USA > Iowa > Henry County > Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 44
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to this county, of which they had heard favorable mention, in 1851 a permanent location was made, Mr. Franey purchasing 100 acres, a part of his present homestead. Small improvements had been made and a trifling log cabin built. Into this the family moved, and the wife soon had their few household goods placed in order; the children grew robust and the old cabin had to have an addition. Later this was covered with boards and made into a comfortable dwelling. As the lands were cleared prosperity came, and her smiles have never dimin- ished. Other lands have been purchased. and the merry laughter of the children and their ambition to aid in the work of improving the farm, gave added zest to the parents. Two other sons were born on the homestead, Robert and David, and the old house still stands as a landmark. Many pleas- ant memories cluster about the quaint okl relic. Its roof gave shelter to a happy family, and through its open doors the children ran in their play, and through its old-fashioned windows the baby-boys watched for the coming of their father, who always greeted them with a smile and a pleasant word. But this house has seen its time, and a fine house has taken its place. The children have grown to manhood and womanhood and are widely scattered, but the family circle remains unbroken by death. The same cheerful matron presides in the modern farmhouse who gave the kindly greetings to the weary stranger or the new-comer who called at her cabin door when the country was new and the crops of 1851 were not so fruitful as now. The Franey mansion has ever been noted as one of the most hospitable homes in the county, and the children are fit representatives of such parents.
Of the children, Timothy became the husband of Martha Hall; William J., who wedded Eliza Lisle, was a dispatch bearer during the late war, but belonged to no partieular command (see sketch) ; George, a resident of Salt Lake City, married a lady there; Eliza remains with her parents and is un- married ; Robert is now the husband of Sarah Robey, and David wedded Miss Ella Clark. Every child mentioned does honor to the parents. and among the most successful business men are the children of John and Joyce Franey.
In their mature years this good couple can look
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back upon a well-spent life, and from the day their troth was plighted neither has ever had cause to regret their nnion, Blessed with health and rich in purse. their old age is pleasantly passed. Among the old settlers and representative families of this county they find a cordial remembrance. and in one of the cosiest and neatest of homes they are enjoy- ing the fruits of a life of industry and thrift, sur- rounded with the comforts of life, and enjoying the respect and esteem of the entire community.
ANIEL EICHER is a prominent farmer, residing on section 5. Jefferson Township, Henry County, for among those who have become noted personages in this and Wash- ington Counties are the brothers, Daniel and Rev. Benjamin Eicher, the later a resident of Washing- ton County. Daniel was born in Alsace, France, now a part of the German Empire, April 22, 1825, and is the son of Rev. John and Margaretta (Con- rad) Eicher. There the Rev. John Eicher had charge of a Mennonite congregation, and for many years was engaged not only in the ministry, but in farming. Only a part of his children came to America, and all came singly. First came JJacob, then John Ir., Christian, then our subject, Martin Benjamin, followed by a sister Annie, who was mar- ried in Abace to John W. Wittmer, who also came, and all settled in Wayne County, Ohio. Jacob later returned to the home of his boyhood, and married his playmate. Mary Summer, whom he brought to America. Three of the boys, after try- ing awhile a life in Ohio, coneluded to make a loea- tion in Canada, John, Daniel and Christian, locating in Waterloo County, and all remained for three years with the exception of our subject. Hle staid six years, and then followed his brothers to lowa. Three of these had located in Washington County, and John and Daniel in Henry. Martin was the only one who entered any land, he doing this in 1850. After coming to lowa, all the sons married : Martin wedded Barbara Roth; Christian married Annie Wenger: Jacob became the husband of Cath- erine Rich; and Rev. Benjamin Eicher married Lydia Summers, All these children did well in
America, but only three are now living-Benjamin, Christian and our subject.
In Alsace the parents remained, also their other children : Joseph, who married Elizabeth Kropf ; Fannie, wife of Jacob Summer ; and Peter, husband of Catherine Summer. The parents lived to a ripe old age, and were buried in the country that gave them birth. Our subject went back to Germany, intending to bring them over, but the old people preferred to remain in their native land.
In 1854 Miss Magdalena Rich became the wife of Daniel Eicher. She bore no heirs, and her death occurred one year after the marriage. His second wife was Magdalena Klopfenstine, to whom he was wedded in 1856. Daniel saw hard times with small returns. He was $500 in debt, but he persevered. and his first purchase of forty acres he paid for in cash. Ilis good-nature put him under such obliga- tion to his fellowmen, to whom he loaned his hard earned dollars, that during the commencement of the war he was in straitened circumstances. Little by little he recovered, and long ago those losses were regained, and instead of a poor man struggling to provide for a family, he is now the father of a large and interesting family, and the owner of 341 broad arres, that have for years brought him and his sons a large revenue.
