Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 182

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

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Mr. Penick was married in 1887 to Miss Maggie Oehlmann, who was born and reared in Lucas county and is a member of one of its best families. Her father, Charles Oehl- mann, deceased, was one of the prominent pioneer settlers of Union township. Her mother, Mrs. Dora Oehlmann, is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Penick have one child, Carme- lotta May, born February 24, 1892.

In his political connections our subject is a Republican and takes an active and laudable

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interest in local affairs. He served as Town- ship Clerk in 1893 and recently he has been elected a meniber of the School Board.

A NDREW WOOD, a member of the firm of Wood & Dosh, proprietors of the Guthrie Center Creamery, Guthrie Center, Iowa, is one of the enterpris- ing business men of this place. Of him and the enterprise of which he is the head we would make brief mention in this connection.

The Guthrie Center Creamery is ranked with the best creameries in the State of Iowa. It was first established in 1890 by a stock com- pany, and operated by them for some time. In March, 1895, the present firm purchased it. The building is 40x80 feet, has two stories, and is equipped with all modern machinery and improvements. The separator is a Delovell Standard. The product of the creamery will this year amount to no less than 150,000 pounds of butter, and it finds a ready sale at the highest prices in Eastern markets. In con- nection with the creamery is an ice-house and cold storage, the latter having a capacity for the storing of both butter and eggs. In the last three months the firm has bought and sold 2,200 cases of eggs, or 66,000 dozen. This year, 1895, the business of the company will amount to no less than $50,000.

From these brief statements in regard to the creamery, we pass to a sketch of the life of the senior partner of the firm, Mr. Andrew Wood, one of the most experienced and best butter-makers in Iowa, he having been in the business for ten years. Mr. Wood is a native of Norway, born May 12, 1863, a son of Andrew and Nellie Wood, he being the only son and the youngest child in their family of five children. The first twenty-two years of his life were spent in his native land, where he received a fair education, attending school until he was fifteen, at that time securing a clerkship in a store. For six years he was en- gaged in clerking. After attaining his majority he found it necessary either to enter the army,

according to the custom in Norway, or to leave home, and he chose the latter. Coming over to America, he stopped first at Quebec and then at Montreal, Canada, and later visited various points in Michigan, next Chicago, and finally located in Walworth county, Wis- consin, where he was employed by Harris Brothers, prominent cheese and butter manu- facturers of Wisconsin. Subsequently we find him in Minnesota, and from there he came to Iowa, all this time engaged in the same busi- ness. He traveled for a time, selling creamery goods, later spent one year in Greenfield and two years in Elliott, Iowa, and from the latter place came to his present location at Guthrie Center. As a business man he is full of energy and push, and has a genial, courteous manner that makes him popular wherever he goes and with all with whom he has dealings.

A LFRED CONNER .- On the list of pioneers of Lucas county, Iowa, the name of Alfred Conner is found well toward the top. He has been here since 1852, and as a pioneer and also as a representative citizen he is entitled to consid- eration on these pages.

Alfred Conner is a native of the Old Do- minion, and is descended from Irish ancestors who for several generations were residents of Virginia. He was born in Preston county, No- vember 3, 1832. His father, Job Conner, also a native of Preston county, was a son of Will- iam Conner, the latter likewise a native of Vir- ginia and a soldier of the war of 1812. Will- iam Conner and his wife, ncc Elizabeth Fore- man, both died on their farm in Preston coun- ty. Their son Job was married in Virginia to Nancy McNear, a native of the same county in which he was born and a daughter of John Mc- Near, who was of Irish descent. In 1846 Job Conner and his family moved to Cass county, Indiana, and located near Logansport, where he died not long after, at the age of forty years, leaving a widow and seven children, four sons and three daughters, their names being

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Margaret A., Alfred, Elizabeth, John, Will- iam, Harrison and Lucy Ann. Two of the sons-John and William-served as soldiers in the Union army during the late war. John is now a resident of Davis county, Iowa, and William lives in Lucas county. The mother died at the age of fifty years. Both parents were worthy members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church.

