History
of Tama County, Iowa
by Samuel D. Chapman. [Toledo:] Toledo Times Office, 1879.
W
J. L. Waggenor, Hardware
For all kinds of shelf and heavy hardware, stoves, tinware, wagon stock, etc. persons residing in and around the vicinity of Montour will do well to call on this gentleman, on Main Street and examine his stock and prices. Mr. Waggenor first came to the County from Marshall County and established business at Tama City remaining in the latter place until 1867, when he removed to Montour. Here we now find him doing a large business. He is a man that can be relied upon, is prompt and gives his entire attention to his business, but never neglects the best interests of the community in which he lives.
Henry Wagner, Harness Manufacturer
For the past ten years this gentleman has been well known to our citizens, having been a resident of Toledo during that time, hence takes rank as one of our leading business men. Since 1872, he has been in business, and is the largest manufacturer and dealer in harness, collars, trunks, valises, ladie's side saddles, horse brushes, etc. of any firm of the County. He is a practical workman, and during his business career has distinguished himself for selling a good quality of goods. All persons will do well to call upon Mr. Wagner when in need of any thing in his line at his store on High Street.
H. G. Wallace, Stock and Grain Dealer
This gentleman is the oldest stock and grain dealer in the place, coming here from Lee County , Ills., in the year 1865, and built the first elevator inside the corporation. Since residing here Mr. Wallace has been engaged in the above business, and has built a reputation for honorable and square dealing and is known over the greater portion of Tama County as such. He is a credit to the stock and grain business, an enterprising business man, and has a large circle of patrons and friends.
George H. Warren
Among the younger class of men whose names appear in this book is George Henry Warren, who was born in Withingham , Vermont , on the 18 th of December, 1844 . His parents were Linus Austin Warren, a well-to-do farmer, and Sophronia Parker, both industrious, religious and much respected people. They had five children, three boys and two girls, and strove to bring up all of them carefully, early instilling into their tender hearts the pure principles of christianity. George was the fourth child. His paternal grandfather, Deacon James Warren, moved from Conway , Massachusetts , to Withingham at an early date, settling in the wilderness, and residing in that town until old age, dying at Shelburne Falls , Massachusetts , where he lived a short time. The maternal grandfather of George H. was Captain Samuel Parker, of Whitingham, a revolutionary soldier, who, was detailed for special service under General Washington, with whom he was a favorite. Both the Warren and Parker families were remarkable for their strength and longevity.
Mr. Warren had a pleasant home, affectionate parents, a love for books and an opportunity to gratify it. He preferred mental to physical labor, and for that reason some of his bucolic associates called him “lazy,” and that annoyed him; it was, perhaps, the sole grief of childhood years. He had so much literary ambition that at fifteen he was prepared to teach, and commenced his first district school. For three years he taught during the winter and studied in the summer.
At eighteen he entered the old and famous academy at Shelburne Falls , Massachusetts , paying his way by teaching a part of each day, while carrying on a regular and full course of studies. At nineteen, owing to mental overwork, his health began to decline, and he gave up the idea, fondly cherished, of going through Brown University . He became teller of the Shelburne Falls National bank, and soon afterwards cashier of the same. Prior to this period he had been looking to the law as his profession, but relinquished this hope and made up his mind to be a banker.
In the winter of 1868 he resigned his position in the bank at Shelburne Falls, came to Tama City and carried on a private banking business until October, 1871, when the First National Bank of Tama City was organized, of which institution he has since held the position of cashier, and has managed its business with a great deal of clerical and executive ability.
Since 1874 he has give a great deal of attention, and all the energy at his command, to the development of the water-power on the Iowa river at Tama City . He is deeply impressed with the importance of encouraging manufactures at the west, as a hand-maid of railroads in embracing the true interests of all classes. The water-power enterprise, started here in 1874, has proven a grand success, several manufactories being already in operation. In 1875 he formed the Union Plow Company, which bids fair to become one of the most successful enterprises in the interior of Iowa .
