USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 25
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It was in the fall of 1873 that he came to Jasper county and began farm- ing. With some assistance from his father and father-in-law he purchased one hundred and ten acres of land which he still owns, and to this, as the fruitful years have rolled by, he has added until at the present writing he is one of the county's largest land owners, owning six hundred and eighty-seven acres of fine and valuable land besides other property of value. All his life
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he has been a farmer, for he has that deep love of the German for growing things, but he has also paid considerable attention to stockraising.
Mr. Schultz is one of three brothers and one sister, of whom two are living: Augusta Booknen, wife of George Booknen, a farmer, was born in 1851. She died in 1895, while residing in Poweshiek county; Carl A., born in 1853. resides on a farm east of Grinnell: Henry H .. born in 1854. died in Poweshiek county in 1883.
Mr. Schultz was united in marriage January 1, 1874, to Christie L. Rohrdanz, the daughter of John J. and Marie ( Price) Rohrdanz, both of whom were natives of Germany. Her parents came to America in 1853, settling in Niagara Falls, New York, where her father was employed upon the first of the great suspension bridges ever built across the great gorge. It was here Mrs. Schultz was born, November 26. 1854. Mrs. Schultz is one of three children, all of whom are living: Marie, born April 9, 1857, is the wife of Carl Birkenholtz, a farmer of Jasper county ; Fred, born in Jasper county, February 13, 1858, is a farmer and still resides in the county. Mrs. Schultz's parents came to Jasper county in 1855 after the completion of the big bridge, and there is much of romantic interest surrounding their early struggles. When they arrived in Jasper county, all the money they had in the world was the small sum of two dollars and a half, and some of this precious hoard was much treasured coins about which sentiment lingered. The country was new and more or less primitive, and hardships were many, but energy and courage conquered all, for after a long and weary struggle forty acres were secured and with this as a start they finally came to own over three hundred acres.
The fathers of both Mr. and Mrs. Schultz served in the Prussian army. Mr. Schultz's father being a man of powerful build, was guard of artillery, while Mrs. Schultz's father was an infantry man. During the rebellion of the provinces of Holstein and Schleswig. he was awarded a medal by the German government for signal bravery.
To Mr. and Mrs. Schultz have been born six children, all of whom were boys, and one of whom, Joseph Christopher, died in infancy; William Carl Henry, born January 4, 1875, in Jasper county, is a farmer and resides in the county ; Walter Albert Lewis, born March 8, 1876, died November 9, 1905, leaving surviving him a widow and one child, a little girl, who died the fol- lowing spring : Lewis Martin, born June 24, 1868, is a farmer residing in this county : Henry Fred Lewis, born April 12, 1882, is a farmer, also of Jasper county ; John C., born May 9, 1885, is a farmer and resides in this county.
Mr. Schultz, while he has never aspired to or sought office, has served as township trustee one year, three years as township clerk, six years as assessor
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and four years as justice of the peace. At one time he was supervisor of roads. He retired from active life in the spring of 1910, since which time he has resided in Reasnor. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 277, at Monroe, and also of Company 26, Uniform Rank of that order at Newton. His sons are all members of the order, Mr. Schultz paying their way through. Both he and Mrs. Schultz are members of the German Luth- eran church and are people of native culture and refinement. Their home life is rich in the things which make for real happiness. They are both vigorous, healthy and strong, their sons are settled about them on farms which they have allotted to them, they each have the love and respect of their hosts of friends. Kindly, simple hearted German people, they have read the riddle of true happiness aright and are living to enjoy the peace and plenty they richly merit.
It can be truthfully said of Mr. Schultz that he is a man of far more than the ordinary ability as a writer. His command of language is very fine, his writings showing a beauty and power that is rare indeed. The soul of honor, genial and original, his friendship and companionship is courted wherever he goes. He is one of the best known and best liked men in Jasper county.
EDWARD WILCOX.
In such men as Edward Wilcox, one of the well known citizens of Jas- per county, there is peculiar satisfaction in offering their life histories as jus- tification for the compilation of works of this character-not that their lives have been such a's to gain them particularly wide notoriety or the admiring plaudits of men, but that they have been true to the trusts reposed in them, have shown such attributes of character as to entitle them to the regard of all. "Ed" Wilcox, as he is familiarly known, is a genial and generous soul, ever willing to lend a helping hand when his services are needed, and he exper- iences no trouble in either making or retaining friends.
