Jefferson County >> 1912 Index

History of Jefferson County, Iowa
by Charles J. Fulton. 2 vols. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1912.

D

Unless otherwise specified, all biographies have been submitted by Debbie Nash.

HENRY E. DANIELSON devotes his energies to the cultivation of a highly improved farm of sixty acres that he owns adjoining Lockridge.  He is a native of Jefferson county, having been born in the township where he now resides on November 18, 1878, a son of Albert and Lottie (Falk) Danielson, natives of Sweden .  The father emigrated to the United States in 1869, locating in this county where he worked as a farm hand and laborer on the railroad for several years.  An energetic man of thrifty habits, he carefully saved a portion of each month's wages until he had acquired the means to buy a farm, then invested his capital in eighty acres of land in Lockridge township. He diligently applied himself to clearing and improving his property in the cultivation of which he met with such success that he was later able to extend his holdings by the addition of another eighty acres.  The operation of his homestead thereafter engaged his attention until his demise, October 18, 1901, at the age of sixty-five years.  The mother, who is now sixty-five, continues to make her home in this township.

The boyhood and youth of Henry E. Danielson were passed on his father's place in Lockridge township, his education being obtained in the district schools of the vicinity. He remained with his parents until he had attained his majority, devoting his energies to assisting his father with the farm work.  For two years after leaving home he worked as a farm hand, when he engaged with his brother in cooperative farming until 1901.  This undertaking proved to be so lucrative that they bought the old homestead, of which each took eighty acres.  Mr. Danielson operated his share until 1906, when he sold and removed to Lockridge, where he became associated with Louis J. Graf in purchasing the general mercantile business of C. J. Overstrom.  After spending three years in commercial activities Mr. Danielson decided to return to farming, so disposing of his share in the business he purchased sixty acres of improved land, that he has ever since been operating.  He takes much pride in his place, which is well kept up and given the careful supervision that insures abundant crops of a superior quality, and as a result his efforts are being most substantially rewarded.

On the 2d of September, 1903, Mr. Danielson was united in marriage to Miss Rose Rivey, a daughter of Peter and Amelia (Droz) Rivey.  The parents emigrated to this country from France, locating in Jefferson county during the early days.  They bought forty acres of land in Round Prairie township, that they cleared and cultivated, and there they reared their twelve children.  They were industrious and thrifty and added to their holdings at divers times as their resources permitted until they had acquired one hundred acres, upon which they still reside.  Three children have been born to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Danielson: Lucille V., who is seven years of age; Gladys A., who is five; and Earl K., a lad of three years.

Mr. and Mrs. Danielson affiliate with the Baptist church, and fraternally he is a member of the Woodmen of the World.  He is a republican in politics and at the present time is serving in the capacity of township clerk and secretary of the school board.  Mr. Danielson belongs to that type of citizens whose efforts are directed not only toward the development of his personal interests but those of the community at large, and to this end he uses his influence in promoting every progressive movement.

ROBERT DAVIDSON is one of those men whose ambition and inherent ability enabled him to rise above his environment, and despite the lack of those advantages usually deemed essential in any vocation of life, rose above and dominated conditions as he found them, creating for himself a position that has won the respect of the entire community of which he has been a member for over forty years.

