Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 72

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

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When our country was in the throes of a rebellion his patriotism asserted itself and he enlisted in the First Iowa Cavalry, December 8, 1862. Unfortunately he was stricken down with illness soon after his enlistment, which necessitated his discharge, and he returned home. His political affiliations have always been with the Republican party, of which he is a stanch and zealous member. His first presidential vote was cast for the martyred President, Abraham Lincoln.

Mr. Grater's wife, a lady of pleasing ad- dress and happy disposition and for many years a helpmeet in the true sense of the word,

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was formerly Miss Sarah D. Rose. She was born and reared in Tennessee. Eight children have come to bless their home, namely : Amanda, wife of John Sandy, a popular young man of Warren county, Iowa; H. C .; Charles F .; Erin W .; Lewis G .; Glenn; Adeline, wife of Henry Westerly; and John.

3 OSEPH OTTERMAN is one of the most valued and progressive citizens of Iowa, and belongs to a family noted for loyal- ty and fidelity to American interests. In the various wars of the nation its members have fought on the side of the United States. The Colonies received their support in the war for independence and they again fought against the British in the war of 1812. The paternal grandfather, Louis Otterman, descended from German and Swiss ancestry. The maternal grandfather, Philip Null, served for seven years in the Revolutionary war under Generals Washington, Greene and Marion. He enlisted thinking to be engaged in the struggle for only about six weeks, but he carried his musket through seven years of that bloody war! Many times, footsore and weary, he continued on the long marches and his loyalty to the cause was severely tested. He went through the hard experiences of that memorable winter at Valley Forge and took part in many of the most hotly contested battles that were com- manded by General Washington. At the close of the war he was offered payment for his serv - ices, but refused the proffered money, saying that his time and aid were freely given to his coun- try. At one time during the war he was in charge of some troops that were crossing the Delaware river previous to the battles of Tren- ton and Princeton. About this time Washing- ton came up on foot and got in the way of the advancing regiment. The old veteran in com- mand, not noticing particularly who it was, called to get out of the way; Washington looked up and smiled, said nothing and passed on, but the commander of the forces felt very

much embarrassed when he found out who he had been ordering around. The great-grand- mother of our subject, during the Revolution, was driven from her home by the British soldiers and Tories, and forced to beg for bread. After the war the grandfather Otterman lo- cated in Pennsylvania, and previous to the war of 1812 Greensburg was laid out on his farm.

The father of our subject, Louis Otterman, served in the second war with Great Britain for two years. In 1829 he emigrated west- ward to Indiana, locating near Crawfordsville, where he died at the ripe age of seventy-five years. Philip Null, the maternal grandfather of our subject, died of cholera at Point Pleas- ant, on the Ohio river, in 1833, while endeav- oring to get up the Kanawha river to visit friends at Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Gloria Null, and was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, while her death occurred in the Hoosier State, at the age of seventy- two years. She became the mother of nine sons and three daughters, all of whom reached mature years, were married and had families of their own. At the time Joseph Otterman was born his father was a near neighbor of Judge Summers, the father of the Judge Sum- mers who held Virginia in the Union during the days of secession.

We now take up the personal history of Joseph Otterman, Iowa's well known citizen, who was born on a farm that belonged to George Washington's estate in Kanawha county, Virginia, April 14, 1826. He was the second youngest child of his father's family. His school privileges were limited to only six months' attendance at the common school of the neighborhood, yet he is one of the best informed and best educated men in this section of the country. He has used every opportunity for advancement, and possessing an observing eye and retentive memory has gathered a use- ful fund of knowledge that has made him the practical man of affairs that we to-day find him. At the age of seventeen he left his parents'

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home to learn the carpenter's trade, which he followed at various points until 1864.

