Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 180

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1360

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J OHN WILLIAMS, whose abiding place is on section 1, Penn township, Madi- son county, Iowa, and who is ranked with the venerable citizens and farmers of this vicinity, was born in Orange county, Indiana, December 28, 1817.

His father, also named John Williams, and by occupation a farmer, was born in North Carolina, the son of a Welshman. As far back as we are able to trace the history of the Williams family we find them to be Quakers. and people of sterling integrity. The mother of our subject was by maiden name Miss Rachel Hodson. She was born and reared in North Carolina, daughter of Robert Hodson, a mem- ber of a Qnaker family supposed to be of Eng- lish origin. John and Rachel Williams were the parents of seven children, and the subject of our sketch is now the only representative of the family living.

Mr. Williams was reared in his native place and remained there until 1854, when he re- mnoved to Jasper county, Iowa, and located on a farm in the eastern part of the county, or, rather, on a tract of wild prairie land which he developed into a farm. There he made his home until about 1881, the time of his re- moval to Madison county, and since that date he has resided on his present farm, a desirable place comprising 160 acres.

In 1839 Mr. Williams married Miss Anna Lambelin, a native of Indiana, who died in 1863. She was the mother of thirteen chil- dren, nine sons and four daughters, of whomn ten grew to maturity, namely: Belinda, born in 1840, is the wife of David Stanley, Jasper county, Iowa; Isaac, born in 1842, is de- ceased; Isaiah, born in 1843, is a resident of California; Wilford, born in 1845, lives in Jas- per county, Iowa; Daniel S., born in 1847, is

deceased; Rachel, born in 1849, is deceased; William R., born in 1851, is a resident of Jasper county, Iowa; Robert L., born in 1853, is deceased; James A., born in 1855, lives in Jasper county; John S., born in 1859; Mary E. and Thomas E., twins, were born in 1861, and the former is deceased; and Anna, born in 1863, is deceased.

Like his worthy forefathers, Mr. Williams is a stanch member of the Society of Friends, and in this faith has reared his family. His political views are those advocated by the Re- publican party.

Such, in brief, is a sketch of the life of one of Iowa's pioneers, a man who has spent over forty years of his life in this State, and who is as highly respected as he is well known.

0 AVID W. KEISER is classed with the prosperous and popular young farmers of Warren county, Iowa. He is a native of this county and has grown up with it, the date of his birth being August 16, 1860.

Mr. Keiser's parents, Martin and Sarah (Thompson) Keiser, were Virginians and came out to Iowa from their home in the " Old Do- minion " the year preceding the birth of David W. Martin Keiser was born in Preston county, in what is now West Virginia, August 18, 1827, and was there reared and married and for some years worked at the trade of millwright. His westward journey was accomplished in about six weeks, and December 3, 1859, he landed in Warren county. Here he became interested in a grist and saw mill on the loca- tion now occupied by the New Virginia narrow- gauge depot, and in this mill he met his death through the explosion of the boiler, it killing him almost instantly. The date of that sad event was October 31, 1862. An appropriate monument in the New Virginia cemetery marks the last resting place of his mortal remains, and by his side sleeps the sharer of his joys and sorrows in this world and the mother of

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his children. She was a sister of A. L. Thomp- son of this county. Her death occurred July 7, 1891, after two years of affliction by paraly- sis. She was a Christian, a courageous and noble woman, and was loved and admired by all who knew her. At the time the father died the family home was on what is now the Enoch Sayre place. About twenty-seven years ago she purchased from Jacob Harsh the farm of 400 acres which is now occupied by her sons, David W. and T. J., and here she brought her family. There was a log cabin on the land and a few acres had been plowed, but with this exception the tract was in its primitive state. The work of improving the farm and rearing her family was indeed no small under- taking. and, while many would have become disheartened and discouraged, she nerved her- self to the task, and by " working as if she did all and trusting as if God did all " she came out victorious in the end. Of her children we make record as follows: W. H., a stock- buyer of New Virginia; T. J., on the home place and in partnership with his brother, David W .; Mary Jane, the wife of George A. Trobau, of Clark county, Iowa; Prudence, who died in childhood; David W .; Melissa, who died in infancy; and Virginia Ann, who died in infancy.

