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 9
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T. W. HUNTER.
T. W. Hunter is numbered among the enterprising, industrious agricul- turists of Washington county, who has devoted his energies to tilling the soil to great advantage and during the brief period in which he has been en- gaged in agricultural pursuits has met with a full measure of prosperity. His birth occurred in Des Moines county, Iowa, September 24, 1870, and he is a son of A. Hunter, also a native Iowan. His brother-in-law, George H. Paul, is a wealthy and influential real-estate dealer in this locality whose biography appears in another part of this volume.
T. W. Hunter was taken to Louisa county, Iowa, by his parents when he was five years of age and there he attended the district schools where he acquired his education. Being reared upon his father's farm, he early became familiar with the various departments of agriculture. When he was twenty years of age he removed with his parents to this county, where he completed his education by pursuing a course of study in the academy, and he remained upon the home farm assisting in agricultural duties until he was married. He then rented land, which he cultivated for five years, and on the expiration of that time, in 1902, he located on section I, Washington
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township, where he now resides, owning one hundred and twenty acres of land, all of which is highly improved and in excellent condition. He has erected an elegant dwelling house and. his premises, being provided with modern conveniences requisite to pursuing the occupation of farming, it is considered as fine a place as there is in his part of the county. General agriculture demands his attention and, having made a study of soils, he is an expert at the adaptation of his crops and succeeds from year to year, in draw- ing from the soil the maximum yield per acre. In addition he takes an in- terest in stock-raising, keeping on hand only thoroughbred specimens and the shipment of cattle is one of the remunerative departments of his business.
In 1896 Mr. Hunter was united in marriage to Miss Ella M. Glaze, and to them have been born five children: Geneva, Clifford, Willard, Mary and an infant daughter, all of whom reside with their parents. Politically Mr. Hunter is a supporter of the republican party, believing in the feasibility of its policies to establish the premanent prosperity of the nation and place its financial system on a firm and solid foundation and consequently he is a loyal supporter of its principles, always casting his vote for its candidates. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is also a mem- ber and, being a man who always endeavors to conduct his life in harmony with the teachings of his Christian faith he entertains the respect of his neighbors and merits enumeration among the representative citizens of the township.
SETH HART.
Seth Hart, a retired farmer of Brighton township, this county. now re- siding in the village of Brighton, has met with splendid success in the pur- suit of his chosen occupation, his untiring energy and excellent business judgment having enabled him to acquire a competence that now enables him to live in the enjoyment of well earned rest and at the same time figure prominently in the financial circles of the community as a money broker. His birth occurred in Trumbull county, Ohio, November 9, 1830, and he is a son of Amos and Sophia (Bushnell) Hart. His father, who was a native of Connecticut, removed to Ohio with his parents in the early days and in the fall of 1840 came to Brighton, Iowa. He resided on a farm situated one mile west of the village until death terminated his career. His wife, also a native of Connecticut, whom he married in Ohio, died in Brighton. To them were born seven children: Dennis, deceased; Louisa, widow of William Pringle, a resident of Brighton ; Ambrose, deceased; William, a retired agriculturist of Lamoni, Iowa ; Seth ; Austa, deceased ; and Hulda, the widow of George Draper, of Alberson, Washington.
When Seth Hart came to this locality the village of Brighton contained but two residences, the occupant of one of which was a school teacher who conducted a course of instruction at his residence and it was there that Mr. Hart received his education. Under the parental roof he remained. assist-
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ing in the duties of the farm until he attained the age of twenty-one years, when he commenced agricultural pursuits on his own account in Clay town- ship. where he won the reputation of being one of the most progressive farmers in the vicinity. U'pon that farm he continued until twelve years ago, in the meantime having acquired a very large tract of land. Owing to the ill health of his wife, he then removed to Richland, where he resided with his son for a period of two years, and after the lapse of that time he settled in the village of Brighton, where he has since been living with his niece. Dur- ing his business career he accumulated a great deal of valuable real estate, all of which he has disposed of and, being one of the most affluent men in his part of the county, he is conducting a money loaning business. Although he has attained the age of seventy-eight years Mr. Hart possesses much of the vigor of his youthful days and is able to transact his business affairs in a shrewd and profitable manner. He has never been compelled to use eye- glasses. He is an interesting conversationalist, his memory being clear, and he can relate the incidents of early pioneer life in this region with uncommon acccuracy, delighting to review the events of those days when the Indians roamed throughout this section of the state.
