Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 74

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

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The marriage of our subject to Miss Nannie H. Druet, of Bloomfield, was consummated in 1861, she having been the daughter of John Druet, one of the pioneers of Ohio. Her death occurred in 1867 and she left one son,

Willey J., who is associated with his father in business. Mr. Steckel later contracted a sec- ond marriage, being united to Miss Ellen White, of Bloomfield, by whom he has four children : Helen W., Stella M., Edith E. and Mildred E. The family home is a spacious and attractive brick residence and is most eligibly located in one of the most desirable sections of the city. Mr. Steckel has also other valuable real-estate interests in the city and county, and is progressive and public- spirited in his efforts to promote every enter- prise looking to the advancement of local in- terests.

EORGE W. REDLINGSHAFER, who owns and occupies a fine farm on section 22, Benton township, Lu- cas county, Iowa, has long resided here and is recognized as one of the leading citizens of the county. As such he is a fit sub- ject for biographical honors in this volume.

Mr. Redlingshafer is a native of Bavaria, Germany, born February 7, 1833, son of George and Dorothea (Redlingshafer) Redling- shafer, he being the fourth in their family of eight children. A complete history of the family has already been presented in connec- tion with the sketch of John G. Redlingshafer, a brother of this gentleman, and it is not nec- essary to cover here the ground again.

On a farm in his native land the subject of our sketch spent his early boyhood days, re- ceiving a fair education and at the age of thirteen being confirmed in the German Lu- theran Church. In 1848 he came with his parents to America, first locating in Pennsyl- vania and subsequently removing to Illinois. Until he was twenty-two he remained a mem- ber of the home circle. Then he launched out in life for himself, secured work in a sawmill three miles southeast of Pekin, Tazewell coun- ty, Illinois, and remained thus employed until 1859, when he came to Iowa. He traveled as far as Agency, Iowa, by rail, and thence on

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foot to Chariton, in company with a party of young men, traversing in one day no less than forty-five miles. Chariton at that time con- tained only a few houses. Here he remained all night and learned that his brother John lived only seven miles away. The following day he landed at his brother's home. That was April 4, 1859, and on the twenty-second of the same month he, in partnership with Mr. Aaron Hupp, purchased 200 acres of partly improved land, on which was a frame house, 18 x 22 feet. In August of that same year they dissolved partnership and divided their land, Mr. Redlingshafer retaining the half upon which the house was located. The deed for this transfer was recorded by that old pioneer, Esquire Hopkins, well known here for many years; and from the day of the transfer our subject set to work with a commendable zeal to develop his land and make a home. In this he has succeeded most admirably. He is now the owner of 367 acres of excellent land and improved with comfortable residence, fine barns, etc., everything about the premises giv- ing evidence of prosperity.

November 18, 1860, Mr. Redlingshafer married Miss Frances Caroline Lewis, the cer- emony being performed by the Rev. Mr. Jolly, of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and at the home of the bride. Mrs. Redlingshafer was born in Fulton county, Ohio, September 18, 1843, daughter of David and Lorilla (Whit- ten) Lewis, and in 1855, at the age of twelve years, accompanied her parents to Iowa, their location being in Lucas county. She was the eldest of a large family, of whom six are living, namely: Sanford, Lucas county, Iowa; Jane, wife of James Hervey; Chariton, Iowa; Frank- lin, a farmer of Wayne county, Iowa; Aman- tha, widow of Michael Knight, Nebraska; Wel- tha, wife of Esquire John P. Sellers, Benton township, Lucas county; and Lillian B., wife of Thomas Wallace, a farmer residing near Cambria, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Redlingshafer became the parents of twelve children, three sons and nine daughters, as follows: George D., a graduate of the Lucas county high school,

