Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 88

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

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Thomas E. Walker continued his residence

in New York until his death, which occurred in 1871. His wife passed away in 1867. They were the parents of five children. Philip, the eldest, an attorney at law, died at Shanghai, China, in 1854, when making a pleasure trip around the world. He was stricken with chol- era, and lived only three days. Elizabeth Ann is the wife of David Tweedie, of . New York city, a son of the late Rear-Admiral Tweedie, of London, England; they have had four chil- dren: Thomas E., deceased; Annie; M. Stan- ley, and Mary, deceased. Thomas George mar- ried Miss Lucy B. Holbrook, a native of Boston, who died in New York city in 1871, leaving three children -- Arthur, Marion and Louie; he afterward married Miss Louie Bowman, a na- tive of Braintree, Massachusetts, and they had four children-Lucy, Edith, Irene and Alice. Lewin W. married Miss Sophia Liebenau, a native of New York city, and they have two children-Viola and Wethered.

George E. Walker, whose name introduces this sketch, attended the grammar school of the University of New York and other private classical schools of his native city. He first visited Iowa in 1857, when twenty years of age, coming on a railroad tour with his father, who on that trip purchased a farm of about 300 acres, in Dubuque county, and then they returned home. Three years afterward our subject entered the law department of Colum- bia College, and on the completion of the pre- scribed course was graduated, in September, 1863. In 1864-5 he made a tour of Europe, and while abroad took a brief course in juris- prudence at Heidelberg University, Germany. Immediately after his return to America he be- gan the practice of law in partnership with the late Chief Justice James W. White, of the Su- perior Court in New York city.

In 1878 Mr. Walker became identified with the Iowa bar, locating in Dubuque county and making his home for a short time with his brother, Lewin W., who at that time was liv- ing on the farm, at Farley, which their father had purchased in 1857. In 1880 our subject came to Waverly, where he has since resided.

Elreiser.

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Mr. Walker was married, in New York city, in 1866, to Miss Janet Eldredge White, daugh- ter of Chief Justice White, his law partner. Her maternal grandfather was General Whit- ney, of Revolutionary fame, whose father was the founder of Binghamton, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have six children: Llewellyn J., born January 26, 1867, married Miss Cath- erine Agatha Hines, a native of Pleasant Prairie, Minnesota. Her father was John Hines, and her maternal grandfather was Thomas Mackey, a capitalist living near Still- water, Minnesota. The marriage of the young couple was celebrated June 15, 1892, and they now have one child, Cecil John, born August 18, 1893. Gerald Griffin, born February 18, 1869; Catherine Ann, born April 9, 1870; Cecil Thomas, born April 2, 1872; Rhoda Janet, born March 15, 1877; and Ellen Con- stance, born January 30, 1879. The last named was born on the shore of the beautiful lake Constance in Switzerland, in the town of Bregenz, while the parents were making a tour of Europe.

In his political views Mr. Walker has al- ways been a stalwart Republican, and takes quite an active interest in politics. It was he who, in 1890, nominated Judge Sherwin in the convention at Mason City, Iowa. He has served Bremer county as Justice of the Peace, and was City Attorney of Waverly from 1886 until 1892. He was appointed in 1866 Regis- trar of Bankruptcy in New York city, which office he subsequently resigned. Mr. Walker is not only an able advocate and a capable counselor, but is also a gentleman of acknowl- edged literary ability and a frequent contrib- utor to the press. Mr. Walker's family are Roman Catholics, though both he and his wife are of English Colonial lineage.

APTAIN EMILIUS ILGENFRITZ WEISER, the pioneer druggist of Decorah, Iowa, and one of the most prominent business men of that town for the past forty years, is a direct descendant 35

of Colonel Conrad Weiser, the Indian Inter- preter of historic mention and Colonial fame. The line of descent is through Phillip, son of Conrad Weiser, to Jabeth, to Samuel Weiser, Sr., grandfather of our subject.

Captain Weiser was born in York county, Pennsylvania, April 16, 1835, a son of Samuel and Anna Maria (IlgenFritz) Weiser. The early education of our subject was in the public schools of York; and York County Academy, a part of the city school system, was established over 100 years ago, and is one of the finest schools in the State. In 1850 Mr. Weiser was apprenticed to Dr. E. T. Miller, of. York, for the purpose of learning the drug business, and served for six years.

