USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Past and present of Appanoose County, Iowa : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 18
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
Charles H. Meyers came to lowa with his parents in pioneer times, being at the time of his arrival a lad of nine years. At intervals he attended the public schools, but his advantages along this line were ex- tremely limited and, although he is today a well-informed and cultured man, this is due almost entirely to his own efforts in reading and observa- tion. As a boy he aided in the hard labor of breaking the soil and de- veloping the farm, but was afterward obliged to devote himself to minor tasks owing to his failing health. At the age of twenty-one he left home in order to seek recuperation in less strenuous work, and accepted a position as driver of a medicine wagon for S. Baker. For one year he journeyed throughout Iowa and then went to Lewistown, Fulton county, Illinois, where he drove a wagon for the Thompkins Medical Company for a number of years, traveling over seventy-five counties in that state and dealing with wholesale and retail dealers and private residents. He accomplished his aim of recovering his health, and later returned to the old home in Franklin township, where he joined his father in the operation of the farm. He married in 1888 and he and his wife began their domestic life upon a tract of land which Mr. Meyers had previously purchased. He farmed this in connection with rented land and was successful. How- ever, after a time he sold the property and moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, returning to Iowa after ten months. He purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Appanoose county and upon this he still resides. The land lies on section 18, Pleasant township, and is in a high state of cultivation, the farm being well kept in every particular and provided with all the requisites for carrying on a model agricultural enter- prise. Mr. Meyers has erected a good residence, a barn and substantial outbuildings and has also planted a fine orchard of selected trees. In addition to general farming he engages extensively in stock-breeding. raising high grade cattle and hogs, some of which he prepares for the market.
On the 5th of September, 1888. Mr. Meyers was united in marriage to Miss Emma Condra, who was born and reared in Appanoose county. where the father is a prosperous farmer of Franklin township. Mr. and Mrs. Meyers have four children: Anna; Richard L., who is aiding in the operation of the homestead; Minnie, who is a student in the Cincinnati high school : and Mary, who attends district school. Our subject and his wife are members of the Methodist church and attend Simpson chapel.
Mr. Meyers has important fraternal relations, being a Master Mason and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has attained a place of prominence, having served in all the chairs and being a past grand. He is eminently progressive in matters of citizenship and
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since attaining his majority has given loyal support to the republican party. For eight years he served as justice of the peace of Pleasant town- ship and was for three years a member of the county board of supervisors. He is a man whose industry, ability and success have made him influential in the affairs of the township and county and, being possessed of fine qualities of character and a progressive public spirit, he takes a deep in- terest in the general welfare of the community and commands the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens, being a substantial factor in the community.
WILLIAM B. STICKLER.
In a history of the agricultural development of Appanoose county it is imperative to mention William B. Stickler, who owns a fine farm of nearly four hundred acres in Pleasant township and has been well known for many years as a progressive agriculturist and a successful live-stock dealer. He is numbered among the old settlers in lowa, having lived in Appanoose county since 1856, but his birth occurred in Miami county, Ohio, on the 4th of October, 1839. He is a son of John Stickler, who was born, reared and educated in Ohio and who there married Miss Nancy Wralson, who passed away when the subject of this review was only one year old. The father of our subject was a carpenter by trade and followed this line of work and also engaged in farming during his entire active life. He moved to Iowa in 1856 and located in Appanoose county.
William B. Stickler acquired his education in the public schools of Appanoose county, but his advantages along this line were limited, as he had no chances to attend school beyond the primary grades. However. he has made up for all deficiencies in his early education by study and observation during his later years and is today a well-informed man. He remained at home and worked at various occupations until he was twenty- three years of age, in which year his marriage occurred. He then pur- chased forty acres in Franklin township and operated and improved that property for three or four years, selling it in order to move to Pleasant township, where he purchased sixty-seven acres of slightly improved land. upon which were no buildings. He concentrated his energies upon the development of this property, adding to it from time to time, until he now owns three hundred and eighty-seven acres. highly improved. Since locating here he has erected an excellent residence, a barn and the
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necessary outbuildings, all of which are in good repair, and he has in addition planted a large orchard. Besides general farming Mr. Stickler is extensively engaged in feeding and shipping stock and is one of the best known men in that business in this section of the state. His affairs are conducted along modern lines and in accordance with the highest standards of commercial integrity, and the success which has been the result places him among the substantial and representative men of this community.