D. W. and T. J. remained on the home place with their mother, and after her death became partners in the ownership of the farm. They operate the whole tract, 400 acres, and in connection with their farming have for some time been largely interested in the raising of fine stock. Among their stock is found fine thoroughbred shorthorn cattle, some German coach horses and an imported Belgium horse; and both in the care of their stock and the cultivation of their land they show themselves to be progressive, up-to-date farmers.

October 1, 1891, both were married at the home of their mother's sister, Mrs. David Fin- ley, in Corning, Iowa. D. W. and his wife have one child, Burley, born January 16, 1893, and T. J. and his wife have two children, Del- bert and Vernon,

UGUST OBERWITTER, who is identified with the agricultural inter- ests of Dallas county, living in Ad- ams township, is a native of Wiscon- sin, his birth having occurred in Sauk county, on the 15th of December, 1857. His parents, Henry and Elizabeth (Gattwinkle) Oberwitter, were both natives of Germany, and having crossed the Atlantic to America took up their residence in St. Louis, Missouri, where the father worked as a day laborer. Subsequently he went with his family to the Badger State, where he made his home until the autumn of 1869, the date of his arrival in Iowa. He lo- cated in Dallas county on the farm which is now his place of abode, and is now the owner of a valuable property, comprising 330 acres of rich and arable land. All that he has he has obtained through his own earnest and honest labors. His life has been a busy and a successful one, and to-day he is enjoying the fruits of his former toil. His wife is also liv- ing, and for many long years has been his faithful companion and helpmeet.

Our subject spent the first twelve years of his life in the State of his nativity, and then came with his parents to Iowa, where he has since lived. He acquired his education in the district schools and in Adel, also pursuing a course of study in the Dubuque Commercial College. After arriving at years of maturity he was married, in 1882, the lady of his choice being Miss Clara B. Fish, a native of Dallas county, Iowa, and a daughter of William and Sallie Fish, the former a native of the Key- stone State and the latter of Iowa. Her father is still living, but her mother died in the spring of 1895, at the age of sixty-seven years. To Mr. and Mrs. Oberwitter has been born a fam- ily of five children: Eva Mabel, Eddie Claude, Freddie Clyde, Sallie Blanche and Ada May.

Upon his marriage Mr. Oberwitter located on a forty-acre farm, which he had previously purchased, and to which he has added from time to time until he now owns 200 acres of rich and arable land. He carries on general farming and has his place under a high state

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of cultivation and well improved with good buildings and the accessories of a model farm.

In his political views he is a Republican, and for five years has served as Township Clerk, discharging his duties with a prompt- ness and fidelity that win him high commen- dation. He has given his support to all wor- thy interests and enterprises of the community, aiding in the building of churches and schools and co-operating with the promoters of every enterprise that is calculated to advance the general welfare.

LBERT LEWIS MAHAN, the pro- prietor of a nicely appointed livery stable and a dealer in real estate, Guthrie Center, Iowa, has been a factor in the business of this place since 1882.

Mr. Mahan was born in Medina county, Ohio, September 26, 1852, son of John and Amy (Kelley) Mahan. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and died in Denver, Colorado, in the fall of 1891, at the age of sixty-five years. His mother is still living, a resident of Mitchellville, Iowa, and kindly cared for by her only daughter, Miss Della.

Albert L Mahan, her only son, at the age of three years accompanied his parents to Henry county, Illinois, their location being near Geneseo, where they resided until the spring of 1865, when they removed to Tama county, Iowa. After a year and a half spent at the latter place they returned to Medina county, Ohio, to take care of the aged grand- father of our subject, and remained in Ohio until after his death. In 1868 they came back to Iowa, this time locating in Polk county, at Mitchellville, of which place they were early settlers. Des Moines at that time was only a small hamlet and gave little promise of becom- ing the prosperous city it is to-day. His father a farmer, young Mahan was early trained to farm work, and at the age of nineteen began life on his own responsibility as a farm hand, his first employer being Thomas Mitchell, one

of the pioneers of Polk county. Reared on the frontier as he was, his educational ad- vantages were limited, and it may be said that the greater part of his education has been re- ceived in the school of experience. He re- members that when he was a little fellow and went to school in Illinois he could see the wolves, deer and wild turkeys crossing the path which lead from his home to the school-house. About 187 1 he started the first livery stable in Mitchellville, and from that time until 1882 he was engaged in business there. Since 1882, as already stated, he has maintained his resi- dence in Guthrie Center. On coming here he bought a farm and also at once established himself in the livery business, and in connection with his livery he has also been engaged in buying and selling horses and dealing in real estate. He has bought a number of farıns in the vicinity of Guthrie Center, some of which he has improved and disposed of. In fact, trading seems to be his "forte," and he is al- ways on the watch for bargains in any line.