June 10, 1856, he came to Decorah, Iowa, and cast his lot with the young and vigorous West. He at once opened a drug store, and conducted it alone till 1858, when his brother, Albert, became a partner, and the firm did business, as Weiser Brothers, until 1865. Our subject then assumed the sole management of the business, and continued it till January I, 1893, when his son, E. J. Weiser, took charge. The business well deserves the honor of being the pioneer drug store, and the stock is one of the most complete in this part of the State. The two-story brick building occupied by the store was built by Weiser Brothers, in 1858, and is well equipped for the business.

The patriotic spirit which inspired the an- cestors of our subject to heroic deeds burned in the breast of Mr. Weiser at the breaking out of the late rebellion. He enlisted April 27, 1861, and was commissioned as First Lieutenant in the Decorah Guards May 17, 1861, for the three-months service. Captain Weiser still has the original muster roll, signed by the members of the company, and his own name heads the list. It had been the inten- tion of the Decorah boys to be a part of the first regiment sent out of the State, but on reaching Keokuk, the point of rendezvous, it was found that the quota for both the first and second regiments was full. Accord- ingly they were mustered in June 8, 1861, as

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Company D, Third Iowa Infantry, for three years or during the war. The regiment pro- ceeded at once to the hostile territory of north- ern Missouri. January 16, 1862, Mr. Weiser was promoted to the rank of Captain at Mont- gomery, Missouri. During the campaign in this State, he participated in the engagements and services in which his regiment took part. At the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862, he re- ceived a canister shot and shell wound, on ac- count of which he did hospital duty for two months. He rejoined his regiment at La Grange, Mississippi; and October 5, 1862, at Metamora, on the Hatchie river, that State, he received a minie-ball wound in the right thigh, by which he was permanently disabled. For seven months Captain Weiser lay in the hos- pital at Bolivar, Tennessee; he was then trans- ferred to Keokuk, and later came home.

. The Decorah Republican of May 27, 1863, says: "Last Thursday evening passengers in the stage brought the welcome but unexpected intelligence that Captain Weiser was on his way home and would arrive in the course of the evening. The feelings of our people found expression at once. A hurried subscription raised money enough to purchase powder for the cannon; a word started the ever-ready and willing band of martial music, and the people waited almost en masse the expected arrival.

"Preceded by the band, the crowd marched to the east end of the town, and when the carriage arrived it was received with cheer after cheer. The horses were unhitched and a long rope attached, and then they drew him into town. At the Winneshiek House they halted while E. E. Cooley, Esq., for the peo- ple, made an address of welcome home. The Captain was then drawn to the residence of his brother, where he is now staying. The enthusiasm of the people would not stop here, but found vent in continued cheers. Captain Weiser came to the window and thanked them for their kind expressions, and with three cheers for Captain Weiser, three for Company D, and three for all Iowa boys, the crowd dis- persed.

"On his way from Bolivar to his home he met his regiment at Memphis, Tennessee, and stopped a few days in camp with the boys. On the evening of April 17 the officers had a meet- ing, the Colonel presiding, and passed the fol- lowing resolutions:

"WHEREAS, Captain E. I. Weiser, of Com- pany D, is about to part with us, it may be forever, and must be during the time we serve our country's cause, in which cause Captain Weiser fell permanently disabled while bravely and gallantly leading his company; therefore,

" Resolved, That ever since this regiment was organized Captain Weiser has been a con- sistent, popular and brave officer, eliciting pro- found respect from his men and esteem from his brother officers.

" Resolved, That by his bravery and cool- ness on the battlefield, and the heroism he dis- played while suffering from the effects of his wounds received at the battles of Shiloh and Matamora, he has elicited the love and com- mendation of all with whom he has been asso- ciated.

" Resolved, That the distinguished honor conferred upon him, particularly since receiving his last wound, by the attention and sympathy in his behalf by the generals under whom he served, was fully merited by him and appre- ciated with pride and regard by his fellow officers and men.

" Resolved, That a memento be procured on which shall be engraved an appropriate in- scription, and be presented to our departing brother as a testimonial of our high esteem and respect for him as a man, and our appreciation of his bravery and efficiency as an officer.