Mr. Stickler has been twice married. In 1862 he wedded Miss Caroline Beer, who was born in Ohio but was reared in lowa. She passed away in 1890 and is buried in North cemetery in Cincinnati. To this union were born eight children: William M., who is farming in Pleasant township and who holds the position of township trustee; George L., a farmer in Oklahoma; C. A., who owns and operates a valuable property in Pleasant township; J. C., who is married and who engages in farming upon the homestead: Daisy, the wife of W. H. Streepy, a farmer in Pleasant township; Harriet S., who married Samuel Stollebarger, who passed away leaving one daughter; Josephine, who became the wife of Moses Adson and who upon her death left one son and one daughter; and one, who died in infancy. In 1896 Mr. Stickler was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary Parks, who passed away on the 7th of September, 1910. She had four daughters and one son by a former marriage.
Mr. Stickler gives his allegiance to the democratic party and served as township trustee for six consecutive years, having held the same office from time to time ever since. He has served as delegate to numerous county conventions and is active and progressive in all matters of citizen- ship. He is seventy-three years of age, but is still an important factor and active in agricultural circles, a man whose life has always been in keeping with high standards and influenced by worthy aims and ambitions.
S. JOHN O. MORE.
S. John O. More, manager of the undertaking department of the firm of More & Morrison, is one of Appanoose county's native sons, born July 19, 1875, his parents being Matthew and Elizabeth (Smith) More. He acquired his early education in the district schools of Appanoose county and in 1895 entered the Southern Iowa Normal School and after completing a thorough business course returned home and re- mained with his parents until 1899. In that year he went to Des Moines
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and secured a position in a wholesale house, where he remained for two years, returning to Appanoose county at the end of that time and engaging in farming in Union township. In the spring of 1908 he moved to Unionville and obtained employment in the undertaking and hardware store operated by A. T. Bishop. In June, 1911, he formed a partnership with William Morrison. The firm purchased the interests of Mr. More's former employer, A. T. Bishop, and since that time the subject of this review has had charge of the undertaking department. They carry a complete line of caskets and funeral supplies and he is known in the city as a business man of strict integrity and reliability.
In 1900 Mr. More was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Morrison, a daughter of Irvin Andrew and Amanda (Noland) Morrison, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. More became the parents of five children: Mabel, born in April, 1901 ; Jacob, whose birth occurred in August, 1903; Mattie, born in June 1906; Ruth, in February, 1909; and Omar, born in April, 1912.
Mr. More gives his allegiance to the democratic party and served for one term as township trustee of Union township and was for some time a member of the Unionville school board. He belongs to Unionville Lodge, No. 665, I. O. O. F., and he and his wife are members of the Eastertide Lodge, No. 155, of the Rebekahs. Both belong to the Methodist Episcopal church in Unionville and their religious faith finds expression in their straighforward and worthy lives. Mr. More is a man who has faithfully discharged every duty imposed upon him, met fully the obligations and responsibilities of life and won for himself a high position in business, social and political circles.
JOHN B. TAYLOR.
John B. Taylor was born in Washington township, Appanoose county, Iowa, and moved with his parents to Centerville, lowa, November 19, 1879, where he has since resided. He is a son of Senator Lewis L. Taylor and Mrs. Miriam Taylor, the latter a daughter of Benjamin H. and Jane Siler.
John B. Taylor attended the public schools of Centerville, after which he took a thorough course in the College of Pharmacy, in the Northwestern University of Chicago, Illinois. Since that time he has been engaged in the drug business until the year 1910, when he was elected to the office
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of county auditor of Appanoose county. He was reelected to the office at the general election, November 5, 1912.
