USA > Iowa > Johnson County > Leading events in Johnson County, Iowa history, biographical > Part 41
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Martin V. Butler received a meager education in the public schools and at an early age learned the trade of shoemaker in Iowa City, with Thomas Rickard. He has been successful in this work and is a skilled workman. On his bench in his shop at West Branch he keeps one of his valued possessions - an old flat iron he picked up in the old home during the high water of 1851, when all their belongings went adrift. This relic of the old home has travelled many miles with him. He is well informed regarding the early history of his part of the state and is one of the best read men in his community. He has a practical mind and is useful and active in the councils of the democratic party. He has been delegate to county and con- gressional conventions and is much interested in public affairs. He has reason to feel proud of the part taken by his family in early events in Johnson county. Left fatherless at an early age, he early learned habits of self-reliance, and was a great help to his mother while he remained with her. He is past commander of the G. A. R. post at West Branch, which has been his home since 1872, and where he has a great many friends. Mr. Butler commenced to work at this trade Septem- ber 7, 1850, and retired January 1, 1912, having been engaged in it for sixty-two years, except the three years he was in the army.
On January 30, 1861, Mr. Butler was united in marriage by Rev. James Troy in Keokuk county, lowa, with Miss Emily P. Bassey, daughter of William and Rebecca (Ayers) Bassey, na- tives of New Jersey. Of this union children were born as fol-
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BIOGRAPHICAL
lows : James Thomas, proprietor and manager of West Branch Telephone Company, married Helen Yetter and they have a danghter, Lilly; Albertus, head billing clerk with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company since 1896, is married and lives at Sacramento, California; Henry W., is deceased and left a widow. two sons and a danghter, Allen M., Albert, and Cora W .; Newton C., manager of Albin meat market at West Branch, is married and has three daughters, Orpha, Dorothy, and Winnifred; Cora B. is the wife of William Ervin, of Gil- lespie, Illinois, and they have a son and a daughter, Robert S. and Elizabeth; Elma May is the wife of Frank Horton, of Fennimore, Wisconsin, they have an adopted son, Frank Shir- ley ; Elizabeth Evelyn is the wife of Frank Corbin, editor and proprietor of the West Branch Times, and they have one son, Frank E .; Letha Ann is the wife of Carl Orton, of Lancaster, Wisconsin, and they have one son, Richard W.
SION HILL
Sion Hill is the oldest resident of Scott township, Johnson county, in point of years spent there, and is familiar with every home built in the township since his coming in 1838. He was born in North Carolina, October 15, 1820, son of Green and Nancy (Sneed) Hill, his parents having been married in John- ston county, that state. The name has been spelled Hill and Hills, but the branch of the family herein described use the former spelling. The line is as follows: Scion, James, Jo- siah C., William A., Narcissa, Andrew J., (2).
When Sion Hill was about ten years of age his parents re- moved to Jefferson county, Indiana. He was the eldest of six children, of whom five were sons, the other children being: James, buried at West Liberty, Iowa; Josiah, buried in Scott township; William A., buried in Marshall county; Narcissa, the only daughter, deceased and buried at West Liberty; An- drew Jackson, the only child born in Jefferson county, In- diana, died in Johnson county, Kansas, where he is buried. Being the eldest son in the family, Sion Hill drove four yoke of oxen, which were hitched to a large wagon, at the time the family came to Iowa in 1838. There were thirteen wagons in
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
the group, as nine families came in the party to which the Hills belonged. Among them were the following: Joseph Stover and family; Benjamin Miller and family; William Kelso and family ; David Sweet and family ; the Ralston family; William Ward and family; the John Garner family, and the Witter family. Of the above-mentioned the following survive : Jacob Stover, of the Stover family, also one sister, William and Caleb Sweet, and Sion Hill, of whom the latter is the eldest. Mr. Hill and brother went to the mill at Nyetown and owing to the scarcity of water, had to wait two days for it to rain before they could get meal ground.
RESIDENCE OF SION HILL
Green Hill was the first white man to bring his family to what is now Scott township, and he erected the first log cabin in the neighborhood, the same being 16 by 20 feet and built of hewed logs. They occupied this cabin until 1843, when they put up a frame house about four rods from their original dwelling. There he and his wife spent their remaining lives and both are buried on Rochester Road, between Iowa City and West Branch, in Brick Chapel cemetery, in Scott town- ship. He died February 5, 1882, and she about 1850.