is now engaged in railroading, having his resi- dence in Des Moines; Nancy, wife of S. T. Wilson, resides in the capital city; Alice M., an artist and for some years a teacher in the public schools, is now the wife of W. S. Pick- ett, a farmer of Lincoln county, Kansas; Irene L., a crayon artist and for ten years a teacher, is the wife of Harvey W. Whiteside, their home at present being with her father; Charles M., who has been engaged in farming for ten years at Bondurant and other points in the State, is a Knight of Pythias and one of the popular young men of Lucas county; Alma F., who presided in the school-room for five years, is the wife of Ishmael Meyers, a well-known farmer of Benton township, Lucas county; Lucy C., who was for three years a teacher, is at pres- ent her father's housekeeper; Mary A., follow- ing in the steps of her older sisters, is also a popular young teacher and at present a nurse in Cottage Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa; Will- iam L .; Delia O., born March 24, 1880, died January 28, 1894; and Lillie Bell and Nellie Geneva, at home. - The devoted wife and lov- ing mother departed this life October 31, 1893, and is interred in the cemetery of the Benton Methodist Episcopal Church. She was a mem- ber of the Evangelical Church and Sunday- school, was a true Christian woman, and when her life went out she was sadly missed, not only by her immediate family, but also by a large circle of friends.

Politically, Mr. Redlingshafer is a Repub- lican. He cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln, and has given his support and influ- ence to this party ever since. For many years his name has been closely linked with the his- tory of Benton township and Lucas county. He has served as township Assessor, and for twenty-five years has been a director on the Township Board, sixteen years of that time serving as Trustee, and for three years was a member of the Board of County Commissioners.

Mr. Redlingshafer, like his good wife, is a member of the Evangelical Church, maintain- ing his membership at Mt. Carmel, where he takes an active part in both the church and

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Sabbath-school work. He has always taken a deep interest in the public schools, has been for years a member of the School Board, and is to be congratulated upon the advance- ment his children have made in educational matters.

HARLES OEHLMANN, deceased, was for many years one of the hon- ored and respected pioneers of Union township, Lucas county, Iowa, and it is appropriate that a memoir of his life be accorded place on these pages. Like many of Iowa's good citizens, Mr. Oehlmann was a native of Germany, his birth occurring in the city of Hanover, February 13, 1822. His parents, Henry and Sophia Oehlmann, passed their lives and died in Germany. Charles was reared in Hanover and received a good educa- tion in his native language. Up to 1846 he was engaged in farming there. That year he bade adieu to home and friends and native land and sailed across the Atlantic for America. On his arrival in the United States he came west to Illinois, and at Quincy was employed by the month at farm work, his time being thus occupied for two years. Then he bought forty acres of farm land and also eight acres of timber, and engaged in farming on his own account. Mr. Oehlmann continued to reside in Illinois until 1858, when he loaded his household goods on a wagon, and, accompanied by his family (he having married in Illinois), he made the journey across the country to Iowa, Lucas county being his destination, and the most of it being then all wild land. Here he bought 160 acres of land, built a log house on it, and at once devoted his energies to the im- provement of a farm. As the result of his in- dustry and good management his farm became one of the best in the neighborhood. The primitive log cabin was in time replaced by a modern frame cottage, nicely furnished and surrounded with attractive lawn, orchard and grove. A large barn, 48 x 50 feet in dimen-

sions, was built and other substantial improve- ments made.

As already stated, Mr. Oehlmann was mar- ried in Illinois. The lady he wedded was Mrs. Dora Burgdorf, widow of Henry Burgdorf. Her first marriage occurred in St. Louis, Mis- souri, in which place both she and Mr. Burg- dorf were born, and soon after their marriage they came to America. Not long after their settlement in Illinois he died, leaving her with a little son, Henry. Her maiden name was Tenneras, and her parents, Fred and Dora Tenneras. Her mother died in Germany and her father in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Oehlmann became the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living, namely: Louisa, wife of Oscar Dickinson, of Seattle, Washington; Charles, who resides at the home place and has charge of the farming operations; Emma, wife of Dr. A. T. West, of Conway, Iowa; Lydia, wife of David McManis, Derby, Iowa; Fran- ces, wife of Judson Morly, Rushville, Nebraska; Maggie, wife of U. G. Penrick, of Warren township, this county, was before her marriage a popular and successful teacher; and Dora, at home. One child, George, died in infancy.