"Resolved, That we part with Captain Weiser with sincere regrets, that he leaves us with our united sympathy, and with a reputa- tion as soldier, an officer and a companion, that may be emulated to advantage by every soldier serving our country's cause.

"Captain J. P. Knight, Major G. W. Cros- ley and Captain J. B. Smith were appointed to procure the memento, and Surgeon B. F. Keables to present the same.

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" On the inorning of the 18th, the regiment was formed in line by Major Crosley, when Ad- jutant Cushman read the resolutions. The regiment was then formed in a hollow square and the Captain escorted from his tent by Colonels Pugh and Brown and Lieutenant Colonel Tullis, and was admitted within the square, walking with difficulty by the aid of his crutches. Surgeon Keables then delivered the address, presenting him with the memento, a handsome solid coin-silver pitcher, on which was inscribed, 'Presented to Captain Emilius I. Weiser by his brother officers of the Third Iowa Infantry Volunteers, as a testimonial of their high esteem and respect for him as a man and his bravery and efficiency as an officer.'

" In thanking his brother officers for the hon- or conferred upon him, the Captain closed with these words: ' Brothers: I now say farewell; may God bless you all. My parting words are, Stand by the old flag which you have so nobly defended for the past two years; never desert it; it may cost you a limb or even life to de- fend it, but that would be preferable to dis- grace. Yes, I say, defend it with your life, and if you. fall you will yet live in the memo- ries of those who live after you.'

"The scene was an impressive one. The Captain who had calmly faced the cannon's mouth was frequently affected to tears, and there were but few dry eyes among his com- rades when he finished addressing them."

In October, 1863, he took command of his company at Natchez, Mississippi, on crutches, being reduced to this extremity by his last wound. After one month's service, however, he found that this sort of soldiering was not practical on the field. . He was now detailed on therecruiting service, and located at Decorah, Iowa, where he served until he was mustered out, June 18, 1864.

The Captain is an enthusiastic Grand Army man, the possessor of a large collection of G. A. R. badges, among which is one 'of solid gold, with a diamond setting, presented to him by the comrades of his post for long and faithful services as Post Commander.

Captain Weiser was married February 4, 1864, at Decorah, Iowa, to Miss Mary Louisa Von Hoff, a daughter of Dr. Augustus and Jane (Martin) Von Hoff. She was born in Mechan- icsburg, Pennsylvania, November 18, 1843, and her people are of the old German stock of the Keystone State. The children of Captain and Mrs. Weiser are: Emilius James, born January 3, 1867; a graduate of the Chicago College of Pharmacy; he married Miss Grace E. Marsh, and now conducts the drug-store at Decorah, Iowa. Samuel Von Hoff, born September 22, 1873, is a graduate of the American Dental College, Chicago, a member of the class of 1896. Harry Martin, born September 4, 1884, is attending school at Decorah.

Captain Weiser has always acted with the Republican party, although never holding office under it. He is a Past Grand of Winneshiek Lodge, I. O. O. F., and since October, 1883, has been Commander of Colonel Hughes Post, No. 168, G. A. R. Both he and his wife have been communicants of the Congregational Church for the past twenty years.

Our subject descends from the best German stock on both sides of the house. His mother's people, the IlgenFritzes, were of the old provincial families of Pennsylvania. No one can read without the greatest interest the his- tory of his paternal ancestry, given elsewhere in this work.

Personally, Captain Weiser is a very quiet, unassuming man. When not in the service of his country, he has attended strictly to busi- ness, and by this has accumulated a com- fortable competency, which he is now enjoy- ing, surrounded by an interesting family and numerous friends.

a HARLES WESLEY HILL, County Attorney of Guthrie county, Iowa, was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana, July 4, 1843, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Hough) Hill, the former of English and the latter of German ancestry.

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The father's birth occurred in Bourbon county, Kentucky, in 1801, and he died in Bartholo- mew county, Indiana, in 1850. The mother, who was a native of North Carolina, removed to Indiana, where she married Mr. Hill, and she passed away when our subject was still an infant.