On the 9th of January, 1907, John B. Taylor was married to Miss Katharine Eby, who was born in Moulton, this county, and is a daughter of S. J. C. and Grace Eby, whose maiden name was Grace Price. Mr. and Mrs. John B. Taylor and her parents are members of the Christian church.
SOLOMON W. BEER.
Solomon W. Beer, one of the well-known and prosperous farmers of l'leasant township, owns and operates a tract of land of three hundred and twenty acres, which is known as the Highland Stock Farm and which is one of the most valuable and productive properties in this part of Appanoose county. He is a native son of Iowa, born in Walnut town- ship, December 31, 1861. His father, Joseph Beer, was born in Miami county, Ohio, and grew to maturity in that section, coming to Iowa when he was a young man. He made permanent location in Appanoose county and soon after his arrival bought land in what is now Walnut township.
He was married in Kansas to Miss Sarah Sheets, a native of South Carolina, where she was reared and educated. They began their wedded life upon the undeveloped farm which Mr. Beer had purchased and worked to- gether through the years, finally winning prosperity and success. The father of our subject improved one hundred and sixty acres and later added to this tract, becoming finally the owner of two hundred acres, which constituted one of the best farms in Walnut township. He died upon his property in 1899 and was survived by his wife until 1902. In their family were four sons and one daughter: S. W .. of this review; one son, who died in infancy ; Ed, who is a farmer in Appanoose county; Martha, who resides in Missouri ; and Dr. George Beer, deceased, who was an osteopath, located in Minnesota.
Solomon W. Beer grew to manhood upon his father's farm in Walnut township, acquiring his education in the district schools. After he had attained his majority he purchased eighty acres of land, slightly improved, in Pleasant township, which constitutes a portion of his present holdings. He at once began to cultivate and improve this tract, built a fine two-story residence, two large barns and an entire set of improvements for the use of a tenant. He has also planted an orchard and, as his financial resources grew, added to his original tract, becoming finally the owner of three
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hundred and twenty acres. He keeps everything about the place in ex- cellent condition and is numbered among the progressive and enterprising agriculturists of this section of the state. In addition to the cultivation of the land he is extensively interested in raising good grades of stock, keeping fine herds of Hereford cattle, Duroc Jersey hogs and a good grade of draft horses. He owns also one hundred and sixty acres in Brown county, South Dakota, and is prominent in business affairs of Numa, Iowa, being one of the promoters and stockholders of the bank in that com- munity.
On February 12, 1884, Mr. Beer was united in marriage to Miss Arthela Haines, who was born and reared in Appanoose county. She is a daughter of David Haines, one of the pioneers in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Beer have three children: Henry Irving, who resides in South Dakota; Frank R., of Des Moines, Iowa; and Grace Ethel, the wife of E. C. , Woodburn, a druggist of Watsonville, California. The family are mem- bers of the Christian church of Cincinnati.
Mr. Beer gives his allegiance to the democratic party, with which he has been affiliated since casting his first vote. He is interested in school matters and for a time served as a director on the board of education. He has spent his entire life in Appanoose county and his upright and honorable methods and standards have gained him a wide circle of friends. Although he is not an active politician, he keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought in matters of general interest and of local importance and his record of well-directed activity, with its resulting success, is a proof of what industry, diligence and business ability will accomplish.
JAMES W. HIBBS.
Among the successful and prominent native sons of Appanoose county may be numbered James W. Hibbs, mayor of Numa, who since 1883 has conducted a general store and has become in the course of years a power and a force in business circles of that community. He was born at what was then known as Hibbsville, in Franklin township, February 2. 1859, and is a son of James and Martha E. (Cooley) Hibbs, natives of Indiana. The father came to Appanoose county in the early days of its settlement and purchased land. He turned over the management of his extensive property interests to his sons and he himself engaged in the general merchandise business in Hibbsville, a town which was named in his honor. He was gradually carried forward into important relations
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with its business life and for forty years conducted his mercantile enter- prise there, serving in addition as postmaster. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in an Iowa regiment and served for nine months, returning at the expiration of that time and resuming the conduct of his business affairs. He died August 14, 1904, and his death was regretted throughout the section in which for many years he had made his home, as it was felt to be a distinct loss to business and financial development. He had survived his wife only eight months, her death having occurred December 21, 1903.
