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 52
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Iowa, graduating from the latter in 1888. He worked a year on the Brighton News, bought a managing interest in the Herald at Morning Sun, and was there until January, 1891, when he sold his interest and leased the Daily Plain-Dealer at Fort Madison, Iowa. After one year there he became an editorial writer on the Omaha Bee in 1892. Later in the year he took up the field of general newspaper correspondence. In 1896 he leased the Weekly Republican in Langdon, North Dakota, and conducted it until March, 1897, when he accepted a position on the Boston Transcript, of which he is now editor of the magazine department. He has written short stories for Mc- Clure's and other magazines, and has written political articles for the Forum, The North American Review, Collier's, and other forensic publications. In 1905 hie edited Colonel Denby's book on China. In 1908 appeared his Tercentenary History of Canada in three volumes, published by Collier's and the MacMillan Company. While living in Fort Madison he was married to Miss Wegia Hope Hall, of Meriden, Connecticut, at Galesburg, Illinois, May 18, 1891. They live in Winchester, Massachusetts. We consider that Frank has made abundantly good, having been a most industrious plodder and worker, and his Canadian History is the most ambitious piece of author- ship in the history of the county. This little wreath of laurel we bind round the clear brow of Frank Tracy.
ALFONZO Z. RAWSON.
Alfonzo Z. Rawson, capably serving as postmaster at Kalona, Iowa, was born in Morrow county, Ohio, on the 16th of November, 1844, his parents being Henry Patrick and Lavina (Stevens) Rawson, the former a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and the latter of New York state. He traces his ancestry back to Edward Rawson, who was born in Gillingham, Dorset- shire, England, April 16, 1615, and his wife was Rachel Pern a niece of Edmund Grindal, archbishop of Canterbury and premier of England under Queen Elizabeth. This couple came to America in 1626. Of their twelve children William Rawson was born May 21, 1651, and married Anne Glover, by whom he had twenty children. Their son Nathaniel Rawson was born December 3, 1689. and married Hannah Thompson. In their family was Nathaniel Rawson, Jr., who was born in Mendon, Massachusetts, in 1715 and married Rachel Daniels, of that place. To them were born thirteen chil- dren, of whom Grindal Rawson was born on January I, 1762, and married Martha Groves. They became the parents of three children: Zabina, Rhoda and Grindale. Their son, Zabina Rawson, was born January 8, 1784, and married Elizabeth Watters, of Boston, Massachusetts, by whom he had eight children. namely: George, Elizabeth, Henry P., Martha, Zabina, Jared, Walters and William, who died in infancy. Their son, Henry P. Rawson, the father of our subject. was born October 31, 1813, and by his marriage to Lavina Stevens had five children, as follows: Oscar Z., Izora R., Alfonzo Z., Orizaba T. and Alba James.
HE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
MIRS. A. Z. RAWSON
A Z. RAWSON
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LET MILDEN FLY
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Alfonzo Z. Rawson obtained a good practical education in the common schools and remained under the parental roof until seventeen years of age, when, his patriotic spirit being aroused by the attempt of the south to over- throw the Union, he enlisted for service in the Civil war as a member of Company G, Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He participated in many hotly contested engagements, including the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga and Lookout Mountain, as well as several skirmishes and. though often in the thickest of the fight, escaped harm. He was honorably discharged at Chattanooga, Tennessee, and returned home with a most creditable military record for one of his years. Subsequently he made his way to Tama county, Iowa, where he learned the wagon and carriage making trade, successfully following that occupation for thirty years. The year 1885 witnessed his arrival in Washington county, Iowa, and here he has since continued to make his home, being numbered among the most substantial. respected and public-spirited citizens of his community. He was appointed postmaster at Kalona under the administration of President Mckinley and has since continued to fill the office to the entire satisfaction of all concerned.
In 1871 Mr. Rawson was united in marriage to Miss Melissa A. Welsh, whose birth occurred in Illinois in 1847, her parents being J. Burton and Amy (Sumner ) Welsh, both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Rawson was one of a family of ten children and by her marriage has become the mother of three children, namely : Erie A., an electrical engineer residing in Colorado : one who died in infancy ; and Lena, who died at the age of nine months.
