The history of Warren County, Iowa, from its Earliest Settlementto 1908, Part 51

Author: Union Historical Company
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Des Moines : Union historical company
Number of Pages: 1010


USA > Iowa > Warren County > The history of Warren County, Iowa, from its Earliest Settlementto 1908 > Part 51


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Robert F. Reeves was educated in the subscription schools and assisted in the work of the home farm until twenty-one years of age, when he started out in life for himself. He first rented a farm near the old home place. The country was very new and one could ride across the prairies for miles without seeing a habitation. The nearest railway was at Ottumwa. There was much wild


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MR. AND MRS. R. F. REEVES


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game including turkeys, prairie chickens and also an occasional deer, while from time to time one might see a strolling band of Indians.


Th first home of the family in Iowa was a little log cabin, and though it was in great contrast to the modern farm residences, it was still the dwelling place of free and happy hearts, and the experiences of those early days will never be forgotten by the old pioneers. Mr. Reeves completed his arrange- ments for having a home of his own by his marriage, on the 14th of January, 1858, to Sarah Jane Chiek, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Herdzog) Chick, natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland respectively. In 1856 they removed to Mahaska county, Towa, where they resided until 1875, and then became residents of Clarke county, Iowa, where their remaining days were passed, both reaching an advanced age. In their family were nine children : Henry B., a resident of Little Rock, Arkansas; William F., of the same city; Harriet ; Sarah Jane, now Mrs. Reeves; Amy, deceased; Eliza, who was killed by the Indians in New Mexico; John Fred, who accidentally shot himself when hunt- ing ; Margaret, the wife of George Clapp, of Osceola ; and Ella, the wife of John Reed, who resides in Delta county, Colorado.


Mr. and Mrs. Reeves are parents of eight children : William and Elsia, who died in infancy ; Elva, a resident of Milo, who became the wife of Archie Trotter whose death oeeurred in North Dakota in 1899; Osear, who died in infancy ; Hattie, the wife of F. H. Starr, a farmer and stoekman and the eashier of the Citizens Bank of Milo; Elizabeth, the wife of Henry Trotter, a resident of White Oak township; Eva R., who married Colonel T. T. Sandy, living near Valley Junction, Iowa; and Aggie, the wife of Henry Sandy, whose home is near Sandyville, this county.


For the past three years Mr. Reeves has lived quietly in Milo but is still the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and ninety aeres on seetion 5 and also owns a farm of one hundred and ninety-eight acres near Cool in Squaw town- ship. In the work of tilling the soil he has gained a ereditable measure of prosperity because he has labored diligently and his efforts have been guided by intelligence and sound judgment. He has always been a strong advocate of temperance in all things and has never tasted liquor in his life. He votes with the demoeraey, and both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church, while in the community where they live they are held in the highest esteem.


FRANK C. STIFFLER.


With banking interests of Warren county, Frank C. Stiffler has been elosely identified for several years and is today cashier of the Citizens Savings Bank of New Virginia. He is a native of this county, born on the 8th of July, 1868, in Norwalk, and is a son of Adam Stiffler, a worthy pioneer of this section of the state, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.


IHISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY


On subject acquired his elementary education in the common schools and later attended Simpson College. On laying aside his text-books he took up the study of telegraphy and was employed as an operator for ten years. At the end of that time he accepted the position of cashier of the Cumming Bank and after serving such for seven years he came to New Virginia in October. 1907, to become cashier of the Citizens Savings Bank at this place. He has become thoroughly familiar with banking in both principle and prac- tiee.


In 1892 Mr. Stiffler married Miss Byrd Smith, a native of Iowa, and to them have been born two children: Wader, who died in 1901, when but six years of age, and was interred at Norwalk; and Herbert. They were mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church and socially are held in high esteem. Fraternally. Mr. Stiffler is a Mason and is also connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. while politically he is identified with the republican party.


WILLIAM P. NUTTING.