James W. Hibbs was reared and educated in Appanoose county, where he attended district school. Until he was twenty years of age he assisted his father with the work of the farm and then began his independent career, giving his attention to business affairs. He worked at bridge building and at coal mining until 1883, when he came to Numa and established himself in the general merchandise business, in which he has since engaged. He carries a large and complete stock of goods and occupies one of the finest business buildings in the city, a store which he erected in 1899 and which was the first brick building in the town. He has been accorded a liberal patronage owing to his reasonable prices, his honorable methods of dealing and his earnest desire to please his patrons. Being a far-sighted and able business man he has from time to time made judicious investments and has just completed the erection of a large brick hotel building, forty-four by fifty-six feet, which is situated on the public square of the town and is now occupied by a hotel, restaurant and barber shop. In addition to his activity as a general merchant Mr. Hibbs also served as postmaster under President Cleveland's administration. He is prominently and influentially connected with the general business life of the community, being a stockholder and director in the Numa State Savings Bank and well known in the affairs of other important enterprises.
In November, 1883, Mr. Hibbs was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Leek, a daughter of Francis and Sarah (Whitsell) Leek, the former a native of England and the latter of Indiana. The father came to Appa- noose county before the Civil war and purchased a farm in that section, which he improved and operated until his death, which occurred April 20. 1907. His wife survived him until January 16, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Hibbs became the parents of three children: Grace May, who died in 1886; Teddy E., aged ten; and Frances, aged five.
Fraternally Mr. Hibbs is connected with the Masonic order, belonging to the Order of the Eastern Star and is also well known in the Knights of Pythias and the Order of Foresters. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party. He is progressive and publie-spirited in all
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matters of citizenship, taking an active part in the affairs of the community in which he has resided for so many years. At the present time he is serving as mayor of Numa, his administration being characterized by able, businesslike and straightforward work. His business career is one of which he has every reason to be proud, for he has placed his dependence upon the substantial qualities of energy, self-reliance and high integrity. Thus he has steadily advanced in the business world until he is now one of the leading and representative men of Numa.
ADAM BURKHISER.
Adam Burkhiser is one of the active, sturdy and enterprising citizens whom Germany has given to America and he stands high in the list of notable pioneers in Iowa, having come to the state in 1855. He is today a successful and prominent farmer of Franklin township, where he owns a tract of two hundred and forty acres on section 7, eighty acres on section 6 and one hundred and sixty-seven acres on section 2 and where his work for over fifty years has been an important factor in agricultural develop- ment. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, August 25, 1834, and is a son of Sebastian Burkhiser, also a native of the fatherland, who grew to man- hood, married there and there passed away in 1843, when the subject of this review was only nine years of age. Afterward the mother married again and with her family crossed the Atlantic to America, locating in West Virginia in the spring of 1850.
