USA > Iowa > Calhoun County > Past and present of Calhoun County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress, and achievement, Volume II > Part 4
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CAPTAIN WILLIAM H. FITCH
MRS. WILLIAM H. FITCH
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After acquiring his early education in the public schools of the Empire state Captain William H. Fitch entered the St. Lawrence Academy, in which he was pursuing a civil engineering course when the war broke out. As soon as it was evident that there was really to be an armed conflict between the north and the south he decided that it was his duty to go to the defense of the Union and accordingly in July. 1861, he offered his services to the Federal government at Can- ton, New York. On the organization of Company A, Sixtieth New York Volunteer Infantry, he was appointed corporal and not long thereafter was made orderly sergeant. At Chancellorsville he was commissioned first lieutenant in recognition of his meritorious service and a short time later was made captain. After participating in the campaign in the Shenandoah valley and taking part in many engage- ments, including those of Harpers Ferry, Port Royal and Winches- ter, his command was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and fought in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Later his regiment was transferred to the Army of the West and was engaged at Wanhatchie, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Ringgold, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta, being continuously under fire for many days. For a time the command was stationed at Stevenson, Alabama, guarding railroads, and it was with Sherman on his march from Atlanta to Savannah. Captain Fitch's regiment was the first to enter Atlanta and its colors were the first to float from any of the public buildings. Not long after the battle of Goldsboro news came of Lee's surrender, and the army with which Captain Fitch was connected then proceeded to Wash- ington, where it participated in the grand review, a pageant which none who witnessed it can ever forget. Captain Fitch had re-enlisted as a veteran soon after the battle of Lookout Mountain and con- tinned in the military service of the United States until he was hon- orably discharged at Alexandria, Virginia, in July, 1865. Three times the colors of his regiment were shot down at Lookout Moun- tain, but in that engagement the regiment captured a Confederate flag and General Walthall's sword was taken by Captain Fitch, who took it off the wall of the cabin in which that officer was eating his breakfast. The Captain was the first man on the mountain the day of its capture. At Chancellorsville Captain Fitch was wounded in the right leg by a minie ball and several times during his service his hat and clothing were perforated by rebel bullets. He was ill with typhoid fever for some time but as soon as possible re joined his com- mand at the front. For six months he served as inspector on the staff's of Generals Green, Garey, Mendall and Bartlett, and at the Vol. II-3
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close of the war he was commissioned as lieutenant colonel. He was in every engagement from Lookout Mountain until Sherman's army reached the sea, including forty battles and skirmishes. He was an excellent officer, cool and courageous, and held the unqualified respect of his men.
When the war was over Captain Fiteh returned to his old home in New York and in the fall of 1865 eame west, making his way to Chi- cago. thenee to Omaha by way of the Missouri river and on to Fre- mont, Nebraska, where he expected to enter the civil engineering department of the Union Pacific Railroad, which was then being construeted. He did not remain there long, however, and that winter taught school at Lake City, Iowa. Subsequently he bought land southeast of the city and devoted his time to agricultural pursuits until 1887, when he took up his residence in Lake City and conducted a store in partnership with J. J. Hutchison for four years. At the end of that time he abandoned mercantile pursuits and returned to the farm, where he remained until 1906, in which year he retired from active life and again beeame a resident of Lake City, where he was living at the time of his demise. He was one of the progressive and efficient agriculturists of the county and contributed in no small measure to the development of the stoek-raising interests of his local- ity as he was the first man to breed full blooded shorthorn cattle. He also gained a gratifying measure of success as a merchant during the four years that he was a factor in business cireles of Lake City.
Captain Fitch was a loyal worker in the ranks of the republican party and did much to insure its success at the polls. His fitness for official preferment was recognized by his fellow citizens and he was elected to a number of positions of trust and honor. In 1866 he was made clerk of the district court, which office he held until 1873. In that year he was elected state senator and during the four years that he represented his distriet in the upper house of the legislature he aided in securing the passage of unich beneficial legislation. He also rendered valuable publie service as a member of the building com- mittee of the state capitol. For six years he held the office of super- visor and always took a particularly keen interest in everything that related to the welfare of his home county.
