USA > Iowa > Warren County > The history of Warren County, Iowa, from its Earliest Settlementto 1908 > Part 60
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
S. G. Enkenbill received his education in the district school in the hnine- diate vicinity of his home, which he attended regularly throughont the school year while in the primary grades, but when he reached an age to be of assist- anee to his father on the farm his attendance was necessarily somewhat irregu- lar. being confined to those months of the year when farming operations were suspended. He persisted in his attendance, however, until he received a good practical education, which now stands him in good stead. He remained with his father on the home place as long as the latter lived, and during the last year of his life assumed the entire responsibility of the place, farming it for himself. In the division of his father's estate he was allotted the old home. stead and one hundred and fifty acres of land surrounding it, located on seetion 11, Union township.
In January, 1891, Mr. bukenbill was married to Hattie Thornburg, who was born and reared in Marion county. She died in 1896, leaving two chi !. dren : Floyd. a student in the Pleasantville high school, and Hazel, a student in the home school.
In his political views Mr. Lukenbill is a stalwart republican, but he has never been an office secker, preferring to give his undivided attention to the work of the farm. Because of his interest in the public schools he is a member of the school board. He has been an interested observer of the growth and development of this section of the country, and must experience a feeling of satisfaction in the knowledge that he, himself. has been no unimportant factor in its industrial life.
FRANK E. WILLSEY.
Frank E. Willsey is one of the younger progressive farmers of Warren county. prominent in community affairs. He has done more toward building good roads than perhaps any other man in Warren county and he stands at all times for progressive citizenship, cooperating in every movement that tends to promote the public good. He lives on section 15, White Oak town- ship. where he has made his home since 1890. He was born in Marion county, Towa, November 26, 1866.
Isaac Willsey, his father, was a native of New York but was reared in Ohio and when a young man came to Iowa, settling in Marion county. He there followed farming as one of the pioneer settlers, aiding in the early development and progress which changed the county from a wild and un- improved district into a region of rich fertility, giving many evidences of a modern civilization. He obtained his land from the government so that it was entirely unimproved when it came into his possession but he soon broke the sod and cultivated the prairies and ere his death had converted his place into a fine and valuable farm. He died in 1874. at the age of seventy years. His widow, long surviving him. came to Warren county in 1890 and died in 1907 at the age of sixty-nine years. Their family numbered five children, three sons and two daughters, of whom four reached adult age.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
Frank E. Willsey spent his childhood on the home farm. He was the eldest son and at an early age it was necessary that he assist his mother in the work of the home place. However, he was provided with good educational privileges, attending the district schools and later spending five years as a student in the high school at Knoxville. Following the father's death the family came to Warren county and here opened up a farm of two hundred and fifty acres, which they still own. Mr. Willsey of this review began with raw land, built a house, also put up a barn and other outbuildings, and as the years went by added all the accessories and equipments of a model farm. He now owns one hundred and twenty aeres in the home place and its well kept appearance is indicative of his careful supervision and practical methods.
On the 31st of May. 1893. Mr. Willsey was married to Miss Lora Barns, a native of Warren county, and a daughter of John Barns. They have become the parents of seven children but lost one in infancy. The others are: John, Raymond, Ruth, James. Donald and Nelle, all still under the parental roof.
In his farm work Mr. Willsey makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred shorthorn cattle, being engaged in this way for five years. He has made frequent exhibits at county fairs in Indianola and has won several premiums. He has always made a specialty of cattle but also raises good grades of hogs and some horses. In his business he has made good use of his opportunities and has worked diligently year after year. his unwearied industry and careful management constituting the basis of his success.
Mr. Willsey is a republican but not so strongly partisan that he regards his affiliation of the candidates for local office. On the contrary he thinks only of their ability to discharge the duties that devolve upon them and it is this which influences him in his vote. He has been assessor for three terms and is filling the position at the present time. He has been especially proficient in his efforts in behalf of good roads, realizing how essential are well kept highways not only as a convenience but also for the furtheranee of trade in- terests. He has been a delegate to the county and to the state conventions and his opinions carry weight in the party councils. He belongs to the Modern Brotherhood of America and is well known in the county as one of whose sterling traits of character entitle him to the success which he has achieved and to the high regard in which he is uniformly held.