Being early left an orphan Charles W. Hill lived among strangers, and was bound out until twenty-one, but ran away from his guar- dian after serving six years. Since then he has been wholly dependent upon his own resources. In the fall of 1856 he came to Iowa, and for one year remained in Mahaska county, but on the expiration of that time removed to Panora, Guthrie county, walking from Oskaloosa to that place, carrying his worldly possessions. There he remained until the breaking out of the Rebellion. For a short time he attended the Iowa Wesleyan University, after which he engaged in teaching, being thus employed, and with a term half finished, when he enlisted, be- coming a member of Company C, Fourth Iowa Infantry. On the 5th of July, 1861, they left Guthrie county, being among the first three- year men in the field.

During the first years of the war the com- pany was under the command of General Curtis in Arkansas and Missouri, their first battle being at Pea Ridge in March, 1862. They afterward joined the Fifteenth Army Corps, with which they went to Vicksburg, the next battle being Chickasaw Bayou. The com- pany then participated in the battle of Arkan- sas Post under General McClernand, he having temporarily relieved General Sherman, who commanded at the last engagement. The Fif- teenth Corps was afterward under General John A. Logan, and in that department Mr. Hill remained until the close of the war. He passed through the various grades of official positions in his company, being Corporal, then Sergeant, and being made Second Lieutenant in 1863 and promoted to First Lieutenant in 1864. During the last five months he served as regimental Quartermaster, being detailed to that position while at Savannah, Georgia. He

was with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea, and participated in the engagements at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge under General Hooker, being temporarily de- tached from Sherman's army for that purpose. The First Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps was the only part so detached. Mr. Hill was in the battle of Jackson, the siege of Vicksburg and the final assault on that strong- hold, -in fact was in two assaults on Vicks- burg. After its surrender the second battle at Jackson took place, it having been recaptured by the enemy. After the fall of Vicksburg, the Fifeenth went on transports to Memphis and then marched to Chattanooga, Tennessee, being in several battles and skirmishes en route, among which was the battle of Cherokee Sta- tion. Next followed the engagements at Look- out Mountain and Missionary Ridge, as previ- ously noted. The student of history still remembers the peculiar combination of affairs leading up to these engagements. The cam- paign of 1863 was ended with the battle of Buzzards' Roost or Ringgold. They then re- turned to Woodville, Alabama, where the regiment re-enlisted.

At Ringgold, Mr. Hill was wounded but was able to join the boys on their veteran fur- lough, though not fully recovered, coming home in March, 1864, and after thirty days returned in time to start on the Atlanta cam- paign. He was in the battles at Resaca, Dal- las, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta and Jonesboro. On the day General McPherson was killed, our subject received his second wound, being struck directly over the heart. A peculiar feature of this wound was the fact that his life was saved by the ball striking a book carried in his blouse pocket, thus retarding its force and preventing its entering his body. Though unconscious for hours and carried off the field for dead, he re- covered and in a few days rejoined his com- mand, but was never again able to carry a knapsack. Mr. Hill witnessed the signaling between Generals Corse and Sherman, the former at Kenesaw mountain, and the latter at

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Altoona. This was the foundation plank of the famous song "Hold the Fort." General Corse being closely pressed, Sherman signaled him to "Hold the fort, for I am coming." General Corse's reply, however, does not appear in the song but was characteristic of the man and the situation, it being, " I am minus one ear and a cheek bone; but I can whip hell out of them yet." The regiment was engaged in skirmish- ing all the way to the sea when Savannah was the objective point, reaching there December 16, 1864, and General Sherman presented Sa- vannah, with the trophies of war, to President Lincoln as a Christmas gift. After the fall of that city the troops went on transports to Beaufort, South Carolina, whence they marched against Columbia, taking that place, and at Cheraw, North Carolina, captured val- uable stores. From there they proceeded to Bentonville, where the last battle was fought in that department. They then went on to Raleigh, where the army lay at the time of Lee's and Johnston's surrenders and the assas- sination of President Lincoln. They then marched on to Richmond, Petersburg and Washington, participating in the grand review of the victorious armies. The regiment of which our subject was a member then pro- ceeded to Louisville, Kentucky, and at Daven- port, Iowa, was mustered out and discharged, August 8, 1865.