Yorkshire, England, was the scene of his birth, which occurred on the 9th of March, 1840 .  There his parents, John and Hannah (Lee) Davidson, spent their entire lives the father having been a day laborer.  Their family numbered eleven, of whom our subject is the only son now living and the only member of the family to have become an American citizen.  A small income that had to supply the wants of a large household precluded the possibility of Robert Davidson acquiring an education.  His wage-earning career began when he was little more than a child and as a lad he worked for seven years in a brick and tile yard in Yorkshire .  He was not of the type to calmly accept conditions as he found them, but constantly chafed at the limitations of his opportunities, feeling convinced that he possessed the qualities to life himself into a better position under more favorable circumstances than that in which he was born.   America seemed to hold forth such opportunities and having acquired the necessary passage money, at the age of nineteen years he sailed from Liverpool for New York city, coming from there directly to Jacksonville, Illinois .  He obtained work as a farm hand, continued as such until the summer of 1861, when he offered his services to the nation.  On the 2d of September, 1861, he enlisted at Jacksonville as a private in Company K, Twenty-Seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, joining his regiment at Cairo, Illinois .  During the three years he spent at the front he took part in the following engagements:  Belmont, Union City, Lavergne, Stone River, Chickamauga, Rocky Face, Resaca, Mud Creek, Kenesaw Mount, Peach Tree Creek, and the sieges of Island Number Ten, Corinth, Nashville, Atlanta and many minor encounters.  During the Battle of Chickamauga under General Pope, Mr. Davidson was severely wounded in the right thigh and left on the field.  For six months thereafter he was unable to leave the hospital, but upon his recovery rejoined his regiment on the march from Chattanooga to Atlanta .  The tenacity of purpose and determination that distinguished him as a soldier has characterized his entire life.  Upon receiving his discharge he returned to Jacksonville, resuming the duties of civil life as a farm hand.  His industry and thrift ultimately enabled him to begin an independent career, and for five years he farmed as a renter in Illinois, whence he came to Iowa .  He located in Wapello county, buying a farm that he operated for thirty-five years, acquiring during that period a competency, on which to retire.  In 1905 he sold his farm and removed to Batavia, where he and his wife are now residing.  He has withdrawn from all active work, save that now and then he assists his son Marion in the store, and is enjoying the ease and comfort so justly earned by his long years of toil.

Mr. Davidson celebrated Christmas, 1865, by his marriage to Miss Mary Louisa DeSollar, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. W. H. Jordan in the vicinity of Jacksonville, Illinois .  Mrs. Davidson, who was born in Akron, Ohio, is the eldest of nine children born to Henry Brown and Christiana (Clemmons) DeSollar.  The father was born in London, England, whence he emigrated as a lad of ten years to Bethel, Illinois, where he learned the wagon maker's trade.  The mother was a native of Canada but in her early youth she removed to Ohio and there she met and was subsequently married to Mr. DeSollar.  She passed away at Bethel sixty-four years ago, and he subsequently located at Beardstown, Illinois, where he followed his trade until his death in 1891.  Nine children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Davidson:  Frank, who is an architect in Chicago, married Mrs. Emily Hardy.  Charles, a stenographer in the government service in Colorado, married Miss Emma May Sears of Nebraska, and they have one child, Edith Alberta.  John is living in New York city, where he is employed by a large publishing house.  George, a manufacturer of the acetylene light plants of Ottumwa, Iowa, married Jennie Kraemer of Locust Grove township, Jefferson county, and they have four children:  Verna Maxwell; Letha Mildred, Edith Eleanor and Donavan Dail.  Arthur, who is a bookkeeper in Chicago, married Fern Murray, of Oxford, Ohio, and has one son, Murray.  Henry Edwin, a farmer of southern Missouri, married Estelle Milligan of Des Moines, Iowa, and had four children:  Edna May; Gerald Edwin; and Robert Willard and Raymond William, twins.  The last three are deceased.  Thomas William, a photographer of Chicago, married Mabel Almeda Mussenden, of that city.  Leroy, the manager of the United States Express Company at Freeport, Illinois, married Mabel Marie Holmes of that city and has one child, Gordon Leroy.  Marion Albert, a furniture dealer and undertaker of Batavia, married Nellie Ray Shaw of Ottumwa and has one daughter, Mary Marguerite.

The family always attended the services of the Methodist Episcopal church of which Mr. and Mrs. Davidson are devoted members.  He is a republican in his political views and while a resident of Wapello county served for many years as a member of the district school board.  Despite his lack of educational advantages, Mr. Davidson has always been a close observer and thinker, his undertakings ever having been distinguished by intelligent judgment and practical ideas.