REV. ROBERT C. HOWSER.
Rev. Robert C. Howser, has devoted the greater part of his life to the work of the farm which George Washington said, "Is the most useful and most honorable occupation of man." He has also found time to aid in the pro- motion of moral interests in the communities in which he has lived. as a local preacher. and his upright life may well serve as an example to others, while his career proves that suceess and an honored name may be had simultaneously. He is now living in Indianola. while since 1895 he has made his home in War-
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
ren county and in the state smee 1575. Ohio claims him as a native son for his birth occurred in Clermont county, February 7, 1819.
His father, Jonathan N. Howser, was likewise a native of the Buckeye state, where he was reared and followed the ocenpation of farming. He was married in Ohio to Miss Margaret J. Dillman, a native of that state, and they removed from Ohio to eastern Illinois settling in Champaign county, where Mr. Howser opened up a farm in 1860. Prospering in his undertaking he added to his original holdings until he was owner of seven hundred acres. The work of improvement was carried on along the most progressive lines and he continued to reside upon his farm there until called to his final rest when seventy-three years of age. His wife's death which occurred when she was sixty-five years of age was due to an accident. They were the parents of six children, five of whom reached manhood and womanhood.
Robert C. Howser was reared on the home farm and as his age and strength increased he worked more and more largely in the fields, devoting the summer months to farm labor, while in the winter seasons he attended the public schools. also spending three months in a college. He continued on the home farm until his twerty-fifth year and was engaged in breaking prairie in Illinois and in all the work ineident to its cultivation and improvement. In 1875 he arrived in Page county. Towa, where he made investment in two hundred and forty acres of land near Northboro. This was raw land on which he broke the sod. also fenced the place and made good improvements. He erected a dwelling there together with other substantial buildings. set ont a good orchard and made the place his home for twenty years. its neat and thrifty appearanee indicating his earefnl supervision and practical progres- sive methods.
On the 2d of April. 1879. Mr. Howser was united in marriage to Miss Pris- cille E. Hahn. a native of Knox connty. Illinois, and a daughter of Edward T. Hahn, a farmer of that state. Her parents died in Illinois during her girlhood days and she was reared by her grandmother in Iowa. Mr. Howser began his domestic life upon a farm and as the years have passed has continued in the work of the fields. meeting with well merited success by reason of his carefully directed labor, keen discrimination in business affairs and unfaltering perse- verance. He has also been a local preacher sinee 1885 and has been an earnest worker in behalf of the church. He continued to reside in Page county until 1895. when he removed to Indianola for the purpose of educating his ehil- dren. Here he has a good home property and is most pleasantly located.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Howser have been born two sons and a danghter: O. C .. the eldest. is a graduate of Simpson College and is now located in Poinsett county. Arkansas, where he follows farming and stock-raising. He was married in Indianola to Miss Mary Cook and they have a large farm of sixteen hundred acres, which is owned by his father. Robert C .. and which is largely devoted to the raising of cotton. They employ forty cotton pickers in the season and the business is proving profitable. Robert E. Howser. the second son also attended Simpson College. is a graduate of the law de- partment of the Northwestern University at Chieago and is practicing law in
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
that city, having been associated with Baldwin Brothers, attorneys, since 1904. He was married in Indianola to Miss Vivian Brackney, a daughter of Joseph Brackney of Indianola and they have one child, Elizabeth. Olive Jessie, the only danghter of Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Howser was graduated from the high school of Indianola in 1908.
Rev. Howser has preached in this locality as a local minister for about ten years and he yet occasionally fills a pulpit.
