Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Webster and Hamilton Counties, Iowa - 1888

Webster County

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Webster and Hamilton Counties, Iowa.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 113 Adams Street, Chicago. 1888.

Benjamin F. Eaton is the youngest son of Stephen and Lucinda (Fuller) Eaton. He was born in Washington Township , Jo Daviess County, Illinois, September 8, 1859 , and came to Webster County with his father and five brothers in the fall of 1869, and has since lived on his present farm in Colfax Township . He was given as good educational advantages as the schools of the township afforded, and when not in school assisted his father in the work on the farm. June 13, 1886, he was married to Ida M. Presler, a native of Fillmore County, Minnesota, daughter of S. W. and Didamia (Sutton) Presler, natives of New York, who lived in Pennsylvania several years and in 1856 moved to Fillmore County, Minnesota, and in 1862 moved to Martin County, the same State, and thence in the fall of 1874 to Webster County, Iowa. Mr. Presler was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, serving about eight months. While living in Martin County , February 13, 1866 , Mr. Presler's oldest daughter and three of their sons, in company with two neighboring girls and one boy, attended a singing school in a schoolhouse some distance from home, and while there it commenced snowing. Not apprehending any danger the young people started for home in their sleigh, but the storm increased in violence and they lost their way and wandered around on the prairie in one of the worst storms that ever visited that country, all that night and the next day and night, suffering intensely not only from the cold and storm but from hunger as well. Early in the morning on the second day the storm abated and after daylight they were found, but Mr. Presler's daughter was dead, his eldest son was so badly frozen that both legs and both arms were obliged to be amputated, and another son lost both legs and the forefinger of his left hand, and the youngest lost both his legs. Notwithstanding the loss of their limbs and the inconvenience they suffer for the want of them, they are industrious men, who earn their living by hard work.

Francis S. Eaton, section 33, Colfax Township , is a representative of one of the first families of the township. He was born in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, June 9, 1852 , a son of Stephen and Lucinda (Fuller) Eaton. He was reared a farmer, and educated in his native county, living there until after the death of his mother, which took place June 17, 1869 . In the fall of 1869 he accompanied his father to this county and settled on the farm where he now lives, and where his father died August 24, 1883 . November 5, 1877 , he married Miss Emily Gibbs, a daughter of Myron and Catherine ( Ferguson ) Gibbs, who came from Jefferson County , Pennsylvania , to this county in 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Eaton have four children – Sherod Myron, Clarence B., Aaron B. and Catherine Lucinda. Though yet a young man, Mr. Eaton has won a place in the confidence of the people of the township, and is foremost among the citizens in the support of any enterprise pertaining to the public welfare, and is fast coming to the front as one of the representative men of the township. He has served several years on the school board, and at present is township trustee. In politics he is a Republican, and employs every legitimate means to advance the interests of his party, making his influence especially felt at election time. His religious training was in the Methodist church, but he is not a member of any religious denomination. He is an honest, upright man, and has the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens.

Sherod B. Eaton, farmer, section 34, Colfax Township , is one of the early settlers of Webster County . He is a native of Washington Township , Jo Daviess County, Illinois, born October 2, 1841 , a son of Stephen and Lucinda (Fuller) Eaton, who came from the Eastern States to Illinois in 1837, being among the pioneer families of that section. Sherod was educated in Illinois and reared to farming, which he followed until September 22, 1862 , when he enlisted in Company E, Ninety-sixth Illinois Infantry, for three years. He was at the last battle of Fort Donelson , Fort Henry , Robinson's Station, and in a number of skirmishes, and during a skirmish at Jackson , Tennessee , received an injury to his left shoulder which rendered him unfit for service. Before his recovery he was taken sick with lung fever, and was sent to the hospital at Nashville , and from there to Louisville , and after a few months' illness was discharged from the service. He has since drawn a pension on account of ill health contracted while in the service of his country. After his discharge he returned to Illinois and resumed farming. In the fall of 1869 he came to Iowa and settled on section 33, Colfax Township , locating first on what was known as river land. The title being in dispute he subsequently bought eighty acres where he now lives, and settled on it in the fall of 1883. When he bought this land it was a wild unbroken prairie, but he has converted it into a well-improved farm, and now has a comfortable residence and farm buildings. Although Mr. Eaton takes an interest in public affairs he has never sought, but on the contrary, has declined every official position tendered him, preferring the quiet pursuit of his own affairs. He is an outspoken Republican, and a warm supporter of his party. October 22, 1868 , he married Mrs. Sarah J. Collins, widow of Warren J. Collins, who enlisted in the war for the Union in 1865, in a Minnesota regiment, and shortly after his enlistment was taken sick with the measles and died at Chattanooga , March 26, 1865 . She was a daughter of Jeremiah Power, a native of Kentucky . Mr. and Mrs. Eaton have had seven children – Mayetta, Rosetta, William Sherman, Mabel Belle, Laura Ellen, Elsie Blanche and Stephen Eliphus. Mayetta died March 22, 1877 , and William Sherman died March 27, 1877 .

E. H. Ebert, section 32, Cooper Township , is one of the prominent early settlers of Webster County . He is a native of Saxony , Germany , born March 2, 1831 . When about fourteen years old he began to learn the trade of a miller, his father being engaged in that business. He remained at home until eighteen years old, and then spent five years in other parts of his native country working at his trade. July 21, 1854 , he sailed from Bremen in the ship Germania , for America , and thirteen days later arrived in New York . His intention was to settle in St. Louis , where he had acquaintances, but he was persuaded by parties he met in New York to change his plans, and accordingly came to Iowa , locating in Dubuque . He remained there but a year, and in the fall of 1855 came to Fort Dodge , which at that time contained but few dwellings and business places. He worked at his trade in Fort Dodge about nine years, and then for four years was in the old Finton mill, a mile from town. In 1866 he bought eighty acres of land where he now lives, on which he settled in 1868. At that time it was a tract of unbroken prairie, but by the industry and energy characteristic of his nationality he has converted it into a well improved farm, his buildings being commodious and in good repair. Although enterprising and public spirited Mr. Ebert has never sought official honors, preferring the quiet pursuits of farm life. He is one of the prosperous and wealthy farmers of the township, and is numbered among its representative citizens. He married Anna Stina Seifert, a native of Germany , and they have four children – Margaret, Louis, Lena and Ernest. In politics Mr. Ebert was formerly a Republican, but of late has supported the Democratic party. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church.

Thor E. Edwards, section 5, Clay Township , Webster County, Iowa, has a good farm of 226 acres, all well improved. He was born in Norway in 1843, a son of Even Aslaksen, who started for America with his family in 1861, but died before reaching this country and was buried in the ocean. The mother landed with her children in Quebec , and from there went to Rock County , Wisconsin , and settled on a farm, and in 1871 they came to Iowa and settled where Mr. Edwards now lives. The mother died in the spring of 1874. She had a family of twelve children, five of whom are living – Ole E., Thor E., Nels E., Bjoern and Knut E. Thor E. Edwards has improved his land and in addition to his original 226 acres owns 160 acres on sections 7 and 18. He is one of the representative citizens of the township and is held in high esteem by all who know him. Mr. Edwards had but a few dollars when he settled on his farm in Webster County, Iowa, but now he has one of the largest stock farms in the country. Mr. Edwards is a great believer in fine stock, and on his farm may be seen full-blooded Norman stallions and short-horn cattle. Hitherto Mr. Edwards has been contented to live in a log-cabin, but now he is laying the cornerstone for a fine residence and he intends to make room for his visitors. He was married in Wisconsin , to Miss Jane Edwards, and to them have been born seven children – Henry, Martha, Edward, Carl, Otto, Ida and Hannah. In politics Mr. Edwards is a Republican. He has served his township has trustee several terms and has held most of the other offices in his township, always serving with ability and to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church.

Ellison Ely, section 36, Newark Township , was born in Wayne County, New York, March 25, 1842 , the third son of Henry and Nancy (Caruthers) Ely. In 1854 the family moved to Hillsdale County , Michigan , where the father died, and in 1858 the mother moved with her children to Stark County , Illinois . Ellison remained with his mother until the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, and in 1861 enlisted for three years and was assigned to Company H, Fifty-first Illinois Infantry. December 28, 1863 , he re-enlisted as a veteran and served until September 25, 1865 , when he was discharged at Camp Irwin , Texas . He participated in a number of hard fought battles, among others being Corinth , Farmington , Nashville , Stone River , Atlanta and Chattanooga . He was wounded at Chickamauga by a ball passing through his right shoulder and was in the hospital at Nashville some time when he was sent home on sick furlough. After his discharge he lived in Illinois about a year and a half, and in 1867 came to Iowa and rented land in Hamilton County three years, and in 1870 moved to Newark Township, Webster County, and took up a homestead of eighty acres, to which he has since added until he now has a fine farm of 240 acres all well improved. He is one of the substantial farmers of the township and takes an interest in public affairs but has never aspired for official honors, preferring the quiet pursuits of rural life. He is a strong supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He was married September 28, 1869 , to Alice R. Simmerman, a native of Stark County , Illinois , a daughter of David and Sarah A. (Durand) Simmerman, who moved to Warren County, Iowa, in 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Ely have six children – Lavina C., Everett G., Sarah G., Martha, Edwin G. and Franklin D. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

O. E. Evans, M. D., of Gowrie , Iowa , is the pioneer physician of the town, locating there in 1872, soon after the place was organized. He is a native of Iowa , born in Clinton County , in 1846. His father, Lyman Evans, was a native of New York , and a pioneer of Clinton County , where he settled in 1839. Our subject received his primary education in the schools of DeWitt, and at an early age began clerking in a drug store. In 1864 he enlisted in the war of the Rebellion and served as a member of the Forty-fourth Iowa Infantry until the close of the war, in Tennessee and Mississippi . He began the study of medicine with Dr. A. W. Morgan, of DeWitt, and remained with him four years. He attended a course of lectures at the Western Reserve Medical College, at Cleveland, Ohio, in the winter of 1869-'70, and returning to DeWitt accepted an offer to go to Galveston, Texas, where he remained a year. He returned to Iowa and as before stated located in Gowrie in 1872. In 1878 he took a course of lectures and graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk , Iowa . Dr. Evans has gained the confidence of the people. He is a permanent member of the American Medical Association and the Iowa State Medical Association, and is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Simmons Post. Dr. Evans is a genial and pleasant gentleman, and not only as a physician but also as a member of society is esteemed by his fellow citizens.