Marshall County >> 1912 Index

Past and Present of Marshall County, Iowa
by Judge William Battin. 2 vols. Indianapolis, Ind.: B. F. Bowen, 1912.

F

Charles W. Flora submitted by Dick Barton

Among the progressive and public spirited citizens of Eden township, Marshall county, is Charles W. Flora, a man who is in every way deserving of the high esteem in which he is held by his neighbors and friends because he has led an industrious and honest life. His birth occurred on the farm where he now resides, August 17, 1870. He is the son of Jacob W. Flora, who was born in Pennsylvania, November 15, 1820, and he is now residing in Kansas. He married Catherine Mills, who was born in Pennsylvania November 2, 1824, and whose death occurred in Marshall county, Iowa, November 11, 1888. These parents were married on June 10, 1841, and they became the parents of the following children: Mrs. Nancy Lacy and Mrs. Susan Wade were twins, born February 27, 1842, and they both reside at Santa Ana, California; Mrs. Katherine Preston, born August 23, 1844, is residing in Jasper county, Iowa; D. M. was born January 28, 1847, is residing in Holden, Missouri; John B., born in September, 1849, lives with Charles W. Flora of this review; T. J., born May 24, 1852, is living near Des Moines; Margaret E., born December 24, 1854, died August 29, 1856; Mary, born May 30, 1857, is living with her brother Grant, at Sibley, Iowa; L. S., born November 25, 1859, lives near Rhodes; Mrs. Elizabeth Gowdy, born December 15, 1862, lives south of Van Cleve; Grant born August 5, 1865, lives at Sibley, Iowa; Mrs. Dora May Clowser, born February 8, 1868, lives in Santa Ana, California; Charles W. of this review, was the youngest of the family.

The subject was married on June 29, 1904, to Rose Halter, who was born October 4, 1875, the daughter of Louis Halter, who was born in France, April 23, 1842. He married Louisa Dorr who was born in Germany, November 9, 1849. They emigrated to America when young and were married in Jasper county, Iowa, April 28, 1871, and in 1876 moved to Marshall county, which has since been their home, now living retired, having laid by a competency; they have a very pleasant home in Melbourne, Iowa. They are the parents of eleven children, namely: Mrs. Elizabeth Ginter, born March 4, 1872, lives in Eden township; George, born March 28, 1873, lives hear Egan, South Dakota; Leopold, born February 28, 1875, lives on the old homestead; Edward, born May 18, 1877, lives in Eden township; Joseph, born February 18, 1879, lives near Melbourne; Henry, born March 2, 1881, lives in Eden township; Mrs. Bertha Lanning, born July 9, 1883, is living south of Melbourne; William, now deceased, was born January 18, 1885; Albert was born August 2, 1889, lives in South Dakota; Lester, born January 26, 1894, is living with Edward on the farm in Eden township.

Three sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Flora, namely: Edwin Glenn, born July 19, 1907; Alfred Lloyd, born May 20, 1909, and Wilbur John, born May 10, 1911.

Politically, Mr. Flora is a Republican, and he has long been active and influential in local affairs, having held the office of township trustee and been a member of the school board. Mrs. Flora and children are members of the Catholic church at Rhodes. Mr. Flora is a member of Eden Lodge no. 466, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Rhodes.

Mr. Flora is the owner of some of the choicest farming land in Marshall county and is regarded as one of the county's foremost agriculturists and one of her substantial and leading citizens. His land is all well improved, well kept and is very productive under his skillful management. Besides his model home place, "Oak Grove," consisting of two hundred and seventeen acres, he is the owner of six hundred and forty acres in Canada, which is valuable and desirable land. He has a beautiful home and good substantial outbuildings. He is an excellent judge of live stock and has some fine specimens on his place. There are no more genial, kind, hospitable and honest people in the county, and both he and his wife are members of old and honored families who have done much to make Marshall county one of the best in the state. Their pleasant home is often the gathering place for their many friends, who always find here an old-time hospitality and good cheer.

L. S. Flora submitted by Dick Barton

L. S. Flora was born in Bureau county, Illinois, November 25, 1859. He came with his parents to Jasper county, Iowa, about the year 1866, and they eventually located in Eden township, where the family has since made their home, with the exception of seven years when they lived in Logan township, Marshall county. The subject's father, Jacob W. Flora, was born in Pennsylvania, November 15, 1820, and is now residing in Kansas. The mother, Catherine (Mills) Flora, was also born in Pennsylvania, on November 2, 1824, and died in Marshall county, Iowa, November 11, 1888, aged sixty-four years and eight days. These parents were married June 10, 1841, and the following children were born to them: Nancy Lacy and Susan Wade, twin daughters, were born February 27, 1842, both residing at Santa Ana, California; Katherine Preston, born August 23, 1834, residing in Jasper county, Iowa; D. M. Flora, born January 28, 1847, residing in Holden, Missouri; John B., born in September, 1849, residing at the home of C. W. Flora in Eden township; T. J., born May 24, 1852, residing near Des Moines; Margaret E., born December 24, 1854, died August 29, 1856; Mary, born May 30, 1857, residing with her brother at Sibley, Iowa; L. S., the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth Gowdy, born December 15, 1862, residing south of Van Cleve; Grant, born August 5, 1865, residing at Sibley, Iowa; Dora May Clowser, born February 8, 1868, residing at Santa Ana, California; C. W., born August 17, 1870, residing in Eden township.

L. S. Flora was married to Alice Waltemeyer on January 26, 1887. She was born in Ogle county, Illinois, December 11, 1867, and came to Marshall county with her parents when six months old. Mrs. Flora's grandfather was a tavern keeper in Baltimore, Maryland, and it was at this place that her father, Jacob Waltemeyer, was born, October 24, 1839; he died November 5, 1907. Her mother, whose maiden name was Lucinda Phillips, was born in Ogle county, Illinois, June 8, 1849, and at present is residing in Marshalltown. Mr. and Mrs. Waltemeyer came to Iowa in 1868, and settled in Logan township, Marshall county. They were the parents of eleven children, as follows: Mrs. Flora is the eldest; Mary S. Robertson, born October 8, 1869, residing in Brighton, Iowa; Laura Clarke, born June 8, 1871, residing at Marshalltown; Joseph, in Logan township; Charles, born December 3, 1874, of Logan township; George F., born September 8, 1877, resides in Logan township; Jacob Daniel, born February 2, 1879, residing in Logan township; Maude Cook, born January 21, 1882, residing in Marshalltown; Earl, born May 8, 1885, residing in Marshall county; Edna Bennett, born January 26, 1888, residing at Marshalltown; Raymond, born February 7, 1891, residing in Marshalltown.

L. S. Flora has long enjoyed a reputation as one of Marshall county's most progressive and successful farmers. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of Marshall county's best land, and "Fairview," with its large barns and sheds, taken with the well kept home, best bespeaks the energy and thrift that has characterized the owner. Years of honorable toil have secured every comfort and convenience man would wish - a well furnished home, with steam heat, a self-playing piano, and an automobile, are all theirs to enjoy. Besides "Fairview," Mr. and Mrs. Flora own shares in the Bank of State Center.

Mrs. Flora is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Rhodes. In politics, Mr. Flora is a Republican, but not an offensive partisan. He has been road supervisor and a member of the board of education at Rhodes. Mrs. Flora takes much pride in her chickens. For the past eighteen years she was raised the Light Brahma, but this year has begun to raise full blooded Black Langshans.

Isaac T. Forbes

From the old Tar state hails Isaac T. Forbes, well known business man of Marshalltown, and, possessing many of the estimable traits of the Southerner, he has won a host of friends since casting his lot among the Hawkeyes, his labors here benefiting alike himself and the community, so that he is particuliarly eligible to representation in this work.

Mr. Forbes was born in Pasquotank county, North Carolina, December 5, 1852, and he is the son of Isaac T. and _____(Naimbanna-Gallop) Forbes, who was born, reared and married in that state.  From there the family moved to Ogle county, Illinois, near the village of Franklin Grove, reaching there on April 7, 1857, and there they established a home in the new country.  This is one of the old colonial families of the South, these parents as well as the grandparents on both sides going back to those historical days, members of each figuring more or less prominently in the affairs of the localities where they resided.  The Forbes families have always been Baptists.  Both sides of the house were represented in the Northern army during the Civil war.  Isaac T. Forbes, the father devoted his life to agricultural pursuits.  His death occurred in 1863.  He was a member of the Masonic fraternity.  There were seven children in the family.  The mother reached an advanced age, dying in 1904 in Illinois.

Isaac T. Forbes, of this review, was educated in the high school at Franklin Grove, Illinois.  He started in life for himself by entering the general mercantile field as an employee, remaining thus for twelve years, in the meantime learning the ins and outs of the same; then he entered the business for himself, continuing three years at Franklin Grove, Illinois, when he sold out.  In 1888 he came to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and took a position as commercial traveler, selling farm machinery in Nebraska.  On November 1, 1890, he moved to Marshalltown and traveled out of here for the firm of Ketchum & Johnson, handling the same line.  He remained on the road until June 1, 1902, then bought into the grocery store of the D. S. Good Grocery Company, in which he remained three years.  He then retired from the firm and returned to the road, selling implements.  Although his work as a traveling salesman had been characterized by marked success all along the line, he finally tired of it and in June, 1909, took up life insurance with the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company of Philadelphia, and is now district agent of that company, having been appointed to this responsible position in
July, 1910.  He has built up a large business for this company in this locality and is regarded as one of their most trusted employees.

Mr. Forbes was married on February 14, 1893, to Alice Newby, of Hubbard, Hardin county, Iowa, the daughter of Barnaby and Elizabeth (Starn) Newby, both born near Noblesville, Hamilton county, Indiana.  To Mr. and Mrs. Forbes one child has been born, a daughter, Zuleime.  She and her mother are members of the Friends church.

Fraternally, Mr. Forbes is a member of Marshall Lodge No. 108, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Signet Chapter No. 38, Royal Arch Masons; King Solomon Council No. 20, Royal and Select Masters; St. Aldemar Commandery No. 30, Knights Templar; he also belongs to Marshall Lodge No. 312, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.  He has long been prominent in Masonry and in addition to the above named lodges he belongs to Elkahir Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Cedar Rapids.  He has been high priest of Signet Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, for six years, also master of King Solomon Council No. 20 for two years, and was eminent commander of St. Aldemar Commandery No. 30, Knights Templar, for a period of three years; he is a past grand master of the grand council of Royal and Select Masters of Iowa.  Few Masons in the state are better known or more influential than Mr. Forbes.  He is a stanch Democrat, but has never aspired to political office.

Steven H. Fuller

It is natural, and therefore proper, that the  careers of those sterling characters of the early days should crowd to the front when we glean the annals of the past for facts worthy to adorn the pages of history, consequently the biographer does not hesitate to properly set forth the items of interest in the lives of such a family as the Fullers, of whom Steven H. Fuller, farmer of LeGrand township, Marshall county, is a well known and honored representative, for they have done much in forwarding the general interests of the community and have borne such reputations as to elicit the high respect of all who know them.

Mr. Fuller hails from the "dark and bloody ground" country, his birth having occurred in the state of  Kentucky, October 4, 1827.  He is the son of Solomon and Lucinda (Duzan) (name very hard to read) Fuller, the father a native of New York and the mother of Kentucky.  Solomon Fuller came to Kentucky when a boy and married there, he and his wife continuing to live in that state until 1855, when they moved to Marshall County, Iowa, reaching here on October 20th.  They settled in Jefferson township and rented land a while, then bought eighty acres in that township and there they spent the rest of their lives, the father dying on May 1, 1894, at the age of eighty-seven years, the mother having preceded him to the grave in 1866, when fifty four years old. They were the parents of nine children, six of whom are living.  Solomon Fuller was a Democrat in politics and a member of the Christian church.  He was a good man and well liked by his neighbors.

The son, Steven H., grew to maturity on the home farm and was educated in the common schools.  Before leaving Kentucky he was united in marriage with Lettie Robinson, who was born in that state on April 23, 1826, their wedding occurring on April 14, 1847.  She was the daughter of William and Sarah Robinson, both born in Virginia, from which state they came to Kentucky in an early day, in which state they both died.

Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fuller, namely: William, lives in Canada; Mollie, who was the wife of John William Galbreth, is deceased, one child was born to them, Mollie, who died leaving two children, Murl and Mary Lucinda. Henry Fuller lives in Marshalltown, Iowa

On October 20, 1855, Steven H. Fuller and wife came to Timber Creek township, Marshall county, at the time his parents moved here.  The subject later moved to Jefferson township, where he lived nine years, then moved to LeGrand township and bought two hundred and forty acres and for a number of years farmed on a large scale.  Old age coming on, he did not care to be burdened with the operation of so large a farm and he now has one hundred and sixty acres which is very productive and well improved, but he is at this writing living retired in the city of Marshalltown, where he has a cozy home and is surrounded by every comfort of life as a result of his former years of earnest toil.  He formerly lived retired in the village of LeGrand for sixteen years.

Politically Mr. Fuller was a Democrat, but is now a Prohibitionist.  He has held the office of road supervisor and school director.  He and his wife have been members of the Christian church since childhood.  They were married and formerly baptized by John T. Brooks.  They have lived consistent Christian lives.