Mr. Mahan was married at Dale, Guthrie county, Iowa, October 5, 1877, to Miss Clara Clay, daughter of Jolin Clay, of that place. She was born in Ohio and came with her par- ents to Iowa in 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Mahan have had four sons, namely: H. Burrell, who is ably assisting his father in the livery busi- ness; Robert W., who died in 1892, at the age of eleven years, nine months and eighteen days; Dell Claire, ten years of age; and John Vernon, an infant.

Mr. Mahan is both a Mason and an Odd Fellow. In the I. O. O. F. he maintains a membership in both the subordinate and en- campment branches. Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic party on all national views, dividing his ticket, however, in local af- fairs. His grandfather Mahan was a meinber of the Pennsylvania Legislature, and also rep- resented Pennsylvania in the United States Senate more than a hundred years ago, and a letter written by him while a member of Con- gress is still preserved by our subject. The Mahans are of Irish origin.

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0 ANIEL A. PATTERSON, who is en- gaged in the livery and live-stock business in Greenfield, and is now serving as Sheriff of Adair county, is numbered among the early settlers of the State of 1860, and has lived in this community since 1872. Widely and favorably known, we feel assured that the record of his life will prove of interest to many of our readers, and gladly give it a place in this volume.

Born in Morrow county, Ohio, on the 24th of December, 1847, Mr. Patterson is a son of Samuel and Mary A. (Darby) Patterson, the former a native of the north of Ireland, the latter of Maryland. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Daniel Patterson, brought his family to America, in 1819, locating first in Pennsylvania, when he afterward removed to Ohio. In Morrow county he carried on farm- ing, owning a rich and valuable tract of land of 200 acres, which he cultivated throughout the greater part of his remaining days. He lived to an advanced age. In the family were eleven children, of whom Samuel Patterson was the second in order of birth. He was born in 1817, and was therefore but two years of age when brought by his family to the United States. Upon the old home farm he was reared, and in his youth learned the car- penter's trade. In 1857 he removed to Mis- souri, where he followed carpentering until 1860, when he came to Iowa, locating in Wil- ton, Muscatine county. He at once resumed work at his chosen occupation and built up a good business, erecting many of the best build- ings in that locality prior to 1871, which was the year of his arrival in Adair county. Pur- chasing land here, he for twenty years lived upon a farm, and in 1891 he removed to the State of Washington, his present home being near Tacoma. For many years he has been an active supporter of the Republican party, but has never aspired to public office. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Samuel and Mary Patterson were the par- ents of ten children, eight of whom reached

years of maturity. One son, Philip, who was a soldier of the Thirty-fifth Iowa Infantry, con- tracted disease in the service which caused his death, in 1865. His last days were spent in Muscatine county, this State. The other members of the family are: Margaret, wife of John Hill, of Tacoma, Washington; Daniel A., of this sketch; Sarah, wife of P. A. Por- ter, also a resident of Tacoma; James, who is living in Omaha, Nebraska; Anna, wife of William Weller, of Tacoma; Elmer, whose home is in Des Moines, Iowa; and Orlando, who went to Colorado, since which time no news has been received of him.

The boyhood and youth of Daniel A. Pat- terson were largely spent upon his father's farm, where from an early age he aided in the labors of the field, the orchards and the meadows. He accompanied his parents on their various removals to Missouri, and to dif- ferent places in this State, and on his arrival in Adair county he became connected with its agricultural interests by purchasing an unim- proved tract of land. He at once began break- ing the wild prairie and planting crops, and after it was partially cultivated he sold it and purchased other farms. He was in this way the owner of a number of farms in Adair county, continuing agricultural pursuits until · 1877. He has since been an important factor in commercial interests in Greenfield. For the past eighteen years he has been engaged in the livery business, and his well appointed sta- bles receive a liberal patronage. He also suc- cessfully and extensively deals in live stock, and for two years dealt in grain, while for two different periods of two years each he carried on a grocery store. In addition to his varied business interests he owns two residences and some business property in Greenfield.