Since the last marriage the following children have been born : Peter, the husband of Lydia Eash : Jolin, Franklin, Martin, Catherine, Jacob and Mary. Martin received his education at Washington, lowa. and intends following a mechanical occupation. Perhaps no man a resident of Jefferson Township has accomplished more in the same length of time than Daniel Eicher, who came to Iowa a young man without money, but with his own hands, and by the united labor of himself and family, now enjoys a competenee, and his children are of the same ener- getie class to which their parents belong. Their house is one of those hospitable homes for which Henry County is noted, and from Daniel Eicher and his good wife, the stranger, neighbor or friend, receives a cordial welcome. Both himself and wife were members of the first Mennonite Church organ- ized in this part of the country, and to this they yet belong. For twelve years Mr. Eicher has been con- nected with the public schools of Jefferson Town-
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ship, and for a number of years he has been School Treasurer. To such families the morality, social standing and enterprise of Henry County are due, and among those who have made it a noted name none have contributed more than the Eichers.
OHIN H. WHITING, President of the Na- tional State Bank of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, was born in the town of Erwin, Steuben Co., N. Y., Dec. 6, 1834, and is the son of Tim- othy and Sarah A. (McCall) Whiting, of whom see sketch. Ile was educated at Genesee College, Lima, N. Y., and at Wesleyan University, Middle- town, Conn., graduating in 1855. He was engaged in teaching school for one year in the Paul Wing Academy, near Sandwich, Mass. In April, 1857, he came West, and located at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where he entered the banking-house of W. P. Bra- zelton & Co., as clerk, and soon became bookkeeper. Six months later his father bought an interest in the bank, the firm becoming Brazelton & Whiting. One year afterward John H. Whiting and I. S. Clark succeeded to the business, under the firm name of Clark & Whiting. They conducted the bank until April, 1858, when it was re-organized as the Mt. Pleasant Branch of the State Bank of Iowa, of which Timothy Whiting, his father, was Cashier, and John H. Whiting, Assistant Cashier. In Jan- uary, 1862, John II. was promoted to the position of Cashier, which he continued to hold after the bank was chartered as the National State Bank of Mt. Pleasant, in February, 1865, his father, Timo- thy Whiting, being President. Mr. John II. Whit- ing continued to serve as Cashier till January, 1886, when he was elected Vice President, and on the death of his father, which occurred Feb. 6, 1887, he was elected President to fill the vacancy.
Mr. Whiting was united in marriage with Miss Julia May. at Bath, N. Y., Sept. 22, 1858. Mrs. Whiting is the daughter of James and Betsy (Adams) May, and was born at Bath, N. Y., in 1839. Her parents were from Litchfield, Conn., her mother being related to the Adams family of Massachusetts, of National reputation. Three chil-
dren were born of this union: May, the eldest, is the wife of George W. S. Allen, a merchant of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; James Timothy is a bookkeeper of the National State Bank of Mt. Pleasant; Henry C., the youngest, is a student of the Chicago Medical College. Mr. Whiting has served as City Treasurer and as School Treasurer of Mt. Pleas- ant, and is a Republican in politics. He inherits the sterling qualities of his honored father. being a good financier and a thorough business man, upright and just. He is liberal in support of educational and religious institutions. Both he and his wife and all of his children are members of the First Presbyterian Church, of which he has been for the past twenty years Ruling Elder, and for nearly twenty years was Superintendent of the Sabbath-school connected with the church.
OHN B. FLAMM, a farmer and stock-raiser of Henry County, Iowa, residing on section 27, Center Township, was born in Wurtem- berg, Germany, Feb. 23. 1836. He was the son of George and Louisa (Reich) Flamm. The subject of this sketeh received a liberal education in his native country. After coming to America he for three years worked in Monroe County, N. Y., and in 1857 came to Henry County, lowa. In August, 1862. Mr. Flamm enlisted in the 25th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, being a member of Company H, and was mustered into service at Camp Harlan, remaining in camp for two months, then proceeding to St. Louis, then to Helena, Ark., then to Chickasaw Bayou, where they were first under fire. At Arkansas l'ost they had a sharp fight, and at Yonng's Point went into winter quar- ters. In the spring they proceeded down the river, and participated in the siege and capture of Vicks- burg, being under fire for forty-seven days. The army went first to Jackson, and had a fight, then to Vicksburg, then back to Jackson, and had another tight, then to Canton, Miss., where they engaged in battle, afterward going to Camp Sherman on Black River. Proceeding up the river to Memphis the army went first to Lookout Mountain, from there
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to Missionary Ridge. participating in those battles, then to Ringgold, and subsequently to Woodville. Ala., at which place the army went into winter quarters. Mr. Flamm was in all the engagements before Atlanta, and was with Sherman on the memorable march to the sea. He was also engaged in the battle at Bentonville, N. C., and from there marched to Washington, where he was mustered ont, and from thence to Davenport, where he was discharged. During all the long days of service Mr. Flamm never received a wound, was always at his post, and was never known to shirk his duty.
