USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 53
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1224
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
MILTON O. MUSSER.
Holding worthy prestige among the representative business men of West Union and distinctively the leading merchant of the city, the subject of this sketch has made his influence felt in business circles and, though comparatively a young man, he has already forged to the front as a leader in all that makes for the general welfare of the community. Milton O. Musser is a native of the grand old Keystone state, which has furnished the West with so many men of ability and sterling worth, being the youngest of seven children, whose parents, Daniel .\. and Lydia (Schneffler) Musser, were also born and reared in that commonwealth. Daniel A. Musser, who first saw the light of day in Center county, Pennsylvania, was by occupation a farmer and miller, owning at one time two flouring-mills and saw-mills; he also dealt very largely in lumber, grain and coal, besides manufacturing cement on quite an extensive scale. In addition to the above interests, he purchased from time to time large tracts of unimproved land, the timber from which he manufactured into lum- ber, this with his other enterprises proving remunerative and making him one of the wealthy men of the county. He was much more than ordinarily ener- getic and successful and everything to which he turned his attention appeared to prosper. A man of affairs and public spirited in all the term implies, he took an active interest in political matters and was twice honored by being elected treasurer of Center county, besides filling various other positions of honor and trust. He departed this life on June 30, 1880, leaving a widow and five children to mourn his loss, the names of the latter being F. Pierce Musser, editor and proprietor of the Journal, published at Milheim, Pennsylvania ; Juniata, wife of A. Walter, cashier of the Milheim Banking Company ; Mrs. T. R. Stamm, of West Union, Iowa (see sketch) ; H. Clymer, a traveling salesman living at Waterloo, this state, and Milton O., subject of this sketch.
Milton O. Musser was born in February, 1870, at Milheim, Center county, Pennsylvania, and spent his childhood and youth in his native town, receiving his educational discipline in the schools of the same. At the age of thirteen he began his business career as bookkeeper with the Milheim Bank- ing Company, a position he filled with ability and credit for a period of five years, when he resigned with the object in view of improving his fortune in the west. Coming to West Union, Iowa, in 1890, he entered the employ of his brother-in-law, T. R. Stam, with whom he remained three years, at the expiration of which time he and his brother, H. C. Musser, purchased the only exclusive shoe business in the city which they conducted as partners during the six years ensuing.
MILTON O. MUSSER.
١٠٠
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FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
Disposing of his interest in the business to his brother at the end of the time indicated, Mr. Musser bought the dry goods store of T. R. Stam, of which he is still proprietor and which, as stated in a preceding paragraph, is the largest establishment of the kind in the city and second to few in the north- eastern part of the state. The building in which this extensive and rapidly growing business is conducted is one hundred and ten by twenty-five feet in area, with basement under the entire floor, the various departments being thoroughly equipped with modern conveniences and especially adapted to the end which they are intended to subserve. Mr. Musser handles full lines of everything demanded in the dry goods trade, also complete stocks of ladies' cloaks and other wearing apparel, men's clothing, boots, shoes and furnishing goods, notions, etc., all carefully selected and calculated to satisfy the most critical and exacting. The services of five clerks are required to meet the demands of the numerous patrons and the business, quite extensive when the present proprietor took charge, has greatly increased under his efficient man- agement, not the least of his success being his efforts to please and the true courtesy which he manifests not only in his relations with customers, but at all times and under all circumstances.
Mr. Musser possesses business ability of a high order, which he displays in buying as well as in selling, and being satisfied with legitimate gains he has never ventured into any kind of speculation or adopted schemes which, how- ever attractive, never appealed to his sense of justice. He has pursued a straightforward, honorable course, treating all who patronize him with im- partial fairness and ever keeping in view the reciprocity of interests which must obtain between tradesman and patron if true success is to be attained. Since coming to West Union he has won a warm place in the hearts of the people of the community and his continued advancement in their good graces attest the confidence with which he is regarded by the public.