In 1873 Mr. Patterson was united in mar- riage with Miss Jennie, daughter of Demus Priddy, a native of Indiana, who came with her parents to Iowa. They now have three children,-Odie, Pearl and Claude. Mr. Pat- terson is a self-made man, whose success in business is due to his energetic perseverance

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and his personal supervision. Socially he is companionable, and has friends without num- ber, who hold him in high esteem.

OHN B. SEAVEY, a popular jeweler and optician of Guthrie Center, Guth- rie county, Iowa, is a native of the " Pine Tree State." He was born in Waterford, Maine, November 27, 1856, son of Simon and Mary (Walker) Seavey, the former a native of Vermont, born in 1818, of French descent, while the latter was born in Maine, in 1813, of German parentage. They were married in Maine and maintained their resi- dence in Waterford until their son John B. was a lad of fifteen years, when they removed with their family to Harrison, that State. At the latter place they passed the residue of their lives and died, the father at the age fifty-three years, and the mother at seventy-six. He was by trade a shoemaker, his life was character- ized by honesty, industry and simplicity, and he enjoyed the confidence and respect of all who knew him. In their family were four sons, all of whom are living, namely: Charles W., a foundryman and machinist of Paines- ville, Minnesota; Frank W., overseer of the weaving department in a woolen mill at Bridge- ton, Maine; John B., with whose name we in- troduce this article; and Horace P., a pro- fessional musician and a member of a promi- nent band of Chicago.

John B. Seavey was reared and educated in his native State. Early in life he chose for his occupation the trade of jeweler, and has diligently worked at this business ever since, having mastered its every detail. For six or seven years he was employed at Bridgeton, Maine, from 1880 to 1884 was in Sauk Cen- ter, Minnesota, then spent four years in the watch factory at Elgin Illinois, one year in the watch factory at Springfield, that State, and a few months.in the shops at Peoria. From Peoria he went to Chicago, where he operated a business of his own on West Lake street for a little over a year. In December, 1890, he

came to Guthrie Center, Iowa, and entered the employ of Ed Dash, with whom he re- mained until a year ago, at that time estab- lishing himself in his present business. He carries a full line of watches, clocks and jew- elry, and does general repairing.

Like his brother, Mr. Seavey has rare musical talents. . While a resident of Chicago he was a member of the Second Regiment Band, playing a French horn and tuba base. He is now a member of the Guthrie Center Cornet Band and of the Guthrie Center Orches- tra. Fraternally he is identified with Orange Lodge, F. & A. M., and Milton Chapter, R. A. M., and also is a member of the K. of P. Politically he is in harmony with the views ad- vocated by the Democratic party. In religion he is broad and liberal and is not connected with any church organization.

Mr. Seavey was married in Maine, Novem- ber 27, 1879, to Miss Nettie Gerrish, a native of Bridgeton, Maine, and an amiable and ac- complished lady.

a LAYTON L. KENYON is the senior member of the firm of Kenyon & Deane, proprietors of the foundry and machine shops of Tama. He was born in Elgin, Kane county, Illinois, June 3, 1859, and is a son of La Fayette and Mary (Windsor) Kenyon. The family was founded in the Empire State at a very early day in the history of this country. The father was born in New York, in 1831, and died in Minnesota, in 1887. In early life he followed the teach- er's profession, but subsequently became a physician, and for many years practiced medi- cine. His wife was born in England, in 1832, and died in Elgin, Illinois, January 5, 1887. They were the parents of three children. Frank D., the eldest, was a brickmolder by trade; he was married and took up his resi- dence in Missouri, where a year later his wife died; his death occurred January 5, 1895, just eighteen years after the death of his mother. Della, the only daughter, resides in

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Elgin, Illinois; she was for several years em- ployed in the watch factory there, but failing health compelled her abandonment of that work. Fourteen relatives of our subject have died as the result of the confinement and un- healthy atmosphere of the Elgin watch factories.