GEORGE K. DAVIS, a retired farmer of Lockridge, Jefferson county, was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, on October 6, 1847, and is a son of George K. and Barbara (Kreglow) Davis.  The parents were natives of Martinsburg, Berkley county, Virginia, where the father engaged in tailoring.  During the pioneer days they came to Des Moines county, locating in Burlington, where for some years he was in the retail meat business.  Later he changed to farming, a venture which did not turn out over-successfully and soon thereafter joined a party of gold seekers bound for California .  They drove across the prairie with an ox team, lured on, despite dangers and hardships, by the wonderful tales they heard of the country and its opportunities.  He remained in California for ten years, at the end of which time he returned to Des Moines county, where he made a short stop, before he went on to Davis county, Iowa.  He continued to reside there the remainder of his life, passing away in 1896.  The mother early came to Jefferson county and purchased a farm in Round Prairie township.  During her latter years, however, she resided with her son James B., in whose home she passed away in 1903, at the age of seventy-six years.  Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis, six sons and two daughters.

George K. Davis was reared in the county of his birth, whose district schools he attended until he had mastered the common branches.  He remained at home with his mother on the farm until he was twenty-four years of age when he was married and began for himself.  For three years thereafter he farmed as a renter, with such lucrative results that at the expiration of that time he had sufficient means to enable him to become a property owner and he came to Jefferson county and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Round Prairie township.  Eighty acres of this tract was still in timber and at the end of the first year of his residence he had cleared it and placed it under cultivation.  Upon locating there he erected a log cabin twelve by fifteen feet to which he later made an addition and this building continued to be the residence of himself and his family for twelve years.  At that time he built a comfortable eight-room frame house, and later added to his holdings another twenty acres of land, making to aggregate of his acreage one hundred and forty.  The operation of this place continued to engage his attention until 1907 when he sold out and moved to Missouri.  There he bought a small tract near Memphis upon which he lived not quite a year, and when he returned to Jefferson county, purchasing his residence in Lockridge, where he has ever since lived in retirement.  He has three lots here upon which he has erected a fine house, and now owns one of the attractive properties of the town.

In 1871 Mr. Davis was married to Miss Ellen Veach, who passed away in 1880.  She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Parnell (Murphy) Veach, natives of Delaware.  They came to Iowa in the early days, settling in Des Moines county, where for many years the father was engaged in farming.  There the mother died in 1850, but Mr. Veach was living with a daughter in Iowa county at the time of his death in 1883.  Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis:  William, John F., and George, all of whom are agriculturists of Missouri; and Lewis E., who is a butcher of Memphis, Missouri.  In 1881 Mr. Davis was again married, his choice on this occasion being Miss Rachel Murphy, a daughter of Levi and Sara (Bowers) Murphy, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Indiana.  They moved to Illinois, during the early years of their life, locating in Fulton county.  There the father when old enough began his career as a farmer, later going to Jefferson county, Iowa, where he purchased an improved farm in Round Prairie township.  He operated this until his death in July, 1903.  The mother had passed away ten years previously, her demise occurring on the 29th of February, 1893.  Of Mr. Davis's second union five children have been born:  Mary B., the wife of Will Stiver, a farmer of Missouri; Ella May, who died on April 7, 1901, at the age of eighteen years; Della E., the wife of Lee Coger, a farmer of Lockridge township; Bertha, who married Elmer Sharpe, of Fairfield; and Arthur M., who is living in Lockridge.

Mr. and Mrs. Davis both affiliate with the Baptist church, while he gives his political support to the republican party.  He has always taken an active interest in all municipal affairs, and has served as school director and while living in Round Prairie township acted as road supervisor for eighteen years.  His residence in this county has covered a period of forty-seven years during which time he has noted the many changes and rapid advancement that has been made during the progress and development of a higher order of civilization.  Mr. Davis is well and favorably known in the county, among those citizens he numbers many friends.

