USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 8
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HERLEY G. GEARHART
Among the honorable and influential citizens of Jasper county is Herley G. Gearhart, of Sherman township, who has here maintained his home for many years, winning a definite success by means of the agricultural industry to which he has devoted his attention during the years of an active business life. His career has been without shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil and thus he has ever commanded the confidence and esteem of his fellow men.
Mr. Gearhart was born in Pennsylvania, October 30, 1852, the son of Jacob and Julia (Reeder) Gearhart, the father a native of France and the mother of New York, the former having emigrated to America with his par- ents when a mere boy and located in Pennsylvania, in which state his parents died. Julia Reeder's parents were natives of Ireland, from which country they emigrated to Pennsylvania. The father was a heater in the iron works in Pennsylvania for eighteen years. In 1857 the family came to Iowa and located in Jasper county, buying eighty acres in Sherman township. This land they cleared, broke and developed into a good farm. Jacob Gearhart added to his original purchase until he owned a fine farm of about four hundred acres at the time of his death, in 1903. He was a successful farmer and lived a quiet, home life. His widow survived until 1907. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are living.
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Herley G. Gearhart was educated in the public schools of Jasper county and reared on the home farm, and he has devoted his life to agricultural pur- suits, first renting land, then moved to Shelby county, this state, where he lived five or six years. Returning to Jasper county in 1893, he here bought one hundred and sixty acres in Sherman township which he has placed under high grade improvements, and he has since purchased one hundred and sixty acres more. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser and has a pleasant home. ›
Politically, Mr. Gearhart is a Republican and he has held a number of the township offices, always in a most acceptable manner. Fraternally, he belongs to the Blue Lodge of Masons.
Mr. Gearhart was married in 1873 to Cynthia Green, a native of Illinois, and the daughter of Harvey and Mary Green, old settlers there. To the subject and wife seven children have been born, namely: Charlotte, Arthur, Della, Jacob, Mary, Morton and Earl.
GEORGE W. WALKER.
There is no calling, however humble, in which enterprise and industry, coupled with a well directed purpose, will not be productive of some measure of success, and in the pursuit of agriculture the qualities mentioned are quite essential. Among the progressive farmers of the younger generation in Mound Prairie township, Jasper county, who have attained to a definite degree of success, George W. Walker is deserving of mention, for while advancing his own interests he has not been neglectful of his larger. duties of citizenship, and consequently the community has been benefited through his life-long resi- dence.
Mr. Walker was born on the farm where he still resides, in this town- ship, on June 6, 1873, the son of Charles and Sarah J. (Clair) Walker, the father born in New York state in 1834 and the mother in Kentucky. When a young man the former went to Illinois, locating near Monmouth and there owned a small farm. When the Civil war came on he enlisted in Company I, Sixteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in which he served with much credit for three years, after which he drove overland with wagon and horses to Jasper county, Iowa, and located in Mound Prairie township, where he bought eighty acres, to which he later added until he owned a good farm of one hundred and eighty acres. In 1903 he sold out and moved to Day county, South Dakota, and there purchased a half section, but he died seven weeks after his
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arrival there. His widow is still living. He served his district as school director and was also road supervisor. Politically, he was a Republican and in religious matters a Free Methodist. His family consisted of four children, one son and three daughters, of whom George W ... of this review, was the second in order of birth, namely: Mrs. Flora March, Mrs. Hattie Bradley and Mrs. Esther Bruce.
George W. Walker grew up on the home farm and there helped with the general work about the place, attending the district schools during the winter months. He remained with his father on the home place until he was twenty- four years of age. He then started in life for himself by renting land of his father for four years; he then bought one hundred and sixty acres of the homestead and here he still resides, having kept it well improved and well cultivated and he has met with encouraging success all the while. Politically, he is a Republican and he is at present school director of his district.
Mr. Walker was married on February 24, 1897, to Lilly G. Daniels, who was born in Jasper county, Iowa, the daughter of Robert W. Daniels, an early settler. To the subject and wife two children have been born, namely: Win- nie V., born June 15, 1897, and Hilma Irene, born April 5, 1902.
GEORGE W. NEWELL.