Captain Fiteh was united in marriage in 1866 to Miss Sarah E. Lindsey, a native of Michigan but then a resident of Lake City. They became the parents of four children, two of whom are still liv- ing. namely: Lora A., who married E. A. Losee and has one child, William F'iteh Losee: and John, who resides upon the family home- stead.
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Captain Fitch was an enthusiastic member of the Grand Army of the Republic and his widow belongs to the Woman's Relief Corps. He was for many years a consistent and devoted member of the Church of Christ, seeking continually to advance the cause of Chris- tianity, and his life was a power for righteousness in his comummity. He realized the importance of religious training for the youth of the land and recognized the fact that the Sunday school is the organiza- tion which ean best give such training. He was a leader in local Sun- day-school circles and contributed the first sum of money given in the commmity for Sunday-school purposes. His faithfulness to duty in all relations of life, his sterling manhood and his willingness to place the general good before private ends gained for him not only the respect but also the warm regard of those who knew him. In his passing Calhoun county lost a valued and honored citizen.
ALBERT F. VOLBERDING.
For the past five years, or since 1910, Albert F. Volberding has efficiently served as cashier of the First National Bank at Pomeroy and is numbered among the enterprising young business men of this city. He was born in Grundy county, Iowa, April 1, 1880, a son of Charles and Sophia (Weiss) Volberding, both natives of Cook county, Illinois, but of German parentage. The father eame to Iowa in 1874 and purchased land in Grundy county at ten dollars and a half per acre. This he developed and improved and from that time until ten years ago he was identified with agricultural pursuits. He now makes his home at Reinbeck, Iowa.
Albert F. Volberding was reared on the home farm and there acquired habits of thrift and industry, for from an carly age he assisted in the work of the fields, while in the winter seasons he attended the public schools. He later attended a teachers' college and also pursued a business course in Tobin College at Fort Dodge. Subsequently for two years he engaged in teaching a rural school in Grundy county, while for one year he was employed as clerk in a store in Dike. He was then made assistant cashier in what is now the Farmers Savings Bank at Manson, remaining in that position seven years. In 1910 he came to Pomeroy and accepted the cashier- ship of the First National Bank of this city, to succeed A. B. Nixon. He is proving a most worthy and trusted bank official and is capable of caring for the business which comes under his supervision. The
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First National Bank is one of the important financial coneerns of Calhoun county and the enterprise of Mr. Volberding is proving an important factor in the successful eonduet of the institution.
Mr. Volberding chose as a companion and helpmate for the jour- ney of life, Miss Bertha Zell, their marriage taking place August 24. 1904. She was born on a farm near Manson, a daughter of G. A. Zell, a retired farmer now making his home in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Volberding have become the parents of three daughters, Eleanor, Laura and Ruth.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Volberding are members of the Lutheran church, while in polities he is a republiean, although not active in the party ranks. He has ever had an ambition to reach the highest point. Ile is strong in his energy to overcome every difficulty and has never permitted anything to thwart or retard him in his progress toward the desired end, and thus he has passed from positions of humble capacity into a place of prominence with one of the well known and most successfully conducted financial enterprises of Calhoun county.
U. L. ANDERSON.
U. L. Anderson, a prominent and prosperous resident of Rock- well City, has been successfully engaged in the real-estate business there during the past six years. His birth oeeurred on the 19th of September, 1872, his parents being J. T. and Annie (Flint) Ander- son, who were born in the eastern part of Virginia. Thence they made their way to Chillicothe, Ross county, Ohio, where the father conducted a cooperage business until the time of the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted for service with the Union army as a member of the Fifty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. With that command he remained until the eessation of hostilities between the north and the south, participating in the battle of Gettysburg. where he lost part of his left foot, and also in the engagement at Shiloh and Immerous lesser encounters. He returned home with a most eredit- able military record as a brave and loyal soldier and again engaged in the cooperage business, successfully conducting an enterprise of that character during the remainder of his life. He gave his political allegianee to the democracy and was a charter member of Perey Post. G. A. R., at Jasper, Ohio. His wife passed away at Jasper, Pike county. Ohio, in December, 1872.
