History of Guthrie and Adair Counties, Iowa
Springfield, Ill: Continental Hist. Co., 1884.
Adair
Transcribed by Bobbi Pohl
William E. Burmeister was born in
the city of St. Louis, Missouri, on the 18th of the September, 1849, and is the
son of John Burmeister, a native of Prussia, Germany. Mr. B. was born in
October, 1812, and emigrated to America in 1848, settling in St. Louis, where he
remained until 1856, when he came to Iowa, where he died in 1877. William E.
came to Iowa county, Iowa, in 1856, and located upon a farm until 1877, when he
removed to Audubon county, where he purchased a farm, and in 1879 he sold it and
came to the town to Adair, and since has been engaged in the before-mentioned
business. He was married in October, 1873, to Miss Anna Siggs, a native of
Clayton county, Iowa. They have been blessed with four children--Anna M.,
William G., Augustus O. and Lucy. Mr. Burmeister is a member of the O.O.U.W.
Levi Clay was born in Summit county,
Ohio, December 12, 1843. He is the son of John Clay, of Pennsylvania, and of
German extraction. His wife (Levi's mother) was Mary B. Hoy, also a native of
Pennsylvania and of German descent. Mr. Clay, Sr., was a farmer and carpenter,
and died May 9, 1844. In 1849 the mother and family removed to Jo Daviess
county, Illinois, which was their place of residence till 1865. Levi then
removed to Carroll county, where he lived with Alfred Clay, his brother, two
years. His mother died November 12, 1867, at the age of sixty-seven. The
December following Levi went to Floyd county, Iowa, settling at the village of
Marble Rock, on Shell Rock river, and followed the trade of a mason one year,
when he returned to Illinois and was married to Mary E. Stillians, February 7,
1869, by Rev. Ely. Her mother was Catharine Levi, of West Virginia. Mr. Clay
returned to Marble Rock and remained about two years, and then emigrated to Bear
Grove, Guthrie county; they lived there some two or three years and then went to
Panora, and worked for the mill company there till February, 1873, when he
removed to Casey, stopping a short time. He pushed along to Adair, March 15,
1873, and engaged on the section three years; at this time he purchased the dray
line interest of J. T. Ewing in 1876, which business he has followed faithfully
since, and has made him a nice home, built a house very early in the village and
still occupies the same house much improved. He has neat grounds and with his
family consisting of wife and children--Adelia V., Mary J., Francis E.E., Ida
A., Lydia L. L., Levi and William W., lives a contented happy life. One child,
Louisa C., died at the age of two years April 4, 1874.
Henry
M. Coleman - In giving the biographical sketches
of the more prominent men of Adair, we do not fail to mention Henry M. Coleman,
who is the subject of this memoir. He is a native of Morris county, New Jersey,
born on the 30th of March, 1835. His father, Stephen B. Coleman, was born on the
20th of March, 1808, in Chester, Morris county, New Jersey. His father, Joseph
Coleman, a native of Orange county, New York, born January 16, 1774. Stephen B.
was married on May 23, 1829, to Sarah Larson. He died on the 26th of December,
1868. Henry M. lived in New Jersey until 1871, when he removed to Atlantic,
Iowa, onto a farm, and living there one year, he moved to Anita, and staid two
years, when he removed to the town of Adair, and owns one hundred and sixty
acres of land in Summit township, and also owns a farm in Cass, and one in
Shelby county, also a residence in the town of Adair. He lives a retired life,
but classes himself among the class of farmers. He was married on the 12th of
March 1873, to Jan Chesnut, a native of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Coleman is a member
of the Methodist Episcopal church.
William L. Dinsmore is a son of
Robert S. Dinsmore and Margaret (Loughridge) Dinsmore, both of Irish extraction;
father a native of Pennsylvania, as was the mother, their parents were from the
north of Ireland. The mother died when William was only three months of age.
Robert S. D. Dinsmore was of a family of six brothers, five of whom were
ministers in the Presbyterian church, and he being a divine took up the
pastorate of the society in Washington county, Iowa, to which place he removed
in 1852. In this latter county and Madison county, Illinois, was William
educated. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted April 25, 1861, in Company
I, 9th Illinois infantry, and served as a private till February, 1862, enlisting
again from Iowa, could not enter the service on account of disabilty, and was
discharged at Davenport, went to Washington county and commenced farming, after
wards removed to Marshall county, where he lived four years, subsequently
settled in Bear Grove township, Guthrie county, and in the village of Adair in
1874. His [real estate and insurance] business has been satisfactory and he
enjoys the confidence of those with whom he comes in contact, and to use the
expression of his townsmen, "he is square in his deal and open and above
board." Mrs. Dinsmore was Miss Sarah C. Wyrick, a native of Ohio, and the
marriage took place in Washington county, Iowa, August 1, 1861. The have three
children--Robert S., Sarah E., and William H. Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore are members
of the Presbyterian church, and he is a member of the G.A.R., and intends to
vote for Blaine and Logan.