The subject of this sketch, who bore the illustrious name of George Washington Newell, was born April 28, 1845, near Mount Vernon, Knox county, Ohio. He was the second child born to Hugh and Sarah (Lovridge) Newell. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother of Ohio. The father died in Ohio in 1859, at the age of forty-five years, when the boy George was only thirteen years old. The mother lived to attain her eighty- first birthday, dying in 1902 in Ohio.
Mr. Newell was one of eight children, five of whom are still living, the eldest, Anna, dying at the age of fifteen years; Mary Newell, who married Samuel Finerty, now deceased, in 1909: Margaret, who married Miller Rush; John, who married Emma J. Parker; and Clara, the youngest child, who be- came the wife of S. Willard, all live in Knox county, Ohio, the home of their birth; Olive, who married Aaron Bebout, lives at Gatesville, Texas, and Thomas Newell lives in Texas, near Sonora.
On the 12th day of October. 1875, Mr. Newell was united in marriage to Amanda Brown, daughter of Garrett and Mary (Holland) Brown, her father being a native of Maryland and her mother a native of West Virginia. She
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GEORGE W. NEWELL
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was one of nine children, whose names are: James U., who died in the army in 1864, enlisting in Ohio; Ann E., who married Caleb Burdett, and lives near Poplar Springs, Maryland; Reason H., who married Harriet Bixby, and who died in Ohio; Joanna V., who married Robert White, and died in Mount Vernon, Ohio; Mary L. married Frank Brock, of Mt. Vernon; William M., who married Nancy J. Mills, lives in Union county, lowa ; Henry M., unmar- ried, and Frank, who married Ethel Gray.
Mrs. Newell's father died in 1865, at the age of sixty-five years, in Ohio, where also her mother died in 1896, at the age of eighty-six. In March, 1876, soon after the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Newell, they removed from Ohio to Iowa. For about five years he rented land, not being possessed of capital to buy. But at the end of that time he bought one hundred and forty acres in Kellogg township, near Rushville. Here he lived for nine years, when he sold it and bought the beautiful home where he lived until his death, consisting of one hundred and eighty-one and one-half acres in Palo Alto township, paying only thirty-three and one-third dollars per acre for it. The house which was there when Mr. Newell bought the place has been moved back and an elegant, commodious house now stands in its place.
To Mr. and Mrs. Newell have been born six children, as follows: Nora I., born August 12, 1876, married to William Starrett, and to this couple have been born three children, William L., George L. and Daniel C. They live in Kellogg township on a farm; Clifton D., the second child, was born Decem- ber 31, 1877, married Christina Paulson, and lives in Kellogg township on a farm and have one little daughter, Dorothy Ruth; Clayton E., born October 10, 1879, living in Palo Alto township, married Ina Eaton, and they have four children, Iva B., Thelma, Ralph and Rowena A., now living in Gettysburg, South Dakota : George M. Newell, born January 29, 1882, lives in California ; Bessie H., born August 31, 1883, married Peter Jensma, lives in Newton town- ship on a farm, and they have three children, Ethel, Celia Bessie and Wil- helmina; Bertha E., born April 30, 1885, lives at home with her mother.
Mr. Newell was a public spirited man and a man of sterling worth and of progressive ideas. He was a Democrat, but was not what one would call a fastidious one. He never aspired to public office. At one time he was elected justice of the peace in Mariposa township, but he refused to serve. He served as school director for five years and for the last fifteen years he had been chair- man of the board of trustees of the Methodist Protestant church of Hixon Grove. Mrs. Newell is also a member of this church. Mr. Newell was called to his final rest on April 21, 1912, honored and beloved by all who knew him. He was a good husband, a loving father and will be remembered for many a year by those near and dear to him.
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WILLIAM A. CRAIG.
Among the enterprising citizens of Hickory Grove township who owe their success and advancement in life to their own industry and well directed efforts, is William A. Craig, who, after a very active and successful life as an agriculturist and stock man, is now living retired in his pleasant home in the town of Newburg. He hails from far-away Ireland, from which isle has come such a great number of industrious and useful citizens to our states. Like nearly all those who come from his country, he is a man of tact, energy and perseverance and during his residence in this country made a good home and earned the reputation of an honest, upright citizen.