On the 9th day of September, 1866, Mr. Flamm was united in marriage with Miss Fredricka Raus- cher, who was born in Baden, Germany, March 16, 1841, and in 1854 came with her parents to America. Mr. and Mrs. Flamm are devoted mem- bers of the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and is the owner of 124 acres of land, situated three and a half miles southeast of Mt. Pleasant; this is one of the best cultivated farms in the county.
C HARLES SNIDER, an early settler and prom- inent business man of Mt. Pleasant, propri- etor of the oldest established drug-store in the city, and a member and General Manager of the Mt. Pleasant Gas Works Company, was born in Bavaria, Germany, June 16, 1831. He is the son of Philip and Christina (Donaw) Snider, and came to America with his parents in the autumn of 1831, while an infant. His father, who settled in Bedford County, Pa., was a grain buyer in his native country, but on coming to this country he engaged in farm- ing. Ile and his wife were industrious, frugal people, strict in their religious views, and trained their children to habits of industry and morality. They were in moderate circumstances, and our subject, like the other children, had to work hard, and had but limited opportunities for education. At the age of fourteen years Charles left home to work among strangers and make his own way in the world. Hle was employed for about a year as chore boy with a Mr. Duffield, whom he left, to accept a place in the dry-goods store of W. S.
Fletcher, at McConnellsburg, Pa. He spent about two years with Mr. Fletcher, and then entered the drug-store of Dr. Duffield, a son of his former employer, and a prominent physician of that city. lle learned the drug business with Dr. Duffield, with whom he remained till the spring of 1852, working during the first year for the munificent salary of $36. Becoming impatient at the pros- pect of getting on so slowly, he conceived the idea of trying his fortune in California, then the great center of attraction on account of the recent gold discoveries, but much against the wishes of his family and friends, who objected on account of his youth and inexperience, he being still in his minority. Hle set out via New York and Panama, for the Eldorado of the West. His small savings were augmented by borrowed capital, and in order to make his limited means go as far as possible, he endured the discomforts and hardships of a steerage passage in a crowded vessel, crossed the Isthmmms of Panama on foot, subjected to the intense heat of a tropical region, destitute of water. Before reaching Panama he was nearly prostrated by sickness and exhaustion, but by force of an in- domitable will and energy, he succeeded in reach- ing Panama, where, having regained his strength, he shipped for San Francisco. Disappointed in obtaining employment in that city, he went to Sac- ramento, where after considerable delay and ditli- culty he obtained employment in a drug-store, in an inferior position. By strict attention to busi- ness he won rapid promotion, and was soon placed in full charge of the store, his employer spending the greater part of his time in the States. Here he found the effect of his early training a good safe- guard against the temptations that surrounded him. Drinking, gambling, and the usual forms of dissi- pation customary in a mining region. beset his path on every hand. The precepts of his worthy parents came to his mind, and under their influence he held himself aloof from the vortex that wrecked so many worthy men. While in charge of the store and stock they were destroyed by fire, while his em- ployer was absent in New York, but before his return Mr. Snider had the store rebuilt and the business again in full running order. Here he succeeded in accumulating a snug sum, after pay-
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
JACOB BURGE.
RACHEL BURGE.