After an active and and useful life of three- score years and ten, Charles Oehlmann, the subject of our sketch, passed away March 15, 1891. He was a man of many excellent qualities and his whole life was free from everything that was not honorable and up- right. Politically, he was a Democrat. For twenty years he served as Treasurer of the School Board and all that time took a deep interest in the advancement of educational af- fairs here. Religiously, he was a Methodist, and his Christian life was one of devotion and activity. For years he was one of the Trus- tees of the church, and he aided materially in the erection of their house of worship, solicit- ing help from others and himself contributing freely of his means. In manner he was plain and unassuming, and was ever true to his con- victions of right. He was, indeed, a model citizen and Christian man. Mrs. Oehlmann and her son and daughter, Charles and Dora,

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are the only ones left at the old homestead, and here they are surrounded with all the comforts of life and enjoy the respect and es- teem of all who know them.

ILLIAM SCHREIBER, a manufac- turer of carriages, buggies and wagons of Chariton, Iowa, is a self- made man, who through well- directed efforts has attained prosperity. He started out in life empty-handed, with no cap- ital save a young man's bright hope of the fu- ture and a determination to succeed, and steadily has worked his way upward until he is to-day numbered among the leading business men and substantial citizens of Lucas county.

He was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, November 8, 1857, and his parents, Christian and Rosena (Hohl) Schreiber, were also na- tives of that country, where the father spent his entire life, dying at the age of fifty-seven years. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Schreiber came to America and is now living in Forest, Illinois. She had two brothers who served as soldiers in the Union army dur- ing the Civil war. Her family numbered five sons and two daughters, and the latter and four of the former are yet living, one son hav- ing died in early manhood. Christian is now a blacksmith and carriage manufacturer of Indianola, Iowa; Fred follows the same busi- ness in Sloan, Iowa; Jacob is in partnership with his eldest brother; Henry is employed as a wood-worker in the shop of our subject; Ernest is deceased; Carrie is the wife of W. E. Schlipf, a blacksmith 'and extensive manufac- turer of Forest, Illinois; and Mary is the wife of William Yoder, a farmer of Forest, Illinois. For many years the family have mostly fol- lowed mechanical pursuits and have been very successful in this business. They are men of medium stature, coming of a long-lived and in- dustrious race, and are worthy and respected citizens of the various communities in which they reside. .

William Schreiber was a studious boy, and,

though his school privileges were meager he acquired a good education through his own ex- ertions, for when other boys were playing on the streets he was usually studying by the fireside. In this way he acquired a knowledge of Latin and English besides his native tongue, and also read the com- mentaries of Blackstone and Kent. At the age of sixteen he came alone to America and for eighteen months worked at the black- smith's trade in Albany, New York, having learned the business under his father's direction in his native land. He then came to Iowa, and for three years followed blacksmithing in Indianola, coming thence to Chariton in 1879. For about two years he worked as a journey- man, and then began business on his own ac- count at his present location. At that time a small frame shop stood there, but after four years he began the erection of his present ex- tensive and elegant establishment. He built a brick building, 40 x80 feet, two stories in height, and in 1894 erected a brick addition 40 X 45 feet, also two stories in height, making the shops and storage rooms 125 x 40 feet. All this is the result of his own industry and econ- omy. He never had a dollar given him, but has carved out his own fortune by hard labor. He now employs from ten to fourteen men in the wood, iron and painting departments, and averages about one hundred and fifty new jobs each month, and in addition does extensive re- pair work, general blacksmithing and wagon- making. He manufactures a fine line of bug- gies, carriages and wagons, which are sold throughout the country and universally give excellent satisfaction. He now builds vehicles at prices varying from $75 to $275, and they find a ready sale on the market, his business having steadily increased until it has now assumed extensive proportions.

Mr. Schreiber was married in Chariton to Miss Bertha McKlveen, a member of one of the representative and early families of this city. Five children bless this union, -Walter, Helen, Fred, Raymond and Ruth; and the three eldest are in school.

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In politics, Mr. Schreiber was formerly a Democrat. Socially, he is connected with the Odd Fellows society, and he and his wife are members of the First Baptist Church. He is a public-spirited and progressive citizen, who manifests a deep and abiding interest in every- thing pertaining to the welfare of the com- munity. He is an ardent advocate of the cause of education, a warm friend of the free- school system of America and is now serving as a member of the Board of Education of this city. His life has been well and worthily spent, and his success is the fitting reward of earnest, honest labor, capable management and perseverance.

e NOCH SAYRE .- The biographer is now permitted to touch upon the life history of one whose identity with the great State of Iowa covers a period of over thirty-one years-years crowded with activity in the quiet walks of life and crowned with merited success. The record of such a life can not fail to be of interest on these pages, which are devoted to a portrayal of the lives of the men and women who by their lives, their labors and their sacrifices have estab- lished their homes on the broad prairies west of the Mississippi and helped to build up this great State. It was in March, 1864, that Enoch Sayre arrived here, and from that time to the present he has maintained his residence in Warren county.