Alfred Conner is the eldest son of the above named family, and was fourteen years of age at the time his father died. Young as he was, he assisted his mother in every way that he could in the support of the other children, and helped her to pay for a farm which she subse- quently purchased, the others also doing their part toward paying for this farm. In 1852 the family came to Iowa, journeying by rail to Bur- lington, thence by stage to Keosauqua. After looking over much of the country in this part of the State, Mr. Conner decided to cast his his lot in Lucas county. His mother entered Government land here on section 1, of Union township, and he helped her in its develop- ment and cultivation, and continued a mem- ber of the home circle until he was twenty- five years of age. After leaving home he was engaged in sawmilling for a short time at Fort Chance, Iowa. For thirty years he has resided on his present farm, 210 acres in sec- tion 2, Union township, this being as good land as there is in the township. He has a com- fortable cottage residence, located on a natural building site, with a grove and orchard near, and has other substantial improvements upon his place.

Mr. Conner was married at Chariton, Iowa, December 24, 1857, to Miss Harriet Wade, the ceremony being performed by Judge Gard. Mrs. Conner was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1841, daughter of W. T. and Ruhanna (Aikins) Wade, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsyl- vania.

Mr. Wade and his family emigrated to Iowa in 1853, and settled in Davis county, near Bloomfield. The following year they

"removed to Lucas county. Here the mother died, at the age of forty-two years. The father died in Appanoose county, this State, at the age of sixty-four. He was for many years one of the leading citizens of Lucas county, filling the office of County Surveyor and also that of County Treasurer. The last ten years of his life he spent in Appanoose county. He and his wife were the parents of twelve children, eight of whom grew up, namely: George, Newton county, Missouri; Justus, a member of Company G, Thirty- fourth Iowa Infantry, died at St. Louis, Mis- souri, while in the service of his country, leav- ing a widow and thirteen children; Harriet Conner, Eliza Spray, Seattle, Washington; Phoebe Chapman, who before her marriage was engaged in teaching; Elijah, who died in Kansas, was a teacher; Waitman, a resident of the State of Washington; and Ruhanna, who died in Iowa. Some time after the death of his first wife, Mr. Wade married Mrs. Nancy Conner. He was for many years an active member of the Baptist Church and was espec- ially interested in the Sabbath-school, serving as teacher and Superintendent for thirty years.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Conner are six in number and as follows: Marion S., Union township, Lucas county ; W. H., Derby, Iowa; Eliza J., wife of Charles Williams, of Union township, this county; Joseph E., Derby, Iowa; George W., Oklahoma; and Frank L., at home. They lost three children in infancy. All have had good educational advantages, and three-Marion, William and Eliza-have been engaged in teaching. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, in which he is honored with the office of Deacon.

EZEKIAH POLLARD .- This gentle- man owns and occupies the largest farm in Union township, Lucas coun- ty, Iowa, and has a typical rural home. October 25, 1852, being the date of his arrival in this vicinity, he may well be

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termed a pioneer. Mr. Pollard was born in Washington county, Indiana, May 4, 1822, and was reared to farm life in that then fron- tier State. Like the most of farmer boys of that day and place, his educational advantages were limited to an attendance of about two or three days in the week at the little log school- house, and school was kept only during the winter months. As soon as he was old enough he worked out by the month, at the rate of $6 per month and board, and in this way he got his start.

John Pollard, the father of our subject, was born near Shelbyville, Kentucky, son of Elisha Pollard, also a native of that State. In Kentucky John grew up and was married to Elizabeth Collyer, a native of that State and a daughter of John Collyer, who was born and died there. John and Elizabeth Pollard had nine children, namely: Cassandra, Hezekiah, William H., Asa, Bernetta, Zachariah, Ta- bitha, Elizabeth and Elisha. Zachariah and Elisha both served in the Union army during the late war, and the latter died at Nashville, Tennessee, and is buried in the national cem- etery at that place. The father of this family was by occupation a farmer, in politics was a Whig, and his religious creed was that of the missionary Baptists. He died at the age of seventy-five years. His good wife lived to the age of eighty-one. She was a devoted Chris- tian woman and was loved by all who knew her.