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U. L. Anderson was reared and edueated at Jasper, Ohio, and after putting aside his textbooks secured employment as a farm hand. In 1890 and 1891 he attended Valparaiso University of Valparaiso, Indiana. and the following winter continued his studies in the univer- sity at Champaign, Illinois. In the spring of 1893 he came to Cal- houn county, Iowa, and here worked as a farm hand at a wage of eighteen dollars per month for five years. In 1899 he rented a farm of two hundred and forty acres, successfully devoting his attention to the raising of grain as well as eattle and other stoek until 1907. He removed to Kidder county, North Dakota, in the spring of the latter year and there took up a elaim which he improved and subse- quently sold. On returning to this eounty in 1909 he embarked in the real-estate business at Roekwell City, where he has since built up an extensive and profitable enterprise of that character.
On the 4th of April, 1900, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Walter, who was born in Polk county, Iowa, Mareh 25, 1873, her parents being John and Charlotte Walter, of West- moreland county, Pennsylvania. She was reared and educated in Rockwell City, this county, and by her marriage has become the mother of two daughters, Julia and Mary.
Politically Mr. Anderson is a democrat and he has done able pub- lie service as elerk of Center township. Fraternally he is identified with the following organizations: Lodge No. 529 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows: Rockwell Camp, No. 422, of the Woodmen of the World; and Rising Sun Encampment, No. 149. He has always been loyal and faithful to every trust and is justly entitled to a place in a work of permanent interest to people of Calhoun eounty.
DE WITT S. PARKER.
De Witt S. Parker is a representative of one of the most promi- nent pioneer families of Calhoun county and is today numbered among the large landowners of the locality. He was born in Little Valley, Cattaraugus county, New York, December 1, 1860, a son of W. D. and Helen M. (Jones) Parker. The father was likewise a native of the Empire state and was there reared and educated. Sub- sequent to completing the public-school course he attended an acad- emy at Utica. New York, so that he was well prepared to enter upon the responsibilities of life when he reached mature years. He was there married, after which he engaged in farming for some years in
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the east. In 1867, believing that the middle west offered splendid opportunities to the agriculturist, he journeyed with his family to IJardin county, Iowa, and there purchased eighty acres of land, which he cultivated for only one year. In the spring of 1868 he sought a home in Calhoun county, taking up a homestead claim about a mile west of where the town of Pomeroy now stands. During the first summer the family lived in a sod house with Jacob Foster until Mr. Parker could erect a home of his own. In due time he completed a small house, sixteen by twenty-four feet, on his own claim and in this the family took up their abode. The land was unimproved and the soil still remained in its virgin state, so that it was a long and strenuous task that was presented to him but he met existing condi- tions with firm resolution and began the improvement of his place. Ile was in limited circumstances, however, so that it was necessary for him in the meantime to seek a means of supporting himself and family. During the fall of 1869 the railroad was in course of con- struction through Pomeroy and Mr. Parker secured work on that line, and he worked at anything else that would bring him an honest dollar. He also trapped muskrats and in various ways sought a means of support, while at the same time he managed to save enough from his earnings to gradually improve his farm. He added to his holdings from time to time until his possessions comprised four hun- dred acres of very valuable land adjoining Pomeroy. For almost a quarter of a century he engaged in farming here and during that time acquired a competence that permitted him to retire from active labor. Accordingly in the spring of 1893 he put aside business cares and erected a substantial residence in Pomeroy, to which he removed. On the 6th of July, following, however, his home was destroyed by a cyclone and he and his wife both narrowly escaped injury and it was only due to the fact that they were able to reach the home of their son that their lives were saved. Mr. Parker at once rebuilt and lived here until his death, which occurred May 18, 1908, when he was sev- enty-two years of age. While not accepting any religious creed or uniting with any church, he was nevertheless deeply religious in thought and of singular purity of life and he contributed generously to the support of various denominations. He was a republican and held various local offices, for he was public spirited in a marked degree. He was truly a self-made man, for when he came here as one of the earliest pioneers he was confronted with many of the discouragements that beset one in a new and unbroken country. IIe would work hard to plant his crop only to have it destroyed by the grasshoppers but with renewed energy he would continue his work
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from year to year until he acquired a competence that enabled hin to spend his last days in well earned ease. ITis estimable wife, who was a native of the same locality in which he was born, proved a most courageous pioneer woman and a valuable helpmate to him. She, too. has passed away, her death occurring April 1, 1910, when she had reached the age of seventy-six years. They had but two chil- dren, the sister of our subject being Anna, who became the wife of Charles Darling and the mother of four children, but Mrs. Darling is deceased.