He has always given his political support to the republican party where questions of national or state importance are involved, but at local elections when there is no issue before the people, he votes independently. He has been road supervisor, township elerk and school director, filling all of those posi- tions in Page county. He has frequently been a delegate to the republican connty conventions and has also been a delegate to the Sunday school conven- tions at Des Moines. Almost throughont his entire life he has been connected with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is also a member and in the Sunday school work they have taken an active and helpful interest. Mr. Howser eame to Iowa when a young man and has here reared his family, witnessing the development of the state as the years have gone by and it has been transformed from a frontier district into one of the richest state in the Union, leading all others in the production of corn and in the number and character of its public schools. Of her record in other ways Iowa citizens may well be proud and at all times Mr. Howser has given his aid and his influenee in support of those measures which are a matter of eivic virtue and eivie pride and promote the welfare of the commonwealth.
A. I. KAUFMAN.
A. I. Kaufman resides on a desirable and well improved farm of eighty aeres located on seetion 28. Lincoln township, which he has acquired wholly through his own efforts and which, taken in connection with his stoek-raising and feeding, yields him a substantial income and an independent livelihood. He was born near Princeton, in Bureau county, Illinois, November 12, 1847. the son of D. M. and Louisa (Van Ormer) Kaufman. His father was a native of Juniata county, Pennsylvania, where he was born on May 4, 1829, and where lie remained until after his marriage, his wife being also a native of the same county and state. He first engaged in farming in Pennsylvania, but in 1860 removed to Illinois, where he bought land near Princeton and opened up a new farm. He also ran an omnibns line and transfer wagon between Wyanet and Pond Creek. In 1870 he disposed of his Illinois interests and removed to Iowa, where he first bought land in Marion connty bnt afterward. in 1873, he removed to Warren county and invested in a piece of land in Greenfield township. Later he sold that place and bonght a farm in Lineoln township. where he remained for a number of years and here his family was reared.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
Eventually he sold this farm and removed to Wharton county, Texas, where he remained until the time of his death.
1. 1. Kanfman was actively identified with his father's interests until he was twenty-eight years of age. His boyhood and youth were spent on the farm in Warren county, to whose school system he is indebted for a sound, practical education. Ou starting out for himself he not only assumed the responsibility and management of a part of his father's place, but he also took a ten years' lease on a four hundred acre unimproved tract of land, which he cleared and broke, paying his rent with a certain percentage of the erops raised. After his marriage he bought a portion of this place and built a good substantial residence thereon, together with a barn, fences, ontbuildings and stock scales. He also made other necessary improvements, converting it into an ideal stock and grain farm. He set ont an orchard and planned it all with the determination of making ont of it an ideal home for the future.
On Jannary 14. 1891. was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Kanfman and Miss Lon Graham, danghter of JJ. M. Graham, one of the carly settlers of Warren county, who came here from Indiana in 1849. Mrs. Kaufman was born. reared and edneated in this county. Unto this union have been born two sons. D. M. and Frank E., both of whom reside at home with their parents.
In national polities Mr. Kanfman is a democrat, but in local affairs he votes for the man whom he believes best qualified to fill the office. regardless of party ties. He has never aspired to publie office for himself, though his interest in educational matters has prompted him to serve on the school board as one of its directors. His estimable wife attends the United Presbyterian church in Indianola. in which faith she was reared. Mr. Kaufman has now lived in this county some thirty-five years, and in refleeting on its wild and un- cultivated state at the time he chose it as the place of his adoption it must afford him no small amount of satisfaction to feel and know that he has played no nnimportant part in its growth and development.
DATHLEF H. MARTENS.