Soon after coming to the new home, Sion Hill used his four yoke of oxen to drive the first furrow ever broken in Scott
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BIOGRAPHICAL
township. He also broke the first lot that was ever plowed in Iowa City, which was owned by Jesse Berry, now the lot west of the Interurban station. He began life for himself with a cash capital of fifteen dollars and worked out by the day, at fifty cents per day, to pay for his first forty acres of land, which he entered at the time there was a land office in East Iowa City, on the Charles Berryhill property. On the tract mentioned his grandson, Jesse, son of Oliver C. Hill, resides. He made many thousand rails at thirty-five to forty cents per hundred. When he and his parents arrived they saw about one thousand Indians on the river bottom, but they did not bother the white people in any way and were very quet. There were plenty of wild turkeys, prairie chickens by the thousand, and also wolves and deer in the region. The mother never used a sewing machine, but spun and wove wool for their clothing, and they also raised, "skatched," and "heckled" flax for lighter weight clothing. Sion Hill used the old fashioned mold- board plow, as well as the reaping hook and cradle for many years, and has lived to see these implements many times sue- ceeded by improved devices for lightening farm work and add- ing to its profit.
In early days Mr. Hill made many trips to Muscatine, the trip consuming several days. He went with oxen, carrying a load each way. He carried the chain when the Cyrus Sanders Company surveyor made his first surveys from the Muscatine road north into the Matthew Cochran settlement. He added to his possessions from time to time and became the owner of 200 acres of land, all entered at Dubuque.
Mr. Hill was married, January 18, 1842, in Scott township, Rev. James L. Thompson, a Methodist preacher, officiating, to Phoebe Jones, daughter of Charles and Phoebe (Workman) Jones, who was born in Jackson county, Ohio, and died in 1888. Her parents came to Johnson county in 1839. They began housekeeping on the same farm his father entered from the government. He followed the trade of carpenter and erected a round log house, where he and his wife spent some time. Later he built a round log house three and one-half miles from the first residence, which was 14 by 16 feet, and still later he erected a small frame one-story house nearly the same size. Two children were born in the second log house and two in
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
the frame. Altogether there were born in the family the fol- lowing children: Jesse, born March 16, 1843, deceased ; Cath- erine M., born June 4, 1844, died in infancy ; Charles W., born February 18, 1847, died in service in 1864; Margaret C., now of South Dakota, born June 16, 1849; Nancy A., now deceased, born June 11, 1853; and Oliver C., born March 10, 1857.
Oliver C. Hill married Lucy Stagg and they became parents of three children, of whom two survive: Jesse, married Pearl Ham and they reside on the Sion Hill homestead; Thomas, who married Katie Clark and lived in California, now with his mother, his wife having died May 12, 1912, and is buried in the Brick Chapel cemetery. One child survives, Lucy, born April 28, 1907. Oliver C. Hill is a carpenter by trade, and has a comfortable home at No. 728 Clark street. Iowa City, in a pleasant quarter of the town. His father resides with him, and although he is in his ninety-third year, he is rugged and healthy and eats and sleeps well. He has a retentive memory and was able to recall the main facts in his life history without a break in his line of thought. He carried on farming until the year 1909, then retired from active life. HIe has fifteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He has always taken an active interest in local affairs and has held various offices. He served one term as school director and in another official capacity helped run Rochester Road through to the county line. Mr. Hill has always been identi- fied with the foremost beneficial public measures in the county. He has always had many friends, both among the early settlers and the later comers.
Mr. Hill, when he went to mill, had to go to a little town they called Nyetown, about ten miles above Muscatine. Later he went to Rochester, on the Cedar river, also to Sugar Creek, east of there and as far as Cedar Rapids, then on the English river to MeClure's mill.
