USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 73
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GEORGE A. RICHMOND.
The subject of this sketch was born in Oswego, New York, January 24, 1844, and is a son of Stephen and Sylvia Richmond, both natives of the Empire state. Stephen Richmond, whose birth occurred on June 3, 1807, was twice married, his first wife bearing him three children, of whom Lo- renzo Richmond is now a well known resident of Waucoma, Iowa. The sec- ond marriage .was solemnized September 15, 1839, with Sylvia Stephens, who was born May 14, 1812, and departed this life May 12, 1885, her hus- band dying March 23, 1878. Stephen and Sylvia Richmond had nine chil- dren, seven of whom grew to maturity, viz: Lorinda Madora, who married John Sears, of Wisconsin, and who died three years ago in Iowa; George A., of this sketch; Garrett Uriah; Harriet; Sylvia; Ann Jennette, who married Jacob Craft and lives near Nevada, Missouri, where her sister, Mrs. Smith, also resides. Garrett W., who died during the war, and Harriet M., who who lives in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, were twins. Albert P. Richmond was born May 24, 1855, came to Iowa with the family and for a number of years has been a partner of the subject in farming and stock raising.
In 1845, when about one year old, George A. Richmond was taken to Wisconsin and for some time thereafter the family lived in the counties of Waukesha and Fond du Lac, that state, removing to the latter place when the subject was about nine years of age. He spent his boyhood at hard work in
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the woods, helping to clear a new farm and enjoying but limited educational advantages the meanwhile. In fact nearly all of his youth and young man- hood were devoted to cutting timber, grubbing and the various other kinds of strenuous labor required to remove the forest growth and fit the soil for cultivation. After his father received an injury which practically dis- abled him, the care of the farm and support of the family fell to young George, who right manfully discharged the trust. By diligent and well directed effort he succeeded in clearing up about one hundred and forty acres, but desiring more land, which would not be so difficult to cultivate, the farm was sold in 1869 and the same year the family moved to Iowa and purchased land in Windsor township, Fayette county, about four and a half miles southwest of West Union, where the father's death subsequently occurred.
After living on the above farm about twelve years, the subject and his brother, Albert D., purchased, in 1881, the farm in Eden township which they still own and which under their combined labor and management is now one of the finest country homes in the county of Fayette. The place, which contains two hundred and sixty-five acres, was purchased from the govern- ment about the year 1852 or 1853 by a Mr. Finch and originally consisted quite largely of timber, hickory predominating, the labor required to remove this and grub the land being very hard and exacting. When bought by the Richmond brothers only a small part was in cultivation, the house being a tumble-down log cabin and the few fences in poor repair. Owing to this in- different condition the price asked was not large, ranging from five to fifteen dollars per acre, although land in the vicinity was then bringing from eight- teen to twenty dollars per acre.
The place was considered a bargain and it was not long until a series of improvements were inaugurated which, when carried to completion, add- ed greatly to the appearance and value of the farm, making it, as already indicated, among the best of Eden township, and second to few if any in the county. Over six thousand dollars have been invested in the improve- ments since the farm came into the possession of the present owners. The dwelling, one of the finest in the county, is a beautiful modern edifice, heat- ed by furnace and equipped with all the latest conveniences, including bath, cistern, etc., nothing being spared to make it comfortable and attractive to the end that it may prove a home in the true sense of the term and the one spot dearer than all others to the inmates.