Mr. Musser was married in the month of April, 1892, to Ella G. Finch, daughter of Benoni W. and Mary E. (Butler) Finch, the families of both par- ents being among the early settlers of Fayette county. Mr. Finch died in 1909, leaving a widow who is still living and three children, viz: Gilbert B., of Oklahoma City; Margaret, now Mrs. Earl Branch, of West Union, and the wife of the subject. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Musser has been blessed with one son, Paul, who was born May 30, 1903. In his political views Mr. Musser is a Republican and his fraternal relations are represented by the order of Royal Neighbors, a secret society founded upon the principles of mutual protection, the cultivation of the social instinct and life insurance, his wife being a member of the same order.
1226
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
J. M. BURNSIDE.
One of the influential citizens of Waucoma, Fayette county, is the gen- tleman to whose career the attention of the reader is now directed, who is a leading druggist of the county. A man of excellent endowments and up- right character, he has been a valued factor in local affairs and has ever com- manded unequivocal confidence and esteem, being loyal to the upbuilding of his community and ever vigilant in his efforts to further the interests of his city along material, moral and civic lines.
J. M. Burnside was born in Franklinville, McHenry county, Illinois, July 29, 1851, and he is the son of George and Olive M. Burnside, an ex- cellent old family of McHenry county. The father was born on March 21, 1821, at Oneonta. Otsego county, New York, and the mother was born at Smithport, Pennsylvania.
When young in years, J. M. Burnside came to Fayette county, Iowa, and he has spent the major portion of his life at Waucoma, having received his education in the schools here. When a mere boy he decided to devote his life work to the drug business, and he began in this line in 1873 and has been in the trade continuously ever since, being one of the best known druggists in this and adjoining counties. He has a neat, well arranged and well kept store, always carefully stocked with a choice line of drugs, sundries and everything that a modern drug store carries, and he has long enjoyed a very liberal trade with towns and surrounding country.
On February 22, 1876, Mr. Burnside married Etta Stine, daughter of S. H. and Lavona Stine, a highly respected and well established family of Waucoma. Mr. Burnside's family by his first wife consisted of three chil- dren. namely: E. Winfield, Lottie and George Harold, the latter being de- ceased. His first wife dying in 1885, Mr. Burnside married Etta L. Talcott, in 1886. She is the daughter of F. H. and Almira Talcott, a well known family of Illyria township, this county, and two children have been born to this union, Deane C. and Chester M.
Politically, Mr. Burnside is a Republican. He was a member of the board of county supervisors, having been appointed after the death of Super- visor Wells, and he was elected twice, thus serving seven years and one month in a very acceptable manner. The most important work done while he was a member of the board was the building of the county home in connection with the county poor farm.
Mr. Burnside was appointed postmaster of Waucoma in 1873 and he held the same to the entire satisfaction of the department and the people until
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FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
Cleveland's first election, when he was succeeded by J. J. Krom. Mr. Burn- side was again appointed on June 21, 1889, and continued in office until in August, 1893. He held the office of township clerk for several years and he has been secretary of the school board for thirty-three years, during which time he has done much for the cause of education in this community; in fact, whatever tends to the betterment in any way of Waucoma and vicinity his ready support may be depended upon.
Fraternally, Mr. Burnside is a member of Standard Lodge No. 351. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Adelphia Chapter No. 113, Royal Arch Masons; Langridge Commandery No. 47, Knights Templar. In all of these he takes much more than a passing interest.
JAMES ALEXANDER ILIFF.
No name in the county of Fayette is better known than that of the sub- ject of this review. The family to which he belongs has been connected with this part of Iowa ever since the country was opened for settlement and for over a half century its representatives have been actively identified with the development and prosperity of the respective localities honored by their resi- dence. The first of the family of this name to migrate to Iowa was Valen- tine Iliff, who moved his family from Ohio in 1848 and settled near the pres- ent site of Eldorado, where his death occurred four years later. Benjamin Iliff, son of Valentine, accompanied his father west, although married at the time, his wife, also a native of Ohio, having formerly been Alvina Morrison.
Benjamin and Alvina Iliff had three children, the oldest of whom, Jas- per N. Iliff, is the present county surveyor of Hamilton county, Iowa, and official engineer of Webster City. James Alexander, of this review, is the second of the family, the youngest being Mrs. Susan Paulson, of Los Angeles, California. Mrs. Iliff dying in November, 1852, Mr. Iliff married a second time the following year, the latter union resulting in the birth of ten children, only three of whom are living, namely, Ira, George and Iva; the father de- parted this life in 1869.