In the meantime Mr. Otterman was mar-' ried. On the 12th of January, 1852, he wedded Melissa Westfall, who was born in Miami county, Ohio, May 2, 1830, a daughter of Cornelius and Sarah (Davis) Westfall. Her father was born in Virginia, and died in Mc- Donough county, Illinois. . Her mother was born in Dayton, Ohio, and also passed away in the Prairie State. She was a sister of Dr. Will- iam P. Davis, of Des Moines, and Congressman John Steele Davis, of New Albany, Indiana. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Otterman was also one of the heroes of the Revolution. Many representatives of her family became prominent in professional circles, in the sci- ences, in medicine and at the bar. Mr. and Mrs. Otterman became the parents of three children, two of whom are living: Carrie, who is the widow of Solon B. Campbell, M. D., has six children, and resides in Pomona, Cali- fornia; and Hattie, who is the wife of George H. Cooper, of Des Moines, and has four children.

Upon his marriage, Mr. Otterman located in Thorntown, Indiana, and subsequently re- moved to Montgomery county, that State, where he worked at his trade until 1864. In that year he came to Dallas county, Iowa, purchased 390 acres of land, abandoned his trade and began farming. In the new pursuit he was very successful. He lived upon his farm for twenty years and acquired consider- able capital. He then retired to private life and purchased a comfortable home in Adel, where he and his wife are now living, passing the evening of their days in comfort, surround- ed by many friends.

Mr. Otterman is a thorough American, true to his country and her institutions. Dur- ing the Civil war he was a strong advocate of the Union cause. With the blood of Revolu- tionary forefathers flowing in his veins, he could not be other than a patriot, and is emi- nently public-spirited. Among the family heirlooms he now has in his possession two

silver spoons which were used by the British officers in stirring their toddy when seated around a camp fire at the time they were sur- prised and shot by the patriots at the battle of Pedee. In politics, Mr. Otterman is inclined to be independent. He cast his first vote for Lewis Cass, and in 1856 voted for John C. Fremont, and later for Lincoln both times. He supported Horace Greeley, Peter Cooper, and General B. F. Butler, and has since been an advocate of the Greenback party. Few men are better informed on the monetary ques- tion before the people of this country to-day than he. He has studied deeply into the sub- ject, and as the result of his research and care- ful deliberation is a free-silver man and bi- metallist. He is ever ready to extend a help- ing hand to those who have been less fortunate in life than himself, his purse is open for the benefit of worthy enterprises, and he has aided in building churches and school-houses through- out the county. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church, and for forty years he has been a Master Mason. Mr. Ot- terman began life with a cash capital of only $1.25, and is entirely a self-made man, who has worked his way steadily upward, overcom- ing the obstacles in his path and surmounting all difficulties until he has reached a position of affluence.

RANK EARLE HOUGHTON, one of the representative merchants of Adel, keeping the leading drug-store in the city, is a native of the Empire State.

He was born June 18, 1852, in Allegany county, New York, and is a son of Allen H. and Clarissa (Blanchard) Houghton, who also were natives of the same county and spent their entire lives there. His father, a farmer by occupation, died at the age of thirty-five years, and his mother survived many years, passing away at the age of sixty. Of their three sons and three daughters, three are still living, one brother being located on the old

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homestead in New York, where he is engaged in farming, and another in the lumber business. The paternal grandparents of our subject, Loren and Mina (Herrick) Houghton, were both New England people and came of old American families.

Mr. Houghton, of this record, was reared .

on the old homestead farm until nineteen years of age, obtaining his education in the district and high schools, and then began teaching, a profession which he followed for one year. His next business venture was as a dealer in groceries, clerking in a store in Warsaw, New York. In March, 1873, Mr. Houghton arrived in Adel and secured a clerkship in the employ of Don A. Blanchard, with whom he continued five months, when he became a deputy in the office of the Clerk of the Courts, where he remained for eighteen months. Having ac- quired some capital through his industry and enterprise, he embarked in business for him- self in August, 1875, as a dealer in drugs. He is now the leading druggist in Adel, having a large and well-stocked store, complete in all its appointments. From the public he receives a liberal patronage, which has constantly in- creased from the beginning; for he has the con- fidence of all with whom he has been brought in contact, and has therefore won their sup- port.

Another important event in the life of Mr. Houghton occurred in 1874; for on the 7th of October of that year he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Young, who was born near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. They now have two interesting children, viz. : Nellie Maud, who was born in March, 1876; and Marvin B., born in January, 1878.