William P. Nutting. a prosperous and successful farmer and stock-raiser of Otter township, was born at Leverett. Worcester county, Massachusetts, not far from Northampton. Greenfield and Orange, on the 4th of August, 1847. His father, David HI. Nutting, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume, brought his family to Iowa in the year 1855, when our sub- ject was but eight years of age, and here he has resided ever since. On first entering school, he and his brother attended a subscription school in Iowa, of which his mother was the teacher, and the edneational advantages which they thus enjoyed were fully as good as they could have had in the place of his birth, as Mrs. Nutting was a woman of exceptional culture. education and refinement. Mr. Nutting remained at home and assisted his father in his extensive farming operations until the year 1873. when he was married to Miss Catherine MeLennan, at which time the young couple took np their abode on the home farm where they have since resided.


While William P. Nutting was particularly fortunate in being possessed of a gifted mother who early instilled into his youthful mind the principles of a sound and sensible edneation, he was no less fortunate in the practical training which his father bestowed upon him in the line of his chosen voca- tion. His success in condneting farming operations is attested by the fact that he now owns some nine hundred acres of land, eight hundred and twenty aeres of which are in Otter township and the remaining eighty in Belmont township. Much of this he has acquired through his own efforts. though a part of it is the result of a division of his father's estate. In addition to the cultivation of grains and cereals. Mr. Nutting is also an extensive stock-raiser and breeder of shorthorn Durham cattle, double stand- ard, or Durham and hornless. He has a herd of registered stock. also many


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graded cattle. He feeds a great many cattle and hogs, often having as many as two hundred of the latter on hand.


Mrs. Nutting was born in 1850 in Inverness, Scotland, the daughter of William and Ellen (Johnson) McLennan. Her parents came to Iowa during the first years of the Civil war. Here Mr. McLennan bought three eighty- acre tracts of land, located in White Breast, Belmont and Otter townships, and here they lived throughont the remainder of their lives, both of them passing away at the old home place in White Breast township. They were the parents of six children, five of whom are still living, namely: Catherine, the wife of Mr. Nutting, of this review; Ann, the wife of John McKenzie, of Winterset, Iowa; Jennie, the wife of William Hastings, a farmer re- siding near Madora, Squaw township; John, a hardware merchant, located at Earlham, Dallas county, and Jessie, a former teacher of Warren county, who resides at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Nutting.


Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nutting have been born seven children, all of whom are vet living. Herbert W., resides on the J. F. Goode farm, now owned by his father. He married Miss Lizzie Dennis and they have one daugh- ter. Eveline. Nellie is the wife of Cassius MeNear, a farmer of Otter town- ship, and they have one daughter, Vivian. Ansel is just entering the ministry of the Presbyterian church. As a preparation for this work he has had exceptional educational advantages. He was a student in the Milo high school, also took a course of study at Fairfield and at Omaha. He was licensed to preach at Des Moines, and has followed this profession for sev- eral years. He will soon be ordained a minister of the Presbyterian church and will accept a charge at Derby, this state. Ray, Myrtle, John and Mary reside at home with their parents. Myrtle has followed the occupation of teaching.


Mr. Nutting is a prominent and active member of the Presbyterian church at Milo, of which he has been an elder since its organization. The republican party finds in him a stanch supporter of its principles. His father was an old line whig. He has been in public life at various times, having served as township clerk, as township trustee and in other minor offices. He is a man of exemplary habits and sterling worth, and no one in the community is held in higher regard.


DON L. BERRY.


Don L. Berry, one of the practical and progressive farmers of Lincoln township, lives on section 18 and farms property of one hundred and ninety acres. He is also meeting with success as a dealer in pure-blooded shorthorn cattle and Percheron and French draft horses. He was born in Indianola. October 8, 1880, and is a son of Senator Berry, one of the prominent and honored residents of this county, who is mentioned on another page of this work.


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Don L. Berry was reared in his native city and was primarily instructed in the common branches of English learning. by his mother. He afterward pursned a course of study, however, and was graduated at Simpson College as a member of the class of 1903. He became a reporter in Des Moines on the Register and Leader and in that manner spent more than a year. He after- ward returned to Indianola and about that time was married to Miss Bertha Sloan, the wedding being celebrated in Des Moines, October 10, 1905. The lady is a native of Dexter, Iowa, pursued her studies in the Dexter Academy and also in the Conservatory of Music, of Indianola. a department of Simp- son College. later becoming instructor in that institution.