James Alexander Iliff, whose birth occurred on April 13, 1850, claims to be the first white child born within the present limits of Fayette county, although others are inclined to doubt the claim, but sufficient proofs have never been adduced to invalidate the honor to which the subject is undeniably en- titled. Be this as it may, he is without doubt one of the oldest, if not the
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FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
oldest, native resident of the county, and has seen the country developed from a wilderness into one of the finest and most prosperous sections of a state which in all that constitutes an advanced civilization is not exceeded by any other commonwealth in the union. Mr. Iliff was reared on the family home- stead, which he helped clear and reduce to cultivation and as opportunities afforded attended the district schools until acquiring a knowledge of such branches as were then taught. On attaining his majority, he severed home ties and took a homestead at Spirit Lake, but the meanwhile ( 1868) went to Kansas, where he remained about one year attending Lane University.
Mr. Iliff's experience on his claim at Spirit Lake was by no means en- couraging, the destruction of two successive crops by grasshoppers rendering the land practically worthless and inducing him to dispose of it in 1876 for what he could get. Returning to West Union that year, he has made this city his home ever since, but in the meantime he has given his attention to various lines of enterprise and met with success in his business affairs. For about sixteen years he operated a well-drilling outfit, in connection with which he also sold pumps and wind-mills and did a very extensive business in Fayette and adjoining counties. During the last fifteen years he has been engaged in farming and working insurance, building up a large and lucrative patronage in the latter and achieving a wide reputation as an enterprising and honorable business man. Each spring season for a number of years he has given his attention to the manufacture of maple sugar, which he makes and sells in large quantities and in the fall does a very successful business in the manufac- ture of sorghum molasses.
Mr. Iliff has a fine home in the southern part of West Union and is well situated to enjoy the many material comforts and blessings which he has pro- vided for himself and family. He was married on the 28th of October, 1875, to Sarah Ellen Clark, daughter of Lookings and Mary (Kinney) Clark, who in an early day settled in Dover township, Fayette county, where they spent the remainder of their days, both dying a number of years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Iliff have eight living children and three dead; of the former, Royal C., who is the oldest, is in the rural mail service with headquarters at West Union. He is married and the father of two children, Eugene Royal and Frances Ellen, the latter deceased; the wife and mother, previous to her mar- riage, was Glenn M. Wolfe, of Fayette county. Benjamin Clark, the second in order of birth, is deputy state dairy commissioner and lives at Des Moines ; he married Lila Strauss, of this county, the union being without issue. Ray R., the third of the family, married Mrs. Clara (Fitch) Howe, daughter of G. W. and R. A. Fitch, a union blessed with one child, George James. There
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FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
is also a son by the wife's previous union with Mr. Howe, Fitch Lyle Howe, now a student in the West Union high school ; Jennette, the next in succession, is the wife of James C. Hayes, of Dubuque, and the mother of two off- spring. Roscoe Allison, the fifth of the subject's children, is employed in the city of Des Moines; Earl A. is studying civil engineering with his uncle, J. N. Iliff ; Myrtle Marie and Harry J., the youngest members of the family circle, are still under the parental roof and students of the city schools. The children deceased were Hazel, aged three years, Lyle, ten months, and one that died in infancy unnamed.
In his political faith Mr. Iliff is a Prohibitionist and an influential worker in the cause of temperance. He considers the saloon the plague spot upon the national escutcheon and believes the only true way to get rid of it is by prohibiting the manufacture and sale of all kinds of intoxicants. The fam- ily are members of the Wesleyan Methodist church and among the active workers of the local society to which they belong.
OSCAR W. HEISERMAN.
There could be no more comprehensive history written of a city or county or even of a state and its people, than that which deals with the life work of those who, by their own endeavor and indomitable energy, have placed themselves where they well deserve the title of "progressive," and in this sketch will be found the record of one who has outstripped many of the less active and less able plodders on the highway of life, one who has not been subdued by the many obstacles and failures that come to everyone, but who has made them stepping-stones to higher things, and at the same time that he was winning his way in the industrial affairs of life gained a reputation for uprightness and honor.