Our subject spent his early life in his native State, but at the age of seventeen years came to Iowa and served an apprenticeship to the machinist's and blacksmith's trades in Marion. He also followed the same pursuit in Walker, Iowa, and then served an apprenticeship to the plowmaker's trade in the Union Plow Works of Tama, Iowa. After following the business at various places in Iowa and in Elgin, Illinois, he returned to Tama, and began business on his own account here. He had very limited means, but operated a hand-power lathe in a small shop, where he did general repair work. The second year he put in steam power and considerable additional machinery. This was about 1883. Ten years later some public- spirited citizens in Tama, realizing the value of such an industry to the town, erected a suit- able building, in which the business is now operated. The firm has a ten-year lease, rent free, with a privilege of buying the building at any time at a nominal value. The machinery and fixtures owned by the firm are valued at over $8,000, and they now manufacture gen- eral steam-heating apparatus, tank-heaters, feed-cookers, hitching-posts, lawn vases and seats, also stationary steam engines and rotary well augers, and turn out all kinds of general jobbing work in wrought and cast iron. In 1893 Mr. Kenyon received an injury which has disabled him in part for active business, and this led to his partnership with G. W. Deane, who is now acting as superintendent. The en- terprise is meeting with success and enjoys a liberal patronage.

On the 31st of August, 1881, in Tama, Iowa, Mr. Kenyon was united in marriage with Miss Lucy J. Barnes, a native of Richland township, Tama county, born July 11, 1858. She has always lived in this county, and is a

daughter of Hartman L. and Margaret Barnes, very early settlers of the community. Her father was a machinist by trade, but in his later life removed to a farm and carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred about the year 1882. His widow still survives him, and is yet living on the old homestead in Richland township. Mr. and Mrs. Kenyon have but one child, a daughter, named Havel Adella, who was born January 14, 1889.

Mr. Kenyon is a member of the order of Knights of Pythias, the Masonic lodge, and is a member of both the subordinate and en- campment lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and takes an active interest in the growth and development of these various organizations. In politics he is a stanch Re- publican, and is a public-spirited and progres- sive citizen, manifesting a deep and commend- able interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the community.

HARLES C. GETHMAN, M. D., of Eldora, Iowa, one of the leading phy- sicians of that portion of the State, was born at Davenport, Iowa, January 19, 1862. His parents, Louis and Mary (Berns) Gethman, were born and bred in the city of Arolson, Province of Waldeck, Ger- many. The former was a miller by trade.

In 1855 they came to America, bringing their three children. Eight more have since been born to them, of seven whom are now living. The eldest, Louis J., resides in Tama county, Iowa, and is the owner and tiller of 340 acres of land. Henry, a stock-grower, in same county, owns 640 acres; William, John, Fred and Adolph are in the brick-manufacturing business at Gladbrook, Iowa. Their plant is valued at $12,000, exclusive of stock, and turns out two million pressed brick annually. Min- nie, who married Peter Schultz, a resident of Tama county, died at the age of thirty-five years; and Mary, who died at twenty-two years of age. Two others died in infancy.

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RECORD OF IOWA.

Dr. Gethman's father died in 1888, aged sixty-nine years, seven months and thirteen days. His inother owns the old homestead in Tama county, where she now resides, in the enjoyment of good health, at the age of sixty- nine years.

At seven years of age, our subject removed with his parents to Tama county, Iowa, where he remained until he was twenty-two years of age, attending a country school and working on a farm. Carefully saving his wages, he was enabled to continue his edu- cation at the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, were he finished a three- years course. During vacations he was em- ployed as an expert for the Buckeye Har- vester Company, and thus added to his slen- der means, which enabled him to enter the medical department of the Iowa State Univer- sity. Here also he took a full three-years course and graduated as third in a class of twenty-two. Receiving his diploma as a Doc- tor of Medicine March 14, 1893, Dr. Gethman located immediately at Eldora, Iowa, where he has been ever since. His practice from the first has been excellent and is constantly in- creasing. He is of the homeopathic school and keeps well in touch with all the latest dis- coveries in the medical world. His skill, his tenderness, and his strongly magnetic presence endear him to his patients and instill in them a confidence in his curative powers, thus making the secret of his popularity and success.

Dr. Gethman was married at Albion, Texas, March 26, 1894, to Miss Ella C. Haas, of Muscatine, Iowa, where she was born and edu- cated. She is the daughter of Rev. George Haas, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. One child has come to the Gethman household, a little daughter, Esther, born August 3, 1895.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 180

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1360

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1360