In 1878 Mr. Hart wedded Miss Sarah A. Johnson, and two children have resulted from this union, namely: Lizzie, the wife of Frank Moyer, by whom she has one daughter. Maybell, and a son, Ralph, who is an agricul- turist, his farm being located six miles north of Fairfield. lowa ; and Dennis, who wedded Martha Miller, and has two children, Jay. deceased ; and Seth Wesley. Dennis Hart is one of the most progressive farmers in Clay town- ship, where he owns above two hundred acres of highly improved land, which he keeps continually under cultivation. In 1898 Mr. Hart lost his wife and her remains were interred in the cemetery in Clay township. Early in life he was affiliated with that political party known as the whigs, upon the dissolution of which he became a republican, and while he has never desired office he has always been a stanch and able advocate of republican principles and a loyal supporter of his party candidates. A member of the Congregational church in Clay township, he is interested in religious affairs, and both as a citizen and business man is worthy of honorable mention for the benefit which has accrued to the community through his energies.
CHAUNCEY E. MYERS.
On the list of officials who have filled the political offices in Washington county appears the name of Chauncey E. Myers and it is associated in the minds of those who know him with creditable service, characterized by promptness and unfaltering fidelity to the interests which he represents. He is now filling the position of county auditor, having been elected to the office in 1900 and reelected in 1908. Highland township, Washington county, numbers him among its native sons, his birth having there occurred August 23. 1872.
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His parents were William B. and Julia (Davidson) Myers, natives of Polk county, lowa, and Venango county, Pennsylvania, respectively. The former was a son of Joseph Myers, who was also born in the Keystone state and in an active business life engaged in stock-raising, trading and farming. He arrived in Polk county, Iowa, in 1848 and the following year came to Washington county, living on Davis creek. He was an important factor in the public development of that locality and served as the first postmaster of the Davis Creek postoffice. Making his home in Iowa township, he there tilled the soil, brought his land under a high state of cultivation and became recognized as a thrifty and progressive farmer. He was three times mar- ried. his second wife being Miss Cregg, by whom he had two sons, who were soldiers in the Civil war. One of these lost his life in defending the interests of his country. For his third wife he married Esther Bennett, who belonged to the Crawfordsville family of Bennetts. She died when past middle age and her husband departed this life in 1875 at the venerable age of eighty- three years. To them was born a son, William B., and a daughter, who died in infancy. One son by the first marriage, John G. Myers, figured for a considerable period as the largest and most successful breeder of shorthorn cattle in Washington county and was also an extensive land owner, his hold- ings aggregating about one thousand acres. He was the first man to import shorthorns into this county and in this way did much to improve the grade of stock.
The maternal grandfather of Chauncey E. Myers was John Davidson, a native of Pennsylvania, who followed the occupation of farming as a lite work. He came to Iowa in 1861 and settled in Jackson township, living in this county for about twenty-five years, after which he removed to Taylor county. where he passed away in March, 1909, at the age of eighty-six years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Hannah Hamilton, died when sixty- five years of age. They were the parents of eleven children, namely : Hamil- ton, deceased : Julia, the mother of our subject : Jennie, the wife of Russell Davis of Washington : Joseph W. ; Flora, the wife of Edgar Hoover ; Frank- lin ; Archibald : William : Lillian, the wife of Charles Alcott of Salt Lake City, Utah : Charles, who died when a child ; and Verne.