Oscar W. Heiserman, well known optician, jeweler and watchmaker of West Union, Fayette county, Iowa, is a native of this place, having been born here and spent his life in his home community. His father, William Heiser- man, was born in Ohio, and his mother, who was Anna Cochrane before her marriage, was born at Albany, New York. The father was one of the pio- neers in the manufacturing business at West Union and for many years he was well known and influential in this county. He engaged in the manufac- ture of wagons, which, owing to their superior quality and workmanship, were eagerly sought after and he enjoyed a very liberal patronage, the title of the firm being Peck & Heiserman, and Peck, Wimber & Heiserman.
1230
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
Oscar W. Heiserman received his education in the West Union public and high schools, and he began his business career as student in the professions of watchmaking, engraving and optics, having in due course of time become expert in all. He is a graduate of Woodcock's Horological School, also Trawbridge's Watchmaking and Optical School at Winona, Minnesota. He opened his present store in 1896 and has a neat, well equipped, tastily ar- ranged store and a well-established and extensive trade. He carries a large, valuable, carefully selected and up-to-date stock of goods. Because of the courteous and uniformly honest consideration each customer receives, they invariably remain his friends. He is one of the most expert workmen in the county or this part of the state, his reputation being second to none in this respect.
On September II, 1905, Mr. Heiserman was married to Marie Newman, daughter of H. Newman, of Clarksville, Iowa, a well known citizen of that place. Mrs. Heiserman is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Heiserman is a Republican politically. In fraternal matters he belongs to West Union Lodge No. 69, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Unity Chapter No. 62, Royal Arch Masons, Elgin, Iowa; Langridge Commandery No. 47, Knights Templar; also the El Kahir Shrine, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
LEWIS A. FISHER.
One of the representative merchants of Fayette county is Lewis A. Fisher, of West Union, who is known as one of the progressive and successful busi- ness men of the county. He has not permitted himself to follow in a blind. apathetic way in his labors the rut in which many men eventually find them- selves, but has studied to secure the maximum returns from his efforts, while he has so ordered his course at all times as to command the confidence and re- gard of the people of the community in which he lives, being a man of known honorable business methods and advocating whatever tends to promote the public welfare in any way. He is a native of Solon, Johnson county, Iowa, born there on October 13, 1861, and he is the son of James H. and Saloam (Hoffman) Fisher. The father, born in Pennsylvania, died when forty-five years old, in 1871. He was a druggist by profession. Mrs. Fisher was born at Strasburg, Alsace-Lorrain, formerly a part of France, now a prov- ince of Germany. Before emigrating to America she visited the famous clock which made her birthplace famous. Her death occurred in June, 1907, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years.
I23I
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. James H. Fisher, all living and in mature life, Lewis A. of this review being the only one who ever made a home in this county. He was educated at Solon and at the Westbranch (Cedar county) high school. He began life by working on a farm, which he continued until of legal age. Deciding to become a druggist, he attended the pharmacy college at the State University of Iowa, in 1885-6, and in 1887 he came to West Union and opened a drug store, the building formerly used as a drug store being then empty, the title of the firm being Darnall & Fisher. After successfully operating the same for a period of eight years, he sold out and engaged in the drug business for three years at Hawkeye, this county. Disposing of his holdings there, he came to West Union in 1898 and engaged in the grocery business with his father-in-law, A. C. Gunsalus, and they continued successfully until 1906, when he purchased his partner's interest and has since been managing the store alone. He has built up quite an extensive patronage with the town and surrounding country. He carries at all seasons a large and complete line of groceries and provisions, and his customers receive such courteous and honest treatment that they invariably remain his friends.
Mr. Fisher was married on October 3, 1889, to Florence Gunsalus, daughter of A. C. and Margaret (Gruver) Gunsalus. Her father died on December 14, 1908; her mother is still living on the old homestead. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fisher: Marguerite, now a young lady of much promise, who is attending the Upper Iowa University; Alfred is twelve years old.