Mr. Sayre is of Eastern birth and ancestry. His forefathers were among the Puritans of New England, drifted from there to New Jer- sey and finally to Virginia, and it was in what was then Harrison county, Virginia (now Barbour county, West Virginia), that he was born, June 24, 1825, being the second of the ten children of Solomon and Mary Ann (Ball) Sayre. Five of this family were sons and five daughters, and four are now deceased, those living being as follows: Enoch, whose name introduces this article, is the eldest survivor; Jedediah, who was named in honor of his

grandfather, is a farmer in Upshur county, West Virginia; Joseph, a farmer on land ad- joining the old homestead in Barbour county, West Virginia; Harriet, wife of Henry Ken- nedy, lives at the old home place in Barbour county; Phebe, widow of John R. Posten, is a resident of Barbour county; and Sarah E. is the wife of Jesse Cole, a Barbour county farmer. Solomon Sayre, the father, was born in Vir- ginia, in 1799, son of Jedediah Sayre, a native of New Jersey, and grandson of David Sayre, also of New Jersey birth. In Virginia and in his native county Solomon Sayre passed his whole life, for sixty years residing at the place where our subject was born. His life was de- voted to agricultural pursuits, in politics he was a Whig and afterward a Republican, and his religion was that of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. When in his eighty-fourth year his life work ended, and thus passed to Heaven one of the good men of the earth. The mother, also a devoted Christian and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, died at the age of seventy-eight. Side by side their mortal re- mains are interred in the Sayre cemetery, in Pleasant township, Barbour county, -an appro- priate marble slab marking the spot.

Having thus briefly referred to his parent- age, we now turn to the life of the immediate subject of this sketch, Enoch Sayre. He was reared on his father's farm and received his early training in the subscription schools which were held in a hewed-log house, located some three miles distant from his home, and rudely equipped with logs for both seat and desk. He walked to and from this rude "seat of learning " during the three winter months, and when not at school was occupied in farm work. He early bad instilled into him by his Christian parents those lessons of honesty, industry and economy which form the foundation of all true success, and both by precept and exam- ple he was taught what it is to be a Christian. Thus passed his youthful days, and by the' time he was twenty-four years of age he had saved enough money with which to purchase forty acres of land, or, rather, to make partial

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payment on it, for it was not clear of debt for a time. But by his well-directed efforts he was enabled to meet the other payments as they came due, then to purchase forty acres more, and then still, another forty. This was in West Virginia. In 1864 the spirit of emi- gration caused him to seek a home in Iowa, and in March of that year, as above stated, he arrived in Warren county. He forthwith purchased 360 acres of land, to which he added from time to time until he became the owner of nearly a thousand acres, and was ranked with the large land-holders of the county. But his generous and loving nature induced him to divide with his children as they grew up, and in this way he has disposed of much of his property. His comfortable and pretty rural home is located on section 31, of Virginia township, his residence being about 200 yards back from the highway and only about the same distance from the Madison county line.

Mr. Sayre was married January 20, 1851, to Miss Elizabeth Felton, daughter of John Felton, of whom so much has been written on these pages and whose log cabin was the first in New Virginia. She was born in Preston county, West Virginia, and for many years was his devoted and loving companion. Her death occurred September 3, 1885, and she is buried in the New Virginia cemetery. Of the ten children of their union we make record as follows: Harriet Virginia, born December 26, 1851, is the wife of H. C. Ludington, of Vir- ginia township, Warren county; Mary Mar- garet, born September 16, 1853, is the wife of W. A. Howell, of Missouri; Matilda Jane, born May 15, 1855, is the wife of John Keller, of Jefferson county, Nebraska; Gideon, born De- cember 28, 1856, died April 26, 1864; Sarah Luella, born September 10, 1858, is the wife of William C. Sayre, her third cousin, and re- sides in Audubon county, Iowa; John, born June 4, 1860, is in the State of Washington; Will E., born April 5, 1862, lives near his fa- ther; Waitman, born September 7, 1863, died of lung fever and smallpox, April 19, 1864;