Dathlef H. Martens, owning and operating two hundred acres of valable land on seetion 3, Jefferson township, was born on the old homestead farm in Jefferson township, Warren county. May 4, 1874, a son of Fred Martens. The latter was a native of Holstein, Germany, and a farmer by occupation. When a young man he came to the new world, settling in Will county. Illinois, where he followed farming and developed and improved a good traet of land. IIe had served in the Revolutionary war in Germany in 1848, and as this movement was unsuccessful he determined to seek a home in the new world where he might enjoy the fruits of liberty and independence. Ac- cordingly he crossed the Atlantic and took up his abode in Will county, Illinois, where he married Miss Margaret Huss, a native of Germany. In 1861 they came to Warren county, Iowa, where the father broke the sod
MR. AND MRS. D. H. MARTENS
RESIDENCE OF D. H. MARTENS
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
and opened up a farm. He became one of the most prominent and prosperous agrienlturists of Jefferson township, where he accumulated sixteen hundred acres of land. This he developed until his last years and in July, 1905, he was called to his final rest at the age of seventy-eight years. He had for several years survived his wife, who died in 1893, at the age of sixty-three years. They were the parents of six children, four of whom reached adult age, namely: John F., who is mentioned on another page of this volume; William ; Mrs. Katherine Huglin, of Madison county, and Dathlef H. Two sons died in infancy.
The last named was reared in the county of his nativity and acquired his education in St. Benedict's College at Atchison, Kansas, while for one term he was a student at Simpson College. In 1892 he enlisted in the United States regular army at Omaha as a member of Company A, Second Infantry, serving for three years and three months and then being honorably dis- charged on the 17th of December, 1895. On the 18th of April. 1896, he re- enlisted at Fort Logan, Colorado, but was sent back to Company A at Omaha, there remaining until June 29. 1896, when he was sent to Fort Keogh, Montana. There he continued until July. 1898, and served ou the Indian detachment, issuing rations to the Indians. On the 30th of July, 1897, he received an ax wound in the knee, which caused his discharge February 20, 1898. Going for treatment to the Army and Navy Government Hospital at Hot Springs, Arkansas. he there remained until January 6. 1898, and in February was honorably discharged, after five years of faithful service in the regular army. He is the youngest government pensioner in Warren county and one of the youngest in the state of Iowa.
On taking up the pursuits of civil life, Mr. Martens rented the farm on which he now lives and subsequently purchased one hundred and twenty acres. His property now comprises two hundred acres, eighty aeres having come to him as his share of his father's estate. He has two sets of in- provemets. has erected a modern and substantial home, barns and outbuild- ings, has set out an orchard and has enclosed his fields with hog-tight fencing. In addition to the work of general farming he raises and feeds from one to two carloads of Duroc Jersey hogs annually, and likewise has some shorthorn wattle and Percheron horses. He also conducts a dairy and in his varions undertakings is meeting with a gratifying and well merited measure of pros- perity, owing to his untiring perseverance and excellent business ability.
On the 2d of January. 1901. Mr. Martens was united in marriage to Miss Laura B. Scrivner. a native of Madison county and a daughter of William F. Serivner. She is a first cousin of Senator Crossley, now attorney general of Alaska. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Martens have been born four children, namely : Judson B .. who has passed away; Marjorie M .; Mildred I .: and Velma I.
Where national questions and issues are involved Mr. Martens gives his political allegiance to the republican party but casts an independent local ballot. He was elected and served as constable for two years, and for one rear has been secretary of the school board. His fraternal relations connect him with the Modern Woodmen of America at Indianola ; he was secretary
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
of the Camp at Churchville for five years. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Spring Hill, of which he was secretary for one year, and the Masonic lodge at Spring Hill. Both he aud his wife are members of the Christian church of Prole, and are well and favorably known throughout the county as people of genuine personal worth and up- right lives.
HORACE M. WILSON.
Prominent among the business men of Lacona for the past fifteen years is Horace M. Wilson, who for the past six years has been cashier of the Bank of Laeona, one of the best managed and safest financial institutions in this section of the country. Mr. Wilson was born in Fulton county, Illinois, De- cember 11, 1868. a son of G. W. Wilson, who was born in the Keystone state, but beeame an early settler of Fulton county. Illinois, removing thence at an early day. However, in 1868, he removed to Lucas county. Iowa, where he opened up a farm and carried on agricultural pursuits.