Politically Mr. Rawson is a stanch and unswerving republican and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to various positions of public honor and trust. He has served as county super- visor for three years, has done effective work for the cause of education by fifteen years' service on the school board and has also been mayor of Kalona. For forty-one years he has been identified with the Odd Fellows lodge and he is now a member of Lodge No. 508, at Kalona, and maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in the Grand Army post. Both he and his wife belong to the Baptist church and are well konwn and highly esteemed throughout this county, where they have now resided for almost a quarter of a century.
WILLIAM N. HOOD.
William N. Hood, playfully called, "The Deacon," was one of our best printers. He was well educated in Marietta, Ohio, and learned his trade there, and worked at it in Columbus and Portsmouth till he came here in June, 1876, and finally landed in the Democrat, with Lobana Waters, in 1879. He married Ida Farnsworth and Winifred and Walter came to grace their home. Will stood well with all of our craftsmen, and his death under the wheels of a moving train he was trying to board, shocked everybody. He might have won fame in vaudeville. When the home talent presented in
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our opera house "The Deestrict School," he approved himself a star as a stuttering urchin. He was perfectly killing, and shared the honors with Add. White, as a kid who had Jove's complaint, a proneness to "nod," that is, sleep, sprawled out on a bench and rolling off on the floor.
THOMAS M. SCHILLING.
Thomas M. Schilling, of the well known firm of Connor & Schilling grocers of Washington, has been a resident of this county for over half a century and has been prominently identified with its business interests. He was born in Cumberland, Maryland, on the 11th of August, 1856, and is a son of John Michael and Sarah A. (Twiggs) Schilling, the former a native of Bavaria, Germany, and the latter of Maryland. The paternal grandfather was also born in Germany and at an early date came to America, settling in Maryland, where he continued to make his home until his death, passing away at an advanced age.
It was during the boyhood of John Michael Schilling that he accom- panied his father on his removal to the new world, his mother having died during his infancy. They located in Cumberland, Maryland, where he grew to manhood and was afterward married. By trade he was a weaver, but for some time he was in charge of a gang of workmen in the railroad shops at Cumberland as a wheel tapper, putting on car wheels. In December, 1856, he came to Washington, Iowa, where he conducted a grocery store for many years, but subsequently bought a farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres in Franklin township and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, fol- lowing that occupation until the loss of eyesight compelled him to retire. He then returned to the city of Washington, where he made his home until called to his final rest at the age of eighty-two years. He was a member of the Lutheran church, while his wife, who still survives him, is a Methodist in religious belief. In the family of this worthy couple were eleven children, six daughters and five sons: John F .; Thomas M .: Norman ; Minnie, the wife of George Scott, of Mahaska county, Iowa ; Izimri; Stacy, the wife of Greenbury Coffin ; Sadie ; Gary ; Lana, the wife of Sherman Crone, of Wash- ington ; Hannah ; and Nora, who died at the age of four years.
Thomas M. Schilling was but four months old when brought by his parents to Washington, Iowa, and here he was reared and educated, attend- ing the public schools. After the removal of the family to the farm in Wash- ington township he labored with his father in his agricultural pursuits and remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority. He then went to Chariton, Iowa, where he conducted a restaurant for seven years, previous to which time he attended school at that place for three years. On disposing of his restaurant he returned to Washington county and rented a farm in Franklin township, which he operated for several years, but now makes his home in the city of Washington, carrying on business as a mem-
ERIE RAWSON
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THE NAY PUBLIC ul ...
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
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ber of the firm of Connor & Schilling, dealers in general groceries. He is a good, reliable business man and has built up an excellent trade.
On the 16th of January, 1878, Mr. Schilling was united in marriage to Miss Emma Proctor, a daughter of Thomas and Myra (Kinzy) Proctor, and by this union three children were born: Mabel, the eldest, married Sylva S. Sullivan and they now reside in Chicago, where she conducts a millinery store at No. 2320 State street ; Claude and Clyde, twins, died in infancy. The mother of these children passed away and Mr. Schilling subsequently married Miss Hattie S. Badger, a daughter of William Badger, and to them has been born a son, Palmer N., who is now attending Washington Academy. Mrs. Schilling is a native of Helena, Arkansas. Our subject and his wife are earnest and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is also connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Home Guards, the Modern Woodmen and the Yoemen. His political support is always given the men and measures of the democratic party.