September 16, 1852, the subject of this sketch started for Iowa. This journey was mnade with a two-horse wagon. He was ac- companied by his wife and four children, and they brought their household goods along. Two months were consumed in covering the distance between their old home in Indiana and their new one in Iowa. While on this trip they camped wherever night overtook them and slept in their wagon. Arrived in Lucas county, they settled on section 7, of Union township, near the place where they now live. Here Mr. Pollard bought 300 acres of land, all without any improvements whatever, and as

soon as possible they built a log cabin 14 x 16 feet in dimensions. Although their cabin was small the latchstring from their door always hung out and a cordial welcome was ever ex- tended to all who came their way, friend and stranger, saint and sinner sharing alike their hospitality. In 1869 they built a frame annex to the cabin, after which they were enabled to live inore comfortably. Mr. Pollard now owns 947 acres of choice land, as already stated, the largest farm in Union township, and he has a modern and commodious residence, in front of which is an attractive lawn dotted over with shrubbery and ornamental trees. He has an orchard and grove, large barns and other farm buildings, three modern windmills for water power, and everything conveniently arranged for carrying on farming and stock-raising by the most approved methods. In his broad pastures are found no less than 150 head of cattle, 100 hogs, twenty horses and some sheep. Mr. Pollard is an excellent judge of stock and takes pride in keeping the best of breeds.

He was married November 13, 1845, in Washington county, Indiana, to Miss Olive Cox, who has been his loving companion and helpmate for half a century. She was born in Washington county, Indiana, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Cox, natives of North Caro- lina, who moved to Indiana and there passed the rest of their lives and died. Mr. and Mrs. Pollard have had thirteen children, of whom eleven are living, namely: Stephen Aaron, Hamilton county, Nebraska; Alvina, wife of J. W. Jones, Pleasant township, Lucas county, Iowa; William Zachariah, Hamilton county, Nebraska; Nathaniel, Rawlins county, Kan- sas; John, Custer county, Nebraska; Margaret E., wife of Frank Castle, Hamilton county, Nebraska; Franklin Pierce, Rawlins county, Kansas; Albert, Hamilton county, Nebraska; Flora, wife of R. E. Morris, Derby, Iowa; Theodocia, wife of Harry Robinson, Jackson township, Lucas county; and Ida May, at home. The two deceased are Elisha and Mary Belle.

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RECORD OF IOWA.

Mr. Pollard was in early life a Whig but has long been a Democrat. He has always taken an active interest in local affairs, and while he has never sought office of any kind he at one time served most acceptably as a member of the School Board. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, with which he has been identified since his six- teenth year.

S MITCHELL REAM .-- This gentle- man, who is ranked with the honored pioneers of Benton township, Lucas county, Iowa, is a native of the Buck- cyc State, his birth having occurred in High- land county, on the 3d of March, 1833. He is a son of John and Susan (Clark) Ream, the fourth born in their family of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters. The following members of the family are yet living: Eliza- beth, wife of William West, a resident of Per- rysville, Highland county, Ohio; S. Mitchell, the subject of this review; William, who is liv- ing on the old homestead in Highland county, Ohio; Eveline, wife of Henry Sams, of Mis- souri; and Nancy, wife of George Bell, of Osage, Kansas.

The father of this family, John Ream, was born in Hamburg, Germany, and when twenty- one years of age emigrated to America, spend- ing his remaining days in Ohio. He was mar- ried in Ross county, that State, to Susan Clark, and when twenty-five years of age re- moved to Highland county, which continued to be the place of his abode until called to the home beyond. He made farming his chief oc- cupation and was quite successful in his under- takings. His wife was a native of Ohio and lier father was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, while her mother was of German descent. In his political views John Ream was a Democrat, and in religious belief both he and his wife were Methodists, active and devoted members in the church in which they held their men- bership.

On his father's farm the subject of this re-

view spent the days of his boyhood and youth, working in the fields through the summer months and aiding in the other work of the farm. The school-house in which he received his early educational training was built of logs and contained a puncheon floor. One small window admitted air and light, and the school year covered only the three winter months. In such an institution he was fitted for life's practical duties. His residence in Iowa dates from 1859, he having arrived in Chariton on the 25th of March of that year. There was but one brick building in Chariton at the time and the place was a frontier settlement. Mr. Ream secured employment as a farm hand in this vicinity and was thus engaged for a num- ber of years, when with the capital he had managed to acquire through his own industry and good judgment he purchased land and has since carried on farming in his own interest. From time to time he has added to his original purchase and to-day he is the owner of a fine farm of 360 acres on section 29, Benton town- ship, where good improvements and well tilled fields tell of the thrift, enterprise and careful supervision of the owner.

Mr. Ream supports the men and measures of the Democracy, with which he has long been connected. Fraternally he is a Master Mason, maintaining his membership in New- bern Lodge, F. & A. M. The whole family are identified with the Second-Adventist Church.