William B. Myers, the father of Chauncey E. Myers, was brought to Washington county by his parents when only a year old. He was born in Polk county, Iowa, June 9, 1848, at which time the present capital city was known as Fort Des Moines, there being little there save the fort which had been built for protection from the Indians. He has lived continuously in Washington county since 1849, making his home now in Cedar township where he has a farm of eighty acres which he improved. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church and their many good qualities have won them the high regard and esteem of those with whom they have been associated. Their family numbers three sons and a daughter : Chauncey E .; Esther G .; J. Wilmot ; and Harold.
Chauncey E. Myers, living all his life in Washington county, was reared on the old homestead farm, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He pursued his early education
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in the district schools and lived at home until he had attained his majority, when he began working by the month, being employed in that way for five years. Desiring to engage in business for himself, he then rented land and for eight or ten years cultivated a farm. In 1906 he was called from private life to publie office, being elected county auditor, which position he has filled so satisfactorily that he was reelected in 1908 for a second term. He owns a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Cedar township and1 from this property derives a substantial annual income.
Mr. Myers had previously held public office, acting as clerk of Cedar township for four years, during which period his duties were discharged with promptness and fidelity. his services recommending him to the later political honors conferred upon him. He has always been a stalwart advo- cate of the republican party, thoroughly in sympathy with its principles and policy. Fraternally he is connected with Washington Lodge, No. 26. A. F. & A. M., Cyrus Lodge, No. 13, R. A. M., and Bethlehem Commandery, K. T., and he likewise belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. He is well known in Washington county where he has always made his home and where many salient and commendable characteristics have brought him polit- ical prominence and also gained for him the trust and good will of those with whom he has been associated.
I. N. CARR.
I. N. Carr, a well known citizen of Washington county, is numbered among the veterans of the Civil war and in his local relations is connected with agricultural and banking interests. He was born in the state of New York on the 28th of May, 1836, a son of Isaac and Harriet M. ( Pinkerton) Carr, both of whom were also natives of the Empire state, the father born in 1809 and the mother in 1812. In the year 1843 they removed westward to Iowa but after two years spent in this state returned to Ohio, where the mother died in 1851. Following her death the father started westward and was never heard from again. Their family numbered four children, namely : Samuel B. is deceased ; Delos is a resident of Mexico: Amanda, who died May 28, 1909, was the wife of E. Bradford, who is serving as postmaster of Wellman ; and I. N., of this review, completes the family.
I. N. Carr, whose name introduces this record, pursued his education in the common schools and at the age of fourteen years started out in life on his own account, since which time he has been dependent entirely upon his own resources. Whatever success he has achieved and enjoyed-and he is now one of the prosperons retired farmers of Lime Creek township-is attributable entirely to his own labors. He was first employed in a nail factory, where he worked for two years and at the age of sixteen he came to Iowa, where he was employed on a farm until he was twenty years of age. He then purchased a farm in Lime Creek township and made it his home
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ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
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continuously until 1898, when he retired from active business cares and re- moved to Wellman, where he has since resided.
The only interruption to Mr. Carr's active business career came when he offered his services to the government at the time of the Civil war. In the year which witnessed the opening of hostilities between the north and the south he enlisted in defense of the Union, becoming a member of Company F. Eleventh lowa Regiment of Volunteer Infantry. He served throughout the war, participating in many hotly contested engagements, taking part in the long hard marches and in all of the military movements which constituted the campaigns in which his regiment was engaged. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged at Davenport, lowa, and returned to Washing- ton county, where he resumed farming, continuing in active connection with the work of the fields for more than three decades thereafter. During that time he brought his land under a high state of cultivation, annually harvest- ing rich crops of the grains best adapted to the soil and elimate. While he is not engaged in business at the present time but is enjoying a well earned rest, he derives substantial income from valuable investments, for he is 110w the owner of two hundred and eighty-three acres of land in Lime Creek township and also five residences in the village of Wellman. He is likewise one of the directors of the Wellman Savings Bank and is a stockholder in the Bank of Keota, Iowa.