The Richmond brothers carry on general farming quite extensively, much of the farm consisting of fine bottom land especially adapted to ag- riculture. They also devote considerable attention to stock raising, besides
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conducting a very successful dairy business, keeping from thirty to thirty- five cows, selected with special reference to their value as milkers and meet- ing with ready sale for the entire product. George A. Richmond has never assumed the duties and responsibilities of matrimony, but his brother, Albert D., on December 25, 1889, was united in marriage with Nellie A. Lush, daughter of Oscar T. and Cornelia (Murphy) Lush, then of Eden township, but now living in North Dakota. Mrs. Richmond was born in Butler county, Iowa, but came to Eden township with her parents when fifteen years old and grew to maturity on a farm near Waucoma. She taught school for some years in this county, receiving her certificate from Col. G. W. Fitch and while thus engaged earned a creditable reputation for her success with children and young people. Mr. and Mrs. Richmond are the parents of children as follows : Nellie Eleanora, who died at the early age of two years; Florence May, born September 13, 1892, was educated in the Waucoma high school and is now a student of music in Upper Iowa University; Ralph A., born September 24, 1894, is pursuing his studies in the high school at Waucoma, and Earl V., whose birth occurred January 21, 1898, departed this life on the 8th of March, 1903. In addition to their own offspring, Mr. and Mrs. Richmond have taken into their home an eight-year-old girl, Zinita Kate Hancock, whose mother died recently and whom they are rearing with the same tender care as if she were of their own flesh and blood.
The Richmond brothers have mutual interests and their relations have always been agreeable and harmonious. They are excellent farmers and enterprising, wide-awake citizens, interested in whatever tends to the ad- vancement of the community and the welfare of their fellow men. They en- joy to a marked degree the confidence of all with whom they are associated, their lives being above reproach and nothing savoring in the least of dishonor has ever attached to their characters or reputation.
MALCOLM L. ROWLAND.
A modern, progressive farmer and dairyman is M. L. Rowland, one of the best known citizens of Pleasant Valley township. He was born in Cler- mont township, this county, where his people were known as leaders in pioneer times in all the walks of life. His birth occurred November II, 1858, and he is the son of Peter L. and Elvira (Wheeler) Rowland, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Canada. His paternal grandfather was Peter Row-
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land, born in Pennsylvania, his parents being of German origin. Peter Row- land married and reared a family in Ohio. Peter L. Rowland, father of M. L . Rowland, of this review, came to Iowa in the early forties when this country was sparsely settled. They were compelled to go to Dubuque, quite a distance, to market, and in those early times they had many trying experi- ences and underwent many hardships. Mr. Rowland carried flour on his back from Auburn, many miles through the woods to his primitive home. He was a hardy pioneer and made a success by his persistent labor. He first farmed on one hundred and sixty acres in Clermont township where he settled on account of the excellent timber and the fine springs. He worked at Au- burn for some time burning charcoal, also farmed and engaged a great deal in hunting, the woods hereabout abounding in various wild and fur-bearing ani- mals. He became prosperous, finally owning three hundred and fifty acres of valuable land. He carried on general farming and raised horses, mostly for draft purposes, the Norman breed especially. Some time before his death he retired from active farming.
The maternal grandparents of M. L. Rowland were Royal and Almina Wheeler. They, too, were early settlers in Fayette county, living many years on Turkey river, later moved to Union township, always engaged in farming.
Peter L. Rowland, father of the subject, reared a family of eight chil- dren, six sons and two daughters, five of the sons and one of the daughters now living, and all but one reside in Fayette county.
M. L. Rowland received his primary education in Clermont township, attending the district schools during the winter and working on the home farm in summer when he became of proper age. He has always followed farm- ing with the exception of four years when he engaged in the creamery busi- ness on Turkey river, operating a private creamery and he made a success of the same ; he was assisted by his father and brothers. M. L. and David Row- land owned a farm of one hundred and seventy-nine acres in partnership and they farmed together for nine years. In the spring of 1899, M. L. Rowland bought one hundred and eighty acres where he now resides and on which he carries on general farming and stock raising. He has a fine farm, well im- proved and tastily kept, a substantial and attractive home and numerous out- buildings.
Mr. Rowland was married in August, 1887, to Mary Archer, the daugh- ter of an influential and highly honored old family here, and this union has resulted in the birth of the following children : Clarence Ray; Ethel Blanche died when three years of age; Elsie Gladys, Lorenzo Vern, George David and Clara Almina.
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Mr. Rowland is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a liberal supporter of the same; politically, he is a Republican and, while he has taken considerable interest in local political matters, he has never been an office- seeker, being too busy with his business affairs, though he has served as school director. He is a plain, honest, pleasant man to know and he has maintained the excellent record of the elder Rowlands in this county.
