Past and Present of Hardin County, Iowa

Columbus E. Rash, pp. 917-918

Iowa is essentially a farming state, and her position among the states depends upon the character of her farms, and no farms in the United States are better or have a better reputation than the farms of Iowa. This is due both to the natural fertility of Iowa soil and to the ability an efficiency of the Iowa farmers. For even the wonderfully fertile soil of the state would give it no high rank in farming, were it not for the application of the men who cultivate it. Mr. Rash is a type of the best and most efficient Iowa farmer, who, by care, attention and labor, has become the proprietor of a farm in Union township, which has no superior in the county.

Columbus E. Rash was born in 1859 on the old Rash homestead in Union township, the son of Lewis E. Rash, a pioneer of Hardin county, whose record appears elsewhere in this work. Columbus attended the common schools of his township and spent his boyhood and young manhood on his father's farm, until the time of his marriage.

On March 7, 1881, Columbus E. Rash was united in marriage to Martha Smith, the daughter of Theophilus and Mary (Nash) Smith. Her father is dead and her mother is living in Ohio. Mr. Smith was married on January 16, 1881. In 1871 he located in Tipton township, Hardin county, Iowa, where he followed farming until his death, on March 1, 1904. His body lies in the Chapel cemetery of Providence, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of the following children: Frances Ellen was born on March 28, 1869; Sarah E. was born on March 17, 1872, and married Robert Frank; Clara Etta was born on march 25, 1877, and married J. L. Young; Martha, the wife of Mr. Rash, was born September 3, 1863.

To Mr. and Mrs. Rash have been born two children: Maude was born on July 31, 1883, and married Wayne Hinshaw, who lives in Kent, Washington. She is the mother of one child, Forrest. Claude H. Rash was born on July 3, 1890, and died on December 22, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Rash have also an adopted son, Maynard C., who was born on April 6, 1891, and is to them as their child.

Mr. Rash is one of the successful farmers of his community, and gives much attention to stock raising. He breeds Jersey Red hogs, draft horses and grade short-horn cattle, and has by stock raising greatly increased the fertility of his farm. In politics he is a Republican, is active in school work and has held several school offices. Fraternally, he is a member of the Odd Fellows at Union, Iowa. He is a member of the Methodist church.

Mr. Rash is a man whose attributes of character have made him respected and influential in his neighborhood, to whom he is widely and favorably known.

John L. Rash, pp. 999-1000

The history of a county or state is but a record of the doings of its people, among whom the pioneers and their sturdy descendants occupy places of no secondary importance. The story of the plain, common people who constitute the moral bone and sinew of the state should ever attract the attention and prove of interest to all true lovers of their kind. In the life story of John L. Rash, an honored pioneer of Hardin county, now living retired in his cozy home in Providence township, there are no striking chapters or startling incidents, but it is merely the record of a life true to its highest ideals and fraught with much that should stimulate the youth just starting n the world as an independent faactor.

Mr. Rash was born in what was then Sarah county, North Carolina, July 3, 1831, and was the son of Capt. William B. Rash and wife, both of whom died when their son, John L., of this review, was a small died, consequently he was reared by other hands and knows little of his ancestors on either side. He has two sisters, Polly, who married J. Crison, is now deceased, and Betsy Ann, who married A. Phillips, is also deceased.

The subject lived with his uncle, William Rash, until old enough to begin life's battles for himself. This fostered in him a sturdy independence which resulted very largely in subsequent success. In 1867 he married Mary M. Phillips, also a native of North Carolina, and in the same year they emigrated to Hardin county, Iowa, locating in section 32, Providence township, on a farm of forty acres. They made the long journey here, and they began life in pioneer fashion, the country then being new, but they soon transformed the wild prairie land into a good farm and in due course of time has a good home, adding to the original purchase until the place consisted of two hundred and forty acres, which they brought up to a high state of improvement and cultivation. Mr. Rash soon became one of the substantial general farmers and stock raisers in his township. Laying by a competency through many years of consistent endeavor, he is now living retired, in the midst of plenty, and is enjoying a well earned rest.