Mr. Wilcox was born in Rockford. Floyd county, Iowa, June 8, 1867, and is the son of Joseph and Huldah (Garey) Wilcox. The father was born in Columbus, Ohio, March 1, 1837, and the mother in Smethport, Mckean county, Pennsylvania, February 18, 1846; they were married in the latter state on December 7, 1865. The father had come to Iowa with his widowed mother in the early days here, and the Wilcoxes have thus figured more or less promi- nently in the upbuilding of the county. When the Civil war came on Joseph
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Wilcox turned from the pursuits of agriculture and in 1861 enlisted in the Third Iowa Battery at Dubuque, in which he served four years and three months as a brave and efficient soldier. After his first enlistment expired he re-enlisted as a veteran and was in the western division of the Union army under Generals Curtis, Siegel and others. Some of the many engagements in which he took part were those of Pea Ridge. Pine Bluff, Ball's Bluff, Fort Smith, Helena and others. He was never wounded, captured or in a hospital. and he was honorably discharged at the close of the war.
Jasper county has had no better citizen than Joseph Wilcox, and his death, on January 27, 1890, caused the many who knew him to mourn the loss of a truly good and useful man. Besides being a farmer, he was a blacksmith and general artificer and was widely and favorably known. His widow is now residing on the home farm in Palo Alto township. Their family consisted of four sons and two daughters, namely: Mary, who married Alfred Lynn, since deceased : James was next in order of birth ; William is now deceased ; Harriett married Homer Thompson, lives on a farm in this county, as does also Franklin.
Edward Wilcox grew up on the farm and was educated in the home schools. He has devoted his life to tilling the soil and his efforts have been amply rewarded. He owns a small tract of very productive land, and in con- nection with this he also operates his mother's homestead adjoining. He is a man of known public spirit and has served Palo Alto township in many ways; he has been a member of the school board for many years and is president of the same at this writing. He has also served two terms as township clerk, and has held several township offices, being regarded as a faithful and conscientious public servant.
On November 4, 1891, Mr. Wilcox was united in marriage with Sylvania V. Garey, daughter of Johnson and Ellen Garey, natives of Pennsylvania. They were extensive farmers and well known landowners, both being now de- ceased ; Sylvania, who married Mr. Wilcox, was their adopted child.
To Edward Wilcox and wife three children have been born, all living, namely: Letha May, who was born September 11, 1892, is teaching in the county schools ; Nina June, born September 13, 1894; Willis Frederick, born April 2, 1898.
Mrs. Wilcox is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and their two daughters belong to the United Presbyterian church, and are active in. the general work of the church and serving the local congregation as organists. Politically, Mr. Wilcox is a Democrat, and, fraternally. he belongs to Central Lodge No. 73. Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; also Encampment No. 16, of Newton, Iowa.
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VERNON S. WHEELER.
One of the progressive young farmers of Jasper county who has been successful in his chosen field of endeavor because he has worked for definite ends along legitimate and approved lines is Vernon S. Wheeler, one of the worthy native sons of this county, born here on July 3, 1872. His parents were John F. and Ellen (Link) Wheeler, natives of Ohio, from which state they came to Jasper county, Iowa, when young and here they were married. The father devoted his early life to farming, but for thirty years prior to his death he was engaged in other business. Before coming to Reasnor he owned forty acres which he sold upon removing to town and here he engaged in the restaurant, meat and hotel business, which he conducted for twenty years. His death occurred in the town of Reasnor in 1906. He was always a man of vigorous and alert mind, and he took an abiding interest in what- ever tended to promote the good of his community. He served in several offices in Palo Alto township, among them being that of constable. His family consisted of eight children, two of whom, Mrs. J. S. Sullivan and Bertie, an infant, are dead; those living are, Glen C., Robert E., "Don," Vernon S., Mrs. Edward Coker and Mrs. C. B. Walsh, both of Reasnor.