M. Dunkin, popular druggist of
Adair, is a native of Mongomery county, Ohio, born in the city of Dayton, April
25, 1834, son of Joshua Dunkin, a native of Ohio, and of Scotch origin; mother,
Julia Smith, born in Maryland. When very young, with his father's family, the
subject of this sketch removed to Indiana, settling there on a farm, where he
remained till 1865. Mr. Dunkin enlisted from Indiana in Company A, 46th Indiana
infantry, September, 1861, as a noncommissioned officer, serving until Movember
20, 1864. He participated in the battles of Island No. 10, New Madrid, Riddle's
Point, Memphis, siege of Vicksburg, New Orleans, etc..; was detailed on duty in
the Red River expedition and sent home with a squad of men to be mustered out,
which took place at Indianapolis, Indiana. In the fall of 1865 Mr. Dunkin went
to Panora and clerked in a store a short time and then commenced the boot and
shoe business, afterward running a drug store there, sold out and went to
Colarado in 1878, stopping at Leadville, he engaged in mining six years, owning
a mine there which was very valuable, but he did not know the intrinsic worth,
therefore lost a fortune. Leaving behind this land of speculation, he emigrated
to Adair village, and bought the drugstock of Dr. John Stultz, and has continued
the business since. His wife was Miss Florence Harlan, a daughter of G. W. and
Emma (Brown) Harlan, the latter so well known in Guthrie county as a literary
character of no mean pretentions. The marriage took place March 4, 1869. Five
children bless this union--Emma J., Harry M. and Carl E., living; Daisy B. and
Clyde L., dead. Mr. Duncan is a member of the Masonic order, I.O.O.F., G.A.R.,
V.A.S. society and an active worker in the cause of the great republican party.
Samuel Ewing - Among the most prominent political workers in Adair county, a
republican in faith, and indomitable in principle, is Samuel Ewing, of Adair
village. He was born October 13, 1827, in Ohio. His ancestors were from
Virginia, father, Jacob Ewing, and mother, Susanna (Price) Ewing. In 1838 the
family removed to Indiana, Randolph county. They lived on a farm there until
1852, clearing up a large piece of land, and it was here the father died in
October, 1848. Samuel owned eighty acres of the old homestead, which he
subsequently exchanged for a tan-yard in Fair View, which business he followed
six years. In 1859 he concluded to remove to the West, and we find him located
first in Valley township, Guthrie county, where he followed farming on shares
one year, after which he bought a farm near the old site of Dalmanutha, which he
sold in 1868, and Bear Grove claimed him as one of her citizens, and here his
mother died. He bought eighty acres of land near the village; subsequently
removed to Grant township, at which place he lived till 1875; removing to Adair,
he took charge of the hotel known as the North Star house for five years, since
which time he has not been engaged in any particular business. He is at present
constable of the twonship of Summit. He was married September 3, 1845, to Miss
Martha J. Bone, a native of Greene county, Ohio, and daughter of John and
Elizabeth (Richardson) Bone. Eight children have been born to them--Sarah E., at
home; William J., living in Ottumwa, a railroad man; John T., deputy sheriff of
Adair county, living in Greenfield; James W., living in Guthrie Center; Emmma.,
Charles B., and Edgar E. Mr. Ewing is a member of the Masonic order and
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is agent for the Council Bluffs insurance
company. His father died in 1847, and his mother died while he was living on the
farm at Dalmanutha.
George Faga is a native of Germany, born on the 1st of October,
1849, being the son of George and Louise (Schoer) Faga. His father having died
when he was quite small, George emigrated with his mother to America in 1865,
and settled in Clayton county, Iowa, and was engaged in clerking in a store at
Elkader, where he remained two years, when he went to Benton county, and there
remained five years on a farm; and thence to Audobon county, settling three
townships by his own efforts, and sold from twenty-five thousand to thirty
thousand acres of land, and took charge of the railroad land, of which he was
local agent, and is now a supervisor of the county. He settled on a half section
of land, and there remained until 1879, when he came to Adair, where he
established his present business. He was married in Clayton county to Miss Mary
Leruatky, a native of Germany, but emigrated to America when quite young. They
have had three children--Frederick, Louise and Francis. Mr. Faga is a member of
the Lutheran Evangelical church, and is an active worker in the republican
party. Mr. Faga is one of the present board of supervisors of Adair county, and
one of the leading men of the county.