He joined the Freemasons in Massachusetts in 1867, and took the chapter degrees at Tama City , in 1870.
He has been a member of the Baptist church since ten years of age, and has been accustomed from youth to make every business enterprise, project or charge of any kind, a subject of especial prayer. He is convinced that his petitions have been answered, and evidently believes his Heavenly Father regards the minutest as well as greatest interests of the trusting one's life. He is a Sunday School worker and aims to make himself useful in many ways.
Mr. Warren married his wife at Shelburne Falls , Massachusetts , on the 14 th of April, 1866 , she being Miss Kate Louise Gardner, only child of Joseph W. Gardner, a celebrated cutlery manufacturer of England , and is a man of wealth and high standing. Mrs. Warren is the mother of two children.
D. R. Way, Dry Goods
In the store of D. R. Way, located on the corner of Main and Elm Streets may be found one of the nicest and most complete stock of general dry goods, groceries, clothing, boots, shoes, queensware, etc. in the town, and at prices hard to beat. Mr. Way has been a business resident of Montour since 1866, coming here from Montezuma, Poweshiek County , and since that time has been active in the dry goods business. He does business in his own store room which saves paying rent; this advantage is given his patrons. Give him a call.
Weimer & Co., Restaurant
Among the late branches of business established in this town is the restaurant and ice cream stand of the above named firm, located on Elm Street, in the post office building. Here they have nicely fitted up rooms with all the conveniences of a first-class restaurant. They have in stock a full line of candies, smoking and chewing tobaccos, nuts, pies, cakes, etc. The firm is composed of L. Bingham and W. Weimer , the former has been a resident of the County since 1870, and besides being interested in the above business is post master, which office he has held since 1877. The latter is a young man of fine business qualifications, and no doubt will make a success of whatever he undertakes.
J. T. Weld, Hardware and Agricultural
But a short time after Traer was founded the above named gentleman established business at that point. Since that time he has carried a full line of shelf and heavy hardware, stoves, tinware and agricultural implements. His store is located on Second Street , near Brooks and Moore 's bank, where he has one of the largest and most complete stocks in the city. Mr. Weld has been a resident of Traer since 1863, coming here from Pecatonica , Illinois , where he had been in business. Since a resident of Traer Mr. Weld has become one of that city's leading hardware merchants and has established a name and trade of which he may be justly proud. He has always pushed his business in an enterprising manner and now is rewarded by a lucrative trade extending over a wide area. He has many friends and is classed among the valuable citizens of the place.
Dr. H. Welton
Was born in the State of Connecticut , town of Walcott , New Haven County , and while quite young, became a member of the Episcopalian Church . Here he resided with his parents until the year 1814 when they moved to Harpersfield , New York , Delaware County , where they remained until the year 1817, when they again moved going to Austinburg, Ashtabula County , Ohio . After a few years his father changed in religious belief to that of the Methodists and became a class leader. His house was a house of plenty for ministers, which gave his son Hiram an opportunity to inform himself concerning this branch of the Church of Christ and together with the religious discipline of his parents their son was taught the salvation of his soul.
When Hiram was 18 years of age he left home and spent three years traveling in New York and Connecticut and returned home to Ohio . After a few years Hiram thought there was work for him in the vineyard of the Lord and accordingly devoted several years to this work.
In 1855 he moved to Coles County Ill. , and remained several years near the head of the Little Wabash, six miles west of Mattoon . In the year 1857, moved to the State of Iowa and settled in Carlton township, Tama County , on section 34.
Mr. Welton has always been a hard working man, and is now carrying on a large farm, at the same time following the profession of a doctor. By economy and energetic labor he has placed himself in comfortable circumstances, so that in his declining years he can pass quietly along, and when the summons shall come he can answer “here Lord am I.”