The father of these children was one of the brave sons of the North who served his country ably and well during the days of the Rebellion, having enlisted in 1861 in Company E, Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, in which he served for three years, receiving an honorable discharge. While in the service he took part in several of the most important engagements of the war, among them being the siege of Vicksburg and the battle of Helena, Arkansas. He was a member of Garrett Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Newton, and he belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church at Reasnor. In that town his widow still resides.
After receiving a good education Vernon S. Wheeler began life for himself when twenty-one years of age as a farmer, and in connection with general farming he did many other things in order to get a start and to earn an honest living. Later he came to Reasnor and conducted a livery business and feed barn for two years, after which he purchased a farm near Kellogg, selling the same a year later, then purchased the one near Reasnor, where he still resides. It consists of sixty-five acres, well improved and under a high state of cultivation. In connection with his farming business, he keeps for breeding purposes fine domestic and imported stallions. the principal bloods being Percheron, French draft, shire and German coach, the latter being a
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high-grade bred trotting horse. These animals are greatly admired by all who see them, owing to their superior quality, and Mr. Wheeler is widely known as a horseman, being regarded as one of the best judges of horses in the county.
On February 28, 1901, Mr. Wheeler was united in marriage with Nettie Bain, daughter of Hamilton and Margate (Farmer) Bain, and has proved to be a most loyal and faithful helpmeet, and is a woman of many praiseworthy attributes, having a wide circle of friends here. This union has been blessed by the birth of three children, namely: Ruth, born October 13, 1907; Eva, born November 4, 1909: Buela, born July 29, 1910.
Mr. Wheeler is a member of the Woodmen of the World of Reasnor, being a past sentry of that order. He is an energetic, wide-awake young farmer and business man to whom the future promises much.
CHARLES H. SAUNDERS.
Success has attended the efforts of Charles H. Saunders, one of Jasper county's progressive native sons, because he has worked for it persistently along legitimate channels, and he comes of one of the old and highly honored pioneer families of this county, members of which have done much for the general development of the same. His birth occurred in Elk Creek township, this county, on January 17, 1861, and he is the son of M. V. and Theodata (Hews) Saunders, natives of Illinois, but who came to Iowa in their youth and were married here, the father coming to Jasper county in 1850, settling near Reasnor. Prior to the war he rented land, but at the close of the conflict purchased eighty acres, to which he 'subsequently added until he finally became the owner of over two hundred acres of good land, which he man- aged in a manner that brought large returns for his labor. He was also successful as a stock raiser. Selling out about twelve years ago. he engaged in the implement business in Newton, where he met with success; he retired from active work in 1894, since which time he has led a quiet life. His wife, born in 1839, still survives. His birth occurred in 1836. He has always been a man of great energy and public spirit and he has won and retained a host of warm personal friends by his life of industry, honesty and kindly nature.
Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. M. V. Saunders, five of whom are living. Charles H. of this review, being the oldest; Marion died when thirteen years of age: Clara is the wife of George Woody, who resides in
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Missouri on a farm; Fanny married Charles Parsons, a Missouri farmer, also; James died when ten years old; Hiram died in infancy; Harvey resides in Texas; Anna is the wife of Robert Lohr and lives in Newton.
On January 17, 1883, Mr. Saunders was married to Ida Black, daughter of Jonathan and Debora (VanDorn) Black, natives of Ohio. They came to Jasper county at an early date and here engaged in farming, becoming well established; both are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Saunders has been born one child, a son, Howard, whose birth occurred October 20, 1884. He is employed in a tile factory near Des Moines.
Charles H. Saunders began life for himself, after finishing school in the public schools, when twenty-one years of age, by taking up farming, which he followed until the spring of 1903 when he opened a general dry goods store, also handling notions and groceries, shoes and sundries, at Reasnor, which business he still conducts, enjoying an extensive and satisfactory patronage and maintaining a neatly kept and well-stocked store of up-to-date and care- fully selected goods. His customers are always treated with uniform court- esy and fairness, so that they remain not only his customers but his friends also. He is well-known over the county and at this writing is very ably serving his third term as justice of the peace of Palo Alto township. He is a member of Monumental Lodge No. 311, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Galesburg, and is also a member of the Woodmen of the World of Reas- nor, Maple Leaf Camp No. 173. Politically, he is a Republican. He takes an abiding interest in whatever makes for the general good of his community.
ELMER LUST.