James Fulton, the proprietor of the Fulton stock stables, is a
native of the northern part of Ireland, and was born June 22, 1851, his parents
being James and Mary (Beck) Fulton. When ten years of age, he left Ireland and
came to Henry county, Illinois, removing to Adair, Adair county, in 1875. He
farmed while in Illinois, and also in Adair county till 1882, when he engaged in
the stock business in Adair. He was married in Henry county, Illinois, in 1874,
to Miss Kate Montgomery, a daughter of William and Eliza Montgomery, of Scotch
descent. They have three childdren--Nellie M., Eliza J. and William J. Mr.
Fulton is a member of the I.O.O.F.Frank L. Gordenier is a native of Canada West,
of German and English extraction. His father, Isaiah Gordenier, was of English
parentage. Frank's mother, Almira Skinner, was English, but both of Canadian
birth. From Canada the family removed to Indiana in 1849, where they lived on a
farm until their removal to Iowa in 1875. The father dying previous to this, May
2 1862, the mother still lives with her son, Frank L. When Mr. Gordenier removed
to Iowa he bought a farm on the northeast quarter of section 15, Summit
township. He traded this farm for a drug business in Adair, in 1876, and
continued this till 1882. He now owns the northwest quarter of section 7, in
Summit township. His business exclusively at present is running the Adair mills,
of which he is proprietor and miller. He was married November 20, 1871, in
Illinois, to Miss Estella Curtis, a native of Illinois and daughter of George
Curtis of New York. They have three children--Isaiah, George F., and Ernest. Mr.
Gordenier is a member of the I.O.O.F.
Frank L. Gordenier is a native of Canada West, of German and
English extraction. His father, Isaiah Gordenier, was of English parentage.
Frank's mother, Almira Skinner, was English, but both of Canadian birth. From
Canada the family removed to Indiana in 1849, where they lived on a farm until
their removal to Iowa in 1875. The father dying previous to this, May 2 1862,
the mother still lives with her son, Frank L. When Mr. Gordenier removed to Iowa
he bought a farm on the northeast quarter of section 15, Summit township. He
traded this farm for a drug business in Adair, in 1876, and continued this till
1882. He now owns the northwest quarter of section 7, in Summit township. His
business exclusively at present is running the Adair mills, of which he is
proprietor and miller. He was married November 20, 1871, in Illinois, to Miss
Estella Curtis, a native of Illinois and daughter of George Curtis of New York.
They have three children--Isaiah, George F., and Ernest. Mr. Gordenier is a
member of the I.O.O.F.
Lewis M. Hawes was born in Jefferson county, New York, on the
13th day of June, 1819, and is the eldest son of Abram and Amity (Macomber)
Hawes. He was educated at Union academy, in his native county, and was engaged
in teaching there several terms. He commenced the study of theology in 1843, and
prepared for the Universalist ministry under the tutorship of the Rev. Pitt
Morse. He was first settled over the society of his church at Fulton, Oswego
county, New York. Two years later he took charge of the Universalist society at
Canton, St. Lawrence county, New York, and finally was settled at Clinton,
Oneida county, in that state, from which place he removed to Wisconsin in 1857.
In the latter state he was engaged in the ministry and in teaching until the
fall of 1861, when he enlisted in the 3d Wisconsin cavalry regiment, but was
discharged in the following spring on account of disability incurred by
exposure. In the spring of 1864 he was appointed chaplain of the 37th regiment
Wisconsin infantry, and remained in that position until the close of the war.
While in the service he was constantly on duty with his regiment, which was
assigned to the 9th army corps, Army of the Potomac; and when the war closed he
received an honorable discharge. In 1868 he was elected county superintendent of
schools of Racine county, Wisconsin, and at the expiration of the term of his
office, commenced teaching, in which occupation he has been a resident of Adair
county, Iowa, eleven years. During the last seven years he has resided at Adair,
where he has been employed as principal of the public schools five years. Mr.
Hawes has reared a family of six children, all of whom have been employed in
teaching. He was first married in 1843 to Miss Mary Montague, of Jefferson
county, New York. His second marriage was in 1853 with Miss Elizabeth A. Davis,
of Schenectady county, New York. Three of his children are married, and all are
living in Western States. Mr. Hawes is a member of the Grand Army of the
Republic and of the Masonic order. He has been honored with the position of
justice of the peace and mayor of the city of Adair. In both these positions he
now officiates with great credit to himself and satisfaction to all others
concerned.
