Many of the leading citizens of Fayette county are either natives of the Buckeye state or their parents or grandparents came from there. It seems that they delight to begin life in a new country where conditions are primitive and where hard work is required to wrest a living from resisting Nature. but they always succeed and whatever community they move into is developed in every way. Of this class is David Saltsgiver, a highly respected citizen of West Union, who was born in Carroll county. Ohio, in 1840. He is the son of John and Mary (Capper) Saltsgiver, the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Ohio. The paternal grandfather of David Saltsgiver was Henry Saltsgiver, a native of Germany, who, in a very early day, crossed the broad Atlantic in a slow-sailing vessel and settled in the state of Pennsylvania. He left that state, however, and moved to Ohio where he was a pioneer farmer and a man of great courage and honor. The subject's maternal grandparents, David and Mary Capper, were natives of Virginia. They grew to maturity there and married in their native state, coming soon afterwards to Ohio, where Mr. Capper conducted a horse-power grist-mill and farmed, beginning as a pioneer.
John Saltsgiver, father of David, of this review, was educated in the early schools of Pennsylvania, coming with his parents to Ohio and was married in that state. He was a good business man and erected one of the finest woolen mills in the community in which he settled, and he operated it for several years, and he built up a large patronage there.
In the fall of 1854 he brought his entire family to Union township, Fayette county, Iowa. He purchased a farm immediately north of where David Saltsgiver of this review now resides, east of West Union, in section 11, Union township. There he resided until his death. He developed a good farm here and made a comfortable living. He was a hard worker, a good manager, a useful and honored citizen. He and his wife are the parents of six children. John Saltsgiver was a Whig when that party was in power, later, when the Republican party was organized, he was a loyal supporter of the same.
David Saltsgiver, of this review, was educated in the common schools of Fayette county, receiving a very good text-book training, He worked on the home farm during the summer months and under the capable direction of his father, learned the various phases of agricultural work, at which he has subsequently succeeded and is now the owner of one hundred and forty acres, which he has kept well improved and under a high state of cultivation. He carries on general farming, raises some good stock, and he has a comfortable home and good outbuildings.
Mr. Saltsgiver was married on February 19, 1864, to Isabelle Webb, the daughter of an influential citizen of Fayette county, where she was reared and educated, and this union has resulted in the birth of the following children: Anna May, deceased; Mamie, Max. Merl.
Mr. Saltsgiver is a Republican in politics and active in the party. He served at one time very ably as trustee of his township.
Typed for the Fayette Co IA USGenWeb Project by Chuck Taylor