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 47
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In the quiet and uneventful life of the farm Horatio Hull spent his youth- ful days, pursuing his education in the district schools, while through the periods of vacation he worked in the fields. He remained at home until he attained his majority and then started out in life on his own account by renting a farm which he continued to cultivate for nine years. During that period he carefully saved his earnings until his economy and industry brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase land. He then invested in eighty acres of land in Seventy-Six township and took up his abode upon the place, which he made his home for four years. At the end of that time he sold the farm and bought a part of the old homestead where he now lives. It is on section 17. Lime Creek township. He at once began its further development and improvement and as the years have passed he has extended the boundaries of his place as opportunity has offered, until his farm now comprises four hundred and seventy acres, making him one of the extensive landowners of this locality. He has always made a specialty of raising and feeding stock and has sent to the market many a head of fatted cattle, for which he has found a ready sale. In all of his business affairs he displays keen discrimination, seeming to possess almost intuitive understanding of the value and opportunity of every business situation.
Mr. Hull is pleasantly situated in his home life. He was married on the 9th of February, 1867, to Miss Mary M. Squires, who was born in Scioto county, Ohio, November 16, 1846, a daughter of G. B. and Margaret (Nolan) Squires. Her father's birth occurred in 1818 in the state of New York and her mother was a native of West Virginia. Removing westward in 1847 with Iowa as their destination, the mother became ill while en route and her serious condition made it necessary for them to stop at Keokuk. There she passed away and later the father continued with his family to Washington county, settling on a farm in Lime Creek township, where he remained until his death. He had married again, his second union being with Mrs. Lucy Kettle, who was born in the Empire state. There were two children of that union, while Mrs. Hull was her father's only heir by the first marriage. The death of Mr. Squires occurred September 15, 1877, after a residence of about twenty-six years in this county.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hull were born six children: Lucy E., born July 22, 1868, died September 14, 1872 ; Minnie A., died in infancy ; Ralph B., born August 12, 1874, is now residing at Wellman; F. E., born November 10, 1877, is at home : A. W., born February 2, 1879, is also at home ; and A. C., born April 29, 1885, is a barber of Wellman.
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The parents attend the Baptist church and Mr. Hull belongs to Well- man Lodge, No. 51, K. P., while his political views accord with the princi- ples and platform of the republican party. He has never sought nor desired office for he believes that the interests of his home and business are sufficient to fully occupy his time and hours. He is not remiss in the duties of citizen- ship, however, but cooperates in many movements for the public good and gives substantial aid whenever it is needed. His influence is always found on the side of justice, truth, right and progress, and he deserves to be classed among the representative and valued men of the county.
HARRISON ARNOLD BALL.
Among the men whose intense and well directed activities in former years have brought them to a position of independence now enabling them to live retired, is Harrison Arnold Ball, a most highly respected citizen of Washington. He was born July 28, 1831, about two and a half miles from Richmond, in Jefferson county, Ohio, and was the only child of Joseph and Elizabeth (Arnold) Ball, who were also natives of the Buckeye state. The father long followed farming in Jefferson county, Ohio, where he died. His wife survived him and married again. They were members of the Dunkard, or German Baptist church, and were influential and worthy people of the community in which they lived, Joseph Ball serving for a number of years as justice of the peace, his decisions being at all times strictly fair and impartial.
The ancestry of Harrison A. Ball can be traced back to a remote period. The records state that his paternal grandfather was a native of Virginia and that he and his wife died in Ohio. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Ball was Daniel Arnold, who married a Miss Redd of English parentage. They were early settlers of Jefferson county, Ohio, where Mr. Arnold fol- lowed general agricultural pursuits. They died when well advanced in years, having reared a family of five sons and four daughters, namely: Joseph ; Daniel; Jacob; Samuel; Solomon ; Mrs. Catharine Crawford; Han- nah, the wife of Emanuel Rinehart ; Elizabeth ; and Mary, who became the wife of John Shane. As previously stated, Elizabeth Arnold became the wife of Joseph Ball and following his demise was married again, becoming the wife of James Perrine, living in Wayne county, Ohio, until their removal to Iowa in 1867, where they settled upon a farm in Crawford township, Washington county. Mrs. Perrine died in August, 1868, her husband fol- lowing her a few years later.