S. K. DAVIS, M. D.

Few residents of Libertyville are better known than Dr. S. K. Davis, whose activities extend beyond his professional interests and connect him with the financial and agricultural life of the community as well.  A native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, he was born on the 30th of September, 1863 ; a son of Elliott and Mary (Linn) Davis, who were also natives of Westmoreland county.  In the spring of 1866, his parents came to Jefferson county, Iowa, locating in Buchanan township.  There the father followed general farming and also indulged in his hobby of fruit-raising, his father before him having been a nurseryman.  He passed away in Buchanan township at the age of fifty-seven years; his wife's death occurred twenty years later, at the home of her daughter in Center township.  In their family were ten children, as follows:  W. C., who passed away at the age of forty years; Edgar, who died in infancy; Ed H., of Fairfield; a daughter whose death occurred in infancy; Ella, the wife of W. H. Bates, of Center township; H. D., residing in Libertyville; Dr. S. K. Davis, of this review; Elizabeth, who married J. T. Rodgers, of Center township; Albert, who passed away in infancy; and Margaret, who wedded John W. Reebler, of Fairfield.

Dr. S. K. Davis was a little lad of three years when the family home was established in Buchanan township; and there he made his home between the years of 1866 and 1888.  In the meantime, he attended the public schools in the acquirement of his early education, and, later, pursued a course of study at Parsons College of Fairfield.  Deciding to become a member of the medical fraternity, he took up the study of medicine in Fairfield and Iowa City, and, subsequently, graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1888.  From the first he has been most successful, impressing all with whom he has come in contact with his trustworthy character, his earnestness, zeal and scrupulous regard for the ethics of his profession.  He has other interests, as well.  He owns valuable farming property, and is vice president of the Libertyville Savings Bank, having been connected with the bank since the organization of that institution.  His interest centers, however, in his profession, nothing being permitted to interfere with the conscientious performance of his duties in that direction; and he is constantly broadening his knowledge and ability through individual research and through his connection with the county, district, state and national medical societies.

Dr. Davis was married, in 1890, to Miss Nellie Hewitt, who was born in Jefferson county in 1867:  a daughter of G. W. and Rocena Hewitt.  They have two children, Austin C. and Wyndon H.  Dr. Davis gives his political allegiance to the republican party, belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and holds membership with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America, relations which serve as a balance to a busy professional life and which tend to make his a well rounded nature.  He is held in high regard among his fellowmen, not only for his professional skill and excellent business qualities but also for the manly principles which have ever governed his career.  Dr. Davis possesses a kindly, genial, hopeful nature which makes him the loved and trusted family physician in many households.

THOMAS HENRY DOOGAN, who engages in general farming and stock-raising in Lockridge township, has been a resident of Jefferson county for thirty-one years.  He was born in Ireland in Monohan county, township of Diescart, near Carrickmacroso, in September, 1854, and is a son of James and Bridget (Rafferty) Doogan, also natives of the Emerald isle, where his father owned a farm that he cultivated during the entire period of his active career. There he passed away in 1881, but the mother survived until 1890.