In 1893, Mr. Houghton removed with his family to Des Moines, in order to provide his children with better educational advantages, but still retains possession of his home in Adel. Mrs. Houghton is a daughter of George D. Young, who was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and was drowned while on his way to Iowa, at the age of thirty-four years. He had married Elizabeth J. Sawash, a native

of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania; and their wedding, which was celebrated in March, 1851, was blessed with two children. After the death of her first husband, Mrs. Young married Lewis Jolley, by whom she had three children. He died in November, 1887, but she is still living, in Adel. Her parents, Joseph and Mary (Mont- gomery) Sawash, were natives of Westmore- land and Allegheny counties, Pennsylvania, respectively. The former was a farmer by oc- cupation, and died in Ohio, at the age of eighty years. His wife died also in the Key- stone State, at the age of twenty-eight years, leaving two children. She came of an old New England family. Her great-grandmother, Elizabeth Montgomery, was born in Dublin, Ireland, and when sixteen years of age came to the United States, where she married Nathaniel Montgomery, whose father was a native of England.

In his political views, Mr. Houghton has always been a stalwart Republican, and proudly cast his first vote for Rutherford B. Hayes. Socially, he is a member of the order of the Knights of Pythias, nearly every official posi- tion of which he has occupied; and both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. He has served as Superintendent of the Sunday-school, and for eight years was its treasurer.

He is a man of domestic tastes, who finds his greatest enjoyment in his home, surrounded by his interesting family; and it seems that he cannot do too much to promote their welfare and secure their happiness.

ON. SAMUEL DAVIS WHEELER, a retired farmer residing in Chariton, is one of the oldest living pioneers of Lucas county, and one of its most honored citizens. To a student of human na- ture there is nothing of more interest than to examine into the life and history of the self- made man, and to analyze those principles that have made him pass many on the high- way of life and attain a position of prominence

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in the community. Mr. Wheeler is a type of this class. He was born in Virginia. Septem- ber 22, 1810, and is the only survivor of a family of four children, whose parents were Robert and Nancy (Davis) Wheeler.

Robert Wheeler was a native of Maryland, born in 1749, and was a soldier in the Revo- lutionary war, serving under General Small- wood. When the Colonies had achieved their independence he removed to Virginia, where he lived until 1816, when he became a resident of Pennsylvania. In 1829 he went to Ohio, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring in February, 1843, at the very advanced age of ninety-four years. Samuel Wheeler, the grandfather, was born in New England, and died in Maryland, at an advanced age. The ancestors of this family were Eng- lish and came to America in early Colonial days.

Our subject was but six years of age when his parents left the Old Dominion and settled in Pennsylvania. There his childhood was passed, and at the age of nineteen he accom- panied them to Ohio. He started out in life for himself when twenty-four years of age, and the success that has come to him is the reward of his own efforts. In early life he studied law, in the Buckeye State, with Judge Hick- man, and in September, 1854, was admitted to the bar, after which he followed his pro- fession for several years, but becoming dissat- isfied with it he gave up regular practice and emigrated Westward, taking up his residence on section 33, Liberty township, Lucas coun- ty, Iowa, in the year 1856, from which time, until his retirement from business life, he was principally engaged in agricultural pursuits. On coming here he took up 280 acres of Gov- ernment land and subsequently purchased forty acres, making in all a farm of 320 acres, on which he lived for seventeen years. He then purchased land in White Breast township, where he erected a home, and resided for sev- enteen years, when he sold his property, and in 1890 came to Chariton, where he is now living retired. He and his estimable wife have

a large circle of friends and are enjoying life in their pleasant home.

In April, 1834, Mr. Wheeler was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Mathews, a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, and a daughter of George and Amy Mathews. They have six children living,-Emily J., a widow; A. Mason, who is represented elsewhere in this work; Amy A. ; George C .; Sarah E:, and Abraham L.