Mr. Rash's first wife died in 1898, leaving three children, William and J. D. are both living in Providence township, and L. M. is in a store at New Providence.

In November, 1899, Mr. Rash married Elizabeth Swaggart, who was born October 3, 1843, the daughter of David and Sarah Swaggart, the father born in Virginia and the mother in Pennsylvania. They came to Hardin county in 1865, and the death of Mr. Swaggart occurred in February, 1885, his widow surviving until 1907, reaching an advanced age. Both are buried in Berlin cemetery. They were the parents of the following children: J. W., of Eldora; Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Rash; A. M., of New Providence; S. M. and John Hyer, both of Ohio; J. M. lives in Providence township; Virginia lives in Jule county, Kansas; Alice, Esther and Isaac L. are all deceased; Emma is teaching school.

Lewis E. Rash, pp. 735-736

Prominent among the older residents and larger landholders of Hardin county is Lewis E. Rash, who came to the county more than fifty years ago and entered wild land. He has, by his diligence and perseverance in his occupation, gained a competence and attained prosperity and become a man of influence in his community, who is ever ready to aid in whatever promises the betterment of public conditions.

Lewis E. Rash was born in eastern Tennessee on April 24, 1834, the son of Robert and Setha (Bryant) Rash. His parents moved to Keokuk county, Iowa, in 1847, and, spending their active lives there died in Keokuk, the mother on November 13, 1893. They were the parents of the following children: Peggie, deceased; Lindie, who married Jacob Eller, lived for a long time in Tennessee and died in Kansas; Melvin, of Union township, Hardin county; Burton, deceased; Caroline, who married James Welsh, and is deceased, as is her husband; Lewis E.; John, who married Miss Glover and lived in Union township, now deceased; Watson; Nancy; Amanda, deceased, who married Will Jones, deceased, and Dannie, deceased.

In 1856 Lewis E. Rash was married to Rachel Hammer, who was born in eastern Tennessee on May 23, 1836, and died in 1893, after thirty-seven years of married life. To this union twelve children were born: Alva Curtis, who was born on December 3, 1857, now living in Garden, Nebraska; Columbus Elliott, born in May, 1859, now living near Union, the subject of another sketch; Nancy C. was born on June 16, 1861, and is now deceased; Flora Ann, born on December 15, 1863, married Lewis Thompson; Benjamin J., on March 25, 1865; Emma R., on April 16, 1867; Solon L., on August 28, 1869; Henry Thomas, on August 11, 1871; Bertha Jane and Burton F., on November 10, 1874 (Burton died on March 17, 1875); Andrew Seth, on January 12, 1877, and Gertie May, on February 22, 1881, and died on March 12, 1881. In January, 1897, Mr. Rash was married to Mrs. Udella McCollom, the widow of William McCollom and the daughter of Isaac and Emily Hughes. She was married to Mr. McCollom in 1877, in Ohio. He died in 1893. To their union five children were born, Stella, Ensa, James, Emily and a boy who died in infancy.

In 1857, shortly after his first marriage, Mr. Rash came to Hardin county, Iowa, and located on the farm where he now lives. He took up one hundred and sixty acres of wild land, and added to this two hundred acres in Grant township and eighty more in Union township. This land he improved and made into a first-class farm, one which has no superior in the county and on which he has spent his time and attention since coming to this county, for which he has received a merited reward in his present prosperity. Mr. Rash is widely known in Hardin county as a successful farmer. He is now retired from active life and is enjoying his later life in the society of his friends and the comforts which his own exertions have procured.

John Rath, pp. 416-419

Our nation owes much of its progressiveness to the infusion of the Germanic element amongst its population, for in all walks of life they have been found efficient, energetic and patient, enduring with fortitude the hardships of pioneer life and doing their full share in the work of pushing forward the wheels of progress wherever they have located. There is scarcely a locality in the Union that has not felt their strong and ameliorating influence, consequently they have ever been most welcome here and all honor is due them.