Reared and educated in his native land, Thomas Henry Doogan remained at home assisting his father about the farm until he was twenty-six years of age.  Having decided to seek a larger field in which to expend his energies in a country where efforts would be rewarded by more than a living, he took passage for the United States in May, 1880, and on the 2d of June landed in New York city .  He made his way inland to Fairfield, where he worked for a year on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad.  Later he worked in the coal mines and also as a farm hand, having been in the employ of Mr. Sampson, a farmer residing in the vicinity of Lockridge, for four years. As he was ambitious to become the owner of a farm, Mr. Doogan was very thrifty, carefully saving as much of his meagre wages as he could until he had sufficient capital to begin for himself. For ten years thereafter he farmed as a renter, meeting with such success in his efforts that at the end of that period he had the means to purchase a forty-acre tract, that formed the nucleus of his present homestead in Lockridge township.  His unremitting energy and the intelligent direction of his activities enabled him to extend the boundaries of his farm by the addition of another forty acres, and in 1906 he increased his holdings by the purchase of an eighty-acre tract in Round Prairie township.  He is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of fertile land, all of which is under cultivation.  In connection with the operation of his land, Mr. Doogan is engaged in stock-raising, and keeps about twenty head of cattle and six horses, while he annually raises thirty hogs.  He has always been very successful in both undertakings and during the period of his residence here has made many and extensive improvements, having erected good barns and outbuildings as well as a residence on his premises, all of which are kept in good repair, everything about his place suggesting a careful regard for details that bespeaks success.

For his wife Mr. Doogan chose Miss Alice Nicholson, their union being celebrated on the 14th of March, 1884 .  Mrs. Doogan is a daughter of George and Anzaletta (Bonnifield) Nicholson, natives of England and Virginia, respectively.  The father, who was born in 1808, emigrated to the United States in 1835, locating at Waterville, NewYork, later removing to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained for some time.  He subsequently came to Jefferson county, purchasing a farm in Lockridge township that he improved and operated until 1865, when he disposed of it and removed to Wapello county, Iowa .  There he purchased a hundred-acre tract that he operated until his death.  Both Mr.and Mrs. Nicholson passed away in 1878, her demise occurring in July, at the age of fifty-three years while he died in September, after attaining his seventieth year.  To Mr. and Mrs. Doogan there have been born five children: Charles, who died on the 19th of March, 1910, at the age of twenty-three years and four months; Martha Edna, who is twenty-two, living at home with her parents; Mary, the wife of Arthur Davis, of Lockridge; Lucinda, who died on the 14th of January, 1894, at the age of 6 months; and John, who is a youth of sixteen years at home.

Mr. Doogan is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church, in the faith of which he was born and reared, but his wife and family affiliate with the Baptist church.  He votes the democratic ticket, but has never held any official position save that of school director and has served in this capacity for the past ten years.  The entire credit for his success must be given to Mr. Doogan, as he began his career in the United States with practically no capital save his determination of purpose and tireless energy, by means of which he has attained the position he now holds in the community.

JOSEPH S. DROZ, who makes his home on section 27, Cedar township, is one of the representative citizens and successful agriculturists of Jefferson county, owning two hundred and ninety acres of valuable land.  His birth occurred in that township on the 18th of December, 1860, his parents being John and Julia (Palm) Droz.  The father, whose natal day was June 23, 1836, was born and reared in Alsace, France, and was a son of John B. Droz, who served as commissioner of public highways in his home district in France.  In 1858 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, taking up his abode among the pioneer settlers of Jefferson county, Iowa .  He and his brother Joseph, who is now a resident of Fairfield, first worked at grubbing, receiving fifty cents a day and paying their own board.  They also cut stove wood for a remuneration of thirty cents per day and their dinners. Carefully saving his earnings, John Droz at length accumulated five hundred dollars and in 1870 purchased a tract of land comprising fifty-one acres in Cedar township.  Subsequently he purchased a farm of seventy-one acres on section 33, Cedar township, where the family home was maintained from 1873 to 1891.  In 1872 he erected the old cabin now standing on the property, hewing out the logs which he used in its construction.  In 1891 John Droz took up his abode on the place where his son Alex now resides, while at the present time he lives on a homestead of eighty acres on section 26, Cedar township.  That he prospered in his undertakings as an agriculturist is indicated by the fact that at the time of his retirement, fifteen years ago, he owned four hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land.  It was in Cedar township, in 1860, that he wedded Miss Julia Palm, who on the 18th of May, 1911, met with an accident which caused instant death.  She fell in the cellar, crushing her skull by striking a stone step and breaking her neck.  Her tragic end was deplored by all who knew her and who had learned to esteem and love her during the many years of her residence in the community.  John Droz, who has lived within the borders of Jefferson county for more than a half century, is widely and favorably known here and is honored as a pioneer whose labors were an element in the material development and upbuilding of this part of the state.  He is a Roman Catholic in religious faith, belonging to the church of that denomination at Fairfield. To him and his wife were born three children, as follows:  Joseph S., of this review; Alex, who resides on a farm near that of our subject; and Mary, who is the wife of C. L. Hosette, a farmer of Van Buren county.