Nine children were born to this union, four sons and five daughters. Elizabeth, who died in early womanhood; Solomon, who died at the age of eleven : Sarah, the wife of Samuel Maloney, of Marion, Iowa; James, of Billings, Montana ; a daughter, who died in infancy ; Peter, of Los Angeles, California ; Samuel, of Phillipsburg, Kansas; Anne, the wife of Sylvester
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Cummings, also of Phillipsburg, Kansas; Jane, the wife of James Travis, of Billings, Montana.
Harrison A. Ball was only seven years of age when he left Jefferson county, Ohio, and removed to Wayne county, that state, living in Wayne township about four and a half miles north of Wooster. There he largely ac- quired his education in one of the old time pioneer log school houses, with its slab seats and other primitive furnishings, including the fireplace, which took up almost one entire end of the room. After putting aside his text-books he learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner, serving a two years' apprentice- ship, and to that line of work practically gave his entire attention until 1894. He was married in Ohio and with his wife and two children came to Iowa in 1856, settling in Washington on the plot of ground on South Iowa ave- nue, where he has since made his home. He has engaged in the construction of hundreds of houses in this city and the surrounding country. For a long period he followed general contracting and the excellence and thoroughness of his workmanship and the promptness with which he executed the con- tracts entrusted to him secured him a very liberal patronage. Moreover, he has always been regarded as thoroughly reliable in all business transac- tions and through well directed industry and careful management he has accumulated a handsome competence that now enables him to live retired.
It was on the 17th of March, 1853, that Mr. Ball was married to Miss Mary Ann Ihrig, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, March 12, 1835, a daughter of Peter and Christina ( Billman) Ihrig, who were natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania, but removed to Wayne county, Ohio, where their remaining days were passed. The father engaged in farming until his death, which resulted from an accident when he was forty-five years of age. He was born June 27, 1795, and passed away April 15, 1842. His wife, who was born December 19, 1805, survived him until July 29, 1879, and died at the age of seventy-three years. They were the parents of six children: Susannah, who died in infancy; Mary Ann; David Billman ; John Henry ; Elizabeth ; and Peter Simon. After losing her first husband, Mrs. Ihrig became the wife of Joseph Lauck, who survived her a few years. The Ihrig family was of German lineage, the grandfather of Mrs. Ball, who was also named Peter, having come from Germany when a young man, and settled in Pennsylvania at an early day.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ball were born nine children: Joseph Edgar, the eldest, was born December 21, 1853, and died May 9, 1878. Emma Charity, born December 7, 1855, was married June 1, 1878, to Parker P. Ink, who died October 31, 1892, and on the 29th of May, 1900, she became the wife of Absalom Anderson. Elizabeth Christine is the wife of James H. McLaugh- lin, of Detroit, Michigan. They are the parents of three children, Walter Ball, Ella May, and Laura. Ida Ihrig is the wife of Robert McCleery, of Cherokee, Iowa, and they have two children, Helen and Ben Harrison. Grace Pamelia is the widow of Lafayette Anderson, of Omaha, Nebraska, and their only child is Alice Iowa. Mary Alice is the wife of Joseph T. Stan- hope, of Sioux City, Iowa. Three children were born to them, a daughter passing away in infancy, a son, George Edward, who passed away at the
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age of five months, and the remaining daughter, Alice. Gertrude Salome is the wife of W. T. A. White, of Monmouth, Illinois. Their children are Adelaide, Maurice Osborne, and Jesse Arnold. Ethel May is the wife of Walter B. Wilde, of Peoria, Illinois, and their two children living are Mar- garet and Marian. Two other children were born to them, one son and a daughter, both passing away in infancy. Bertha is the wife of Clyde A. Bailey, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and they are the parents of one child, Charles Harrison.