MRS. DR. WILLIAM REYNOLDS
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BIOGRAPHICAL
GEORGE WASHINGTON KOONTZ
The subject of this sketch was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, March 20, 1843. His parents, Henry and Mary (Workman) Koontz, were old settlers in that county and both died when George W. was a small boy. In 1855 he came with his grandmother Workman to Iowa City. Here he attended the public schools and grew to manhood. His first employ- ment was as clerk in a bookstore, which position he occupied until the commencement of the Civil War, when he became
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RESIDENCE OF GEORGE W. KOONTZ
clerk in the quartermaster's department of the Union army, being too young to enlist as a soldier. Upon his return to Iowa City he was again employed in the bookstore. In 1870-73 he was engaged in the book business for himself. In 1874 he re- tired from the book business and entered the political field. In 1872 he was a candidate for county office but was defeated in the election. In 1874 he was elected clerk of Johnson county, which office he held for three terms, or until 1881. In 1882 he was elected county anditor and held that office for two terms. In 1886 he was selected as cashier of the Citizens Sav- ings Bank of Iowa City, which position he held until 1905,
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
when he was selected as president of the bank to fill the va- caney caused by the death of the president, George W. Lewis, and remained in that position until March, 1910. In 1898 he was elected a member of the general assembly of Iowa to fill vacancy caused by the death of Joe A. Edwards and has served continuously as a member thereof to the present time and is serving now as member of the 34th general assembly.
In his social relations Mr. Koontz is a member of K. of P., Legion of Honor, and Elks.
February 2. 1869, Mr. Koontz was united in marriage to Miss Ana Fyffe, daughter of Harvey Wilson and Mary (Ser- vier) Fyffe, natives of Ohio and Virginia respectively. But little is known of the parental family. The mother came with her parents in an early day to Ohio where she was married (1845) and one year later the young married couple, in com- pany with a number of relatives of both families, removed to Johnson county (1846) and settled in Iowa City. The father engaged in the dry goods business and for a long time his store was located on College avenue, when stores were few and far between. His death occurred in Iowa City in 1884, aged 68 years. The mother died in 1896, aged 79 years. They were of Scotch and French descent.
Mr. and Mrs. Koontz have two children now living: George Wilson, who is a civil engineer. He married Miss Rachel Avery, of Eunice, Louisiana. They have one child, George M., and reside in Stemainer, Nebraska.
George W. Koontz has been a prominent factor in the af- fairs of his county for many years and his activities touch the varied interests of society and constitute a stimulus for ac- tivity along lines which work for the benefit of the individual and the betterment of the community. Possessing a genial. wholesouled disposition he enjoys a wide acquaintance and has hosts of friends both at home and abroad. Broad and liberal in all his views, in matters of public interest he looks beyond the heat and passion of the hour and endeavors to determine if possible what may prove the greatest good to the greatest number, and his desire for right and justice to each and all has inspired the esteem and confidence of his fellowmen.
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BIOGRAPHICAL
V. D. BUMGARDNER
The man who has the distinction of being the oldest living settler of Oasis, Iowa, in point of years of his residence there, is V. D. Bumgardner. He has always taken an active interest in the development of the place and has been identified with some of its most important and successful business ventures. He is a native of Salem, Illinois, born in 1859, son of John and Harriett (DeArmett) Bumgardner, the father being de- ceased. The mother now resides in Taylorville, the county seat of Christian county, Illinois. There were six children, of whom the following now survive: V. D., of this sketch ; H. G., of Toledo ; D. D., of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania ; L. T. and J. K.,
DASIS
RESIDENCE AND BUSINESS PROPERTY OF V. D. BUMGARDNER
of Taylorville, Illinois, the latter being incumbent of the of- fice of city clerk. The father was by occupation a merchant.
Mr. Bumgardner received his education in the public schools of Christian county, Illinois, mostly at Taylorville, and after reaching maturity engaged in farming for himself. Later he sold his farming interests and engaged in mercantile business at Sharpsburg, Illinois, but after spending a short time there again sold out and then came to Iowa. He located in Graham township, Johnson county, in 1882, and for a time worked for his uncle, Alexander H. Graham, a connection of his mother, who owned a good farm there. He afterwards started a poul- try and egg business on his own account and later added stock
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
dealing. The company was formerly known as Andrews, Ohl & Company, but Mr. Bumgardner succeeded to the business, which became known under the firm name of V. D. Bumgard- ner. He also began dealing in lumber, grain, tile, and coal, and eventually added agricultural implements, for which there is always a good demand. Mr. Bumgardner is an enterprising business man and makes the most of his opportunities. He has been largely successful and at the same time has added to the prosperity of his community.