Joseph S. Droz attended the district schools in the acquirement of an education, thus fitting himself for the practical and responsible duties of life.  In 1891, following his marriage, he purchased the old Droz homestead on section 33, Cedar township, and started out as an agriculturist on his own account.  Thereon he resided until 1903, since which time he has occupied his present home on section 27.  His holdings now embrace two hundred and ninety acres of excellent farming land in Cedar township, which he cultivates with the assistance of his son.  He feeds all of his grain to cattle and hogs and in his undertakings as a stockman has met with a well merited measure of success.

On the 8th of January, 1891, Mr. Droz was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Prince, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Hisel) Prince, who were natives of Switzerland and Belgium respectively.  In 1860 the father emigrated to the United States, locating near Lockridge, Jefferson county, Iowa.  He enlisted for service in the Union army but remained at the front for only a brief period and passed away soon after the cessation of hostilities between the north and the south.  To him and his wife were born two children:  Mrs. Droz; and Eugene, a farmer living in Buchanan township, four miles east of Fairfield.  In 1871 Mrs. Elizabeth Prince gave her hand in marriage to Xavier Hosette, who died and was buried at sea while importing Belgium horses to America.  Their union was blessed with two children, namely: Louis Hosette, an agriculturist of Van Buren county, Iowa; and Mrs. Josephine Bailey, the wife of Dr. C. W. Bailey, of Pleasant Plain, Iowa.  The mother of these children came to America with her parents when a maiden sixteen years old, the family home being established in Cedar township, Jefferson county, Iowa.  Mr. and Mrs. Droz have one son, Gaston, whose natal day was October 13, 1891, and who attended the district school and also studied at Fairfield for a year.

In his political views Mr. Droz is a stanch democrat, believing firmly in the principles of that party.  He is a faithful communicant of the Roman Catholic church at Fairfield, to which his wife and son also belong.  His cooperation has never been sought in vain in support of progressive public movements and his worth as a citizen is widely acknowledged.

REUBEN D. DU BOIS is numbered among the pioneer residents of Jefferson county, where he has spent almost his entire life, having been brought to the county by his parents when but three weeks old.  He was born near the little village of Blandinsville, Illinois, on Christmas day of 1842.  His father, John W. Du Bois, brought the family to Jefferson county in January, 1843, and cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers who were active in reclaiming the wild land for the uses and purposes of civilization.  The father was born in New York city but before his married removed to the middle west.  In his youthful days he learned and followed the cabinet-maker's trade in New York and on attaining his majority he left that state for Illinois.  He married Elizabeth Dill, a native of White county, Tennessee, who had gone to Illinois with her parents when twelve years of age.  Both the Du Bois and Dill families were excellent people who took active part in the development of their respective communities, especially along agricultural lines, and ever commanded the esteem and regard of those who know them by reason of their upright lives.

In the country school of Jefferson county, R. D. Du Bois pursued his education, having the privilege of attending only in the winter months, for his services were needed upon the home farm during the summer seasons.  He early became familiar with the arduous task of developing new land and was busy in cultivating the fields from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn.  He continued upon the old homestead until the time of his marriage and then began farming on his own account, devoting three years to tilling the soil.  On the expiration of that period he removed to Fairfield, where he engaged in contracting in building material for seven years, meeting with success in that undertaking.  He next turned his attention to the live-stock and butchering business, in which he engaged for twenty years, his intelligently directed labor and unfaltering industry bringing him substantial prosperity.  He has ever regarded as one of the best investments that he ever made the purchase of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Buchanan township, two and a half miles northeast of Fairfield.  This he still owns and in it takes considerable pride, his supervision being manifest in the excellent appearance of the place and in the improvements found thereon.