Mr. Hill returned to Panora after an ab- sence of over four years, during which time the most stirring events in his life experience occurred. In the fall of 1865 he entered the Iowa Wesleyan University to complete the course so summarily closed at the breaking out of the war. He was elected Clerk of the District Court of Guthrie county for the term beginning January 1, 1869, and was re-elected five successive terms, closing his connection with that office on the Ist of January, 1879. He then retired to his farm for two years, at the end of which time he entered the law de- partment of the University of Michigan, where he was graduated in March, 1883, and imme- diately entered upon practice at Panora. He

there remained until the spring of 1889, when he went to Tacoma, Washington, but at the end of two years returned to Iowa, locating at Guthrie Center, in October, 1891, and began the prosecution of his profession. In Novem- ber, 1894, he was elected Prosecuting Attor- ney of Guthrie county, in which position he is now capably serving.

On the 4th of November, 1869, Mr. Hill wedded Miss Mary J. Farnsworth, a native of Indiana, coming to Guthrie county with her parents when a child. Two daughters were born of this union: Lavina, who is a student in the senior year in the Iowa College, at Grinnell; and Alberta, who was born in March, 1873, and died at Tacoma, Washington, in September, 1890.

The family to which our subject belongs has been well represented in the wars of this country, the paternal grandfather having served in the war of 1812, while five brothers of Mr. Hill aided in the preservation of the Union during the Civil war, all in different regiments. Justus E., who was a member of the First Colorado Cavalry, is now a resident of Sioux City, Iowa, and is in the employ of the railroad. James L. was a member of the Sixty-seventh Indiana Infantry, was taken prisoner in 1863, and probably died in Tyler, Texas, having never since been heard of. Thomas J., a member of the Eighteenth Iowa Infantry, died at Newtonia, Missouri, in 1863. Aaron M., now a farmer residing near Eddy- ville, Iowa, was a member of the Eighth Iowa Cavalry. A step-brother, W. H. Spurgin, was also in the First Iowa Cavalry, and is now a farmer living near Panora.

Mr. Hill holds membership with Charley Baker Post, No. 23, G. A. R., at Panora; also Panora Lodge, No. 121, A. F. & A. M .; and Milton Chapter, No. 98, R. A. M., of Guthrie Center, of which he is Secretary. His church relations are with the Presbyterians, and in the work of that denomination he takes an active part. He has hosts of friends in Guthrie county, where he has so long resided, and has the confidence and esteem of all with whom

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he comes in contact. As a lawyer he stands high among his professional brethren, and has won an enviable reputation, while as an official he gives unqualified satisfaction.

ON. EDWARD CAMPBELL, JR .- The ancestral history of the subject of this review is one that tells of long and honorable identification with American interests, while he himself has lived and labored to goodly ends, has attained dis- tinction in public life and has honored and been honored by the State in which he has re- tained his residence since his early manhood, being entitled to rank among the pioneers of Iowa and of Jefferson county, where he has long been concerned with the agricultural industry. After the ceaseless toil and endeavor of an em- inently busy life he is now living in practical retirement at Fairchild, and is enjoying the benefices which have come to him as a reward and result of his own efforts.

Our subject is a native of the old Keystone State, having been born in Washington county, on the Ist day of the New Year of 1820. His father, Robert Campbell, was also born in Washington county, being of Scotch-Irish ex- traction-his parents having been natives of Belfast, Ireland, whither the original ancestors had removed from Scotland. They were zeal- ous adherents of the Presbyterian Church and their faith was of that rigid and unbending order which has ever characterized the zealous Presbyterian of the pure Scotch type. The family gave to tlie Church a long list of di- vines, many of whom attained to distinction in their holy office. The maiden name of our subject's mother was Mary Hindman, and she was born in Cecil county, Maryland, being a member of an old and prominent family es- tablished in that State by English colonists several generations remote.

When Mr. Campbell's parents settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania, that region was yet in the initial stages of development, having just been opened to civilization. His

father owned a new farm in the depths of the forest, and he met his death by accident when our subject was still a child. Educational ad- vantages were necessarily limited, and the first school which our subject attended was a prim- itive log structure, with clay floor and with oiled paper utilized in place of glass in the windows. Hard labor was his portion from early youth, but he thrived under this sturdy discipline, and being studious and ambitious to acquire knowledge, he made the best possible use of the meager opportunities which were afforded him, and there was an improvement in the facilities thus offered as time progressed and the development of the section proceeded. Supplementing his school privileges with per- "sonal efforts toward self-culture, he acquired a thorough English education and a knowledge of the classics.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 88

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