Mr. Bumgardner is a 'democrat in politics and is active in the councils of his party. He has served as delegate to county conventions and has always supported the canse to which he gave his allegiance. He served some time as a member of the school board, in the capacities of secretary and director, and served seven years as postmaster of Oasis. Fraternally he is a member of the M. W. A., being affiliated with Camp No. 5059, of Oasis, where he held the office of clerk thirteen years. He is one of the community's most popular citizens and may be depended upon to be a good friend and kind neighbor.
Mr. Bumgardner was married in 1880 to Miss Virginia Bond, their union taking place in Indiana. She is a daughter of Calvin Bond and is a native of Indiana. Four children have blessed this union: V. W., John Calvin, Harry, and Alice. John Calvin, the second child, is station agent at Oasis, and does a thriving business in the store, handling groceries, clothing, boots and shoes, and dry goods. He married Miss Marie Rose, of Oasis. He is a thorough-going business man and well informed on general topics. He has been postmaster since 1909. He is a member of Camp No. 5059, M. W. A.
During the early part of his business career in Johnson county, V. D. Bumgardner drove a wagon through the country and thus helped gain a business start. His enterprise was begun when Oasis was a new town and his patronage has grown with the growth of the place and the development of the surrounding country.
JAN PRIZLER
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BIOGRAPHICAL
ANNA PRIZLER
Mrs. Anna Prizler, widow of John Prizler, an enterprising and successful farmer, belongs to one of Johnson county's pioneer families, and has lived there during the period of greatest development. Mrs. Prizler has shown ability and sagacity in managing her affairs since the death of her lins- band, and has devoted herself chiefly to rearing and educating her children. She is a native of Bohemia, born in 1869, daugh- ter of Wesley and Anna (Buline) Hinek. When she was one year old her parents brought her to America. The family spent two years in Iowa City, Iowa, then moved to a farm in
RESIDENCE OF MRS. ANNA PRIZLER
Washington county, where they resided nine years, after which they returned to Johnson county and located on a farm north of Lone Tree. There they carried on farming until 1890, since which time they have lived retired from active life, in Iowa City. They had four children who survive: Mary, Mrs. Peter Prizler, of Iowa City; Frances, Mrs. James V. Buline, a sketch of whose husband also appears in this work; Mrs. Anna Priz- ler, subject of this sketch ; Emma, Mrs. Joseph Novey.
In 1889 Miss Anna Hinek was united in marriage with John Prizler, a native of Bohemia, born in 1859, a son of Norbert Prizler and wife, and a brother of .Joseph Prizler, a sketch of whom appears in this work. Mr. Prizler was a farmer by
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
occupation and carried on his work with industry and success in Lincoln township. He took an active interest in the affairs of the community and was recognized as an enterprising, use- ful. citizen. He and his wife won many warm friends in the community, who sincerely mourned his loss. He passed away in the prime of life, in January, 1896, and his widow and three of the children now live in Lincoln township, near the old homestead. There were four children in the family: Clara, Mrs. William Souchek, of Iowa City; Peter, Norbert, and Lillian.
FRED T. ATKIN
At four years of age Fred T. Atkin became an involuntary resident of the United States by the removal of his parents from England to America. He has, however, never chided his progenitors for the expatriation, but has confirmed their action by becoming a citizen of his adopted country and entering heartily into its affairs. Our subject's native heath in Eng- land was Lincolnshire, where he was born December 8, 1855. His parents' names are Robert Atkin and Jane (Barton) At- kin. Soon after their arrival in America, Mr. and Mrs. Atkin settled near Kewanee, Illinois, where they resided about ten years. Thereafter they removed to Henry county, Illinois, and from there to Johnson county, Iowa, where they resided until their death. Their family consisted of seven children, all liv- ing at this writing. Their names are: Charles, residing at Lenox, Iowa; Lucy, married to George Miller, living in Lone Tree ; Eliza, now Mrs. G. W. Hartman, living in Stuart, Iowa; our subject ; Jane, widow of William Miller, residing at Cedar Rapids ; Miles, a resident of Pleasant Valley township, John- son county ; George, residing near Coneville, Iowa.
Mr. Atkin began life as a farmer and has continued in that and associated lines ever since. For a good many years he has been engaged in operating threshing machines, corn shred- ders, ditching machines, etc., in Johnson county and vicinity. At this writing he has just completed the purchase of an en- tirely new outfit with which to thresh the crop of 1911. His fame as an expert in his calling is established, and he has his hands constantly full of profitable work.