JOSEPH L. BUTLER.
A man who is deserving of the credit and esteem which are accorded him by all who have been associated with him either socially or in a business way is Joseph L. Butler, of Oelwein, who was born in Fayette county, a mile north of Oelwein, in May, 1874. He is the son of Harrison and Mary (Meikle) Butler. The former was the son of Caleb Butler and was born in Wisconsin, from whence he came to Fayette county with his parents while he was only a child. The families of both parents settled in Oelwein in the early days when the county was just beginning to be settled and here they developed farms and established good homes. To Harrison and Mary (Meikle) Butler four children have been born: William, who married and is living in Missouri; Joseph L., of this review; Effie married J. R. McDuffee and she lived in Oelwein until her death, on June 16, 1909; Verna married Julius Heubner and lives one and one-half miles north of Oelwein. Harrison Butler died on July 21, 1909, and Mrs. Butler died on October II, 1880.
Joseph L. Butler grew to maturity on the home farm in Fayette county, where he worked during the summer months and attended the public schools during the winter time. After leaving school he returned to farming, which he continued with success until 1899, when he moved into Oelwein, where he bought an interest in the firm of Smith & Wheeler, owners of the Oelwein Feed Mill. In 1903 Mr. Smith sold his interest to Mr. McDuffee, who, with Mr. Butler, conducted the mill about a year, when Mr. McDuffee retired from the business and Mr. Butler managed the mill alone until February 27, 1905, when Wallace A. Rundle became a partner and the firm still continues as Butler & Rundle, and is doing a very extensive business buying, selling and shipping hay, feed and grain, both wholesale and retail, and a lucrative and extensive patronage has been built up as the result of judicious management and honor- able dealing.
In November, 1901, Mr. Butler was married to Elizabeth G. Rundle,
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daughter of Richard and Celena (Green) Rundle. She is a native of Bremer county, Iowa. Her parents were born in England and both the Green and the Rundle families came to this country and settled in the state of Wisconsin, when Richard Rundle and Celena Green were children. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Rundle moved to Bremer county, Iowa, in pioneer times and lived there until 1902, when they moved to Oran township, Fayette county, where they still reside.
Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Richard Rundle, two of whom died in infancy ; those living are, William, who married and is living in Sumner, Iowa ; Sarah married Frank Simpson and lives in Jennings, Kansas ; Eliza married A. S. Peck and lives in Bremer county, Iowa, near the Fayette county line of Oran township; Robert is married and is living in Oran town- ship, near the home of his parents; Elizabeth is the wife of J. L. Butler, of this review; Wallace is a partner of Joseph L. Butler in the grain business; Ella lives at home with her parents in Oran township.
To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph L. Butler two children have been born, Richard Lloyd and Lyle Harrison. Joseph L. Butler is a member of the Yeoman lodge and he and his family are well and favorably known here.
JAMES EARNSHAW.
Of sturdy and honorable English stock comes James Earnshaw, he him- self being a native of "ye merrie isle," having first seen the light of day in Yorkshire, England, July 12, 1843, but the major portion of his emi- nently successful and useful career has been spent in the United States and he has not only benefited himself and family by his operations here, but also those with whom he has been associated, for he is a man who de- lights to see others prosper as well as himself. Being loyal to our insti- tutions and of honorable character, he has been heartily welcomed wher- ever he has lived, and now in the evening of his years he is surrounded by the many comforts of life as a result of his past years of activity, and he also enjoys the friendship and good will of a host of acquaintances as a result of his honesty. He is the son of Nathaniel and Ann Earnshaw, the mother dying in 1850, and in 1855 the father and children came to America, landing at Croton, New York. They soon afterwards moved to Sullivan county, that state, but finally made their way to Kane county, Illinois, where they lived until the commencement of the Civil war, when, true to his
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adopted country, James Earnshaw, of this review, bravely went forth in many a trying campaign and hard-fought engagement to save the dignity of the stars and stripes just as if he had been living under the protecting folds of the Union Jack, enlisting in 1862, in Company E, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into the Federal army on September 6, 1862, serving with distinction until August 22, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. He was in the Western army which participated in the siege of Vicksburg. After the close of the war he returned to Kane county, Illinois, and in 1865 married Lydia A. Fallows, daughter of Stephen and Sabra (Stevens) Fallows, an old and well estab- lished family of that place.