Mr. Fisher has been a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity for twenty years. The church relations of the family are with the Presbyterian denomination. Politically, Mr. Fisher is a Republican, and is a supporter of all worthy measures looking to the betterment of local conditions.
ADRIAN J. GURNEY.
One of the many residents of Fayette county who came here from the Buckeye state is Adrian J. Gurney, assistant cashier of the State Bank of West Union. He was born at Chester, Geauga county, Ohio, August I, 1860, and is the son of James R. and Matilda (Hulbert) Gurney, the father a native of Massachusetts and the mother of Ohio, the mother dying when Adrian J. was three years old; one other child was born to them, Meradon,
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FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
who died in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1874, at the age of twenty-one years. James R. Gurney's second wife was Sallie P. Rudd, a native of New York; no children were born to the last union. The elder Gurney, who is now a resident of West Union, Iowa, has devoted his life to farming, first in Ohio, coming to Iowa in 1878,
Adrian Gurney was educated in the public schools of Cleveland, Ohio, and in 1879 he came to Iowa and located on the parental farm near Man- chester, Delaware county, assisting in developing a farm from the primitive state. He remained there until 1881, and went to Brush Creek (now known as Arlington) and entered the employ of Rawson & Rice, bankers and stock dealers, remaining with them three years, and he spent one year in a bank at Earlville, Iowa. He came from Arlington to West Union in 1885 and was bookkeeper in the Bank of West Union for about twenty years; he was also teller and for five years was assistant cashier.
Mr. Gurney married, on September 24, 1884, Allie O. Hayes, a native of Oregon, Wisconsin, where she was reared and educated. This union has been blessed by the birth of one son, Forrest H., born November 19, 1890, who graduated from the local high school with the class of 1910, and is now in the State University at Iowa City, Iowa.
Mr. Gurney is a member of West Union Lodge No. 69, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, also belongs to the Ansel Humphreys Chapter No. 80, Roval Arch Masons, and the Langridge Commandery No. 47, Knights Tem- plar, also the Knights of Pythias. Politically, he is a Republican. He served as city treasurer of West Union for ten consecutive years, then after a time was re-elected and is at present serving in that capacity. He is a member of the board of education.
In 1907 Mr. Gurney's health failed for a number of months, and he was given a summer's vacation on full pay, a tangible recognition of his worth to the bank and one which he fully appreciated.
MILO LACY.
A well remembered and praiseworthy character, who for many years figured prominently in the life of Fayette county, was the late Milo Lacy. a man whom to know was to respect and admire owing to his many fine traits and his high ideals, which he sought to carry out in his everyday relations with his fellow men. He was born in Bainbridge, Geauga county, Ohio, October
MRS. JENNIE LACY.
MILO LACY.
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FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
14, 1841. He was the son of Jasper Brush and Anne Osborne (Henry) Lacy, the former born in Suffield, Connecticut, March 17, 1792, and the latter in Washington, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, on March 26, 1800.
Milo Lacy was educated in the common schools of West Union and he became a printer by trade, and was editor of the Fayette County Union until June, 1868, when he removed to Austin, Minnesota, and became editor of the Austin Democrat. He died June 25, 1869, in West Union, Iowa, where his children were born, and his widow still resides. At the time of his death he was a member of the Minnesota Editorial Association. He was a very able writer and as a local editor and condenser of news he had few su- periors and he made his papers powers for good in their communities.
Mr. Lacy's war record is one of which his descendants might well be proud. In 1862 he enlisted in the navy for one year, and he was assigned to the gunboat "Genesee," then on blockade service off Charleston and after- wards in the first assault on Vicksburg and the siege of Port Hudson. After serving over one year and gaining promotion, he was discharged at the ex- piration of his service and returned to McGregor, Iowa. He re-enlisted in the Seventh Iowa Cavalry, volunteers, which was sent to the plains. This last enlistment was on March 5. 1864, and he was in the service until his regiment was disbanded. He was a member of Capt. Eugene F. Ware's com- pany. He was discharged at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, May 17, 1866. During his service for the Union he distinguished himself by true soldierly qualities and was promoted to the rank of first sergeant, and he participated in a number of trying campaigns and battled with Indians. Politically, he was a Democrat.
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