It was soon after his return from the war that Mr. Carr was married on the 21st of September, 1865, to Miss Margaret Taylor, who was born in Lime Creek township, this county, April 18, 1847, a daughter of Harry and Eleanor (Squires) Taylor, who were natives of Tioga county, New York. Her father was born September 10, 1804, while her mother's birth occurred in 1809. They came to Washington county, Iowa, in 1847, Mr. Taylor here entering land from the government. He transformed the wild tract into well improved fields and both he and his wife continued to make their home upon the farm until they were called to their final rest, Mrs. Taylor passing away December 15. 1861. while he died May 1. 1881. In their family were eleven children, of whom five are yet living. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Carr were also born eleven children : David A., a resident of Mani- toba, Canada : Roy H., a liveryman of Wellman ; Nora Iowa, the wife of Rev. W. A. Schwimley, pastor of a church at Sibley, Iowa ; Sylvia E., the wife of Dr. J. E. Green, of Grand Junction, Colorado : Ezra D., deceased ; Harriet E., the wife of Rev. W. Deyo, the pastor of a church in Chicago ; Mary Isa- belle, the wife of Ralph B. Hull, of Washington county ; Maud B., the wife of Otto Klockenteger, a blacksmith of Wellman, Iowa ; Nellie G., who is the wife of W. Palmer and resides in Oklahoma : Victor C., who is employed in the Wellman Savings Bank : and Leslie L., now attending the State Uni- versity at Iowa City. There are also nine grandchildren.
In his political views Mr. Carr has ever been a stalwart republican and for twenty years has been a member of the school board, doing all in his power to uphold the standard of education. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as one of the trustees. They take an active interest in the church work and contribute
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generously to its support. Their lives have always been in harmony with its teachings and they are people of the highest respectability, honored and esteemed by all who know them. From pioneer times both have been resi- dents of the county and have witnessed much of its growth and development, while in many works of public improvement they have actively co-operated. Mr. Carr well merits the rest which has now come to him as the reward of his persistent and honorable labor in former years.
H. T. D. HENDERSON.
Energetic, industrious and determined, H. T. D. Henderson is classed with the representative farmers of Seventy-Six township, now cultivating two hundred and thirty acres of land. He was born in Madison county. Ohio, October 8, 1855. and is a son of William W. and Priscilla M. (Becks) Henderson, natives of Virginia and North Carolina respectively. They were married in Ohio and began their domestic life upon a farm in Madison county, that state. The mother died there in 1870 and two years later the father came to lowa.
Mr. Henderson of this review, however, remained in Ohio for six years after his mother's death, working there as a farm hand. He had acquired his education in the public schools and has always lived a life of industry, his persistent purpose and indefatigable labor winning for him steady progress along business lines. In April, 1878, he arrived in lowa and for four years worked by the month as a farm hand, but desiring that his labors should more directly benefit himself, he rented land which he cultivated in 1883 and 1884. In the following year he worked on the railroad but in 1886 again took up general agricultural pursuits and has carried on farming continuously since. For the past seventeen years he has resided on what is known as the Lois Likens farm in Seventy-Six township. This embraces one hundred and sixty acres of land which he has carefully cultivated, deriving therefrom large crops as the reward for the work he bestows upon the fields. He also rents and farms other land, having now two hundred and thirty acres under culti- vation, while in other years he has farmed still more. He has never, during this time, given a note or other security for his rental, as his business integ- rity stands as an unquestioned fact in his career. The owner of this prop- erty lives in Canon City, Colorado, and Mr. Henderson pays the taxes and makes the necessary improvements. He has built a modern barn and after making these changes he sends the remainder of the rental to the owner, who has implicit confidence in his honesty-a trust that has never been betrayed in the slightest degree. In addition to raising the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate, he also raises some of the best shorthorn cattle in this section and his hogs are of the Chester White breed. He is an intelligent and progressive farmer who employs modern methods in carrying on his business affairs and is meeting with substantial success in his undertaking.