While yet young in years, Elmer Lust, one of the honored native sons of Jasper county, has shown what talents coupled with energy can accomplish when rightly directed, and when one is governed by proper ideals.
Mr. Lust was born on February 18, 1883, in Jasper county, Iowa, and he is the son of an excellent old family here, his parents, Riley and Amanda (Pender) Lust, having been well-known in the early history of the locality. The father was born in Ohio and the mother in Indiana. The paternal grandparents were natives of Germany. Riley Lust is one of the most sub- stantial and best known men in Jasper county as well as one of her largest land owners, although he is extremely modest regarding his achievements. Because of the sturdiness and genuine worth of his character he has the good
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will and esteem of all who know him and is a public-spirited citizen of which any community might well be proud. He is largely interested in a great number of investments and enterprises aside from his extensive farm hold- ings, among others being the implement business in the town of Reasnor, in which his son, Elmer, of this review, is a partner. He is also a stockholder and director in the Reasnor Savings Bank, and has at all times been willing to serve his township in any capacity. At the present time he is leading a more or less retired life, having purchased a comfortable residence in Reasnor and moved thereto. He is a splendid example of hardy, honest German citizenship and is highly respected by all who know him.
Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Riley Lust, all of whom are living, namely: Fred E., born July 22, 1874; Alfred T., born March 30, 1876; John W., born June 20, 1878; Arthur J., born September 21, 1880; Elmer B., born February 18, 1883; Roy R., born July 4, 1885; Mamie J., born September 19. 1887, is the wife of Elmer Mercer, a farmer of this county ; Katherine S., born March 5, 1890, is the wife of Carl Trout, a banker residing in West Grove, Iowa; Myrtle M., born August 19, 1893, is living at home; Carl M., born May 31, 1896, is also living at home.
Elmer Lust received a good education in the local schools and the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, making a good record; in 1903 he began life for himself on a farm, which he continued to run for two years, after which he engaged in the implement business with his father and W. E. Caldwell, the last named leaving the firm two years later, since which time the subject has had the general management of the store, which is one of the busiest places in Reasnor and a large and carefully selected stock of goods is carried at all seasons, handling up-to-date implements of all kinds, principally farming machinery, also wagons, buggies and vehicles of all kinds, and the trade they enjoy is an extensive and ever-increasing one.
On February 18, 1901, Mr. Lust was united in marriage with Bessie Jarnagin, the daughter of Henry and Elvira (McDuff) Jarnagin, both of whom were natives of Ohio; they have spent their lives on a farm and are still living, being highly respected in their neighborhood. They came to Iowa in an early day and are living at Monroe, Jasper county. Five children were born to them, all living, namely: Bert is on the home farm; June is the wife of H. V. Cating, a farmer near Galesburg; Clyde is a ball pitcher and travels; Vern, the youngest, is at home; Bessie, wife of the subject.
To Mr. and Mrs. Lust the following children have been born: Tracy, born June II, 1903, and Max, born March 18, 1907.
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Mrs. Lust is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Reasnor. Mr. Lust belongs to Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 277, at Monroe. He is director of the independent school district of Reasnor, and politically he is a stanch Republican. Owing to his uniform courtesy and his honest dealings with his fellow men, Mr. Lust has the confidence and good will of the entire community.
OSCAR E. EFNOR.
For many years Oscar E. Efnor was regarded as one of the leading agri- culturists and stock raisers of the vicinity of Reasnor, Jasper county, and he is now living in honorable retirement in Newton after an eminently active, successful and honorable career, maintaining a home that is comfortable, substantial and pleasant in all its appointments and which is regarded as a place of generous hospitality and good cheer by the host of warm friends which his genial disposition and honest relations with his fellow men have won.
Mr. Efnor was born in Fulton county, Illinois, April 9, 1857. He is the son of Oron and Frances (Mudget) Efnor, the father a native of Illinois and the mother of New York. The elder Efnor grew to maturity and was educated in his native state, coming to Iowa in the early fifties, locating among the pioneers in Jasper county, but a few years later he removed to Kansas where he died in 1861, while yet a young man. His wife, who survived him, married again, and is still living in Jasper county. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Oron Efnor, two of whom are living, besides the subject, the other being Mrs. Nettie McGreagor, of Jasper county.
