USA > Iowa > Johnson County > Leading events in Johnson County, Iowa history, biographical > Part 29
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Joseph Walker, Sr., whose education was limited to a month in Ohio came to Johnson county, Iowa, in the fall of 1837, one of the first pioneers to arrive in the settlement of this region. In June, 1847, he married Jane Powelson, and they became parents of seven children: Mary, married Mar- tin Burge (see sketch) ; Henry, of Iowa City; Joseph, whose name stands at the head of this review; Callie, wife of John McCollester, of Iowa City ; Emma, wife of I. R. Thompson, of Des Moines ; and Minnie Belle, died when very young. The father of these children took an honorable part in local affairs and always upheld the best interests of his community. He was one of the first farmers to feed stock in Pleasant Valley township. He was active to his last illness. He passed away August 13, 1893, and his wife in'April, 1890. Ile was a Uni- versalist.
At the time the fort was constructed for the Indians in Tama county he and Governor Kirkwood helped to make it. He was an extensive stockman and loved to be among his herds. Although not having much schooling he was a careful man at figures, was very active, and a successful farmer. Ile was at work in the hay fields where he was taken sick with his
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last illness. He began with a small capital and acquired a competence for his children.
James Walker, grandfather of Joseph, came to Johnson county in 1840 and located in Pleasant Valley township, where he died in 1847, having spent but a few years in the new home. His widow died in 1848. He was an industrious farmer and a successful business man, a kind friend and good neighbor, and popular with all who knew him. He was a stanch democrat in politics. He left his descendants the ex- ample of a well-spent life, and made his impress on the com- munity.
Third in the family of seven children, Joseph Walker, of this review, was reared to farm work and upon reaching ma- turity continued this line of endeavor for some years. He carried on agricultural operations in Pleasant Valley town- ship until he moved to Hills to take charge of Hills Savings Bank. He lived there abont seven and one-half years, and was identified with the progress of Hills. In 1911 he retired from active life and came to Iowa City to live. He is well- known throughout Johnson county and to financial institu- tions, recognized as an able business man and an enterprising, useful citizen. He has various interests in Johnson county banking circles, and is a fit representative of one of the oldest and most respected families in his community. He was president of Lone Tree Savings Bank for seven years and a director of the same.
February 22, 1883, Mr. Walker married Cora Adams, a former school teacher of Johnson county. They are parents of three sons and one daughter: Fred M. Walker, deceased; Bernice; Myron J .; Ralph E. Mrs. Walker is a daughter of Moses Adams, now deceased, formerly living on Oak Grove farm, on Section 22 Cedar township, Johnson county, and a native of Oxford county, Maine, born November 2, 1815. He was the sixth of nine children born to his parents and became an expert farmer in his earlier years, coping with pioneer con- ditions and in his later years taking advantage of the labor- saving devices which had been brought into more general use. ITis father John E. Adams, also a native of Maine, moved to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in 1826, bought a homestead near Cleveland, which he cleared and improved. He died in 1850,
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at the age of fifty-nine years, while on a visit to Iowa. His wife, Sarah (Moody) Adams, was of English descent and born in Massachusetts. She died several years prior to her hus- band. John E. Adams participated in the War of 1812.
Moses Adams received a limited education in the district school, moving with his parents to Ohio when a boy, in 1826. In 1838 he started in life for himself, and in the autumn of that year started for Iowa. He went south by canal to the Ohio river, then on down the river and up the Mississippi river to Burlington, where he attended a land sale. He then came on to Johnson county. He rented land there for a time and in 1845 entered land in Cedar township, erecting a log house in the wilderness, his nearest neighbors being Indians. D'eer and other game were plentiful, and he found the condi- tions such as are described in the first volume of this work. He used five or six yoke of oxen to break soil, for himself and also for others. For the first corn he sold he received twelve and one-half cents per bushel, and Muscatine (then known as Bloomington) was his nearest trading point for some time. In 1856 he married Sarah Keisler, a native of Ohio, who came to Iowa with her parents in 1851. Her father, Josiah Keisler, was born in Greensboro (or Greensburg?), Pennsylvania, in 1802, and died in 1881; his father having been killed by In- dians, as a boy Josiah Keisler was "bound out" to a Quaker family. After coming to Iowa he became an expert marks- man and noted hunter. In 1861 he enlisted for service in the Civil War. He married Mary Regesteer, a native of Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, and died in 1868. Six children were born to them.