In the spring of 1905. Mr. Berry located on his present farm, which was formerly owned by his paternal grandfather, who settled on the farm in 1867 and owned and cultivated it for a quarter of a century, after which he disposed of the property. He was one of the first stock-breeders and dealers of Warren county and engaged in raising registered shorthorn cat- tle. When Don L. Berry took np his abode on the farm, he purchased some registered shorthorn stock and began breeding, now having a herd of twenty- five pure-blooded cows and heifers, together with other high-grade stock. Mr. Berry also breeds Percheron and French draft horses and has some fine animals and has won a number of premiums at the Warren county fair on his horses. He is becoming widely known as a breeder and dealer in pure- blooded stoek. conducting an extensive and prosperous business in this line.


Mr. and Mrs. Berry have one son. Thomas Sloan, and a daughter. Martha Rachel. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Indianola, and are interested in its work and helpful in its support. Poli- tically, he is a staneh republican, but is best known in connection with his business interests and is now serving as secretary of the Farmers' Institute, having filled the position since its organization.


STEPHEN FLESHER.


Stephen Flesher has spent his entire life in Warren county and throughout his business career has been prominently identified with its farming and stock- raising interests. He now operates a fine farm of one hundred and fifty-four aeres near Hartford in Richland township, and also rents another place of one hundred and twenty-five acres, both being well improved and highly enl- tivated.


Mr. Flesher was born in Lincol township, October 24. 1860. a son of Benjamin F .. and Caroline Flesher who came to this state from MeLean county. Illinois, and were pioneers of Warren county. The father, who was also a farmer by occupation. died in May, 1891, and the mother, surviving him for a few years, has also passed away. They were the parents of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, of whom six sons and two daughters are still living.


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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY


Upon his father's farm in Pahnyra township, Stephen Flesher spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and his education was acquired in the sehools of the neighborhood. On the 25th of December, 1890, he was married in Palmyra, to Miss Clara Kerr, who was born and reared near that village. Her father, L. H. Kerr, was one of the pioneers of this county and a soldier of the civil war. He owned and operated a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Palmyra township, where he died on the 15th of May, 1905, but his wife is still living and now makes her home in Palmyra. Mr. and Mrs. Flesher have two sons : Everett and Warren.


They began their married life upon the farm now owned and operated by Coy Craig, but two years later Mr. Flesher purchased a farm in Palmyra township, upon which the following two years were spent. At the end of that time he sold out and removed to a farm west of Palmyra, being engaged in its cultivation for three years. In 1896 he located upon his present plaee and has since rented other property, so that he now cultivates about two hun- dred and eighty acres of highly improved land. Stock-raising claims a large share of his attention and he has upon his place some fine pure-blooded shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. At a sale of shorthorn in 1905 he sold twenty-five head of registered stock. He also owns some high-grade horses, which he has exhibited at the Indianola fairs and has secured some good prizes. He fattens about two carloads of hogs for market annually and also a number of steers. He is regarded as one of the leading farmers and stoek- raisers of his community and as a public-spirited and enterprising eitizen he receives and merits the esteem of all with whom he is brought in contact either in business or social life. His political support is given the democratic party but he has never cared for official honors.


ELZA FREEMAN.


Elza Freeman, extensively and snecessfully engaged in the buying an 1 · shipping of live stock in New Virginia, was born in Taylor county, West Virginia, January 29, 1847 His father, Benjamin Freeman, a native of West Virginia, was a blacksmith and carpenter by trade, and his demise occurred in that state. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Minerva Ann Yates, also a native of West Virginia, likewise passed away in that state. £


Their family numbered eleven children, all of whom grew to maturity and were married, but only two sons and three danghters still survive.


Elza Freeman, who was the only one of the children to come west of the Ohio river, spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the state of his na- tivity, aequiring his education in the common or subscription sehools. In the fall of 1864 he enlisted as a private in Company G, Sixth Virginia Volun- teer Infantry, serving until the close of hostilities. He participated in no engagements, however, being assigned to do guard duty. At the age of twenty-one years he came to lowa, without capital, and purchased forty acres


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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY


of unimproved land on five years' time. After bringing the property under a high state of cultivation he sold it at a good profit, and subsequently bought another forty-acre tract of raw land, which he also disposed of after improving it. He then purchased land in Virginia township and is today the owner of two hundred and seven acres of rich and productive farming property his prosperity having come to him entirely as the result of his own well directed labor and capable management. For the past eleven years he has been extensively and profitably engaged in buying and shipping cattle and hogs, and with the exception of possibly two or three weeks in all this time he has never failed to ship at least one carload of hogs each week, and very often he has shipped several loads a week. He has had many competi- tors in this business but has outlived them all, for he possesses excellent judg- ment, perseverance and energy that enables him to overcome obstacles and dif- ficulties which others have found insurmountable. For the past six years he has lived in New Virginia and is widely known as a progressive, enter- prising and successful business man.