John H. Henryson was born on the 29th of June, 1847, in Sweden.
He is the son of Henry and Anna Hoff, his father and mother being natives of the
same place. Mr. Hoff, who was a stone-cutter by trade, died in Sweden, in 1857,
and Mrs. Hoff now resides in Cass county, Iowa. John attended the Christianstadt
academy until ten years of age, when he was obliged to attend stock on a farm,
but after nine months of that experience, he learned the boot and shoe-making
trade, and serving about five years, he then worked as scribe for a surveyor.
After two years' work of that kind, he enlisted in the army between Prussia and
Denmark. He was injured and was in the hospital about six months, and at the
close of the war had been made first sergeant. In 1870 he emigrated to America,
and for a year worked at his trade for a short time, when he went to Livingston
county and there worked on a farm for Mike Sullivan, and in 1872 he moved to
Anita, Cass county, where he remained two years, when he settled in Adair, and
has since made it his home. He was married on the 4th day of July, 1876, to Mrs.
Kirkwood, formerly Miss Martha Shreffler, of Ohio. They have one adopted
child--Maud. Mr. Henryson is a member of the Masonic lodge, the I.O.O.F., and
the A.O.U.W. He has advanced to the highest ranks in the Odd Fellows' lodge, and
by appointment, served as deputy grand master of district 26. (It may be well to
state here, by way of explanation, that when a man in Sweden enters the regular
army, or becomes apprenticed in any branch of mechanics, he changes his name,
taking the first name of his father with the addition of the suffix "son." Thus the surname of the subject of this sketch is Henryson,
while his father's name was Henry Hoff.)
John Jackson, an enterprising agricultural dealer in Adair, is a
native of Indiana, born in Montgomery county, January 8, 1848, a son of William
T. and Rachel (Miller) Jackson, father and mother both natives of Kentucky. The
family removed from Virginia to Guthrie county, settling in Cass township, where
the father now lives. John lived at home with his parents until his marriage,
March 2, 1873. His wife was Miss Susan Warren, of Valley township, Guthrie
county, a daughter of A. I. Warren, one of the early settlers of Valley
township. They have two children--Pearl E., born November 4, 1875, and George
E., born December 30, 1881. In 1870 Mr. Jackson, Jr., bought eighty acres of
land in Cass township, on which he moved after his marriage. Subsequently
selling this, he engaged in the hardware business in Panora, with Joseph Garlow,
in 1874. Remaining in this business till 1879, he sold out and moved to Kansas,
and engaged in the grain and stock business a couple of years, when he concluded
to again come to Iowa, this time settling in the thriving village of Adair. He
commenced in the hardware and agricultural business at first, but sold out the
former line, and now runs the machinery department alone. We bespeak for Mr.
Jackson success in the future as in the past. He belongs to the Masonic and
I.O.O.F. lodges.
Almond M. Kibby is a native of Jefferson county, New York, born
at Ellisburg, July 13, 1817, a son of Martin Kibby, a native of Massachusetts,
and of English descent, who with two brothers came to America from England. His
mother was Anna Houck. When twenty years old Almond went to Kane county,
Illinois, where he followed farming. His next place of residence was at DeSoto,
Iowa, where he lived thirteen years running a grocery store. In 1880 he removed
to Adair county, and engaged in the employ of the rail road company in the
capacity of assistant station agent. He was married October 13, 1858, to Miss
Caroline Adams, a native of Huntley station, Kane county, Illinois, and by this
marriage had five children, all sons, and at this time three are living--William
A., a very reliable man, and much respected, employed in the capacity of station
agent at Adair; Arthur J., agent at Mitchellville, near Des Moines, married to
Ella Young of Bloomfield, Iowa. Two children bless this union--Earl E. and
Theetral. John C. is in La Junta, Colorado, as train-dispatcher on the Santa Fe
railroad. His wife was Alda Roburn, a daughter of Dr. Roburn, of Brooklyn, Iowa.
They have one child--Edward Almond J. Mrs. Kibby died in Kane county, Illinois,
January 22, 1857, and he was again married on May 24, 1863, to Miss Mary J.
Winder, a native of Newcastle, England, and daughter of John and Elizabeth
(Pearson) Winder, both natives of England, but removed to Ontario, Canada, in
1851, where the daughter was partially educated. Subsequently they removed to
Rock county, Wisconsin, and thence to Woodstock, Illinois, where she was
married. They have no family by this union, but Mrs. Kibby is very much devoted
to the sons of her husband by his former marriage, and they know her as a true
mother. Mr. Kibby is a member of the Masonic order and has been for thirty-five
years, and a charter member of three district lodges. His son William, also, is
a member of the Masonic fraternity.