On the 21st of December, 1865, Mr. Du Bois was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Welch, a daughter of John and Clarissa Welch, of Tuscarawas county, Ohio.  Her father followed the occupation of farming in the Buckeye state and in 1854 removed westward to this county, settling on a farm in Buchanan township.  Both he and his wife died in the home of their daughter, Mrs. Du Bois, the father passing away in 1905 and the mother in 1911.  Unto Mr. and Mrs. Du Bois was born a daughter, Charlotte A., whose birth occurred October 16, 1866, and who became the wife of the Rev. John W. Day.  Both were students in Parsons College of Fairfield, completing a course there.  Mrs. Day passed away June 7, 1901, leaving two children, Herald Du Bois and Wilbur Minton.  Since the death of his mother Herald has made his home with his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Du Bois, while Minton is living with his father, the Reverend Day.

In his political views Mr. Du Bois has always been a republican where national issues are involved but at local elections casts an independent ballot, supporting the candidates best qualified for office.  His first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln in 1864.  He has served as a member of the board of county supervisors for two terms and as a member of the city council for three terms and has ever exercised his official prerogatives in support of measures and movements which he deems of value and benefit to the community.  For thirty-eight years he has been a loyal member of the Odd Fellows society and for fourteen years of the Knights of Pythias lodge, while for more than forty years both he and his wife have led consistent Christian lives as members of the Methodist church.

LOUIS DUTTWEILER, who has spent his entire life within the borders of Jefferson county, has been successfully engaged in the feed business at Lockridge since 1902; and, for the past five years, has been identified with the Lockridge Telephone Company, having charge of the local exchange.  His birth occurred in Walnut township on the 27th of November, 1855, his parents being Louis and Sarah (Hetzel) Duttweiler; the former a native of Germany and the latter of Ohio.  Louis Duttweiler, Sr., who was born in Germany December 2, 1815, emigrated to the United States in a very early day, locating in Ohio, where he remained for two years.  On the expiration of that period, he came to Jefferson county, Iowa, and entered eighty acres of land from the government at a dollar and a quarter per acre.  He cleared and improved the property, and continued its operation throughout the remainder of his life.  As his financial resources increased, owing to his untiring industry and capable management, he augmented his holdings by additional purchase until, at the time of his death, which occurred July 31, 1889, he owned two hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land.  The demise of his wife had occurred on July 4, 1877.

Louis Duttweiler obtained his education in the district schools of Walnut township, this county, and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority.  Renting his father's farm at that time, he continued its operation until 1901.  During eighteen years of this period, he resided on a farm of ninety acres, in Lockridge township, and placed many substantial improvements thereon.  At the time of his father's demise, he received one hundred and twenty acres of the old home place as his share of the estate but, later, sold the same.  He still owns his ninety-acre farm, which he bought September 6, 1889, and moved on to it January 21, 1890.  This farm is situated a half mile east of Lockridge and is operated by his son-in-law, Claude Teeter.  In 1903, he came to Lockridge, purchased property and erected a fine residence thereon.  He was engaged in the livery business for two years and, then, embarked in the feed business, which has claimed his attention up to the present time.  Since 1906, he has also had charge of the local exchange of the Lockridge Telephone Company and, in this connection, has proved himself a man of splendid executive ability and unfaltering enterprise.