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ing the debt incurred at starting on his voyage. and sending several hundred dollars home. Ile left this employment in the summer of 1854, and returned to Pennsylvania via the Niearagua route. As biography, like history, should teach the coming generations the lessons of the past, these facts are set forth in detail, that they may encourage young readers not to get easily disheartened, but to push on, despite obstacles that may seem insurmount- able. till success erowns their efforts,
Mr. Snider was married at Pittsburgh, Pa., Aug. 3, 1854, to Miss Mary E. Niceolls, daughter of Nathaniel Niceolls. Mrs. Snider was born in Westmoreland County. Pa., Sept. 13, 1833. Seven children were born to their union; four sons and three daughters, all born in Mt. Pleasant: Frank M., born May 18, 1855, died Aug. 16, 1855 ; How- ard E., born June 13, 1857. married Miss May Brooks, daughter of Capt. Brooks, of Mt. Pleas- ant; they have two children, daughters-Stella and Bertha. Howard is now interested with his father in the drug business at Mt. Pleasant, north side of the Park. where they carry a full line of drugs, paints. wall paper, etc., under the firm name of C. Snider & Co. Effie A., the next younger, was born Nov. 2, 1859, and died March 5. 1862; William E., born March 5, 1863, died Aug. 17, 1864: Blanche was born Jan. 30, 1865, and died Feb. 5, 1872; Charles F., born Jan. 6, 1870, is a student of the Iowa Wesleyan University; Edith was born April 7, 1875. and is attending the city schools.
Mr. Snider came to Mt. Pleasant with his wife Nov. 16, 1854, and in April. 1855, began business as a druggist. Ile rapidly built up a prosperous trade, and bought out Douglas & Miller, then his only competitors. He has since carried on business continuously, covering a period of thirty-three years. In the spring of 1877 he formed a partner- ship with Messrs. Henry Ambler, of Mt. Pleasant, and W. S. Fletcher, of Philadelphia, Pa., and pur- chased the Mt. Pleasant Gas Works. re-organized the business, and has been the General Manager of the same since that time. He became identified with the Iowa Wesleyan University in 1858, and has served as a member of the Board of Trustees for twenty-five years, and of the Executive Board nearly as long. Ile was elected and served as
Treasurer of the University eleven years. He has served as a member of the City Council, is a Repub- lican in politics, and has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for upward of thirty years. His wife and family are members of the same church. Mr. Snider was one of the founders of the First National Bank of Mt. Pleasant, of which he still a stockholder, and a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Snider is a self-made man; deprived of educational advantages in his youth, he was obliged to rely on his own efforts and studious habits for the training that the youth of to-day have thrust upon them. His history points a moral, showing that with the exercise of a determined will. based on good judgment and cor- rect business principles, supported by habits of persevering industry and unswerving integrity, success is assured. He has now been identified with Henry County and its institutions for more than thirty-three years, and has won a place among the foremost of her many worthy citizens.
ACOB BURGE (deceased), an honored pio- neer of Henry County, of April, 1835, was horn in Pennsylvania, Feb. 13, 1804. and was the son of John and Margaret Burge. His parents were also natives of Pennsylvania and removed to Licking County, Ohio, in 1812. Our subject, Jacob Burge, was reared on his father's farm, and when twenty years of age ( July 29, 1824) was united in marriage with Miss Rachel Neil, daughter of James and Catherine Neil. Mrs. Burge was born in Perry County, Ohio, Aug. 13, 1808. In 1833 Mr. Burge emigrated from Ohio to Sangamon County, Ill., where he engaged in farming. In April. 1835, he emigrated to what is now Henry County, Iowa, then Michigan Territory. and located on what is now section 27, New Lon- don Township, but was then unsurveyed Govern- ment land. As soon as the public land came into market. he entered an entire seetion, or 640 aeres, which he improved and retained in his possession, with the exception of eighty-seven acres, until his death, which oeenrred Aug. 24, 1876.
Mr. and Mrs. Burge had eight children born to them, five daughters and three sons, four of whom
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are now living: Elizabeth M., born May 15, 1825, was the wife of John Allsop, and died Feb. 9, 1846, leaving one daughter; John W., born Feb. 19, 1827, died in his seventh year; Louisa J., born March 30, 1829, was the wife of Samuel Lee, and died Jan. 20, 1859, leaving one child. a son, and one son died before his mother; Jeremiah J., born April 11, 1831, married Mary Lawrence, and re- sides in Butler County, Neb .; Nancy C., born March 28, 1836, is the wife of John Prickett, re- siding in New London Township; Rachel Jane, born June 14, '1838, is the widow of Whitfield Kirkpatrick, and resides in Jefferson County, Iowa; Jacob Marion, born Sept. 21, 1847, wedded Essie Cone, and died Dec. 24, 1870, leaving one child, a son ; Susan Emeline, born March 26, 1852, is the wife of Willis W. Blacker, and lives on the old homestead. Mr. Burge was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Democrat in politics. He was an upright, honorable man, in- dustrious and temperate in his habits. and was highly esteemed as a neighbor and citizen. lle came to this region in advance of civilization, when his neighbors were few and far distant, and he and his family had to put up with the discomforts of pioneer life for several years, but by keen foresight he erected a home in one of the most eligible sec- tions of this fertile region, and left his heirs a large and valuable property.