WILLIAM R. ROBISON.
William R. Robison, one of the well known and substantial farmers of the county, was born in English River township, Washington county, March 19, 1851, the son of John and Martha (Wiley) Robison. The father was a native of Indiana and the mother of Ohio but she went to the former state with her parents and there met and married her husband. In 1850, shortly after their union, the couple came to Iowa, locating in English River town- ship, Washington county. Here they remained some twenty-three years, experiencing the hardships of the life in the country at that period and wit- nessing the dawn of the change and improvement that the future was to bring. In 1873 the family moved to Poweshiek county, where a year later the father was gathered to his ancestors. His wife survived him some thirty odd years-her death occurred July 2, 1907-which she passed at the homes of her several children. John Robison, with his wife, had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and ever showed commendable interest in its work and adherents. In politics he gave his support and influence to the democratic party. The local Independent Order of Odd Fellows num- bered him among their most esteemed members, and paid him all its lodge honors at the time of his burial.
William R. Robison acquired his first training for life at home and in the common schools. His early years were those of the average boy on a farm, which in essentials do not differ much today from what they were sixty years ago nor are they any less efficient in building up strong characters. He was only twenty years of age when on the 26th of November, 1871, he was united in wedlock to Miss Mary McKinley, of this township. Shortly after the marriage he began to cultivate his father-in-law's farm, to which he devoted liis energies for nine or ten years. He left it to go to Cass county, and after remaining a year there went to Johnson county. But he was not
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yet satisfied and, after a year's stay in the latter locality, he went to Iowa county, where he located for two years. From there he came to Lime Creek township, Washington county, which seemed more to his liking for the mak- ing of a home. At first he was only a renter, but his experience proved so pleasant that he purchased his present farm of sixty acres and has made it his hearthside ever since.
Mr. and Mrs. Robison became the parents of five children, four of whom survive: Irwin, of this township; Otis, of Des Moines, Iowa; Edwin, a barber at Riverside, this township; and James, also a resident of this town- ship. His wife died in 1895, and nine years later Mr. Robison was married, March 9, 1904, to Miss Hattie McIntyre, of Lime Creek township. Of this second union no children have been born.
Like his father Mr. Robison has been a firm believer in the principles enunciated in the democratic platform and has been loyal in the support of the same. For years he has been a member of the Wellman lodge, No. 92, I. O. O. F., and on many an occasion has given evidence of his willingness to promote the enjoyment of the social gatherings or the deeper fraternal relations of mutual helpfulness. The Modern Brotherhood of America also include him on their roll-call. No better proof is needed of his active interest in the welfare of the little community among whom he lives than his twenty years of service as a member of the school board. His influence has ever been thrown on the side of progress and enlightenment, and his efforts in advancing the cause of education have been well appreciated by the people. Mr. Robison is a conservative man in so far as conservatism is united to a healthily progressive spirit. By sound methods, diligent work, and a careful oversight of details he has acquired not only more than a comfortable in- come but also a fair name and solid reputation in this and nearby counties.
THE BUNKER FAMILY.
Hon. David Bunker was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, Octo- ber 23, 1810, though shortly afterward his family moved to Wayne county, Indiana, where he grew to manhood. On June 23, 1833, he was united in marriage to Miss Mariam Hunt, who was also born in Guilford county, North Carolina, and grew to womanhood there. The occasion of the Bunker family removing to Indiana in 1812 was the well-known Quaker exodus at that time. His folks settled, and David grew up under the shadow of the Friend's meeting-house at Richmond, Indiana. To be sure, his educational advantages were limited, consisting almost entirely of home culture. His mother taught him the languages and literature, his father mathematics. In this way he obtained a good, practical education ; and the son, too, appre- ciated in full measure the help he had from his parents in this respect. While still a boy he was called upon to settle the business of a mercantile concern in the northern part of Indiana, and this seemed to open his eyes to the great
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world and its opportunities. He made an extensive tour through the north- western states and finally settled in Dutch Creek. He shortly moved, how- ever, to English River, and there made his permanent home, in July, 1839.