De Witt S. Parker, the only son and the younger child, was a little lad of less than eight years when the family removed from New York to Iowa, so that he endured many of the hardships and privations incident to the establishment of a home on the frontier. He acquired an education such as was obtainable at that early period and assisted his father in the work of the home farm until he attained his majority, when he was given an interest in its operation. They also engaged in buying, feeding and shipping cattle for many years and Mr. Parker also dealt in horses to some extent. He is now the owner of the homestead comprising four hundred acres and recently purchased forty acres adjoining, for which he paid two hundred and seventy-five dollars per aere, and his son is now living thereon. Mr. Parker was continuously identified with farming and stock-raising interests until 1901, when he rented the farm and took up his abode in Pomeroy, where he has since made his home.
It was on the 29th of October, 1884, that Mr. Parker was mar- ried to Miss Clara Seely, a native of Peoria county, Illinois, born September 16. 1868, and a daughter of Henry and Charlotte (Cad- well) Seely. The father was born in Illinois but came to Webster county when the daughter was four years old. There he engaged in farming until two years prior to his death, which occurred at the comparatively early age of forty-one years. His wife was a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Thomas Cadwell, who removed to Illinois at an early day, so that she was there reared and married. In 1872 Thomas Cadwell drove from the Prairie state to Calhoun county, Iowa, and here homesteaded a elaim in Butler township. He followed farming for many years but spent the last years of his life in retirement in Pomeroy, and there he passed away when about eighty years of age.
To Mr. and Mrs. Parker have been born six children: Grace, the wife of Stanley Fracker, who is a professor in the State University at Madison, Wisconsin: Jesse De Witt, who is engaged in farming in Butler township; Ray S., who is a dealer in automobiles at Eagle
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Grove, Iowa; Harley H., in school; and Nellie D. and Donald G., both at home. Mrs. Parker is a member of the Presbyterian chureh.
Mr. Parker has ever followed in the politieal footsteps of his father and has supported the principles of the republican party. Both he and his wife are members of two of the prominent pioneer families of this locality and they are fully sustaining the reputation that has always been borne by these families and they feel that there is no more desirable place for a quiet home than is found here in this community which their honored fathers helped to establish.
JOIIN B. BLAIR.
John B. Blair, who passed away on the 22d of August. 1912, had been a resident of Calhoun county for a period of thirty-eight years and was widely recognized as one of its substantial agriculturists and esteemed eitizens. His life proved eonelusively that snecess is not a matter of genius, but rather the outeome of clear judgment and unfaltering diligence. Ile acquired a comfortable competence entirely through his own efforts and became the owner of a very valuable farm of one hundred and twenty aeres, pleasantly and con- veniently located within a mile of Yetter. He took up his abode in Calhoun eounty in March, 1874, and was therefore numbered among its early settlers. Pennsylvania was the state of his nativity, his birth having oeeurred in Crawford county on the 8th of October, 1840. His father, James Blair, was a native of the Keystone state, and Moses Blair, the grandfather, was one of the pioneers there. Having arrived at years of maturity, James Blair wooed and won Miss Naney MaeElhaney and upon a farm in the Keystone state they began their domestic life. Five children were born to them in that locality and in 1849 James Blair removed with his family to Wisconsin, settling in Lafayette county. There he purchased from the government two hundred and forty aeres of land which was cov- ered with timber. Clearing away the trees and preparing the land for cultivation, he transformed it into riehly cultivated fields and continued to operate that farm until his death. His first wife died in Wisconsin and he was afterward married again. In the family were four sons and three daughters who reached years of maturity.
