A. and Emily L. (Blandin) Downing, her father being a native of Indiana. Her mother died April 3, 1898, and was buried near Weldon, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Downing had a family of ten children, namely: J. R., a veterinary surgeon, who is engaged in the livery business at Wellman ; Eliza A., the wife of J H. Skaggs, an insurance agent of Chicago; W. L., a practicing physician, who is now deceased ; Alma E., the wife of our subject ; Minnie A., the wife of C. E. Fleming, who is superintendent of schools at Tama, Iowa; Blanche M1 .. the wife of R. E. Eyestone, a coal, wood and feed dealer of Groton, South Dakota : one who died in infancy ; Pearl A .; Harold B., a lawyer and real-estate dealer of Atoka, Oklahoma ; Ralph V., of Norman, Oklahoma, who is now serving as deputy county treasurer.
In his political views Mr. Thomas is a democrat and both he and his wife are worthy Christian people, Mr. Thomas holding membership in the Baptist church, while his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias at Washington and his wife belongs to the ladies' auxiliary of that order, to the Women's Relief Corps in Washington and to the Eastern Star. Mr. Thomas is a man of marked business enterprise, who has ever recognized the fact that in- dustry and perseverance constitute the best foundation upon which to build prosperity. His labors therefore have been conducted along those lines and have been resultant factors in the attainment of the gratifying success which he now enjoys.
McDOWELL MAXWELL.
McDowell Maxwell is well known as a farmer and stockraiser of Craw- ford township and as a citizen of genuine worth. His entire life has been passed in this locality, his birth occurring July 31, 1855, about three-quarters of a mile north of the village of Crawfordsville. His parents, William and Sarah (Megaw) Maxwell, were both natives of Harrison county, Ohio, where they were reared. In the early '40s they arrived in Crawfordsville,
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Iowa, making the journey by boat to Keokuk. Just before reaching their destination the boat was struck by another vessel going south and was so badly wrecked that it sank near the shore. All of the passengers were rescued, however, and Mr. Maxwell managed to save a little of his furniture but most of his goods were lost. He and his wife spent the winter at Keokuk and in the spring came to Crawfordsville, the remainder of their lives being passed on the farm now owned by F. J. Maxwell, three-quarters of a mile north of the town. They were people of the highest respectability whose many good qualities of heart and mind gained them the unqualified friendship and esteem of those who knew them.
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