Mr. Craig was born in county Antrim, Ireland, June 25, 1848, the son of John G. and Hannah (Anderson) Craig, both born in Ireland but both of . Scotch parentage. They grew up, were married and, in fact, spent their entire lives in their native land. The elder Craig was a grocer. They had but one child, William A., of this review. They were both members of the Presbyterian church.
The subject was educated in Ireland and when his father died in 1849 he entered the grocery store, learned the mercantile business and followed it for some time. After spending seven years in England he emigrated to America in 1878, reaching New York City on July 14th. He came on to Cambridge, Ohio, where he visited friends four weeks, then came to Jasper county, Iowa, and bought eighty acres in Hickory Grove township, and here he set to farming, improved his land and made it yield abundantly, so that he soon had a comfortable living and a good home, and he was enabled to buy three eighty-acre tracts in the same township in 1891, having then sold his first place. He improved this land also and engaged more extensively in general farming and stock raising until 1904, becoming one of the substantial and influential men of his community the meanwhile. In the last year men- tioned he moved to the town of Newburg, Hickory Grove township, built a pleasant cottage on Main street and retired from active life, having laid by a competency.
Politically, Mr. Craig is a Republican and he has taken a lively interest in the affairs of his community. He served his township very ably for two terms as chairman of township trustees, and once before for three years he served on the board of trustees. He has been township committeeman for several years, and has held other local offices, always with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. Both he and his wife are members of the United Brethren church.
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On April 16, 1871, Mr. Craig was united in marriage with Mary Getty, who was born in Ireland, the daughter of James and Anna Getty, natives of county Antrin, Ireland, where they spent their lives, having been born and reared in the town of Ballymena. They were also members of the Presby- terian church.
Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Craig, namely: John G. imarried Sarah Paul and lives on his farm in this township; James G. died in infancy; James William, who married Gertrude Hulbert, lives in this town- ship; Agnes Margaret married Joseph Paul and they live in this township; Anna Gordon died in infancy.
JERRY WALTER SPARKS.
The science of agriculture-for it is a science as well as an art-finds an able demonstrator as well as a successful practitioner in the person of Jerry Walter Sparks, of Mariposa township, one of Jasper county's substantial and honored citizens. It would seem from looking over his well kept fields that he has been most careful of every detail and has tried to do well whatever he undertook, knowing that careless and slovenly done work would never bring large or definite results, and he has never been contented to be in the mediocre class of agriculturists.
Mr. Sparks is a native of this community, his birth having occurred here on April 17, 1873, and he is the son of Henry and Ellen ( Mathews) Sparks. the father born in Indiana and the mother born in Ohio. They spent their early lives and were educated in the East and married there, emigrating to Iowa in 1860 and devoted themselves to farming. Henry Sparks was a sol- dier in the Union army during the Civil war for a period of three years and three months, during which he saw some hard service and conducted himself as a true American soldier.
Jerry W. Sparks, of this review, grew to maturity on the home farm, on which he worked when he became of proper age, and he received a good com- mon school education, after which he turned his attention to farming in earnest and has followed that line of endeavor to the present time, locating on his present fine farm in 1911. It consists of one hundred and sixty acres, devoted to general farming. It is well improved and rich, productive soil, which yields abundant harvests under Mr. Sparks' able management. He has a com- fortable and well furnished home and large substantial barns and outbuildings.
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He keeps some good live stock of various grades and never fails to find a ready market for what he offers for sale owing to their superior quality.
Mr. Sparks was married on October 7, 1895, to Rebecca McClain, a lady of many commendable characteristics, who was born in Indiana, March 5, ' 1874. She is the daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Haines) McClain, both natives of Indiana and both born in 1840. They were well known and highly respected people in their native community, each representing sterling old pioneer families.
To Mr. and Mrs. Sparks four children have been born, three daughters and one son, namely: Tracey Lewis, Aldie Ellen, Gladys Irene and Muriel.
Politically, Mr. Sparks is a Republican and in religious matters he belongs to the Christian church, of which he is a· liberal supporter.