For more than half a century both Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler have been earnest and consistent members of the Methodist Church, -a noble record indeed, and their long and well spent lives have gained them the highest esteem of all who know them. In early life Mr. Wheeler was a Democrat, becoming a voter under Andrew Jackson, but upon the forma- tion of the Republican party he joined forces with it and for nearly forty years has supported its men and measures. In 1860 he was elect- ed a member of the Board of Supervisors of Lucas county, serving in that capacity for eight consecutive years, and for many years was Jus- tice of the Peace. In 1868 he was elected to the Twelfth General Assembly of Iowa, and subsequently served as Justice of the Peace of White Breast township. No more capable official for these various positions could have been chosen, for Mr. Wheeler's trustworthi- ness and fidelity to duty are matters of record. A man of liberal education and broad views, well versed in the law, he was a natural leader. Both in public and private life his energies were devoted to the best interests of the county and State of his adoption, while his record, covering a period of nearly forty years' residence in Iowa, will be a precious heritage to his de- scendants long after he shall have gone to reap the reward of his labors.

EVI MORTON TIDRICK, M. D., deceased, was one of the most promi- nent physicians of Madison county. The world applauds a story of hero- ism, but the record of heroic action is often never given to the world. Our interest and

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admiration are excited by those who go forth to battle for a cause and justly does the brave soldier deserve the plaudits of his fellow men, but his bravery is often no greater than that of the physician, and the hardships which the latter has to bear are equal to those that fall to the lot of the former. Especially is this true of one who devotes his life to the medical profession in a new country. Often upon cold, dark nights is he called upon to ride many weary miles and then probably spend the long hours before the dawn in battle with the dread enemy, death. He is not encouraged and stimulated by the noise of battle, the call of the bugle and the music of martial strains, as is the soldier; but often silent and alone he will await the issue which tells whether his science and skill have triumphed over disease. To this band of quiet heroes belonged Dr. Tidrick, who was one of the most honored citizens of Winterset.

The Doctor was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, July 7, 1829, and was a son of Michael and Elsie (Lanning) Tidrick. The former was of German descent and was a farmer by occu- pation. Our subject attended the common schools and afterward read medicine with Dr. Meredith, of Cambridge, Ohio, and subse- quently attended a course of lectures in the Medical College of St. Louis, Missouri, at which he was graduated in the class of 1860. He first came to Iowa in 1850, locating in Des Moines, and in 1851 he came to - Madison county, where he entered upon the practice of medicine, forming a partnership with Dr. Gaff, of Winterset. He soon succeeded in building up an excellent practice, and his superior ability was widely acknowledged, not only by the public, but by his professional brethren as well. He possessed a kindly, sympathetic nature which made him a welcome visitor in the sick room and his cheery presence was like a ray of sunshine. He always answered a call whether it came from rich or poor, whether he expected to receive from it a large pecuniary reward or none at all. If his fellow man was suffering and he could afford relief, the ques-

tion of gain was not one to be considered. In the early days of the county when settlements were widely scattered, he has driven many miles over desolate prairies, through the cold and rain, and his generosity, his kindness and his obliging spirit won him the love of all. He was a close student of his profession and his superior skill won him the confidence of the community. He was a member and one of the organizers of the Madison County Medical So- ciety, and also belonged to the State Medical Society.

In 1855 Dr. Tidrick was elected Treasurer of Madison county, was officially connected with the schools and was honored with other public trusts, whose duties he always faithfully performed. He was deeply interested in every- thing pertaining to the welfare of the commu- nity, and withheld his support from no enter- prise that was calculated to prove of public benefit. He took considerable interest in civic societies, was a member of Eastern Star Lodge of the Masonic fraternity, and was also a Royal Arch Mason. His political support was given to the Democracy.

In 1853 the Doctor was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Bell, the third daughter of Robert F. and Eleanor (Harger) Bell, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, while their daughter was born in Holmes county, Ohio. To the Doctor and his wife were born ten children-Addie, now the wife of Oliver M. White, of Patterson, Iowa; Lee B., of Winterset; Charles D., who resides in South Dakota; Grace M., wife of E. W. Geiger, of Ottawa, Kansas; Hoyt H., who is living in South Dakota; Joseph E., an attorney at law, of Winterset; Mary F., deceased wife of T. J. Hudson; and three who died in infancy. The family is one of prominence in the community. They were called upon to mourn the loss of the husband and father in April, 1895. The pre- vious winter he went to Florida for the benefit of his health and there passed away. All who knew him mourned his loss, and in his death Winterset lost one of her most valued and hon- ored citizens.