Minnie Ellen, born September 5, 1866, is the widow of Ervin Anderson, and resides in Madison county, Iowa; and Alonzo, born Feb- ruary 20, 1870, married Miss Laura Forman, a native of Taylor county, West Virginia, and they reside at the Sayre homestead. All of the family are married except John, and they all occupy honored and useful positions in life, and at this writing the grandchildren of our subject number twenty-five.

Like his parents before him, Mr. Sayre is a consistent member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Politically, he has long affiliated with the Republican party, but, in 1860, gave his vote in support of Mr. Bell, the Union candidate for president. While he has never sought official honors, he has been elected Township Trustee and Justice of the Peace and has served acceptably as such.

.H. WILSON, M. D .- Forty years ago when Warren county, Iowa, was in its primitive state, before the railroads had spanned the rivers and banded the prai- ries of this section of the country, and a quar- ter of a century before the telegraph became an established factor, few, if any, were imagina- tive enough to look forward to the marvelous development of to-day. It was at that time that Dr. J. H. Wilson cast his lot in Warren county, joining the courageous little band of pioneers who had already made settlement here. All honor to these brave frontiersmen who paved the way for advanced civilization. To their courage, their sacrifices, and their labors is due much of the wonderful develop- ment which has marked the intervening years, and in this onward progress Dr. Wilson has contributed his part. He early became identi- · fied with agricultural pursuits and engaged in the practice of medicine, and from the first won the confidence and respect of all with whom he came in contact. And this confidence and esteem he has ever retained. Thus he is eminently deserving of biographical honors,

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and it is with pleasure we present the follow- ing resume in this work:

J. H. Wilson is a Southerner by birth. He first saw the light of day in a log cabin in Guil- ford county, North Carolina, March 20, 1836, his parents being R. D. and Rohama (Spoon) Wilson. R. D. Wilson, his father, was also a Carolinian, the year of his birth being 1805, and, like his forefathers, he devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. His closing years were passed in Warren county, Iowa, where he was well known and highly esteemed for his many excellent traits of character, and where, after having passed his eighty-second milestone, he departed this life. A little mound in the New Virginia cemetery marks the last resting place of his mortal remains. Throughout his life he was noted for his love of mankind and his faith in his Maker, and he died strong in this faith. His good Christian wife, his companion for many years, still lives, and her kindly smile is an inspiration to all who come within her in- fluence. She resides with her son. Through- out nearly two generations she has worked in God's vineyard through the Wesleyan Method- ist denomination.

As a boy J. H. Wilson attended a North Carolina subscription school, and as he grew older his desire for knowledge increased. His advantages, however, were not of the best. It was by his own earnest and persistent efforts that he placed himself beyond the ordinary at- tainments, and made it possible to alleviate much of the distress and suffering among the pioneers with whom he early cast his lot. For the past fourteen years he has been at the head of a fine drug store in New Virginia, the busi- ness now being conducted under the firm name of J. H. Wilson & Son.

The happy event in the Doctor's life was his marriage, August 6, 1857, to Miss Maria J. Shultz, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Mr. Washington Shultz. Mrs. Wilson is an amiable woman, and one whose influence is felt for good in the circle in which she moves. Of the nine children born to them we make brief record as follows: W. W. is a resident

of Nance county, Nebraska; George E. lives at the old homestead in this (Warren) county: Frank resides in Jackson county, Iowa; John T. is in Nance county, Nebraska; Fanny, wife of Charles Johnson, is a resident of Oskaloosa, Iowa; Enoch H. died at the age of seven years; Mary J. married Charles Shaw, of Nance coun- ty, Nebraska; and Cora and James are at home. James is in business with his father, is making a study of pharmacy, and is one of the popular young men of the town. He has spent some time as a student at Des Moines.

Dr. Wilson is a stanch Republican, and is a member of the Masonic order and of the Christian Church.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 74

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