John H. Leek was born on Long Island, Suffolk county, July 18,
1816, and remained there until thirteen years of age, after which time he
followed whaling and West Indies merchandise business principally until
twenty-one years of age, when he went to Rochester, New York, where he followed
canal-boat building for eight years. In 1845 he went to LaSalle county,
Illinois, and commenced farming, remaining there until 1861, when he went to
Michigan. His health failed and he went to Long Island, and remained there three
or four years. He partially regained his strength when he came to Iowa, and
selected a good farm in Bear Grove of two hundred acres, and there remained
until 1881, when he went to Shelby county, but soon came to the town of Adair,
where he purchased beautiful town lots with houses on them, in the western part
of town, where he intends to make his future home. He was married in New York in
1837, to Miss Susan Harns, who died in Illinois. The had nine children, one
living--Justice--in Bear Grove township, Guthrie county. Mr. Leek was again
married in March, 1861, to Miss Sarah Pape, a native of New York. They have two
children living--Abram and William. Mr. Leek's father was born June 4, 1875, in
Suffolk county, Long Island. He was a ship-builder by trade, and 1st lieutenant
in the war of 1812. He was a great politician in the democratic party, and was
known in every part of that party. When Fremont run he voted the republican
ticket, and remained a republican. He died in 1881, being ninety-six years of
age; his death was mourned by his family and many friends. In his younger days
he was a lively, high-spirited young man, and was known to everyone by his
merriment, and sterling worth. In his last days he had still facilities for
enjoyment, but was too feeble to participate in such scenes.
Frank McFarland commenced in the lumber business in Adair in
September, 1883, buying the interest of Charles Stuart. He handles the usual
lines of lumber--lath, shingles, doors, blinds, lime, coal, etc.-- and is doing
a business of about $25,000 per annum. He is among the enterprising businessmen
of Adair. His birthplace was Morgan county, Ohio, and he was born in the year
1849, April the 8th, a son of William McFarland, of Casey, who made an early
settlement there. Frank being at the time twenty years old, he took charge of
the lumber yard for his father one year. Being desirous of a mercantile life, he
embarked in the business with T. J. Burns in 1873, and was in that business till
April, 1883, when they dissolved, Mr. McFarland's health not permitting him to
be so closely confined. However, in this business he was highly successful, and
won hosts of friends in and about Casey. We next find him in the lumber business
in Adair, and in this he has succeeded nicely, his sales in 1883 being between
twenty-five and thirty thousand dollar's worth of goods. His wife was Emma A.
Denning, a daughter of Fred Denning of Casey, the marriage occurring January 17,
1876--Rev. Lampenau of Casey, officiating. In politics Mr. McFarland favors the
democratic party.
M. L. McManus, of the firm of Moran & McManus, of Adair, is
a native of the state of Indiana, born in Jennings county, November 1, 1841. His
father, John McManus, was a native of county Longford, Ireland, and came to this
country in 1833. His mother, Mary Connolly, is a native of county Leitrim,
Ireland, and came to this country in 1831. The were married in New York in 1834,
and remained there a short time, thence removed to Pennsylvania, where they
staid one year, thence to Jennings county, Indiana, subsequently removing to
Scott county, Iowa, engaging in farming. When the war broke out M. L. McManus,
the subject of this sketch, was not undecided what he sould do in the matter,
but promptly joined the 14th regiment Iowa infantry volunteers, enlisting as a
private, and was always found ready for duty, and never missed a battle in which
his regiment was engaged. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant for
meritorious conduct; was mustered out of the service with his regiment at
Davenport, Iowa, on the 16th of November, 1864. He went into the mercantile
business with his father in 1867, at Davenport. From thence he removed to
Guthrie county, in 1870, and improved a very fine farm at Bear Grove, and in
1882 formed a company partnership with J. E. Moran, in the town of Adair, Iowa.
Mr. McManus was married in November, 1866, to Ann T. Kerrigan, daughter of
Patrick and Ellen Kerrigan. Her mother's name previous to marriage was Ellen
O'Connor, a relative of O'Connor Dunn of County Roscommon, Ireland, who is now a
member of the British Parliament. Mr. McManus has a very interesting family of
seven children--Mary E., Agnew, Anna T., John F., Loretto, Vincent P., and
Joseph P. Mr. L. McManus served very satisfactorily as a justice of the peace
both in Scott and Guthrie counties, and is a practical member of the Catholic
church. His father died in DAvenport in 1878, and is interred in St. Margaret's
cemetery at Davenport. His mother is still living with her son, Rev. Father
McManus, in Lytle City, Iowa county. Mr. McManus has always been successful,
either as a farmer, soldier or merchant.