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In 1882 Mr. Henderson was married to Miss Mary A. Knox, a native of this county. Their children are ten in number, namely: Alma, the wife of Harry E. Huber, of this township; Waldon, at home; Blanche, the wife of W. A. Romine, also of Seventy-Six township : Elsie, Eury, Samuel, John, Velvie, Cora and Warren, all at home. Mr. Henderson exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and for years has served as a member of the school board but otherwise has never consented to hold office. He and his family are active and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is now one of its board of trustees. He is a man of sterling worth and upright character-a representative citizen of the county, whose honesty and well directed energy have gained for him a place among the prosperous and valued citizens of the community.
MRS. IDA M. DESING.
Mrs. Ida M. Desing, one of the well known and highly esteemed residents of Wellman, is the widow of Henry O. Desing, who was born in Washington county. December 25, 1866, and was a son of Henry and Adeline (Walters) Desing. The parents were both natives of Germany and came to America. locating in Iowa, in early life. Here they resided until called to their final rest and in this state reared their family of seven children.
Henry O. Desing never enjoyed the educational privileges offered by the common schools but was self-educated and when not busy with his text-books he worked on his father's farm, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. On attaining his majority he resolved to make the occupation to which he was reared his life work and therefore carried on general agricultural pursuits, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation, his energy and industry enabling him to annually harvest good crops as a reward for his strength and enterprise. In his political views he was a stalwart democrat but was never an office seeker, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs which were capably managed and brought to him a gratifying measure of success. In all of his business dealings he was honorable and upright, so that he left to his family the priceless heritage of a good name as well as a com- fortable competence. His death was the occasion of deep regret throughout the entire community, for all who knew him entertained for him warm regard: It was in 1894 that Mr. Desing was united in marriage to Miss Ida MI. Fet- row, who was born in York county, Pennsylvania, in 1871, a daughter of Abel and Mary J. (Pennybaker) Fetrow. Her parents were both natives of Pennsylvania who, removing westward in 1881, became residents of Iowa. In the year 1897 they removed to Washington county, settling in Wellman where the death of the father occurred in 1902, his remains being interred in the Ida Grove cemetery. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Fetrow were six children: Anna, now deceased; Harry J., who is living in Wright county, Iowa : Emma, who has departed this life; Mrs. Desing ; and Charles and
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Jennie, who have likewise passed away. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Desing were born two children. Mable O., who was born August 25, 1895. is now attend- ing high school and Fred F., who was born March 14, 1897, is also in school.
Mr. Desing was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was true and loyal to its beneficient teachings and its spirit of brotherly kind- ness. He died February 28, 1909, leaving a widow and two children to mourn his loss, while many friends shared in their sorrow. Mrs. Desing and her children now make their home in the village of Wellman. She is the owner of one hundred and ten acres of valuable land in Lime Creek township and six acres within the village limits. She also has a store building in Well- man and two fine residences, one of which she occupies. while the other re- turns to her a good annual rental. She is a lady of many attractive social qualities and has an extensive circle of warm friends.
SAMUEL H. BEAR.
Samuel H. Bear, who carries on farming and stock-raising on his place of one hundred and sixty-six acres on section II, Cedar township. was born in Washington county, Iowa, on the 10th of August, 1848, his parents being Gideon and Mary (Guinn) Bear. The father, who was a native of Penn- sylvania, came to Iowa in 1837, being the third white man in Washington county. He entered the farm on which his son, Samuel H., now resides and remained one of the substantial and respected citizens of this county until called to his final rest in 1884. The demise of his wife occurred in 1893. Unto this worthy couple were born thirteen children, eight of whom still survive.
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