The mother of this family, Mrs. Mary Ann Ball, died November 21, 1894, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she had been a member since early womanhood, leaving the memory of a sainted life. Mr. Ball is also a member of the Methodist church, and his life is in har- mony with his profession. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party since its organization and he has never failed to support its standard bearers. He has led a life of usefulness and activity, displaying the genuine worth of the man who capably performs his daily tasks and meets every duty and obligation devolving upon him. He there- fore enjoys in full measure the respect and confidence of all who know him and well deserves mention among the representative citizens of his adopted county.
W. S. PHILLIPS.
W. S. Phillips, a retired business man and farmer of Wellman, was born a short distance north of this town in Daytonville, Washington county, in the year 1854. He is the son of George and Susanna (Dean) Phillips, both of whom were natives of Ohio, but came to Washington county in 1853, at a time when life in Iowa meant hard work and privations. The father played his part in the life that all frontiersmen were compelled to share and lived to see the conditions about him much changed, though he was only a little past middle age, fifty-eight years old, when death summoned him in 1873. He had been married three times. Miss Elizabeth Dean was his first wife and bore him ten children. Miss Susanna Dean was his bride when he married the second time and became the mother of two children. Of the third union there was only one child.
W. S. Phillips was nineteen years of age when he assumed the responsi- bilities of life for himself. He was early identified with mercantile interests and for many years clerked in a general store. Here he laid the foundations for the success he won for himself when he established his own business. His devotion to his employers' interests won him their confidence, and his own industry and thrift enabled him to accumulate the capital which was neces- sary for his own venture. In 1896 he embarked in the mercantile business and opened a general store, to which he soon drew a large patronage, for he was shrewd in reading the temper of the popular demand and was most assiduous in the satisfaction of his customers' wants and needs. In 1901 he
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was content to retire upon the results of his successful business career and has since taken but little part in active affairs.
Mr. Phillips deserves sole credit for the success of his business, which increased beyond his most sanguine expectations. Few of the men who kept the little general stores when Mr. Phillips started in business are left. He belongs to the older generation of merchants, who have seen and kept pace with the great changes which have not only transformed the appearance of the prairies but have also increased and altered the character of the demands made upon him who would satisfy the wants of the little community. In addition to his mercantile cares, Mr. Phillips has been closely identified with the farming interests of this locality and is the owner of a fine farm in this county. For many years he has been a member of Wellman Lodge, No. 149, A. F. & A. M., and of the chapter and commandery at Wash- ington, and is most active in promoting the interests of the society and of his fraternal brothers. When called upon to exercise his franchise, Mr. Phillips casts his vote for the candidate of the republican party, to whose principles he has been unswervingly loyal; and though he has never filled any office within the gift of the people it is because of his own preference in that respect, for did he so choose he would have the unqualified support not only of those allied with him through party affiliation but also of those of the opposing party who as his friends know him to be a man of sterling traits of character.
J. H. IHRIG.
J. H. Ihrig, engaged in general farming and stock raising on section 21, Lime Creek township, is the owner and operator of two hundred and fifteen acres of fine land and in his business affairs is meeting with a marked degree of success. A native of Ohio, he was born in Wayne county, November 16 1838, a son of Peter and Christina (Billman) Ihrig. The parents were both born in eastern Pennsylvania, the father's birth occurring in 1795, while the mother's natal year was 1805. They both arrived in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1815, and there their remaining days were spent. the father meeting his death in a runaway accident in 1842, while the mother passed away in 1899 In their family were six children, of whom but three survive, namely ; J. H .. of this review ; Elizabeth, the wife of E. W. H. Ashby, of Lime Creek town- ship; and Peter S., residing in Ohio.
J. H. Ihrig spent the first ten years of his life with his parents and then went to live with his grandfather, with whom he remained until 13 years of age. In the meantime he had attended the common schools in the acquire- ment of an education and after laying aside his text-books he engaged in teaching school for two terms. The year 1856 witnessed his first arrival in Washington county, Iowa, where he remained for two years, after which he returned to Ohio for a short time. In 1859 he went on a trip to California but six months later again returned to Ohio on account of sickness. This
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visit lasted but a little while and he subsequently went to Missouri, where he remained for two and a half years. It was during his sojourn in that state that he made the acquaintance of Miss Parmelia Marquam, a native of Missouri, whose birth occurred in 1842. They were there married in 1862, after which they came to Washington county, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Ihrig began their domestic life upon a farm of two hun- dred and fifteen acres which Mr. Ihrig purchased on section 21, Lime Creek township, and upon which they continue to reside. He has instituted many improvements upon the place, including modern machinery for facilitating the work of the fields, while the atmosphere of prosperity and neatness sur- rounding the farm indicates the good management and progressive methods of the owner. Aside from tilling the soil he also makes a specialty of breed- ing first class stock, the quality of which insures him a ready sale upon the market, while both branches of his business are yielding him a gratifying financial return.