The next year he was chosen county commissioner, a position he held for. two years ; then he was elected to the territorial legislature. During the ses- sion he presented petitions from Washington and Crawfordsville, asking for the repeal of the "Black Laws." In this day and age, such an action would have been a very popular one. but at that time his action was a very serious one. It was born and bred in him that he should always use his influence and assistance for greater personal liberty. He served in the third and fourth general assemblies as a representative from Washington county, and was county commissioner in 1847 and 1848. The most important public posi- tion he ever held, however, was as a member of the constitutional conven- tion of Iowa in 1856-57. He was a man of stern integrity, indomitable cour- age, indefatigable energy. He was very kind, genial and very affable. He was one of the great leaders of the pioneer period. Perhaps no man in the county had greater influence in its development and advancement than David Bunker. By his first marriage were born five children : Allison, Anna, Jesse, Martha and Abram. His wife died in July, 1845. In 1846 he was married to Mrs. Julia A. Smith, and by this marriage had four children : Mariam, David, Jr., Phebe A., and Mary E. By occupation, Mr. Bunker was a farmer and miller and was a great many years proprietor of the old Bunker mill.
Abram Bunker, the subject of this sketch, was born April 7, 1841, in English River. He comes of a celebrated family. Thomas Macey, the great- great-grandfather of Abram Bunker, was a well-to-do farmer at Old Salis- bury, Massachusetts. But in 1650 he was arrested for an infraction of one of the Blue Laws, namely. "The harboring of a Quaker preacher," during a storm. He was convicted and sentenced to twenty lashes on the bare back. With his wife and children, however, he put off in a boat, so that the sen- tence of the court was never executed. He landed on Nantucket island and became its first white settler. The early Bunkers were sea-faring men. Captain Theophilis and others commanded whalers from old Nantucket. Reuben, one of Abram's ancestors, while harpooning a whale, had his thigh broken and floated for a long time on the sea, in imminent danger of drowning.
Abram had no schooling other than that afforded by the common schools of English River. As a boy he took great delight in fishing, boating and horseback riding. From ten to twenty horseback riding was most fascinat- ing to him. No boy in the neighborhood knew better than he the mettle of his steed, and as an oarsman no one was more skillful in the use of a skiff. During the war of the Rebellion, he served in Company E, Tenth Iowa In- fantry. After the war. he was elected sheriff, in 1867. He then removed from Richmond to the county seat, where he took up the duties of that im- portant office. He held it eight years, served as deputy for six years, and also served as mayor of Washington one term. In 1886 he removed to Topeka, Kansas, where for the last ten years he has held the position of clerk in charge of Station C of the postoffice. He is a member of the G. A. R., having held the position of adjutant and commander of that order. He is a
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Good Templar, and Master Workman of the A. O. U. W. He belongs to the society of the Spiritualists, called the Universal Brotherhood.
On May 12, 1864, he married Isabel Mapel. a daughter of J. S. Mapel and Mary Billingsly Smith Mapel, who are referred to in another portion of this work. To them were born five children, three of whom are now living: Mary A., now Mrs. Willard Q. Church : David Mapel ; and Marian Ferne.
No man in the county has seen a longer continuous public service than Abe Bunker. For forty-one years he has held public office in some capacity or other. During that time in every official act he showed fidelity to the public trust that has merited a continuance in the service for a period that seldom falls to the lot of man. He lost an arm on a southern battlefield, and two of his brothers were cut down in early manhood in defense of their country.
To Washington county, the Bunkers, both father and son, have been the "Salt of the Earth." Washington county was very fortunate to have had among her citizenship these illustrious men.
TOM J. ALLEN.
Tom J. Allen was a Hoosier and seventy-three years old. Since his eleventh birthday he made his own way in the world, mainly at the black- smith forge, and for side issues served as assessor, justice of the peace, town clerk and trustee and county recorder. In 1851 he came in a wagon to Wassonville in Lime Creek, and learned all its lore. By predisposition he is an antiquarian, and between iron hammer strokes this Thor lived in a rum- mage world of his own. He married Marian Leighton and they had nine children. He was a quaint character, thoroughly individual, always in good spirits, and merry and wise.