HERMAN W. KOOISTRA.
Another of the thrifty Hollanders who have honored Jasper county by their citizenship and have benefited alike themselves and the community in general is Herman W. Kooistra, of Linn Grove township, where, in a scientific manner, he is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits and where he en- joys the friendship and good will of all his neighbors and acquaintances, for his record stands without blemish as a citizen in both public and private affairs, and he is in every way entitled to just consideration and representation in this biographical work.
Mr. Kooistra was born in Holland, January 16, 1885, and he is the son of Wytze and Baukje (Olivier) Kooistra, both born in Holland, the father in 1853 and the mother in 1855, and there they grew to maturity, were educated and married and began life on a small farm. The family emigrated to America in 1889, when the subject was four years of age. They located at Pella, Iowa, but soon afterwards came to Jasper county, and during their first four years the father and sons worked out as farm hands until they could get a start : then the father rented land in this county for a period of nine years, principally in Elk Creek township. In 1900 he bought one hundred and ninety-six acres in Lynn Grove township. Here he prospered and added to his original holdings until he owned one of the best farms in the township, consisting of two hundred and thirty-three acres and there he lived until his death in 1906. He was a quiet, hard-working, kindly gentleman who had the respect of all who knew him. His family consisted of the following children :
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John, Mrs. Kate Elscott, Wytze, Herman W., of this sketch, and Dora. They all attended school in Elk Creek township and they helped their father on the farm and since his death Herman W. and Wytze have operated the homestead in an able and successful manner, carrying forward the work inaugurated by the elder Kooistra. The subject has remained unmarried, but Wytze was married in February, 1905, to Katie Brand, the daughter of Jacob Brand, a very early settler in Jasper county, whither he had come from Holland. To Wytze Kooistra and wife two children have been born, Lenora and Edna.
In connection with general farming the Kooistra brothers devote con- siderable attention to stock raising. They are both hustlers and very promising young farmers. The subject is independent in politics, always voting for the man and what he personally stands for, irrespective of party.
WILLIAM JOHN ALTEMEIER.
The gentleman whose life history .is herewith outlined is a man who has lived to good purpose and achieved a measure of success that is the legitimate reward for honest labor and faithful enterprise. By a straightforward and com- mendable course he has made his way to a respectable position in the business world, winning the hearty admiration of the people of his community and earn- ing a reputation as an enterprising, progressive man of affairs which the pub- lic has not been slow to recognize and appreciate. He is one of our native sons who has been satisfied with local conditions and willing to spend his life on his native heath, having had the sagacity to foresee that here were as good if not better opportunities as existed in this or any other state, and, thus grow- ing up amid the conditions in which he first found himself and being persist- ent, he has benefited himself and the community in general. His well-kept and well-tilled farm in Mariposa township shows that Mr. Altemeier has kept fully abreast of the times in every respect and that he believes in doing well what- ever he attempts, whether trivial or of momentous importance, and it will be noticed that such men succeed at their life work, where others fail for lack of concentration.
Mr. Altemeier was born in Mariposa township. Jasper county, Iowa, on June 28, 1870. He is the son of Adolph, Sr., and Wilhelmina (Klopping) Altemeier, the father born on December 24, 1837, at the town of Horn in the province of Lepin, Germany, and the mother was born on April 8, 1841, at the town of Dephmold, in the province of Lepin, Germany. When a boy the father worked on the farm in his native land, and in 1855. when eighteen years of age, he emigrated to our shores, taking up his residence in the town
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of Freeport, Illinois, where his brother Simon and sister Louise were already located, they having emigrated to New Jersey in 1852 and came to Freeport, Illinois, a year later. Simon Altemeier is still living in Mariposa township, Jasper county, Iowa. In 1857 Adolph Altemeier, Sr., came to Newton, Iowa, and there worked for some time in the brick yard, then began renting a farm five miles north of Newton. He then moved to Spirit Lake, Iowa, and took up a claim, but at the time of the Indian uprising he was forced to leave it, so he returned to Jasper county and in 1860 bought forty acres of land in Malaka township. A few years later he sold out and bought one hundred and twenty acres in Mariposa township, this county. Here he met with a larger measure of success than falls to the average man, beginning life as he did, a pioneer under discouraging conditions. He added to his original purchase from time to time until he became the owner of eight hundred acres of valuable land, and he farmed on an extensive scale, becoming one of the substantial and influential men of his community. He took considerable interest in public affairs and served as township trustee and assessor, also served on the township school- board. He and his wife were members of the German Evangelical church. The elder Altemeier passed to his reward on October 10, 1886, after a success- ful and honored career. The mother of the subject came to the United States when she was nine years of age, in 1850. and located at Freeport, Illinois, and there lived five or six years among her neighbors from her birthplace in Germany. Her parents had died when she was a young girl. It was about 1856 that she came to Newton, Iowa, and worked in the home of Colonel Curzard for several years, then was married to the senior Altemeier. Since his death she has lived in Newton. for the most part.
Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Altemeier, Sr., named in order of birth as follows: Adolph, Jr .; Mary is deceased; Mrs. Lottie Rathelson is also deceased; William John, of this sketch; Mrs. Minnie Wer- man, Mrs. Anna Weiseman, Louis, Edward C. and Fred.
William J. Altemeier grew up on the home farm and when but a boy he began making a regular hand in the crop seasons, attending district school No. 4 in Mariposa township. When twenty-one years of age he began hiring out by the month, then rented part of the home place from his mother for four years. He was twenty-one years of age when he purchased one hundred and sixty acres just south of the old homestead. Five years later he added eighty acres more to this and here he has continued to reside, keeping the place well up-to-date in the matter of tillage and improvements, carrying on general farming and stock raising in a successful manner. In 191 I he built a splendid new barn and has such other convenient buildings as his needs require, in-
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cluding a very pleasant residence. He has long made a specialty of raising Poland-China hogs.
Politically, Mr. Altemeier is a Democrat and while he has ever manifested an interest in the welfare of his community he has not sought public office.
On October 28, 1898, occurred the marriage of William J. Altemeier and Hilaria Morris. The latter was born in Mariposa township, Jasper county, Iowa, on October 31, 1870. She is the daughter of Stephen and Charlotte (Wilson) Morris. The father was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on July 3, 1838, and the mother was born in Arkansas on November 27. 1840. The paternal grandparents were Payton and Martha Morris, who spent their lives in Ohio. The maternal grandparents, Robert W. and Johanna Wilson, who left Arkansas in 1842, moved to Clark county, Indiana, where they lived until 1854 in which year they drove through with a team and wagon to Jas- per county, Iowa, Mr. Wilson entering land just east of Rushville in Kellogg township, and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Altemeier's mother was two years of age when her parents took her from Arkansas to Indiana and there she spent a part of her girlhood, accompanying the family to Iowa, growing to maturity in Kellogg township and attending the local schools. She became fairly well educated for those times and she taught the first school in district No. 4 in Mariposa township when the district was opened in 1863. She and Mr. Morris were married on February II, 1866, he having come to Jasper county from Ohio in 1860. Mr. Morris en- listed in Company I, Tenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, in which he served faith- fully for a period of three and one-half years during the most stirring part of the Civil war. He contracted a disease of the eyes which made it neces- sary for him to spend some time in the hospital, and. in fact, he was troubled from the effects of the same the balance of his life Stephen Morris had bought a farm in Jasper county before he came to Iowa, and after the war he traded that for the home place of one hundred and sixty acres in Mariposa township, later adding forty acres more. He was a Republican in politics and all the family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The death of the father of Mrs. Altemeier occurred on February 4, 1901, and since that event the mother has been living among her children.
Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Morris, named in order of birth as follows: Mrs. Sarah Elvira Pennington lives in Colton, South Dakota ; Anne Clair died in infancy ; Mrs. Hilaria J Altemeier, wife of the subject : Robert Melvin, farmer of Mariposa township, this county: Jesse Payton is living in Newton, Iowa; Herbert S. is deceased; Mrs. Edith J. Snodgrass is living in South Dakota: Clarence is deceased; Harvey Rice is living in Worth county, Iowa.
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