John Brown.

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J OHN BROWN, a retired farmer of Winterset, is one of the pioneers of Madison county, and for upwards of forty years has been prominently con- nected with the agricultural interests of this part of the State.

Mr. Brown was born in Morrow county, Ohio, January 8, 1826, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Dillon) Brown. Both families were of German lineage. Mr. Brown's grand- fathers were Robert Dillon and Luther Brown. The latter belonged to the old-school Presby- terian Church, and for several years served as one of its elders. Jacob Brown was a native of Pennsylvania, a farmer by occupation, and became one of the first settlers of Morrow county, Ohio. He also was a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he served as elder for forty years. In his family were eleven children,-six sons and five danghters, -of whom five sons and one daughter are yet living.

Our subject, the eldest son, was reared on a farm and received his education in the com- mon schools. He remained on the home farm until twenty-one years of age, when he started out in life for himself. In 1854 he came to Madison county, Iowa, and in Madison town- ship purchased 320 acres of land, which he at once began to improve and cultivate. In connection with farming he also engaged ex- tensively in stock-raising, at first making a specialty of cattle and hogs and later gave con- siderable attention to sheep-raising, having at one time upon his farm a flock of 700 head. For some years he continued to carry on that farm, and then sold it to the firm of Tuttle & Robinson, of Des Moines, for $10,000. Soon afterward he purchased a farm of 160 acres in Lincoln township, Madison county, adjoining the corporate limits of Winterset. This farm is under a high state of cultivation, and is supplied with a good house and buildings for the protection of stock. Having a never- failing spring of excellent water, it is well adapted for raising stock or for dairy purposes. Mr. Brown has always taken an interest in 29

raising good stock, and has done much toward improving the stock in the county by intro- ducing the best breeds of cattle and horses. In addition to this Mrs. Brown owns a fine farm of 200 acres four miles west of Winter- set. About twelve years ago Mr. Brown moved into Winterset, where he has since resided, but continued to give his personal supervision to the cultivation and management of his farms until recently, but now rents them for cash.

November 1, 1857, Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Miss Nancy M. Powell, a native of Marion county, Indiana, and daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Conger) Powell. Mr. Powell was born in Brown county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1796, was of Welsh descent, and Mrs. Powell was born in Essex county, New York, in 1801. He was a farmer, and one of the worthy pioneers of Madison county. In the fall of 1852 they left Indiana and came West to Oquawka, Illinois; in January, 1853, removed to Van Buren county, Iowa, and in the spring of 1854 came to Madison county, where he bought and entered 1, 200 acres of land. Here he successfully engaged in farm- ing until his death, which occurred in 1868. His wife survived him some years and passed away in 1889. They had a family of twelve children, six of whom died in Indiana. Those who came to Iowa were : David C., a farmer now of Nebraska; Elihu, retired; Sarah J., deceased; Mrs. Brown; and Ruel B., a farmer of Madison county, Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown began their domestic life in a little log cabin fourteen feet square, on the farm above described, in Madison township, when they lived in true pioneer style. Four years later Mr. Brown built a fine stone resi- dence, which was the first stone house erected on the Coon divide. Mr. and Mrs. Brown had one daughter, Olive, born April 7, 1859. On the first of June, 1876, she became the wife of Dr. F. K. Dabney, by whom she had a daughter, Avo, who lives with her grandpar- ents, Mr. and Mrs. Brown, and is the joy of the household. After a legal separation from Dr.

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Dabney, Olive Brown married William W. Hornbeck. She died October 29, 1883, leav- ing an infant son, Gaylord, now twelve years of age.

As will be seen from the above brief sketch, Mr. Brown has not only witnessed almost the entire growth and development of Madison county, but has been an important factor in assisting to bring about the transformation. He may well be called a self-made man, as he began life almost empty-handed and by honest industry, perseverance, and energy, assisted by his estimable wife, has acquired a handsome competence, enabling him to spend the evening of his life in ease and luxury. He and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Winterset, and no one is held in higher regard throughout the community than these worthy people. Their beautiful home is the abode of refinement and hospitality.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 72

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