Wescott & Myers, Flouring Mill
This firm is composed of D. G. Wescott, and J. H. Myers, two as honorable gentlemen and good citizens as ever settled in Spring Creek township, who established the Badger Hill Flouring Mill, at Badger Hill, in the year 1871. This mill is located on Wolf Creek , and is run by water power. Since the mill was established it has had an excellent run of custom and done a large business. They manufacture a first-class brand of flour, and consequently it gives entire satisfaction, besides they are doing a large exchange business which enables those living at a distance to visit their mill and return the same day. Try the Badger Hill flour, and you will like it.
Thomas Whitaker, Produce dealer
The above named gentleman ranks among our oldest citizens, having been a resident of Tama City since the town was located. Mr. Whitaker came to this place from Toledo and established himself in the produce business, and from the earliest period he has been constantly engaged in buying and shipping all kinds of produce, for which he pays the highest possible price. His store is located on the corner of Fourth and McClellan Streets, where you can always find him ready for a bargain. Mr. Whitaker is a property owner and a successful business man.
Nathan C. Wieting
The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Decatur , Otsego County , New York , June 8 th , 1828 . He is of German decent, his grandparents coming from Germany to the United States during the Revolutionary war. He is eldest son of John C. and Catharine Wieting, whose family consisted of nine children. His father was a farmer, and his son Nathan remained at home working on the farm until he was nineteen years of age, when he commenced teaching school to enable him to complete his studies at a Seminary near his home, in which manner, alternating in teaching and attending school, he spent his time until about February, 1856. On the 17 th day of April 1856 he came to Toledo , and cast his lot with the early settlers of this County, and has had an unbroken residence since that time. At the first term of the District Court after his arrival he was admitted to the bar of Tama County and formed a partnership with T. Walter Jackson, in Toledo . At the fall election in 1856 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney for the County under the old law, and served during his term. In politics being an ardent Republican, he signed the first call for party organization, and assisted in the organization of the party in 1856.
In the fall of 1858 he became proprietor of the “Toledo Tribune” and changed the name to the “Iowa Transcript” and ably conducted its columns until the fall of 1866, when he retired from the editorship of the same.
He was married to Miss Emily H. Muckler, of Toledo , on December 4 th , 1858 , and has one son, John Guy Wieting, born July 6 th , 1873 .
In the spring of 1867 he entered into the mercantile business in Toledo and, continued in the same until the fall of 1876, when he closed out his business. In January 1878 at the solicitation of many prominent Republicans he purchased the “Tama County Independent” and changed the name to “Toledo Times” also the politics of the paper and is now conducting the same as a Republican organ in full sympathy with the principles of the party. The paper is one of the permanent institutions of the County, edited and owned by one who has watched the growth and progress of our County for years, and who has been fully identified with the interests of the people and as an editor shows a continuous series of more years in the County than any editor among us.
John Wild, Brick Maker
In 1865, this gentleman settled in Toledo, and has been a resident of the township ever since; is well known over the entire southern portion of the County, by the good quality of brick he makes, and as Mr. Wild has been at this business since settling in the County his reputation is thoroughly established. Mr. Wild since locating his brick yard upon his farm one mile and a quarter west of Toledo has made a splendid quality of brick and has a large trade. In 1878 alone, he sold over 600,000, furnishing the brick for the new school house, Toledo Savings Bank and numerous other fine buildings at Toledo which speaks well for his brick and prices.
ANTHONY WILKINSON
One of the oldest families in the County is that of the Wilkinsons - living in the south eastern part. Although none have ever occupied high official positions, they still have traits of character which distinguish them from others and are as highly respected as any living in the County. Anthony Wilkinson, with his parents, emigrated to this County in 1849, having left his native country in 1834. He was born in Ireland , Donegal County on July 28th, 1817 . He resided with his parents until he was 14 years of age then left and went to Maryland . Here he obtained a situation as clerk in a dry goods store, serving a number of years and from there went to Coshocton County , Ohio , and was apprenticed to the carpenter trade which he learned and followed until the spring of 1845, when he went south and while there enlisted in the Mexican war, was taken prisoner by the Mexicans at Encornation, and lay in captivity eight months; was liberated at Frankford. In 1849 he came to this State, stopping at Iowa City . Anthony and two brothers purchased an ox team and wagon, laid in a supply of provisions and come to Tama County , and settled in Salt Creek township. Here they entered a tract of land in section 20, and immediately set to work making for themselves a home.
In 1851, he returned to Ohio , and was married to Miss Sarah a. Graham, by whom he had seven children. The members of the family all fill honorable positions in society.
Anthony Wilkinson is a self-made man in every respect. With a very limited education obtained, from a common school, but with a determined will and strong heart and hands, he has pressed forward overcoming every obstacle that arose in his way. However great the difficulties with which he may be surrounded, he knows no such word as fail, and his example is worthy of emulation by the young men of to-day without a cent of capital. Through his own individual exertions, he has amassed a sufficient amount of this world's goods to enable him to live at ease until called away to join the loved ones that have gone before. He has always been a hard working, industrious man, having excellent physical powers and being capable of great endurance.
Farming has been the principal occupation of Mr. Wilkinson, and in this work he has been eminently successful. Through hard work and careful management he has from time to time added to his possession, until he now owns as nice a tract of land as can be found in Tama County . For many years he has devoted considerable attention to raising fine stock and in this has met with the same good success as in other operations of the farm. Although he may not have obtained the prominence of many others, Anthony Wilkinson is well known through out the County especially by the older settlers, while none know him but to respect the sterling worth of his character.
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p 16:
The next white families that settled in Tama County , were those of Anthony, Robert and William Wilkinson, who came from Coshocton County , Ohio , and permanently located in what is now Salt Creek township, on the 12th day of October, 1849. They were accompanied by their mother and three sisters. Anthony and William had been soldiers in the Mexican war and had just received their land warrants, and in due time located the same. Their brother Robert purchased land near them in the same township. The Ashers and Wilkinsons were the only settlers in 1849.
p 18:
A state road had been laid out by the legislature running from Marengo to Fort Dodge , through the south side of the County, on July 9th 1853 , and during the year 1854, a mail route was established from Marengo to Marietta in Marshall County , and J. D. Smith, now a resident of Richland township was mail carrier. In January of the year 1854 a post-office was established and Anthony Wilkinson made post-master, his commission bearing date February 27th, 1854 .
p 19:
At this time in her history, Tama County was attached to Benton County for Election, Judicial and Revenue purposes ... the voters of Tama County presented a petition to the County Judge of Benton County , asking for a separate organization, which was duly granted and an order issued for holding an election on the first Monday of May, 1853 ...
[several others] and Anthony Wilkinson received the votes for School Fund Commissioners, but the office was not filled, they failing to qualify.
... At this election there were 72 votes cast and the Board of Canvassers were John Huston, Robert Wilkinson and Wm. Boohr.
p 68:
With the exception of Indian Village , this is the oldest settled township in the County, and was first settled by Robert, Anthony and William Wilkinson, who came in the year 1849 ...
The township was organized in the year 1856, and named after Salt Creek ... The first birth was a son of Wm. Wilkinson's in the year 1851 and died the same year making the first death.
... The following list of township officers we compile: ... Trustees:
... A. Wilkinson, ... R. Wilkinson ....
Wilson & Ormiston, Physicians and Surgeons
This very prominent and successful medical firm is composed of G. W. Wilson, and J. S. Ormiston, both of whom are young men of high standing and good character, and graduates of the Medical Department of the Iowa State University , the former of whom graduated in the year 1876, and the latter in 1877. Shortly after graduating these gentleman located at Chelsea , since which date they have been having a good practice, among all classes of citizens, and now they are recognized as one of the reputable, permanent and leading medical firms of the County. Their office is located in White & Co's drug store, where they may always be found and ever ready to attend to your wants.
S. E. Wilson, Dry Goods and Groceries
In Fifteen Mile Grove we find the above named gentleman in a neatly and well filled dry goods and grocery store. He established business at this point in the year 1876. Since that date he has built up a large trade and carries a first-class line of dry goods, notions, groceries, tobaccos, crockery, queensware, etc. He handles all kinds of country produce which he takes in exchange for goods. Mr. Wilson is a promising young man and possesses good business qualifications.
West Wilson
Among the early pioneer settlers, and one who has watched the growth of this populous County from a mere wilderness of but few inhabitants to its present proportions, and has seen it take its place among the most important of Iowa's Counties is the person which heads this sketch. Mr. Wilson is a leading farmer and stock raiser of Crystal township. He was born in Ayrshire , Scotland in the year 1820. His parents were James and Jane (Lusk) Wilson, who were both natives of that country. He had very little opportunity for education in his early youth but acquired a fair education at the common schools being at the same time engaged in aiding his father to carry on the farm. Leaving Scotland Mr. Wilson emigrated to Connecticut where he remained until the year 1856, when he came to this State and settled in Crystal township, Tama County , on section 13. He has a beautiful farm consisting of six hundred and sixty-six acres, the most of which is under cultivation and pasture. Of late years Mr. Wilson has been paying considerable attention to the raising of fine stock and now he has a large number of the best blooded cattle. Mr. Wilson, besides carrying on this immense farms, is engaged in the grain business at Traer, where he handles thousands of bushels annually through his elevator and warehouses. He is also interested in a lumber yard at Morrison Grundy County . In all the various changes of an active life Mr. Wilson has gained the respect of a large circle of friends and the confidence of the community.
W. D. Worrell, Grocer
This young gentleman has been a resident of Tama City for a number of years and is constantly advancing in business capacity. He came here with his widowed mother from Marshalltown , Iowa , and found employment on the water works, then being built, as teamster; but his aspirations were for a higher sphere in life and soon he was in the employ of W. G. Cambridge, editor of the Tama Citizen, as a printer. But soon his attention was directed to the mercantile business, and he procured a situation in the large hardware establishment of E. G. Penrose. Here he remained three years, giving his entire attention to the tinner's trade and clerkship in the store, and commanded the highest respect of both his employer and customers. After a short vacation and prospecting tour through Southern Nebraska and Kansas, he returned home and entered into the produce trade, but soon bought one-half interest in the grocery store of A. B. Dubbs, and for months the establishment was carried on under the firm name of Dubbs & Worrell, but finally Mr. Dubbs sold his interest to Mr. Worrell, and now he is sole proprietor of a fine stock of groceries and queensware, with a deservedly large trade. Mark the progress of an energetic, wide-awake young man.
M. R. Wylie, Breeder of Fine Stock, Traer , Iowa
In the stables of M. R. Wylie, at this place, may be seen as fine horses as anybody would wish to see. We are glad to see the interest that Mr. Wylie is taking in breeding the best class of horses, in this County. The following noted horses will be found in his stable at Traer: Young Invincible – This fine stallion was imported from England to Pennsylvania in the year 1876, by G. B. Hayes of that State. He is seventeen and one-half hands high, with heavy bone and muscle, and weighs two thousand pounds. He was got by Farmer's Profit, son of Young Waxwork, by Old Waxwork; dam by Great Britain , grand dam by Old Warwick, great grand dam by Old Invincible. English Champion – This horse is a dapple black, seventeen hands high and weighs one thousand and five hundred pounds. He has superior action and has proven himself to be of good blood. He was got by Cheshire Champion, who was imported to Pennsylvania , by W. Beal of that State. Dam by the imported coach horse, Bay President, great dam imported Canadian mare. Fred Grant – Is a bright bay with black dapples. He is a natural trotter and if properly trained would reach a creditable record. He was got by General Grant, son of Wapsie, by Green's Bashaw; dam by the Barklow mare, daughter of Holderman's mare, by Weatherby's Blackhawk, Profit, son of Vermont Blackhawk. Grand dam, by Matthew White's mare, Kosciusko, and bred by E. Manful, of West Liberty . Any information desired in reference to any of these horses will be cheerfully given by their owner. Call at the stable on Main Street or address, M. R. Wylie, Traer , Iowa .
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