John E. Moran is a native of Lewis county, New York. At an early
age he came to Van Buren county, Michigan, and attended the district school at
Decatur. In 1861 he came to Chicago, Illinois, and lived their eight years and
then came west to Iowa. He stopped at Casey, and worked for S. B. Moody as clerk
in a general store. In September, 1873, Mr. Moody and Mr. Moran built the first
store building in Adair, stocked it with general merchandise, such as is kept in
a country store, amounting in all to about $4,000. Later, Mr. Moody sold his
interest in the store to James A. Parker. Mr. Moran is still in trade and has a
good business. Last year's sales (1883), were $35,000.
John S. Shaver, one of the prominent men of Adair, is a native
of Wayne county, Ohio, born near Wooster, on the 3d of October, 1849. His
father, Thomas A. Shaver, was a native of Pennsylvania, and of German descent,
and his mother, a native of Pennsylvania, was of Scotch descent. When about five
years of age, John emigrated with his parents to Peoria county, Illinois,
settling on a farm, and there remained until 1858, when he moved to the city of
Peoria, where his fathr was engaged in the boot and shoe business, and three
years later he went to Kansas where he settled on a farm of two hundred and
forty acres of good land, and there remained until 1875, when he came to Adair
county, Iowa, where he settled on a farm until January, 1881, when he came to
Adair and began business with George Faga. He was married on the 26th of
February, 1879, to Miss Frank E. Martin, a daughter of A. Martin, a farmer, and
living in the town of Stuart. They have been blessed with one chid--Stewart A.,
born on the 10th of December, 1882. Mr. Shaver is a member of the Masonic order,
and is tresurer of the independent school district of Adair.
Harry W. Smith, one of the most prominent men of Adair, was born
in Stow, Vermont, on the 16th of August, 1850, and is the son of John W. Smith,
also a native of Vermont. He was educated at Norrisville, Vermont, and in 1869
came to Casey, where he clerked for S. B. Moody a year, when he was engaged in
the business with him until 1876, he moved to Adair in 1877, engaging himself
with J. E. Moran in the mercantile business, in whose employ he still remains.
He was appointed postmaster in 1881, which office he now holds, said office
being under the management of his wife. He has a farm of one hundred and sixty
acres one half mile north of Casey, and one of eight hundred acres in Nebraska,
also a business house and lot in Adair. His ancestors came from Norfolk,
Verginia, and is a decendant of Capt. John Smith, of the Pocahontas notoriety.
He was married the 14th day of February, 1872, to Miss Ella M. Rowell, of
Albany, Vermont, a daughter of Joshua Rowell. They have one daughter--Mamie L.
Smith, born March 3, 1873. He is a member of the Masonic order, and was
Worshipful Master of the Casey lodge in 1877.
Captain Charles Stuart was born in Barnet, Caledonia county,
Vermont, June 17, 1826, of Scotch parents, and until twenty-one years of age
lived on a farm and acquired such an education as could be obtained in the
common schools of his native state; but his studies must have been pursed with
the same energy and earnestness that has always characterized his business
carreer, for he became possessed of a thorough, practical education that has
proved sufficient at all times to successfully conduct his business interests,
which in magnitude and variety has perhaps required and received as much
business skill and ability as has been demanded of any of Iowa's pioneers. The
proprietors of a large clothing house in Boston, who had noticed and admired
young Stuart's energy and business qualifications, tempted him by the offer of a
liberal salary to engage with them, but he was no sooner in their employ than he
was informed that misrepresentations to effect sales was one of the customs of
the house that he was expected to conform to, when he promptly broke the
engagement. Possessed of a nervous, energetic temperament, he desired an
occupation less prosaic than New England farm life, and at twenty-three he built
a store in South Ryegate, in his native county, and began merchandising, and
with such success that by his skill and tact in a heretofore untried field he
soon built up a large trade and was much envied by his competitors. This sort of
life was too confining for such a nature, and after a carreer of eighteen months
as merchant, he sold his store and engaged in the livestock business, buying
cattle and other stock in Vermont, New Hampshire and Canada, and shipping them
to Brighton. November 23, 1852, at twenty-sex years of age, he was united in
marriage to Miss Lois Gray, a highly respected young lady of his native state,
whose untiring devotion to him and his interests proved invaluable, and he never
fails to credit her with a large share of his financial success. A son and two
daughters have blessed this union, who have grown up an honor to their parents
and ornaments to society. In 1853 Mr. Stuart engaged with the Fairbank's Scale
company, and in September of the same year moved to Chicago, and in their
interest for four years and a half traveled over the settled portions of the
western states, laying the foundation for the immence trade the company has
since enjoyed in the West. In 1854 he bought his homestead in Stark county,
Illinois, where he still resides on one of the most comfortable farm homes in
the state, and where many years ago he established an enviable reputation as a
thrifty farmer and successful stock-grower. In 1854 he entered a lot of lands in
Marshall county, Iowa, which has since become valuable, and like most of his
investments, proved a good one. Soon after the war of the rebellion broke out he
raised a company in Stark county, Illinois--Company B, 19th Illinois
infantry--of which he was captain, and was mustered into the service June 13,
1861, where he rendered his country faithful and efficient service. In January,
1867, and May, 1868, he purchased several tracts of land in Adair county, Iowa.