In West Virginia, on the 30th of January, 1868, Mr. Freeman was united in marriage to Miss Hannah McIntosh, a native of that state and a sister of A. B. McIntosh, who is mentioned on another page of this volume. She presides with gracious dignity over her household and has carefully reared her family of five children, the record of whom is as follows: Dora, the wife of C. E. Stiles, an agriculturist of Squaw township; Sina Effie, the wife of Ed Stickell, of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Ida, the wife of Frank Farr, residing in Virginia township; Evan, who married Serena Proudfoot and lives on his father's farm; and Chester E .. who wedded Meta Pousch and also resides on his father's farm. Two children of Mr. and Mrs. Freeman died in infancy.


A stanch republican in his political views, Mr. Freeman has taken an active interest in the local work of the party, serving as trustee for six years, as road supervisor for four years and as school director for several years. He has ever discharged his publie duties promptly and faithfully and in a manner highly satisfactory to his fellow townsmen. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and both he and wife are highly esteemed residents of the community, having gained an extensive circle of warm friends during the years of their residence here.


SAMUEL OXENREIDER.


Samuel Oxenreider, a stockholder and one of the directors of the Bank of bacona, was for many years identified with the agricultural interests of Warren county but is now living retired in bacona. although he still retains possession of his valuable landed interests, comprising fon Imdred and eighty aeres, from which he derives a good annual income. Mr. Oxenreider is a native of Morrow county. Ohio, born March 31. 1844. a son of Henry and


eram 2 Oxenreidler


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Margaret (Everhart) Oxenreider, the former a native of Pennsylvania, while the latter claimed Virginia as the place of her birth. The father removed from his native state to Ohio, where he was engaged in the conduct of a flour and saw mill, continuing his residence in Morrow county for some years. In 1854, however, he removed to Warren county and entered about three hun- dred and twenty aeres of land and also purchased one hundred and twenty acres. There he continued to engage in farming throughout his remaining days, owning at the time of his death in 1871, about four hundred and forty acres of valuable and well improved land. ITis wife survived him for several years, passing away in 1884.


Samuel Oxenreider, whose name introduces this review, was a little lad of ten years at the time of the removal of the family from the Buekeye state to Warren county. Here he was reared to farm life, assisting his father in the fields from the time of early spirng planting until the erops were har- vested in the late autumn. He acquired his education in the common sehools and in Howe Academy and after completing his course in the latter institu- tion he engaged in teaching, being thus employed through thirty-eight terms. He had, however, in the meantime enlisted as a soldier of the Civil war, being enrolled January 15, 1865, as a member of Company G, Tenth Iowa Vol- unteer Infantry: He participated in many of the important engagements and was with Sherman on his march to Savannah, and finally took part in the grand review at Washington, D. C., at the close of the war. He was later sent to Little Rock, Arkansas, and was mustered out in September, 1865, being discharged at Davenport. He had four brothers in the service : Elias, who was a member of the Third lowa Infantry and died at Vieksburg; John, a member of the Thirty-fourth lowa Infantry; Milton, a member of the Seeond Iowa Infantry, and Henry, who was with our subject in Company G, Tenth Iowa Regiment.


After the close of hostilities between the north and south, Mr. Oxenreider returned to his home in Warren county and engaged in teaching, following that pursuit for several years. During this time he managed to save from his earnings a sum sufficient to enable him to purchase one hundred and twenty aeres of land south of Laeona and on this he located. He at onee began the further development and improvement of the place, built a good house and barn, and in due course of time placed the land under a high state of eultivation. As the years passed he prospered in his undertakings and as his finanenal resources increased he added to his aereage from time to time until he beeame the owner of four hundred and eighty aeres, all im- proved and valuable land. He was for many years identified with agrieul- tural interests and still owns this land, which he rents. He is now living retired in Laeona, where he owns and oeeupies a fine modern residenee, which was ereeted by himself. He is a stoekholder and one of the direetors of the Bank of Laeona and in this eonneetion is well known throughout the community in which he makes his home.


Mr. Oxenreider was married Mareh 4, 1869, to Miss Elizabeth E. Coeliran, a daughter of Captain John M. Cochran, who filled that office in the Tenth Towa Infantry, serving throughout the war. They have beeome the parents


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of the following children: Ceeil H., who is married and has one son, and is now operating his father's farm; Lora E., the wife of Claude Funk, a farmer of Liberty township; Mary, who was educated in Cedar Falls Normal and is now engaged in teaching; Sadie E., the wife of Alonzo Goode, a resi- dent of Lacona; Belva L., assistant cashier and bookkeeper in the Bank of Lacona; Blanche; Daisy, who was educated in the bacona schools and is also engaged in teaching; Bessie, who was graduated from the Laeona high school with the class of 1908; Leona M., who died at the age of three years, and Myrtle, who died in infaney.


Mr. Oxenreider is a republican and east his first presidential ballot for General U. S. Grant and has voted for every republican nominee sinee that time. He has served as a delegate to county conventions and was elected and served as clerk of the township but has never been active as an office seeker. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal clmreh. in which Mr. Oxenreider is serving as trustec. He is also identified with the Grand Army of the Republic at Lacona, of which he is past commander. For many years he was actively associated with agricultural interests in Warren county and through his labor and economy he and his estimable wife are now enjoying in retirement the accumulations of profitable, suceess- ful and honorable eareers. To those whose good fortune and pleasure it is to know him intimately, his companionship, friendship and counsel are appre- ciated and helpful. With him there is no turning aside from right and duty but his everyday life reflects the true Christian character. In his relations with his fellowmen and in his treatment of his neighbor he never loses sight of the principles of the Golden Rule.


GEORGE W. HEINY.


George W. Heiny has now traveled beyond the eightieth milestone on life's journey and yet he is still an active factor in business circles, having since 1885 been a representative of insurance interests in Indianola. He was previously connected with the live-stock business and in fact his entire ea- reer has been characterized by diligence and perseverance. He was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, January 16, 1828, and is the fourth in a family of seven children, whose parents were Jacob and Catherine (Gall) Heiny. Both were natives of the Keystone state. As the name indicates, the family is of German lineage, and its early identification with American interests is indi- cated by the fact that some of its members were soldiers of the Revolutionary war. Jacob Heiny became proprietor of a hotel at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and after his removal westward to Ohio settled upon a farm in Carroll county. Later he removed to Wayne county, Ohio, and afterward to Hamilton county, Indiana, where the residue of his days was passed. In the careful conduct of the work of the fields he managed to acquire a comfortable competence and was numbered among the stalwart residents of his community. In politics he was


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a democrat, and in religions faith a Dunkard, while his wife belonged to the Lutheran church. She, too, was of German descent. The death of Jacob Heiny occurred in 1853, while Mrs. Heiny departed this life at the advanced age of eighty-three years.


A common-school edneation was granted George W. Heiny in his boyhood and he was trained to habits of industry, integrity and diligence upon the home farm, where he remained until twenty-one years of age. He afterward engaged in selling elocks for five years, and later embarked in business on his own ac- count. In the early '40's he removed to Hamilton county, Indiana, with his parents, and was there united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Davison, who was born in Highland county, Ohio. Following his marriage he came to Warren county, Iowa, in 1855, settling in Union township. Here he engaged in the sale of clocks and lightning rods and gradually worked into a mercantile business, conducting a store at Sandyville for sixteen years. He then sold out and be- came a buyer and shipper of live stock. While thus engaged he lived on a farm in Union township for several years, taking up his abode there in 1873. In 1885 he removed from the farm to Indianola, where he established an insurance office, and has since been a representative of several old and well known com- panies. Few men of his years arc yet active in business, but Mr. Heiny has always led a busy life and his continued connection with business circles indicates his diligence and determination, which have always been among his strongly marked characteristics.




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