Adam Burkhiser was reared in the fatherland and West Virginia and attended the public schools, there working upon a farm when not engaged with his books. He married in West Virginia in 1853 and in 1855 came west to Iowa, locating in Lee county among the very earliest settlers there. He worked by the day and by the month for a short time. but during the Civil war enlisted as a member of the Border Brigade, a cavalry regiment. and was mustered into service in Missouri. He served with loyalty and courage during his period of service and after his discharge went to Van Buren county, where he preempted forty acres of land. In order to enter his claim to the property he was obliged to walk over one hundred miles to the land office, a long, hard journey through a sparsely settled country. The pioneers along the way helped him with friendly hospitality, but even with this aid Mr. Burkhiser spent ten or twelve days upon the journey and the walk is indelibly stamped upon his memory as one of the hardest of his early pioneer experiences. When he had proved his title he settled
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upon his forty acre tract and carried forward the work of improvement until 1865, when he sold the farm and moved into Appanoose county. In the same year he purchased eighty acres in Washington township, forty acres of which were under cultivation and the whole slightly improved. To this he later added forty adjoining acres and farmed upon his one hundred and twenty acre tract until 1870, repairing the buildings and making other needed changes. When he sold this property he bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 7, Franklin township, upon which he still resides. This was another tract of raw land and Mr. Burkhiser has added its improvement and development to a long list of his sub- stantial contributions to the agricultural advancement of fowa. He broke the soil, fenced and drained the property, erected the necessary buildings and began the work of development. From time to time he added to his holdings and is now the proprietor of four hundred and eighty-seven acres which is divided into four farms, all well improved. He has built a substantial residence upon the home place, two fine barns and convenient outbuildings and in addition has set out an orchard which has proved a valuable source of income. Mr. Burkhiser is likewise extensively in- terested in stock-raising, in which he has been engaged for a number of years, and annually ships large herds of steers to Chicago, where they command a high price and a ready sale. He has also bred some high- grade horses and this forms another important source of income to him. Mr. Burkhiser commenced his life in Iowa with a capital of three dollars and by his own labor and industry has accomplished a gratifying degree of success. The struggle for prosperity was a long and hard one and made constant demands upon his patience, industry and courage. These qual- ities. however, were strong elements in his character and were supplemented by quiet determination, independence and self-reliance which eventually brought their just reward. Mr. Burkhiser stands today among the sub- stantial and influential men of Franklin township and his career may serve as an inspiration to those who follow after him.
Mr. Burkhiser has been three times married. His first union occurred in West Virginia in 1853. in which year he married Miss Catherine Dayton, who passed away in 1873, having met death by an accident. To this union were born seven children: Mrs. May Ann Prophet, a widow with three children; Alice, who became the wife of James Harris, of Mills county, Iowa; Ed, who is married and is engaged in operating one of his fathers' farms; H. G., a railroad agent and telegraph operator at Mystic ; Sarah, the wife of Thomas Bales, of Franklin township; and two, who died in childhood. Mr. Burkhiser's second union was with Miss Elvira Hickenbottom, whom he wedded in Appanoose county in 1873. Her
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death occurred in 1888, and afterward Mr. Burkhiser married his present wife, who was in her maidenhood Miss Rosa Shabley, a native of Germany but reared and educated in Ohio. At the time of her marriage to the subject of this review she was the widow of Ferdinand Graber. Mr. and Mrs. Burkhiser have a son, Charles, who for the past five or six years has operated a portion of the Burkhiser farm. He married on October 17, 1912, at Humeston, Miss Stella Davidson, who was born in that city.
Mr. Burkhiser gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is progressive and active in community affairs, although he never seeks public office. He and his wife are members of the Mount Olive Christian church and are widely known as people of exemplary character. Mr. Burkhiser is affiliated with the Farmers Society of Equity, with head- quarters at Indianapolis, and still retains his membership, although the local lodge is now disbanded. No man in Appanoose county has been more closely identified with its pioneer development or a more powerful force in its later expansion. Mr. Burkhiser enjoys the trust and confidence of people among whom he has lived for so many years and who know the history of the struggle by which he worked his way upward to prosperity.
THOMAS WESLEY KILLION.
Journalism finds a worthy representative in Thomas Wesley Killion, owner and publisher of the Centerville Weekly Sun. He was born in Orleans, Appanoose county, Iowa, July 7, 1860, a son of Thomas Jefferson Killion, who was engaged in general merchandising at Orleans at the time of the birth of his son Thomas. He also held the position of justice of the peace there and was prominent in democratie circles before the war, being regarded as a local oracle in political connections. He married Jeannette Ann Killion, a most consistent Christian woman.
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