Addie May Earnshaw is a member of the subject's family, having been taken to raise when she was fourteen months old. She was married to Walter Smith and they live on Sixth street, West, in Oelwein, Iowa, near the home of James Earnshaw. She and her husband have five children, Hattie, Trueman, Esto, Earl and George.
One child, Blanche, was born to Mr. and Mrs. James Earnshaw. She married Jesse Watkins, living in Oran township on a farm, and they are the parents of two children, Jay and Effie.
About two years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Earnshaw moved to McHenry county, Illinois, where they lived until 1871, when they moved to Oran township, Fayette county, Iowa, where they bought a farm which they developed and on which they lived very comfortably until 1901, when they moved to Oelwein into a cozy and substantial home they had bought the year previous, at No. 43 Sixth street, North. Mr. Earnshaw sold his farm at that time and has since lived practically retired; surrounded by the evidences of his former years of activity and good management. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and he is known to be honest in all the relations of life, kind-hearted, genial, fond of a good joke, companionable and therefore has hosts of friends.
WILLIAM B. HITCH.
One of the representative citizens of Fayette county who has gained a competency and at the same time the respect of his fellow men because he has worked for them along legitimate lines, is William B. Hitch, a native of Union township, where he was born September 22, 1858. He is the son of Isaac and
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Malindy (Stanboy) Hitch, the former born in Delaware and the latter in the state of Virginia, each of worthy old families. It was in the early forties that Isaac Hitch came to Iowa and located in Fayette county, on what is now known as the Frisby farm, having taken up a quarter section of wild land on which he erected a log cabin, cleared a small patch and set to work developing the farm, having a very valuable place in due time. He later bought a farm in section 35 in Union township, then bought a farm of eighty acres in Illyria township and remained there until about 1866, when he moved to Chickasaw county, where he lived for several years. His health failing, in 1875 he went west with his family and settled in the San Joaquin valley, California, and engaged in wheat raising until his death in 1877.
After the death of the father, William B. Hitch returned to Fayette county and worked as a farm hand for several years. Two of his brothers, John and Lorenzo, were soldiers in the Federal army, having enlisted in Com- pany A, Thirty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Lorenzo served until his discharge on the account of disability. John served out his full enlistment.
In 1888 Mr. Hitch purchased eighty acres of land in Union township. Prospering, he added to his original purchase until he became the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and ninety-five acres, which he placed under a high state of improvement and which he has made yield a very profitable income. He has also been very successful as a raiser of cattle and standard-bred horses. Among the many valuable horses bred and raised by Mr. Hitch was "Feric D.," the fastest pacing filly in Fayette county.
Mr. Hitch was married September 28, 1882, to Lucy Jane Patterson, daughter of Joseph Patterson, a well known citizen of Fayette county, where Mrs. Hitch was reared and educated. This union has resulted in the birth of two children, Lorenzo, living at home, educated in the schools of his native county and graduated from the New Hampton Normal and Commercial Col- lege, also attended the Upper Iowa University. He has taught school since he was eighteen years of age, with the exception of the past two years when he hase been employed as salesman; Ruth B. is living at home.
William B. Hitch is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, also the Yeoman lodge. Politically, he is a Democrat.
The paternal grandparents of William B. Hitch were Isaac and Goodie or Patsy (Lynch) Hitch, who spent their entire lives in Delaware. The maternal grandparents were John and Margaret Stobaugh, of German descent, the grandfather dying in the East, after which event his widow remarried and came to Iowa in the early forties, locating in Fayette county, having made the trip here with the father of William B. Hitch, and she remained here until
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a short time before her death, when she moved to Washington county, this state. A brother of William B. Hitch's mother had the distinction of serving as a soldier in the war of 1812.