On the 9th of November, 1856, Mr. Ream married Miss Nancy Murphin, a native of Ohio, born March 25, 1839, seven miles south of Hillsboro, the county seat of Highland county. Her parents were Eli and Mary Ann (Art) Murphin. The former, born in the Buck- cye State, was a son of William and Mary Ann (West) Murphin, English people, who were among the early settlers of Ohio. The mater- nal grandfather, William Art, was a Scotch- man. The wife of Eli Murphin died in Ohio, at the age of forty-one, and later he wedded Mary Sidebottom, who survives him. In 1861 he came to Iowa, locating near Newbern, and

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in 1881 removed to Kansas, where his death occurred when he had attained the age of sev- enty-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Reaın have had twelve children, -- six sons and six daughters, -of whom ten are living, namely: Emma, wife of Martin Webb, of California; William D., of the Denkeldell cattle ranch, of Mont- pelier, Idaho; Annis Adora, wife of James Cain, of Fairbury, Nebraska; Ada Lewellyn, wife of George Burns, of Norman, Oklahoma Territory; J. P., who is living at the old home- stead; J. C., of Montpelier, Idaho; Mitchell C., Ida Maud, D. B. and Elda G., all at home. Samuel and Nancy both died in infancy. All of the children have received good educational privileges, and several have been successful teachers. Mrs. Burns taught for some time in Lucas county, and also a number of terms since her removal to Oklahoma. William has been a teacher in Iowa, Nebraska and Okla- homa, and John has had experience in teach- ing both in Jackson and Lucas counties.

HOMAS MOORE REDFIELD is one of the prominent and influential citi- zens of Union township, Dallas county, his birth having occurred at Redfield, which was named in honor of his father, one of the leading pioneer settlers of this locality. His natal day was March 28, 1857; and he is the eldest of the three children of James and Achsah (Moore) Redfield. The family is one noted for loyalty and devotion to the country. The great-grandfather of our subject was one of the heroes who aided in securing to Anierica her independence. The grandfather served in the defense of his nation during the war of 1812, and the father of our subject, Colonel Redfield, laid down his life on the altar of his country at Altoona Pass, Georgia, during the Civil war.

Mr. Redfield, our subject, remained with his widowed mother until 1869, when, at the age of twelve years, he went to New York, making his home with his uncle, Luther Red- field, and attended the Tarrytown Military

Institute. For two years he continued his studies there, and then returned to Redfield. Shortly afterward he went to Des Moines, and was graduated at the high school of that city, in the class of 1876. Wishing ardently to enter West Point, he, however, abandoned the plan on the earnest solicitation of his mother, who felt that she could not spare her only son, having already given her husband to her country.

In 1877, therefore, Mr. Redfield began learning the bridge-builder's trade. He is a natural mechanic, and can therefore readily turn his hand to almost any work in that line. He intended to thoroughly master that busi- ness, but seeing the construction of wooden bridges was becoming a thing of the past, he returned to the farm in 1879, and erected a large two-story frame residence. Fifteen months later his beautiful home was destroyed by fire, together with all its contents, includ- ing a magnificent library. In this were seven volumes of Shakspeare, which Colonel Red- field had received for the highest scholarship in translations while in Yale College, and twelve volumes of Burke received for his ex- cellence in composition. Much silverware, a fine piano and other valuable articles were also destroyed. The fire occurred in December, 1880, when the thermometer was twenty de- grees below zero. The following year Mr. Redfield rebuilt, and now has a commodious home, tastefully furnished and supplied with all the comforts that go to make life worth living. He is engaged in stock-raising, making a specialty of cattle and hogs, and is doing a good business. He is energetic, possessed of a laudable ambition, and enterprising and pro- gressive in his methods. He has taken quite an active interest in political affairs, has served as Township Trustee, and has ever done all in his power to promote the best interests of the community and aid in its upbuilding. He is a worthy representative of an honored fam- ily, and well deserves representation in this volume.

On the 24th of April, 1894, was celebrated

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the marriage of our subject and Miss Jennie Boynton, born in Medina county, Ohio. They now have one son, James Boynton.

3 OHN D. SEEBERGER .- Among the most successful and highly respected business men of Des Moines must be classed the worthy gentleman whose name heads this sketch. For thirty years or more he has been engaged in the hardware business in this city, and is the proprietor of the only wholesale establishment of this place. In past ages the history of a country was the record of wars and conquests; to-day it is the record of business activity, and the prominent members of a community are those who suc- cessfully control and operate commercial enter- prises. To this class belongs Mr. Seeberger, and Des Moines' history would be incomplete without the sketch of his career.