Moses Adams and wife had three sons and three daughters, of whom Miss Cora became the wife of Joseph Walker, as above mentioned. She was formerly a school-teacher in Johnson county. Her father held various positions of trust in Cedar township and was a republican in politics. He passed away on the home farm. Mrs. Adams survives at the home of our subject. His loss was sadly mourned by many friends.
Mrs. Joseph Walker, of this review, is well educated. She was one of the first teachers employed to teach high school in Lone Tree, Iowa. When her husband took charge
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of the Hills Savings Bank she took right hold with him. Her thorough business training in her school work proved her a valuable assistant cashier in the bank, a lady of true culture and refinement and executive ability. She was a very active worker of the Presbyterian church at Hills while living there. Of their two sons living, Myron J. is a graduate of Towa City high school and was a junior of the S. U. I. prior to entering the Naval Acadamy at Annapolis, Maryland, where he is midshipman. The other son, Ralph E., is a stu- dent of the Iowa City high school. Mr. and Mrs. Walker can feel justly proud of these boys. Having received a Christian training, Mrs. Walker is a lady of many accomplishments and traces her lineage to President JJohn Quincy Adams. Mr. Walker is one of the capitalists of JJohnson county, the owner of 1,600 acres of good farming lands in the county and in Macon county, Missouri. He is trustee in a very large tract of land in Missouri.
The Walker family has traveled extensively, north, east and south, but are glad to call Iowa their home.
WILLIAM LEE AND FAMILY
Old residents of Iowa City will remember the Pioneer Book Store, which formerly occupied the east half of the present site of Bennison's dry goods store on East Washington street. Until the year 1862 it was the only book store in the city. Its founder, William Lee, was one of the best known among the pioneer business men of the University City, and his ae- tivities reached back to the years when lowa City was the capital of the Hawkeye state. In fact, his bookbinding estab- lishment, first opened in 1852, in connection with the state printing, was the only institution of its kind in the entire state fully equipped for the handling of legislative reports, legal codes, and the various publications required for the transaction of public business.
William Lee was a practical bookbinder of thorough train- ing and experience. A native of Glasgow, Scotland (born in 1809), after a fair education under Scotch tutors, he was, at the age of fourteen, apprenticed by bonded indenture for
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seven years to Fisher & Brothers, an extensive publishing firm of his native city, to learn the bookbinding trade. He mastered the business in every department, including folding, stitching, paper ruling, and pressing. Having completed his apprenticeship, he removed to London, where he secured em- ployment at his trade, working uninterruptedly until 1845, when, at the age of thirty-six, he set sail for New York from London on the good ship, "Prince Albert." The voyage oc- cupied thirty days. In July of the same year, having reached the new world, he pushed westward by way of the Erie canal and the great lakes to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he re-
RESIDENCE OF MISS MARGARET LEE
mained until 1848. He then removed to St. Louis, Missouri, and became foreman in the bookbindery of James Hogan, his term of employment extending to 1851. In the last named year he first settled in Iowa City. At that time Hon. George Paul and Major Garrett Palmer, proprietors of The Capital Reporter, were the state printers and binders, but they had no practical knowledge of binding, and theirs being the only bindery then in the state, they were compelled to send that class of work to St. Louis. As may be supposed, Mr. Paul was in search of a competent book-binder who would locate in Iowa City and take charge of binding the legislative journals and aets and the state code, seven thousand copies of the lat-
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ter having been ordered by the General Assembly. His in- quiries brought him in contact with Mr. William Lee, and the twain returned together to Iowa City. One year later, as above stated, Mr. Lee established the Pioneer Book Store in connection with the state bindery. The work turned out of his bindery, under the contract of Palmer & Paul, was most satisfactory, so much so that the Code of 1851 is referred to, to this day, as the most durable specimen of book binding ever done in the state. For some time Mr. Lee continued to do the state binding, and, on the inauguration of the State University, he did the work for that institution.
The first building erected by Mr. Lee for the housing of the Pioneer Book Store was of frame construction, and, as hitherto stated, fronted Washington street on the alley east of Dubuque street. This was afterwards superseded by a brick structure. William Lee conducted this business until his deathı, April 23, 1871, when the management passed to his son, James. The latter died May 18, 1888, after which the business was carried on by Miss Margaret Lee, the only daughter of William Lee, who still lives at this writing in the old brick mansion, built by her father, corner of South Capitol and Court streets, facing the county court house.