EDGAR F. OSTRANDER.
The subject of this sketch was born in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, January 9, 1856, being a son of Leander L. and Mary Ostrander, both natives of New York. Hiram and Sarah (Beebe) Graves, the subject's grandpar- ents, were born in the latter state also, but in an early day migrated to Illinois, thence to Wisconsin, where they lived until their removal to Fayette county, Iowa, in the year 1865. Purchasing one hundred and twenty acres of land in what is now Bethel township, Mr. Graves, the grandfather, improved the same and in due time became one of its leading farmers and representative citizens of his part of the county; after the death of his wife he returned to Wisconsin, where he ended his days. Leander L. Ostrander, the father of Edgar, whose birth occurred in Tompkins county, New York, September 19, 1827, accompanied his parents to Illinois when six years old and grew to ma- turity on a farm in Cook county, a part of the place now included in the city of Chicago. He married in the latter state, in 1852, Mary Graves and the following year removed to Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where he worked for a while for his father, later purchasing land of his own and achieving con- siderable success as a tiller of the soil. After making several changes in the above county, he disposed of his interests in Wisconsin and in 1860 came to Fayette county, Iowa, making the trip by wagon and bringing with him quite a number of cattle and a large flock of sheep, by means of which he was en- abled to make a substantial beginning in what was then a comparatively new and undeveloped country. He too bought land in the township of Bethel and it was not long until he forged to the front among the enterprising farmers and representative men of his part of the county.
Leander and Mary Ostrander had children as follows : Maria, Frank E., Edgar F. and Adelaide, Frank and the subject being twins.
The early life of Edgar F. Ostrander was spent in Wisconsin and on the home farm in Bethel township, and his educational training embraced a knowledge of the branches taught in the public schools. He was reared to agricultural pursuits and on arriving at the age of young manhood selected farming for his vocation, which he has since followed with most gratifying
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results. At first he cultivated a part of the family homestead as a renter, but after a few years purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Bethel township, which he at once proceeded to improve and to which he subsequent- ly added eighty acres, the meanwhile bringing the place to a high state of cultivation and making it one of the most productive and valuable farms in the locality. In 1906 he sold one hundred acres and invested the proceeds in an eighty-acre tract two miles west of West Union, also purchased a fine residence property in that town where he has since made his home.
Mr. Ostrander's career as an agriculturist has been successful from the beginning and as a breeder and raiser of fine live stock he has achieved a repu- tation much more than local. His horses, especially those for farm and draft purposes, are of the Percheron and Norman breeds and have always com- manded high prices, while his Shorthorn cattle, Poland China hogs and Cots- wold sheep are also in much demand and among the best in this part of the state. Although primarily interested in farming and stock raising, he also keeps in touch with the affairs of his township and county, being at this time a stockholder in the Alpha Telephone, of which he was for six years treasurer and secretary, and the Alpha Farmers Creamery Company, having served the last named enterprise six years as director. In politics he votes the Repub- lican ticket and takes an active part in the welfare of his party. He served six years as trustee of Bethel township, was president of the school board three years and for a period of nine years held the important office of assessor, in all of which capacities he demonstrated fine business abilities and was un- tiring in his efforts to promote the welfare of the public. Religiously, Mr. Ostrander holds to the Methodist Episcopal creed and to him as much as to any one man is due the credit of establishing the church of that denomination at Alpha and erecting the present house of worship. He has been trustee of the society since its organization, is a liberal supporter of the same and mani- fests a lively interest not only in religious work but in all enterprises having for their object the material, social and moral good of his fellow-men. Fra- ternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being an active and influential worker in both organ- izations, and with his wife holds membership with the Rebekah lodge con- nected with the latter.
Mr. Ostrander was happily married in 1876 to Margaret Jennie Rogers. daughter of James and Nancy (Chamberlin) Rogers, who came to Iowa in 1858 from Albany, Vermont, and settled originally at Fort Atkinson. Mr. Rogers and family experienced the vicissitudes which usually fall to the lot of early settlers in a new country and during the first few years in this state
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