In December, 1867, he laid out the town on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific
railway that bears his name, since which time he has been prominently identified
with the development of western Iowa. The early growth of the town of Stuart was
at that time unprecedented, and its rapid growth and prosperity was largely due
to Mr. Stuart's efforts, he being not only the town proprietor, but its
principal business man, and in many ways he contributed largely with his money
and influence in building up the town, prominently among which efforts may be
mentioned his inducing the rail road company to locate their western machine
shops and round-house at this point, which was a great acquisition and secured
permanent prosperity to the town. In 1873 Captain Stuart founded the town of
Adair, where for more than ten years he carried on an extensive business, which
contributed largely in developing the town and surrounding country, which is a
very thrifty part of prosperous Iowa. In 1875 he began to purchase land in
Audubon county, where he now has some ten thousand acres of choice and well
improved lands, which are valuable. In 1879 in co-operation with the Chicago,
Rock Island & Pacific railway he founded the town of Audubon. This town
being located near his Audubon county lands, he decided to here establish his
business headquarters and in 1880 he built a large office, town stories and
basement, of St. Louis pressed brick, elegantly finished and is no doubt the
finest private office in the West, if not in the country. To this office daily
reports are made from each of the various stations where he is doing business.
In the same year he built a large elevator, also a planing mill, and made many
other improvements which called for the expenditure of a large amount of money,
and not only added greatly to the growth of the town, but it inspired confidence
in others in the town's future, and the first two years' growth of the town of
Audubon was marvellously rapid for a town located in a strictly agricultural
country. Personally, Captain Stuart is possessed of vigorous constitution, which
has enable him to impose upon himself arduous duties with apparent impunity; an
energy that acknowledges no opposition as insurmountable, and never accepts
retarded progress for defeat. His memory is remarkable and has no doubt been of
immense assistance to him, without which it would have been impossible for him
to have so many interests so widely scattered and so uniformly successful,
employing for many years about one hundred men in his various places of business
and on his farms; he is nervous and impulsive, and gives spontaneous expression
to his convictions, which are alway frank and pointed, no matter who gets scored
by his expressions and often does his personal popularity great injustice by
bluntly reprimanding any person whom he believes trying to injure him or his
business; his perception is keen, decision prompt, and judgement remarkably
accurate, very seldom having to change an order to an employe on account of
unforeseen events arising; but he has other traits of character less austere, if
not less marked; while he is an unrelenting and outspoken opponent, he is never
vindictive, and when his adversary lays down his lance, the fight is over; as a
friend he is kind, sympathetic, substantial, ever ready to assist a friend in
adversity, and has given large sums in worthy charities; we can better speak of
this trait in his character by relating some incidents of which the writer had
personal knowledge. One of his agents had sold some property to a gentleman of
limited industry who failed to make any payments therefor, and after long
sufferance and much dunning, legal redress was resorted to, and at sheriff's
sale the property reverted to Mr. Stuart; in due time he instructed his agent to
serve notice on the defendant to vacate and surrender the property, his agent
informed him that it would be an unpleasant duty, for while there was no good
reason for further leniency toward the delinquent, his wife was a good and
worthy wowman, industrious and the principal support of her less industrious
husband's famly, and would now be compelled to pay house rent in addition to her
already heavy burdens. Captain Stuart listened to his agent's story, then asked
the woman's name and said he would make her a deed for the property, for he
would never do anything to deprive an industrious woman of a home who was so
unfortunate as to have an indolent husband to support. The name was given and
the deed to her accordingly made, which conveyed a free gift of a comfortable
home without the slightest recompense other than the satisfaction of having done
an expensive act of kndness to a worthy person who was a stranger to him. In the
summer of 1883 a devastating hail-storm ruined wholly or in part the crops on
many of his Audubon county farms, making it impossible for some of his tenants
to pay all their rent, and a few could pay none. In the fall he had all his
tenants who had suffered by the hail notified to meet him at Walker House in
Audubon on a certain Saturday. They came, some--in number, wondering what could
be wanted of them. Mr. S. invited them to go with him to the dining room, where
he had a sumptuous dinner prepared for them, after partaking of which he
informed them that they would be excused from paying him rent for that year, and
he hoped they would be able to make themselves comfortable until they could
raise a crop. Of course such gnerosity was appreciated by the hail-striken
farmers, but Mr. S. rendered many of the worst sufferers substantial assistance
by aiding them to procure the necessaries of life until they could raise a crop
and again become self supporting. Very many similar instances might be related,
but these are sufficient for our purpose in illustrating the charitable
inclinations and tendrness of heart of our subject. Captain S. has large
property interests in Iowa, Illinois and Texas, and although fifty-eight years
of age, seems not to have lost any of his energy and ambition which has
charcterized on of the most successful and industrious lives in this great and
busy west.