As the years have come and gone seven children have been added to the household of Mr. and Mrs. Ihrig, namely: W. E., operating the home farm ; J. M., who was last heard of in Honolulu ; C. H., residing in this town- ship; Estella, the wife of E. M. Cole, of Audubon county, Iowa; Ida M., a resident of Oakland, California ; W. H., of Washington county, Iowa; and Edith, the wife of J. W. Frame, residing in California. In October, 1908, Mrs. Ihrig was called to her final rest, her remains being interred in the Pilesburg cemetery. Her passing proved a great loss not only to her hus- band and children, but was also deeply mourned by a large number of warm friends.
In politics Mr. Ihrig is a republican, while for twelve years he served as trustee and has been secretary of the school board for thirty-six years, the subject of education finding in him a stalwart champion. Public-spirited in citizenship, he is helpfully interested in every movement for general progress and improvement, and while his business interests make hard demands upon his time and energies, he yet finds opportunity to further the public welfare by his cooperation in many movements for the general good.
CHARLES WALTON.
Charles Walton was born on the farm in Clay township which is still his home, his natal day being August 30, 1850. He represents one of the oldest families of the county, being a son of Ellis and Elizabeth Jane (Edwards) Walton, of whom mention is made on another page of this work in connec- tion with the sketch of his brother Ellis Walton. The period of his youth was passed in a manner like that of most farm boys. The public schools af- forded him his educational privileges and he assisted his father more and more largely in the work of the fields and in stock raising as his years and strength permitted. Following his father's death he and his brother became associated in partnership for the conduct of the farm, the relation being
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maintained until about four years ago when they severed their business interests. Charles Walton has since resided on the old homestead where he now owns two hundred acres of land. His fields are well tilled and bring forth good harvests. Stock raising has been one of the most important features of his business as for a long period he has been engaged in the breeding and raising of Norman horses and shorthorn cattle. He has handled some of the finest stock in the county and enjoys a wide reputation in this line. His sales have brought him substantial annual returns for his stock has always commanded high prices.
In 1880 occurred the marriage of Charles Walton and Miss Letitia Tor- rey, then a resident of Washington county but a native of Marshall county, Illinois. Their marriage was blessed with seven children: Clara R., the wife of Samuel Griffith, a farmer residing in Fairfield, Iowa; Roberta, at home ; Goldie, who is engaged in teaching school ; Zella Mabel, the wife of Clarence Shy, proprietor of the feed store in Fairfield, Iowa; Otto, Elsie and Cora, all at home. The family are well known in Clay township and their part of the county where they have an extensive circle of warm friends. Mr. Walton is a reliable business man who seeks out the best opportunities for attaining success and his well directed labor meets with prosperity in the business which claims his attention year by year. He has always resided in this county and its history through more than a half century is familiar to him. He is ever interested in the work of general improvement and has cooper- ated in various measures for the public good.
WILLIAM PERRY STEPHENS.
William Perry Stephens, who during his life was one of the most pros- perous farmers of Washington county, was born in Champaign county, Ohio, in 1835, the son of James and Rebecca (Orgas) Stephens. In 1853 the family came to Washington county, Iowa, and settled on a farm north- west of the town of Washington. They were among the early pioneers of the county and had to undergo the privations and hardships, experience the uncertainty and loneliness that are inevitable in a new country, when old friends are distant and even neighbors are not within sight. The parents lived to see these conditions changed greatly, to see a vigorous little town spring into being and the vast prairies dotted with many farms, for James Stephens lived until 1866, his sixtieth year, and his wife, who survived him fourteen years, died in her seventieth year. Their lives touched that quarter of a century which of all in American history was most rich in improving the conditions of life, especially in relieving the drudgery of the farm.