The son was taken from his native state to Imeas county, this state, during his infaney and there grew to mature years. He was edueated in the common and high schools of Lucas county and was employed as a bookkeeper in a grain and lumber business at Chariton for a time. He then took up his abode in Lacona and aeeepted the position as manager of a grain and lumber business at this place for G. J. Stewart Company, with whom he continued for nine years. He then, in 1902. severed his connection with the latter firm and upon the reorganization of the Bank of Laeona at this place was elected its cashier and has continued in that capacity to the present time. The prosperity which has attended this institution is certainly due in large measures to the efforts of Mr. Wilson. for he is ever found courteons and painstaking with the patrons of the bank and therefore the volume of business transacted over its counters is now of great importance and magnitude. In addition to his duties as cashier of the bank. Mr. Wilson is also conducting a fire insnranee business. in which he is meeting with success and the volume of this business has also grown to extensive proportions.
Mr. Wilson was married June 1. 1897. to Miss Clara Shupe, who was born and reared in this city and was engaged in teaching prior to her mar- riage. Their home has been blessed with a little daughter and son. Mildred and Lisle.
In his political views Mr. Wilson is a republican. having supported the party sinee age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He was elected and served as sehool treasurer bnt aside from that offiee has filled no public positions, preferring rather to give his undivided time and attention to his private business interests. He is a Master Mason and at the present time is serving as seeretary of the Masonie lodge at Lacona. and at one time served as a delegate to the grand lodge. He and his wife are identified with the
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
Eastern Star and with the Rebekah lodge, while Mr. Wilson is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Odd Fellows lodge. with which he beeame identified at Chariton at the age of twenty-one years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which they contribute liberally.
In no sense a man in publie life, Mr. Wilson has nevertheless exerted an immeasureable influence of the city of his residence; in business life as a financier and promoter of industrial and commercial enterprises; in social circles by reason of a charming and unfeigned cordiality ; in polities by reason of his publie spirit and devotion to the general good; and in those depart- ments of activity which ameliorate hard conditions of life for the unfortunate by his benevolence and his liberality.
PETER SCHOOLER.
Peter Schooler is the owner of a good farm of one hundred and twenty aeres on section 20, Allen township, where he is now practically living retired, but for many years he was successfully engaged in its operation. He was born in Paxton, Scotland, July 7, 1830, and was reared and educated in his native land, where he also learned the carpenter's and joiner's trades. Hoping that he might do better in the new world, he went to Liverpool, where he took passage on a sailing vessel, and eelebrated the twenty-third birthday on the Atlantic. After a voyage of six weeks he landed in New York and pro- ceeded up the Hudson river to Albany, where he worked at his trade for about eighteen months. He then went to Chicago and later in 1854 removed to Keokuk, Iowa, where he followed carpentering for one season.
In the spring of 1856 Mr. Schooler came to Warren county and took up his residence in Carlisle, where he resumed work at his trade. He then had a brother, Thomas Schooler, living in Greenfield township. Going to Des Moines he was employed on the old state capitol, and continued a resident of that city for about three years, at the end of which time he returned to Warren county and purchased a home in Greenfield. During the following twenty years he worked at his trade and then purchased hris present farm in Allen township to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted his time and attention for many years. Although he still resides npon the farm he is now praetically living retired, leaving the more aetive duties of the place to younger hands, while he supervises its operation. When he bonght the farm there was an old house upon it but this he has replaced by a good two-story residence. has built a barn and other ontbuildings. has fenced the land and placed it nnder cultivation. so that he now has one of the best improved farms of the locality.
In 1857 Mr. Sehooler was married in Des Moines to Miss Jeanette Hastie. who was born and reared in Choicelee. Scotland. and they became the parents of the following ehildren : John, who is at home; William, a business man
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
of Palmyra, James, a carpenter of Colorado Springs ; Charles and Edwin, both farmers of Lincoln township: Thomas, a farmer of Palmyra township ; Arthur and Austin, who have rented the home farm since their father's retirement, having a farm of their own nearby; Mary, who was formerly a teacher but is now at home; Isabell, who died at the age of nineteen years, and George, who died at the age of twenty. Mr. Schooler has also been called upon to mouth the loss of his wife, who passed away December 28. 1903, and was laid to rest in Scotch Ridge cemetery.
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