Warren Swart, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, was
born in January, 1859. He is a son of Amos Swart, a native of Pennsylvania, and
was killed while in the service of the army. My mother, Sydney (Horn) Swart is
now living in Pennsylvania. Warren moved to Missouri, and there remained on a
farm for two years, when he came to Fort Dodge, Iowa, in 1880, and in July of
that year he attended the agricultural college until the fall of 1881, when he
came to Adair and clerked in a general store until the fall of 1883, when he was
taken into partnership with G. W. Henkle. He was married in March, 1884, to Miss
Lissie Farrington, a daughter of J. F. Farrington, a settler of Summit township.
Mr Swart is a member of the I.O.O.F. lodge of Adair, and is one of the little
city's most prominent men.
W. R. Turner is a native of Cedar county, Iowa, and was born
July 25, 1851. His father, John Turner, is a native of Pennsylvania, whose
ancestors were from Ireland and Scotland. His mother was Matilda Reed, also a
native of Pennsylvania, and she died when W. R. Turner was three years old. He
lived in Cedar county, Iowa, till 1873, when he went to Nebraska for a short
time. He returned to Cedar county, and was married on the 17th day of December,
1873, to Miss Agnes VanEpps, a native of New York. They have two children--John
E., born September 24, 1874, and Etta B., born October 26, 1879. After his
marriage he removed to Iowa county, where he formed and taught one term of
school, having received his education in Cedar county. In the spring of 1875, he
went to Grant township, Guthrie county, and remained till October 15, 1875, when
he came to Adair, Adair county, and engaged in the butcher business, which he
followed for about six months, when he went into the furniture business, and in
1876 engaged in his present business [lumber trade]. He was the township clerk
of Summit township in 1883, and is a member of the I.O.O.F. and of the A.O.U.W.
George H. Wetmore, banker in Adair, was born in Ashtabula
county, Ohio, March 17, 1832, son of Horace Wetmore, a native of Connecticut;
mother was Hannah Kizertee, a native of Ashtabula county, Ohio. Mrs. Wetmore's
father was born in Baltimore, and was of English descent. His grandfather was a
sea-captain in the employ of England. In 1837 the subject of our sketch, with
parents, removed to Knox county, Illinois, where they remained on a farm till
1849, when George H. went to California, prospecting for gold, in which he was
successful, returning in 1851. In 1854 he was in Texas and Mexico, but
returning, he removed to Galesburg, Illinois, and engaged in the real-estate
business until 1870, when he went to Yankton, Dakota, and engaged in the same
business there, and also acting in the capacity of treasurer and director of the
Southern Dakota railroad, running from Sioux City to Yankton, Dakota, sixty-five
miles, until 1874, at this time he removed to Guthrie county, Iowa, settling in
Grant ownship, on section 16, buying the whole section and improving it. This is
one of the finest farms in the county, and Mr. Wetmore has improved it from a
perfectly wild state to a very nice location, his house alone costing about five
thousand dollars. On this farm is found fine stock, Durham cattle and
Poland-China hogs. Mr. Wetmore's financial interests are in a number of places,
owning considerable village property in Adair, a good residence in the village
and some large interests in Hanson county, Dakota of which county he was the
first settler. His marriage occurred in the fall of 1855 to Miss Mary A. Ellis,
a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Laban Ellis, of Kentucky. Four children
have been born to them--Eugene A., living in the South, Charles I., in the West,
Frank H., married to Lizzie Ellis, and assisting in the bank, George H. is at
home, and in school. Mr. and Mrs. Wetmore are members of Universalist church,
and in politics a green backer, and works for the interest of the party.
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