Oscar E. Efnor received a common school education and was reared on a farm, in fact, he has made farming his chief life work and he has been rewarded with a definite and very satisfactory reward, living near Reasnor, this county, most of the time, where he has a valuable, desirable, well-im- proved and attractive farm of two hundred and eighty acres, which he man- aged so skillfully from year to year as to bring him in a very substantial com- petence, so that he retired from active work two years ago, moving to New- ton, where, as already stated, he has a fine home on North Farmer street. He has always been a lover of good horses and is regarded as one of the best judges of horses in the county, and he has always kept some good ones on his place, also other varieties of live stock. He is still interested in several large draft horses.
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Mr. Efnor was married first to Lita Bell in 1882, and to this union five children were born : Maude died when twenty-one years of age: Grace is the wife of Robert Balis, of Green City, Missouri; Guy is farming in Jasper county : Earl is also farming in this county: Claud is a student in the New- ton high school.
The mother of these children passed to her rest in 1895, and on Decem- ber 16, 1908, Mr. Efnor was united in marriage with Mrs. Lillie M. (Ervin) Morberly, to which union there has been no issue. She is the daughter of William and Elsira (Fittro) Ervin. She was born in Highland county, Ohio, and she was brought to Iowa by her parents when she was fourteen years of age, and this family soon became leaders in their community, well- known and highly respected. Mr. Ervin was a farmer and he was at one time overseer of the poor farm in Jasper county for a period of eight years, during which time he performed his duties in a manner that stamped him as a man of ability and worthy of every trust and confidence.
Mr. and Mrs. Efnor are members and liberal supporters of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, and fraternally he belongs to the Newton Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Woodmen of the World; Mrs. Efnor is a member of the Rebekah Lodge No. 227 and the Eastern Star, Chapter No. 100. Politically, Mr. Efnor is a Republican, and he has always supported such measures as made for the general progress of his county.
ALBERT S. MACMILLAN.
Jasper county, Iowa, has been especially honored in the character and career of her public and professional men, but in every community there are to be found, rising above their fellows, individuals born to leadership in the various vocations, men who dominate not alone by superior intelligence and natural endowment, but by natural force of character which minimizes dis- couragements and dares important undertakings. Such men are by no means rare and it is always profitable to study their lives, weigh their motives and hold up their achievements as incentives to greater activity and higher excel- lence on the part of others just entering upon their first struggles with the world. These reflections are suggested by the career of Albert S. Macmillan. the able editor and publisher of the Newton Herald, a man who has forged his way to the front ranks in the exacting field of journalism, and who by a strong, inherent force, directed by intelligence and judgment of a high order,
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stands today among the representative citizens of a community widely noted for the excellence of. its professional talent, although he has only recently cast his lot with the people of Jasper county.
Mr. Macmillan was born in Cleveland, Ohio, February 19, 1853. He was educated at the high school in Waverly, Iowa, having come to that city when a boy and there grew to manhood. Later he attended Cornell Univer- sity at Ithaca, New York, from which historic institution he was graduated in the class of 1878.
Returning to Waverly, lowa, well equipped for life's duties, he learned the newspaper business in the office of the Republican of that city, also the Waverly Independent. He went to Vandalia, Minnesota, in 1879 and started the Journal, which he continued to publish with success for a period of four- teen years, then moved his plant to Wadena, Minnesota, and continued the publication of the Journal there for four years. He. established the Motley Citizen in 1888, which he published for two years. He moved from Wadena to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1897 and there he resided for a period of ten years during which he conducted a job office and also conducted the Robbins- dale. Park Progress (the latter town being a suburb of Minneapolis). This was in 1904 and he continued the publication of the same two years, then purchased the Enterprise at Barlow, North Dakota, in 1908, which he con- tinued three years. He came to Newton, Iowa, on April 1, 19II, and on October Ist of that year purchased the Newton Herald, of which he is now proprietor. He has increased the circulation of this paper, improved it in mechanical appearance and news and editorial efficiency, rendering it a val- uable advertising medium. He is a careful, painstaking, progressive and persevering newspaper man, who is eminently deserving of the high rank which is accorded him by the newspaper fraternity of the north middle sec- tion of the United States where his efforts have been confined.
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