John B. Blair was reared on the old Wisconsin homestead, working in the fields and enjoying the pleasures in which boys of
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that period usually indulged. The district schools furnished him his educational privileges, and when the Civil war was inaugurated he responded to his country's call, enlisting on the 30th of May, 1861. He had watched with interest the progress of events and resolved that if the south attempted to overthrow the Union he would strike a blow in its behalf. Accordingly when a military organization was formed in his neighborhood, he joined it, and as a member of Com- pany I. Third Wisconsin Infantry, went to the front, his regiment being attached to the Army of the Potomac. In many important hattles he faced the enemy's fire, taking part in the engagements at Harpers Ferry, Winchester, the second battle of Bull Run and the battle of Cedar Mountain. At the last named place his brother, Robert Blair, was wounded, part of his right hand being torn away, thus permanently disabling him. He was also in the battles of Bev- erly Ford, Antietam and Gettysburg, and after the last named he went to New York and aided in enforcing the draft. When the dis- turbanee was quelled in the metropolis, Mr. Blair returned to Rappa- hannock and thenee was sent to Chattanooga under General Hooker, taking part in the Tennessee campaign. He was in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Resaca, Dallas and Pumpkin Vine Creek. He was also in the Atlanta campaign and the battle of Snake Creek Gap and aided in the capture of the city of Atlanta, after which he went with Sherman on the memorable march to the sea, taking part in numerous skirmishes on the way. He was also at Raleigh when Johnston surrendered and later marched through Richmond and on to Washington, participating in the grand review which terminated the war, the victorious army marching by the reviewing stand on which stood the president. It was the most celebrated military pageant ever seen on the western hemisphere. Mr. Blair was then sent to Louisville, Kentucky, where he was honorably discharged June 18, 1865. He was never ill or wounded and always escaped capture. He remained faithfully at his post of duty and received but one furlough, being at home for thirty days in the winter of 1863. He was at home on the Ist of January, 1864, a day which was so bitterly cold that it is memorable in the history of the state.
After receiving an honorable discharge Mr. Blair returned to his home in Wisconsin and resumed work on the farm where he was reared. He was married in Green county, Wisconsin, on the 18th of April, 1867, to Miss Sylvia A. Allen, a native of Sandusky county, Ohio, and a daughter of J. B. Allen, who was likewise born in the Buckeye state. He was graduated in Zanesville, Ohio, and was a sueeessful and popular teacher for many years. In 1857 he removed
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to Green county, Wisconsin, and there again engaged in teaching. IIe spent his remaining days in that county, passing away in 1874.
Mr. and Mrs. Blair began their domestie life in Wiseonsin and became the parents of nine sons and two daughters: William B., who wedded Miss Laura Donahue and followed earpentering in Woon- socket, South Dakota, until his demise in 1910: Louis J., who mar- ried Miss Edith Riley and makes his home in Rutland, South Da- kota: Frank C., an agriculturist of Sac county, Iowa, who wedded Miss Nora Fahan: Fred L., who wedded Miss Marian Riley and is a practicing physician of Lytton, Iowa: Edwin J., who married Miss Ida Hohn and is a resident of Yetter; Ralph. who wedded Miss Net- tie Basler and follows farming in Elm Grove township, this county; Harry, who married Miss Pearl Hawthorne and also follows farming in Elm Grove township: Minnie J., who is the wife of George Yep- son, a retired agrieulturist residing in Yetter; and Lizzie, the wife of Jasper Yepson, who is now serving as postmaster of Yetter. Mr. and Mrs. Blair also lost two children in infancy, Thomas B. and Law- renee G.
After residing for some time in Wisconsin, Mr. Blair came with his family to Iowa in 1874, purchasing land upon which he built a little house. He at once began to break his farm and in the course of years made it a very valuable tract. His first home was subse- quently replaced by a more modern and commodious residence. He also built a barn, put in a windmill, planted fruit and shade trees and added all the accessories and conveniences of a model farm of the twentieth century. He raised a high grade of stoek and from this branch of his business derived a good income. On questions of national importanee he voted with the republican party, but at local eleetions, where no issue was involved, he considered only the capa- bility of the candidate and voted independently. His first presiden- tial ballot supported Abraham Lincoln and was east while he was a member of the army in 1864. He was never an office-seeker but served as road supervisor for seventeen years in the township and five years in his district. Ile also acted as township trustee and was sent as a delegate to various county conventions. Socially he was connected with the Odd Fellows lodge of Yetter, having been made a member of the organization in Auburn. He likewise belonged to the Grand Army Post at Lake City and found pleasure in recalling the incidents that occurred when he was upon the tented field or in the midst of battle. Ile was always as true to his duties of citizenship as when the country needed his aid and he followed the stars and stripes through the south. He gave his support to all measures that
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