J. R. McKINNEY.
Washington county boasts one millionaire several times over. He is named above. He was reared in Crawfordsville and went to the war in Captain Russell's company in the Twenty-fifth Iowa. After that episode he went to Illinois and met his fate in an Ohio girl who proved to be pure gold all his subsequent life. He and his brother had made some forty thousand dollars in mines, but in an evil hour he invested his portion in Kansas land and kept growing poorer and poorer, lived in a dug-out, and finally he sold all for two teams of horses, and with a load of their household goods went to Colorado Springs, where one of their children died. He was so very poor, it seemed likely they must bury it in the potter's field, when his brother came to the rescue. He at length drifted to Cripple Creek and found a man who
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would sell a likely mine for five thousand dollars. He had just fifty dollars to invest but he found ten men who had faith in him, and they gave him five hundred dollars each, and so he got a start, but when the hard times came on, he had a deuce of a time saving his property in a long litigation. But he finally won out and now lives simply in a fine home in Colorado Springs, is an active church worker, has not been a bit spoiled by success and is im- mensely esteemed by everybody. His splendid wife and seven children have all that hearts could wish, and he and they are ornaments to the world they live in.
DANIEL WILDE.
Daniel Wilde was born at Rochdale, Lancashire, England, November 18, 1834. His mother's father superintended two of the factories of Jacob Bright, father of Jacob and the famous statesman and orator, John Bright. These works were at Rakewood, near Rochdale, and as boy and girl, Daniel's mother and her brother knew John very well as a lively boy and youth ; he was all life and for fun, and used to set his dogs on Mother Wilde's cats. Daniel's father, John, went to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in 1840, and his wife, Daniel and John H. Wilde followed the next year, but all returned to England in 1847. In 1850 the father came to Burlington, Iowa, and the family arrived there a year later. In 1853, they moved on to a farm nearby, but gave it up after two years' effort and returned to Burlington. The father and Daniel were carpenters by trade. They came here from Monmouth, Illinois, in 1863, and went to making agricultural implements, mostly in- vented and patented by Daniel, as : Eagle plow, riding and walking; "Wilde's Baby," a small plow with wheels ; corn stalk cutter ; sorghum cane mills and evaporators, associated with A. S. Folger, but after a few prosperous years, Germany so over-stocked us with sugar, crippling almost to death the sor- ghum industry and badly affecting even the cane and beet sugar business in Louisiana, the business was ruined; grain elevators and weighers. This last was transferred to Peoria, Illinois, and consolidated with the Hart weigher business, and its phenomenal success is largely due to the first-class business talent of Daniel's son, Walter B. Wilde. He went with the Harts in 1900. The whole Wilde family have solid investments in the Peoria plant and derive pleasing revenues therefrom. Daniel is still busy with inventions and expects soon to begin their manufacture. No more prolific brain than his throbs here.
He married Elizabeth Harvey, an English girl, near Burlington, March 10, 1861, and they had five children. Walter B., Mrs. Amy Work and Mrs. Mary Meek are living, and the old folks have to their credit nine grand- children. They have of late years spent their winters in California and Galveston, Texas.
Daniel's parents were married in a green-vined church in England, built in the year IIII, and it is still in use, and Daniel was baptized in it. In its
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low, square tower are the finest rural church chimes in all England. Six miles away, live English folk who speak a dialect that is "Dutch" to the Rochdale people. They are the finest bell-ringers in the world. Our Old Barnum picked up there his "Swiss" Bell-ringers. They kicked-"Ve be not Svizz," they protested, but Barnum, who must have a joke and a fake, said, "Oh, well, you keep on talking your lingo and Americans will think you are any old thing I say you are." So the Swiss Bell-ringers are British.
THE YOUNG FAMILY.
James Hervey Young was the son of James Young and Elizabeth Smith Young and was born in April. 1807, in Fleming county, Kentucky. He was married in September, 1830, to Margaret Morrison Henry, who was the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Armstrong Henry. James Young's grand- father. Thomas Young, was a soldier in the Revolution, having enlisted from Westmoreland county. Pennsylvania.
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