He was born in New York city, on the 4th of November, 1836, and is a son of John D. and Dorothea (Goeth) Seeberger, both of whom were natives of Wetzlar, Prussia, where they were reared and married. Crossing the At- lantic to America in 1834 they located in New York city, where they made their home until 1837, becoming at that time residents of Wooster, Ohio. Their family numbered three sons and two daughters, of whom John D. is the youngest. His brother, Anthony F., was for a time United States Collector of the port of Chicago, was treasurer of the World's Fair, and is still living in the Garden City. For inany years he was engaged in the wholesale hardware business but is now living retired. The other children have passed away. In early life the father was a manufacturer of hats in Germany, and followed the same pursuit in New York, but after locating in Ohio turned his attention to farmning. His wife died in that State in 1858, at the age of sixty-two years, after which Mr. Seeberger came to Iowa and lived with his son, John D., until his death, in February, 1886, he having reached the ad- vanced age of ninety-three years.

Mr. Seeberger of this sketch attended the public schools of Wooster, Ohio, until fourteen years of age, when he became connected with mercantile life as a clerk in the dry-goods house of James B. and Neal Power, of that place. He devoted himself to the discharge of the duties devolving upon him with an energy and fidelity that won him the confidence and regard of his employers and procured him pro- motion. In 1860, after ten years of continu- ous service with that firm, he found his health seriously impaired, and this occasioned his de- parture from the store and a journey to the Territory of Idaho,-then a mountainous wilderness, almost wholly in the possession of the Indians, who had not yet come under civilizing influences, and in many instances were hostile to the encroaching settlements of the white inen upon their favorite hunting grounds. Mr. Seeberger spent four years, and then returned to the Mississippi valley with re- newed health and vigor.

After spending a few months in Chicago, he came to Des Moines, in February, 1865, and purchased the interest of Mr. Childs in the firm of Childs & Howell, hardware mer- chants of this city. The new firm of Howell & Seeberger continued in the retail hardware business until 1870, when they extended their operations, doing a jobbing and wholesale trade. That connection was continued until 1872, when Mr. Seeberger purchased his part- ner's interest and has since carried on business alone under his individual name. When he embarked in the wholesale trade in 1870 the annual sales amounted to only $50,000, but under the judicious and enterprising manage- ment of the proprietor the volume of business has increased to half a million dollars. The building occupied by Mr. Seeberger is situated at the southeast corner of West Court avenue and Fifth street, in what is known as the Cole Block. It has a frontage of forty-four feet on Court avenue and 132 feet on Fifth street, is a brick structure four stories high with basement and the entire block with the exception of a few small rooms on the second floor, used as

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law offices, is occupied by Mr. Seeberger in his extensive business. The line of goods handled embraces everything included in a general hardware stock.

In Chicago, on the 13th of November, 1886, Mr. Seeberger was united in marriage with Miss Mary F. B. Cooper, a daughter of Dr. Hugh and Elizabeth (Dean) Cooper, of Mount Vernon, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Seeberger are members of the Episcopal Church, with which they have been associated for many years.

In politics our subject is a Democrat, yet not so strongly partisan but that he ignores party lines in local elections. He has never had time or inclination to take an active part in practical politics or to serve in any official capacity. The legitimate pursuit of business has been more congenial to his taste, and he has applied himself to it with such earnestness and good judgment that he has achieved inarked success and won a foremost place in mercantile ranks of Des Moines, while all with whom he has had business relations appreciate his fair and courteous treatment and strict in- tegrity. There is an inner side to the charac- ter of Mr. Seeberger that is best known to his family and intimate friends. The earnest devotion with which he cared for his parents in their declining years bespeaks a tenderness of heart and filial regard that is more to be commended than business success or winning of honor and renown among the masses. His father, who lived twenty-three years beyond the traditional average age of man, was com- paratively helpless during the closing years of his life; and as he had but imperfectly acquired a knowledge of the English language he was inore dependent upon his son for company and assistance than he might otherwise have been. That he received from his son the most unre- mitting attention and the tenderest care that affection could prompt or intelligence devise is well known, and to a degree that makes men- tion of the fact not inappropriate in this sketch, where a delineation of character is one of the purposes of the publishers in the prepa-

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 182

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