On the 11th of December, 1879, Mr. Duttweiler was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Eggenbarger, a daughter of John and Johanna R. (Dubero) Eggenbarger.  The father was a native of Switzerland and the mother of Prussia, Germany.  The father crossed the Atlantic to the United States in a very early day.  He came direct to Jefferson county, Iowa, and was employed as a farm hand in Lockridge township for several years.  Eventually, he purchased land of his own in Lockridge township, clearing and improving the same and devoting his attention to its cultivation, until 1907.  In that year, he put aside the active work of the fields and took up his abode in Lockridge, where he lived retired until called to his final rest, December 29, 1909.  His widow, who has now attained the age of seventy-four years, still makes her home in Lockridge.  Our subject and his wife have one daughter, Sarah S., who is now the wife of Claude Teeter.

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, Mr. Duttweiler has supported the men and measures of the democracy, believing firmly in its principles.  His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the German Lutheran church, to which his wife also belongs.  Alert and energetic, Mr. Duttweiler is in close touch with all the interests which are factors in the life of a progressive citizen and of the community at large; and is recognized as a forceful factor for development and improvement in the locality where he makes his home.

Mr. Duttweiler had one brother and one sister; the former living in Pleasant Plain, Iowa.  The sister was born December 8, 1859, in Walnut township, and died on the old home place, September 25, 1883 .

WILLIAM H. DUTTWEILER, owning and cultivating a fine farm of seventeen acres within the corporation limits of Pleasant Plain, has remained a resident of Jefferson county from his birth to the present time and has devoted his time and energies to agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career.  He was born in Walnut township, on the 30th of November, 1850, his parents being Lewis and Sarah (Hetzel) Duttweiler, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Greene county, Ohio.  Lewis Duttweiler crossed the Atlantic to the United States when a youth of eighteen years, locating in Ohio, where he worked as a farm hand for several years and was likewise employed in a sawmill.  In 1840 he came to Jefferson county, Iowa, entered eighty acres of land in Walnut township and undertook the task of clearing and improving the property.  As his financial resources increased, owing to his untiring industry and capable management, he purchased an additional tract of forty acres in Walnut township and later bought a farm of seventy acres in Lockridge township, whereon he made his home until called to his final rest in 1891.  The period of his residence in this county covered more than a half century and in his passing the community lost one of its respected pioneer agriculturists.  The demise of his wife occurred in 1878.

William H. Duttweiler obtained his education in the district schools of Jefferson county and remained under the parental roof until twenty-four years of age.  He then devoted his attention to the cultivation of rented land for fifteen years and at the time of his father's death came into possession of the latter's farm of seventy acres in Lockridge township.  After he had improved the property to quite an extent he was attacked by rheumatism and suffered therefrom for ten years.  At the end of that time he again resumed the active work of the fields, operating his farm in Lockridge township until 1905.  In that year he sold the place and purchased seventeen acres of land within the corporation limits of Pleasant Plain, paying five thousand dollars for the property.  The farm is well improved in every particular and the well tilled fields readily respond to the care and labor which is bestowed upon them.  Mr. Duttweiler has won a gratifying measure of prosperity in his undertakings as an agriculturist and has long been numbered among the substantial and esteemed citizens of his native county.

In July, 1878, Mr. Duttweiler was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Allred, a daughter of James and Mary (Cummins) Allred.  The father took up his abode in Henry county, Iowa, at an early day and followed farming as a life work.  He also ran a ferry boat on the Skunk river .  His demise occurred in 1864, while his wife, long surviving him, passed away in Missouri, on the 29th of November, 1901 .  Mr. and Mrs. Duttweiler have four children, as follows:  Emma, the wife of John Williams, a carpenter of Mount Pleasant, Iowa ; Mary, residing in Walnut township, who is the wife of Rapier Duttweiler, a second cousin; and Lydia and Henry F., both at home.

Mr. Duttweiler gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, and has served as road supervisor of Lockridge township for two years.  His fraternal relations are with the Yeomen, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Lutheran church, to which his wife also belongs.  In social relations he is held in the highest regard and has a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances.