History of Monona County, Iowa - 1890

History of Monona County, Iowa
Chicago: National Pub. Co., 1890

Unless noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

DAVID W. LOTSPEICH, a successful farmer and stock-raiser, of Belvidere Township , residing on section 25, was born in Des Moines County , Iowa , near the city of Burlington , August 8, 1846 , and is the son of Eden L. and Malinda ( Caldwell ) Lotspeich. His father was born in Ross County, Ohio, September 9, 1810 , and received a better education than was common to the majority of people of that day. The latter grew to man's estate in that State, and at an early age in manhood removed to Menard County , Ill. , where he engaged in farming. From the latter place he removed to Des Moines County , Iowa , and was one of those who organized and named Washington Township , where he made his home until May 4, 1884 , when he died and was buried in Trinity Cemetery . He was the son of Ralph and Amelia (Rigby) Lotspeich, the former a native of Ohio , and one of the pioneer Methodist preachers, who traveled the country over in company with the famous Peter Cartright. Eden L. was married in 1835, to Miss Malinda Caldwell, a native of Ross County, Ohio, born February, 19, 1814, and had a family of eleven children.

David W. grew to manhood, received his education in the common schools of Des Moines County , and at the age of twenty-three years, after a short visit to his parent's place of nativity, went to Indiana , where he was employed as Superintendent of sales by a machine company having a territory of several counties in the eastern part of the State. After four years' service in that locality he was transferred to the eastern part of Iowa , and for five years attended to the business of the same corporation in that locality. In 1878 he removed to Fremont County , Iowa , and engaged in farming, and thence removed, in June, 1881, to Monona County , and located where he now lives, having purchased eighty acres of wild land. He has added to this place until he now owns about two hundred acres, all of which is under fence, and one hundred acres under the plow, the balance being in meadow and pasture. Upon this place, which is known as the Hiawatha Valley Farm, he is, to some extent, engaged in the breeding of Holstein cattle and Poland-China hogs.

Mr. Lotspeich was married, December 31, 1876 , at Burlington , Iowa , to Miss Adda Peckham, a native of Columbus , Ohio , born February 26, 1853 , and the fifth child of Richard M. and Malvina (Webb) Peckham. Her father was born in Georgetown , District of Columbia , June 15, 1812 , and on attaining his majority removed to Columbus , Ohio , where he was engaged as a master mechanic. In 1854 he removed to Des Moines County , Iowa , where he is engaged in farming on a large scale. His wife was born at Andes , Delaware County , N. Y., April 28, 1826 , and removed with her parents to Ohio in childhood. She died February 26, 1872 , in Des Moines County , this State.

Mr. and Mrs. Lotspeich have three interesting children - Rose M., born November 22, 1877 ; Ruth E., march 24, 1881; and Kathie E., June 15, 1886 . When the family first came to Monona County Mrs. Lotspeich taught the first term of school in District No. 4, Belvidere Township , in her sitting room, and had about twenty scholars.

THOMAS B. LUTZ, attorney-at-law, of Mapleton, was born in Pittsfield , Pike County , Ill. , March 6, 1854 , to Adam and Nancy (Fernier) Lutz, natives of Pennsylvania , of German and Scotch descent, respectively. His parents were married in Pennsylvania , and removed to Pike County, Ill. , in 1852, and in 1855 came West, settling in Linn Co., Iowa . During the cyclone that swept through the latter county in 1860, the house in which they lived was destroyed, and the mother of our subject seriously injured, and a brother and sister killed. His mother died in February, 1861. After her death Thomas lived with Michael N. Kramer until he was twelve years of age, after which he strove for fortune on his own account, saving his money with rigid economy that he might attend college. Entering the Western College , of Linn County , now Toledo , Tama County , he there remained, closely engaged in study, for about one year, after which time he eked out his income by school teaching, and attending school until he entered the Law Department of the Iowa State University , from which he graduated June 20, 1882 . He then entered the law office of J. C. Leonard, of Cedar Rapids , and there remained most of the time until July 19, 1883 , when he came to Mapleton, and opening an office commenced the practice of law. January 1, 1886 , he formed a partnership with J. D. Rice, with whom he remained just one year, since which time he has carried on the business alone. He is a member of the Baptist Church , and of Monte Cristo Lodge, No. 205, K. of P.

Mr. Lutz was united in marriage, May 20, 1885 , with Miss Florence M. Cameron, who was born in Cedar Falls , Black Hawk County , Iowa , and is a daughter of J. R. Cameron, a former resident of Mapleton. Of this union there has been one child, Florence Josephine, born May 27, 1886 , and who died with diphtheria, February 13, 1889 . J. R. Cameron was born in Pennsylvania , and removed with his parents to Stark County , Ohio , in his youth. He came to Iowa , and was married at Cedar Falls to Miss Mary E. Knapp, a native of New York , who came to Iowa with her parents in 1854. In the spring of 1879 Mr. Cameron located at Mapleton, and engaged in the grain, real-estate and mercantile business, in which he remained until the spring of 1889, when he removed to Omaha , where he still resides.

Mr. Lutz's father, who was a farmer and carpenter by occupation, died in Linn County in June, 1885.