William Lee was marked in his knowledge of human nature. One of his business maxims was, "Take people as they are, not as you wish them to be." His character for probity, benevolence, and serupulous business exactness was of the highest. He was very attentive to his patrons. In his latter years he was usually found sitting in the rear part of his store entertaining his pioneer friends; and even while thus engaged, if a customer was left unnoticed by the clerical force, he was up and looked into the matter at once. The simplicity of his business methods was noticeable to the last. As his final end was approaching he summoned his old-time personal friend, Hon. George Paul, to his bedside, and to him and the assembled children he gave verbal instructions for the dis- position of his independent fortune, discarding the written form of will. He also laid upon his children certain injune- tions, one of which was to decline any public office. He for- bade the least ostentation at his funeral or any inscription on his tomb, both of which he deemed vanity. In religion his
JAMES LEE
WILLIAM LEE
HENRY LEE
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association was with the Protestant Episcopal church. He was an Odd Fellow.
The paternal ancestors of William Lee were Scotch; the maternal, English. His wife was Miss Jean Murray, of Edinburgh, Scotland. The marriage ceremony was per- formed on November 28, 1830, in London, England, by the Rev. I. T. Connell, a minister of the Church of England. The marriage took place in St. Margaret's Chapel, an appendage of Westminster Abbey. Years afterward the faithful wife and mother was buried from the same chapel. Her youngest son, Robert, lies beside his mother.
The children of William Lee and Jean Murray are: Mar- garet Lee, born in London, England, living in the old home, Iowa City; William, husband of Jane McBride, buried in the Crown Hill cemetery, near Denver, Colorado; JJames, died in Denver, Colorado, at the residence of his brother Henry, May 8, 1888; Henry, married to Jennie Paul, has resided in Den- ver, Colorado, since 1865; Robert, died very young at London, England. All the children of William Lee were born in Lon- don.
Concerning the death of William Lee, the eldest son, the Colorado Transcript, of Golden, Colorado, says: "Mr. Lee was one of the very first settlers in Jefferson county, having in '59 taken up a homestead a few miles east of Golden. He resided there continuously until his death, having reached the age of seventy-four. Mr. Lee represented this county at the constitutional convention, and before and after that mem- orable event was prominent in the affairs of the county. He was the very first man in Colorado to plant fruit trees, bring- ing a load of young apple trees all the way from Iowa City, Iowa, in an ox-cart. These trees were his especial pride, and he never failed to point them out to visitors at his farm. Mr. Lee's place, which is about midway between Golden and Den- ver, is one of the finest farms in the Clear creek valley. Mr. Lee was a member of the Colorado Pioneer Society, and the members of that organization, accompanied by the pioneer ladies, attended the funeral in a body."
James Lee, the second son, was educated in the public schools of St. Louis, Missouri, and Iowa City, Iowa. In 1851 he removed with his father to Iowa City, where he began his
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first work for the Capital Reporter, remaining in the employ of that paper until 1859, when he started with his brother William on a proposed journey to Pike's Peak. However, after penetrating the wilds of Nebraska a distance of forty miles beyond Omaha, then infested by hostile Indians, they met the returning tide of disappointed emigrants, and, aban- doning their journey, returned to Iowa City. It was his de- sire the following year to renew the attempt, but the elder Lee forbade, and the enterprise was abandoned. About this time an association founded on friendship, mutual confidence, and a community of tastes was formed between James Lee, Charles Reiff, and George P. Plumley, which endured for many years. In fact, until death intervened to separate these companions, they were practically inseparable. William Reiff, being the senior, was named "Dad," and his decisions were law. These three bachelors were prominent and orig- inal members of the Riverside Boat elnb, of which "Dad" Reiff was the caterer. Other original members were: John P. Irish, Greene Choate, M. W. Davis, S. J. Hess, H. O. Hutchinson, and Ed. Clinton.
Between 1873 and 1888, the year of his death, James Lee made several trips to Colorado and westward; first on busi- ness, and latterly in search of health. In 1882, in company with Mayor George W. Koontz and others, he visited Pelican lake, in Palo Alto county, Iowa, on a hunting, fishing, and camping trip. During his last visit to his brother, Henry Lee, at Denver, Colorado, he was overtaken by his fatal ill- ness, and on May 18, 1888, died at the latter's residence. His remains were brought to Iowa City by his devoted sister and brothers, and on May 22d interred in Oakland cemetery by the side of his father. Fitting resolutions concerning his death were adopted by the board of curators of The Iowa State Historical Society, of which he was a member.
James Lee's religious connections, like his father's, were with the Protestant Episcopal church. He took an active part in public affairs. He was a member of the city council of Iowa City for two years from March, 1873, and of the board of supervisors of Johnson county for three years from March, 1877. His membership in The State Historical Society cov- ered twenty years, during seventeen of which he was an active
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member of the board of curators. He presented a large buf- falo head to the State University Museum, and his sister Mar- garet, on his behalf, gave to The Iowa State Historical Soci- ety an oil painting of the first judges of Iowa. James Lee was a Mason.
Margaret Lee, residing at Iowa City, and Henry Lee, of Denver, Colorado, are the sole survivors of the family. The latter is a leading merchant in the Colorado metropolis. Margaret, as before stated, occupies the old family mansion in Iowa City. She is held in high esteem by a large circle of friends and acquaintances in the city which has been the scene of her life's activities.
FRANK J. FLOERCHINGER
Frank J. Floerchinger is a son of George Floerchinger and Katie Worf, both natives of Germany. He was born in Ox- ford township, JJohnson county, lowa, in 1877. He was raised
RESIDENCE OF FRANK J. FLOERCHINGER
in Oxford and educated in the public schools of that town. His first employment was as a farm hand for three years on the old home farm, which he afterwards rented and farmed for eight years. Thereafter he went to Neodosha, Kansas, where he carried on a furniture and undertaking establish- ment for three years. Returning, he entered the employ of
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the Oxford Furniture Company for a year and a half, after which he moved to Tama, Iowa, where he continued in the same line for about eight months. He then returned to Ox- ford and became permanently connected with the Oxford Fur- niture Company as undertaker and embalmer, holding licenses as an embalmer from Kansas and Iowa.
Mr. Floerchinger married Miss Teresa Ellen Grabin, daughter of William and Annie (Tomash) Grabin, old settlers of Johnson county. (See sketch of the Grabin family for further particulars. - Ed.) Miss Grabin was born and raised in Oxford township. They have one son: William George, named after both grandfathers, aged ten years, at- tending school at Oxford.
Mr. Froerchinger is a member of the M. W. A., and B. P. O. E., of Iowa City. He is a member of St. Mary's Catholic church. In this church he was baptized, and made his first communion, and was confirmed. Ilis son was also baptized in the same church.
JAMES H. NESMITH
Serving three years and taking an active part in forty-five engagements of the Civil War and yet never receiving so mich as a scratch is the remarkable record of James H. Nesmith, the subject of this sketch. If Comrade Nesmith had been fighting against Indians, he would have been credit- ed by the superstitious red men with the possession of a charmed life, and their medicine men would most probably have sought his acquaintance to learn the marvelous secret of his immunity. Alert and vigorous today at the age of seventy-six, Mr. Nesmith is himself given to wonder at his experience, and counts it as a part of the remarkable chances of war unexplainable except on the score of sheer good luck or the guiding hand of a good providence which led him always just the narrow distance away from the fatal point, while comrades just as good as he fell wounded to the death on the right hand and the left. He was witness of the fall, mortally wounded, from their horses of several sergeants of his company, and personally helped to catch two poor fellows in their descent of death.
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Mr. Nesmith enlisted August 20, 1862, in Company F, Fourteenth Pennsylvania, Staunton Light Cavalry, and was honorably discharged at Alexandria, Virginia, May 30, 1865, taking part in the final grand review at Washington, D. C., in which he had the privilege of being both a participant and a spectator, his personal friend, the provost marshal, having secured him a permit to witness the review after his own com- pany had passed. Mr. Nesmith has kept a daily diary of the events of his life, including the experiences of his company in the Civil War. From this we have been permitted to make
RESIDENCE OF JAMES H. NESMITH
the following schedule of the engagements in which he took part :
Lynchburg, Virginia, January 18, 1863; Buckingham, Vir- ginia, June 13, 1863; Beverly, West Virginia, July 3, 1863; Huntsville, West Virginia, July 4, 1863; Hedgeville, West Virginia, July 19, 1863; Union Springs, West Virginia, August 24, 1863; Rocky Gap, West Virginia, August 26-27, 1863; Salem Raid, December 8, 1863; Wytheville, May 10, 1864 ; Union, May 13, 1864; Lynchburg, June 17-18, 1864; Liberty, June 19, 1864; Bunker Hill, June 26, 1864; Darksville, July 2, 1864; Snicker Gap, July 18, 1864; Newtown, Virginia, July 22, 1864; Kernstown, Virginia, July 24, 1864; Martinsburg,
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Virginia, July 25, 1864; Clear Springs, Virginia, July 29, 1864; MeConnelsburg, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1864; Shepards- town, August 3, 1864; Antietam Ford, August 4, 1864; Mor- field, West Virginia, August 7, 1864; Winchester, Angust 11, 1864; White Post, August 12, 1864; Martinsburg, August 31, 1864; Darksville, September 3, 1864; Bunker Hill, September 5, 1864; Darksville, September 10, 1865; Stone Bridge, Sep- tember 18, 1864; Opaquan, September 19, 1864; Fishers Hill, September 21-22, 1864; Forestville, September 24, 1864; Mt. Crawford, September 25, 1864; Wyers Cave, September 26- 27, 1864; Mt. Jackson, October 3, 1864; Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864; Milford, Duray Valley, October 26-Nov. 12, 1864; Ninevah, November 12, 1864; Mt. Jackson, November 22, 1864; Milwood, December 17, 1864; Madison Lt. House, December 21-22, 1864; Liberty Mills, December 27, 1864; Mit. Carmel Church and Ashby Gap, February 17, 1865. In the latter engagement his brother, John H. Nesmith, was severely wounded.
James H. Nesmith is a native of Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania, his birthday being November 5, 1835. He was well educated in the common schools of the day, and on reaching his majority took up the trade of shoemaking. This business he has followed the major portion of his life. In 1856 he and a companion left Mansfield, Ohio, in a covered wagon drawn by two stout horses, en route to the new state of Iowa. They passed through Iowa City, and on the night of November 4th camped near Fort Dodge. Coincidentally, this was the eve of our subjeet's twenty-first birthday anniversary and also the eve of the presidential election. Mr. Nesmith was al- lowed to cast his first presidential vote in the little town of Homer, Iowa, the law not then specifying any fixed time of prior residence. This first vote of the future soldier of the Union was cast for General John C. Fremont, the leader of the anti-slavery forces, who, in spite of his popular majority of 115,868, was beaten in the electoral college by James Buchanan. Mr. Nesmith remained one year in Iowa and in the winter of 1857 returned to Pennsylvania, where he fol- lowed his trade until the breaking out of the great Civil War. At the close of the rebellion he returned to Pennsylvania, where he continued working at his trade until 1869. The
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memory of that one year spent in the virgin state of Iowa, however, still lingered seductively with him, and this, coupled with the fact that his brother John H. had removed thence and become a prosperous farmer in York township, lowa county, decided him once more to cast his fortunes with the Hawkeye state. He became a farmer in York township, where he resided until 1876, when he removed to the town of Oxford, where he became interested in town property and where he has acquired a comfortable competence for his de- clining years. He still works at his trade, however, during the fall and winter. A view of his cozy residence near the high school appears in connection with this sketch. He re- calls, with some pride, the fact that he has seen this beautiful high school building develop from a two-room frame and a four-room brick to its present capacity of six rooms and every modern appliance. Mr. Nesmith has taken an active in- terest in educational matters in Oxford, having served on the board of education for thirteen years, a period of most pleas- ant memories. In connection with his humble work of shoe- making, Mr. Nesmith performs the duties of notary public and fire warden. He has always taken an active interest in the development of Oxford, the growth of which from the date of its laying-out to the current year he has witnessed. His first office in the town was that of constable, and his next that of marshal. At the time of his incumbency in the latter office there were nine saloons in the town, and much roughness prevailed owing to a floating foreign population. At the end of June, 1911, the town became dry. In politics Mr. Nesmith is a "stand-pat" republican. He has served as a delegate to county conventions and is a member of the county central committee. His knowledge of military affairs has made him a valuable man in the settlement of pensions for most of the old soldiers of his section. He has a complete record of all vouchers, taken from the official record. Mr. Nesmith holds the record for membership in the Masonic lodge of Oxford, in which he is an able worker and greatly respected. He was commander and secretary of George A. Remley Post, G. A. R., which is now disbanded, owing to depletion in membership. His church affiliation is with the Methodist Protestant denom- ination.
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