It is with great pleasure that we give on an ad- joining page portraits of this carly pioneer and the wife by whose help he created the home where she yet lives, enjoying the fruits of their early industry. Both were among the first pioneers of the county, and cach enjoyed in a high degree the confidenee and esteem of the people who knew them well. and many of whom their hospitable roof had sheltered in early days.
AVID RAINEY, one of the enterprising farmers of Henry County, Iowa, residing on section 30. Tippecanoe Township, is a native of Ireland, born in that country in 1818, and is the son of James and Nancy (Green) Rainey. David Rainey was reared on a farm in
the old country, and leaving his native home in 1833, he emigrated to America, settling in Belmont County, Ohio, remaining there until 1844. Decid- ing to come West, and being pleased with Henry County, he moved here, settling first on a farm one mile west of Mt. Pleasant. After remaining for a year on that farm, he settled in Trenton Town- ship, there residing for two years. In 1847 Mr. Rainey purchased sixty acres of land in Tippecanoe Township, where he still resides, but since that time he has sold twenty acres, leaving a farm of forty acres in extent. In Belmont County, Ohio, the marriage of David Rainey and Catherine Hall was celebrated. She was a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Samuel and Christiana Hall, who were also born in the Buckeye State. Three children graced this union : Christiana was taken from them while yet an infant; Samuel enlisted in Company II, 4th lowa Infantry; after having served three years he re-enlisted, but was killed at the battle of Atlanta, and lies buried among the lost heroes who died on that field. Mary Ann died at the age of sixteen in 1857. Mrs. Rainey was called to her heavenly home at the age of twenty-eight years, in the winter of 1815. Mr. Rainey was again married, in the spring of 1818, to Christiana Barton, the widow of William Barton. One child was born to the fond parents, John, who was taken from them at the age of six years, in 1853. The mother de- parted this life in February, 1885 : she was a mem- ber of the Baptist Church and was an earnest, sincere Christian.
Mr. Rainey was among the loyal Irish who fought so gallantly during the late Rebellion. At the President's call for troops to defend our Union he responded, enlisting in Company 1, 14th lowa In- fantry, serving nearly four years. He participated in the battles of Ft. Donelson, Pittsburg Landing. Ft. De Bussey, La., Pleasant Hill, Tupelo, and was taken prisoner at Pittsburg Landing. For three months he was held captive, confined in the loath- some prison at Macon, Ga. The 14th Iowa In- fantry. of which he was a member, did some of the hardest fighting that was done during the war. Mr. Rainey was always at his post, never known to shirk his duty, and during battle was ever in the thickest of the fight. After he returned to his
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home, he again engaged in farming, which business he has followed ever since. Socially, Mr. Rainey is a member of the G. A. R. Post, while politically, he is a stalwart Republican, believing yet that a great work will be performed by that party, and its interests he is always ready to advance. The example of Mr. Rainey any boy might well follow. Landing in America in 1833, without money, with- out friends, without home, he has worked his way through difficulties and discouragements, until now he can look baek on a well-spent life, more enjoya- ble in contrast with the hardships of other days. Mr. Rainey is a member of the Baptist Church, and his time, money and influence are always ready to aid in the advancement of his Master's cause.
ESLEY K. DILLON, Assistant Supervisor of the Iowa State Hospital for the Insane, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, since April 1, 1885, was born in Wheeling, Va. (now West Virginia), June 27, 1846. His father, Reuben Dillon, was born in Allegheny County, Pa., was a hatter by trade, and of Scotch-Irish descent. The family were residents of America prior to the Revolution, and were represented in all the important wars of this country. The subject of this sketch and his father were both soldiers of the late war, members of Company D, 62d Pennsylvania Regiment. The grandfather of Wesley K. Dillon was a soldier in the War of 1812, and his great-grandfather, a sol- dier in the Revolutionary War. The mother of our subject was Lydia B. Monk before her marriage. She was born in Center County, Pa., and died when Wesley K. was but a child. Her ances- tors came to America from Ilanover in Colon- ial times. One of her relatives was an officer in the Revolutionary War and served on Gen. Washing- ton's staff. After his mother's death, Wesley accompanied his father to Minnesota, in the fall of 1856, where they spent four years, and in the fall of 1860 returned to Pennsylvania, and July 4, 1861, they both enlisted in Company D, 62d Penn- sylvania Infantry. Ilis father served in the Quarter- master's Department, and died from exposure while in service. Wesley K. was but fifteen years of age
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