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BIOGRAPHICAL
In April, 1885, Mr. Atkin was united in marriage to Miss Clara Loretta Hawthorne, who was born in Fremont township June 17, 1864. She died June 13, 1907, leaving four children : Hattie, now Mrs. John Wasson, residing near Fredonia, Iowa; Iva, wife of Frank Storm, living in Fremont township; Forest and Hazel, residing at home.
RESIDENCE OF FRED T. ATKIN
In politics Mr. Atkin takes the liberal view, holding his vote as an independent factor to be administered as the changing aspect of politics may demand. Religiously he is a Methodist and holds his membership in that denomination. Honest, industrious, and faithful, he rejoices in the friendship of many people of his section of the state, who will wish him many years of prosperity and peace.
SAMUEL NEWTON ALEXANDER
Samuel Newton Alexander has always been identified with agricultural interests and now lives on a farm about a half mile from his birthplace. Besides his work in this connection he is identified with the telephone company at Lone Tree, lowa, and is a keen business man. He was born in Fremont township, Johnson county, May 20, 1866, and is a son of James and Sarah (James) Alexander, natives of Pennsylvania. The parents came west to Illinois and located at Polo in 1855,
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
where they kept a hotel. Two years later they removed to Iowa and settled in Fremont township, Johnson county. Mr. Alexander died November 3, 1866. Mrs. Alexander died Oc- tober 12, 1899. They had five children: Laura, married Charles Raymond, lived in Washington county, and died in 1881; Imogene died in infancy ; Samuel Newton; William died in infancy; one who died in infancy ; and our subject.
In January, 1887, Mr. Alexander was united in marriage with Miss Gertrude Alice, daughter of Alexander and Sarah Intes, of Stark county, Ohio, where Mrs. Alexander was born. Three daughters have blessed this union: Edith Belle, Laura Mildred, and Ellen, all at home.
Mr. Alexander is a democrat in politics and is serving his third term as assessor of Fremont township. The family are members of the Church of God, and Mr. Alexander belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Brotherhood of America at Lone Tree. The family have a pleasant home and are well known socially, having many friends.
JOHN P. BURR
One of the most substantial farmers and stock raisers of Lincoln township is John P. Burr, who resides on the farm north of Lone Tree which was formerly the property of his parents, Nelson and Lydia (Percival) Burr, deceased. All his life long Mr. Burr has been a farmer, and the inherent inter- est which he has always taken in his work is manifest by the splendid condition of the homestead which has been the scene of his operations for nearly forty years. Mr. Burr was pro- vided with fundamental equipment of a superior character through his parentage, which was of sturdy New England stock, both his father and mother being natives of Massachu- setts. A strong common school education, coupled with the industrial training of farm work in his youth, fitted him ade- quately for the successful battle which he has waged in the arena of agriculture in Johnson county. As a farmer and as a citizen and neighbor no man stands higher in the county than John P. Burr. At fifty-one years of age this is a suffi- cient crown to any man's career.
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BIOGRAPHICAL
The birth of our subject took place near Edgington, Rock Island county, Illinois, November 22, 1860. His parents re- moved from Massachusetts to Rock Island county about fifteen years after their marriage and settled upon a small farm. They resided there abont twenty-five years and then removed to Johnson county and located upon the farm where our sub- ject now resides. There they resided until their death. They were blessed with five children : Charles, who died at the age of eighteen years; Levi P., who lives on his farm in Lincoln township; Abbie M., now Mrs. S. F. Burrows, residing in Mercer county, Illinois; Benjamin, living near Platte, South Dakota; and our subject.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN P. BURR
At the age of twenty years Mr. Burr began business on his own account, first, last and always a farmer, as stated above. On February 20, 1884, he chose as his life's partner at the matrimonial altar Miss Anna M. Stock, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Stock, of Lincoln township, now residents of Lone Tree. (For particulars as to the Stock family see sketch of John Stock published elsewhere in this volume. - Ed.) To Mr. and Mrs. Burr were born the following children: Emma M., George N., Vernon E., Pearl, Lloyd F., and Alice L., all of whom are living at home.
Politically Mr. Burr is a republican. He has always taken a marked and active interest in educational matters. This is
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
shown by the fact that for fifteen years he has been a member and treasurer of the school board of Lincoln township. He is also at the present time a township trustee. The family are members of the Reformed church at Lone Tree, Mr. Burr being a deacon therein.
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