William Perry Stephens brought from the soil of Washington county unusually rich returns. His fields were always among the first to be plowed, and his harvests bespoke his energy and knowing eye, which was ever watch- ful for the right moment to gather the compensation of his season's toil. Three score and twelve years he had told off when death summoned him in
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May, 1907, a man well known in the county and in the town of Wellman, where he passed the last few years of his life in comparative rest after his arduous labors.
In 1863 Mr. Stephens married Miss Elizabeth Sigler, daughter of John and Eliza (Potter) Sigler, who were natives of Maryland. Mrs. Sigler died in 1845 at the early age of twenty-six, when Mrs. Stephens was but five years old, and left five children, Nancy C., Mary M., Elizabeth E .. Louis F., and Martha A., to want a mother's care. A year after his wife's death Mr. Sigler married Miss Gulda Fazenbaker, who bore him nine children : George G., William W., Henry M., Godfrey F., Anna L., Liza F., Francis V., Effie A. and Sarah L.
Mr. Stephens was a man highly esteemed among those who knew him. His industry, shrewdness and thrift enabled him to draw from the soil a gen- erous return in abundant harvests. The engaging qualities of his personality, exercised through the many years of his life, attracted to him many stanch friends. To these his loyalty was unswerving, and he was ever ready to lend a helping hand, either in the smaller concerns of a farmer's life, when it was merely a question of assisting in the plowing or harvest, or in the deeper reratronships when a friend's counsel and sympathy are the most precious things of a man's life. His fraternal brothers of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows knew him to be one of their most diligent members in the in- terest of the society or those who belonged to it. At elections he cast his vote invariably for the democratic candidate as the choice of the party to which he gave his support.
LEWIS B. LUITHLY.
Lewis B. Luithly is cashier of the Rubio Savings Bank of Rubio, Iowa, and is displaying a most enterprising spirit in conducting the affairs of the institution. While yet a young man, his ability has won him recognition as a citizen of worth in his part of the country. His birth occurred in Dutch Creek township, Washington county, December 28, 1884, and he is a son of J. A. and Anna M. (Varain) Luithly. He represents one of the old pioneer families of the county. His father was also a native of Dutch Creek township and was there reared. He took up the occupation of farming as a life work and followed that pursuit until 1905, when he removed to Ames, where he is now living retired in the enjoyment of a well earned rest to which his years of active labor justly entitle him. His wife was presumably a native of Burlington, Iowa, and they were married in this county. Unto them have been born four sons: Lewis B. ; William, who is studying veterin- ary surgery at the lowa State College at Ames ; Arthur, at home ; and John. who is still at home but expects to enter upon the study of law in the Michi- gan State University at Ann Arbor.
Lewis B. Luithly began his education in the common schools near the old home farm and continued his studies in Pleasant Plain Academy, from which
LEWIS B. LUITHLY
TE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
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he was graduated with the class of 1902. He then took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for three years in Dutch Creek township. He also spent a year and a half at the Iowa State College at Ames, and return- ing home he took up the banking business on the organization of the Rubio Savings Bank, in which he is a stockholder. He now gives his time and energies to financial interests and is capably controlling the business of this enterprising little moneyed institution. The bank belongs to group No. II of the Bankers' Association, and its officers are: Frank R. Feltz, president ; Henry A. Luithly, vice president ; Lewis B. Luithly, cashier ; together with Charles Augustine, Charles B. Morgan, John F. Stein, Marsh W. Bailey and Jacob H. Ramge as members of the board of directors. The bank was organized June 30, 1906, when the stockholders met at Rubio, adopted articles of incorporation and elected the organizing board of directors. Two full- sized town lots on Main street were purchased and a cement block bank building was erected. A brick veneer wall was placed inside the outer cement block wall to insure a perfectly dry interior. The vault is one of the largest in the county and furnishes ample store room for valuable books and papers. In addition to his banking interests Mr. Luithly is the owner of real estate in Rubio and is a young man of business discernment and un- faltering energy.
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