John Rath, of Ackley, Hardin county, is one of that large horde who have come to us from the great empire across the sea, his birth having occurred in Wurtemberg, Germany, November 26, 1840. He is the son of Andrew and Anna (Reich) Rath, and there he spent his early boyhood, being thirteen years of age when, in 1853, he and his brother George emigrated to America, the latter being only a year the senior of the subject. It required forty-seven days for the old sailing vessel on which they took passage to reach New York from Havre de Grace. After spending a week or two in the American metropolis, the two boys struck out across the continent to Dubuque, Iowa, coming by way of Albany, Lake Erie and around by the other great lakes to Chicago, thence by rail to Freeport, Illinois, and by stage to Galena. They reached there with only eighty cents, having been frequently overcharged and taken advantage of while en route. From Galena they walked to Dubuque, where they had an uncle who was engaged in the pork packing and candle manufacturing business and they worked for him until the spring of 1861, when John came to Cedar Falls and was employed in a lumber yard and grain elevator. He proved his loyalty to his adopted land by enlisting for service in the Union army in August, 1862, in Company B, Thrity-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He saw some hard service under General Grant at the siege of Vicksburg, battle of Jackson, Mississippi, march to the relief of Chattanooga, battle of Lookout Mountain, above the clouds, Missionary Ridge near Chattanooga, and under General Sherman in the Atlanta campaign leading to the capture of Atlanta, Georgia, march to the sea, capture of Savannah, Georgia, march through South and North Carolina, Virginia, and on to Washington, D. C., including the capture of Columbia, South Carolina; took part in the grand review at Washington, D. C., and received an honorable discharge. He made a very faithful soldier. After he was mustered out he returned to Cedar Falls, Iowa, and soon thereafter located at Ackley where he was employed by Mr. Burns in the grain and lumber business for two years, then he became a partner in the business. Two years later he and a Mr. Banks purchased this business from Mr. Burns, then Mr. Rath bought the interest of P. M. Banks, becoming sole owner and he continued the lumber and grain business on a large scale, with ever increasing success, for about twenty-five years or until 1892, his brother having been a partner with him during a large part of that time.

In 1881 Mr. Rath started a private bank in Ackley, known as the Exchange Bank, which was a success from the first under his able management. He and his brother, Andrew, continued the grain and lumber business at the same time until about 1892, during which period they became known as leading financiers and business men of Hardin county. About 1890 they sold their lumber interests to the Wilbur Lumber Company, and a year or two later the grain business was sold to this brother.

John Rath has taken an abiding interest in public affairs since he came to Hardin county and for a number of years he was a member of the city council, was mayor of Ackley for one term, a member of the county board of supervisors for three years and he was a member of the Ackley school board about twenty years. He has done as much, if not more, for the general development of this city than any one else, having contributed largely of his time and means for the general upbuilding of the place. Politically, he is loyal Republican. He has been in the county since pioneer days, coming here when there were no railroads in the state, none west of Freeport, Illinois. When at Dubuque he often saw the wagon teams starting for Sioux City, or up the river on the ice in the winter, hauling heavy loads of merchandise, machines, mill equipment, etc. It was in 1865 that he came to Ackley, and they were compelled to haul lumber from Arlington with which to build houses, until the railroad was finished to this city. The country was sparsely settled and little developed until the railroad came. Mr. Rath had the sagacity and rare foresight to see that this locality had a great future and he wisely decided to cast his lot here. He is by nature an organizer and a man of keen discernment, quick to see and grasp a situation, and, having started in life a poor boy in a foreign country, with no one to counsel or aid him, he is certainly deserving of the large success that has attended his efforts, for his dealings with his fellow men have ever been honest and straightforward.

Mr. Rath was married on October 5, 1865, to Elizabeth Moser, daughter of Benedict Moser, a highly respected family, and this union resulted in the birth of nine children, eight of whom are living, five sons and three daughters, one daughter dying when between three and four years of age. Those living are: W. T. S., generally known as "Sherman," who is in the bank with his father; John W. lives at Waterloo, where he is president of the Rath Packing Company; Charles E. is a missionary in the Philippines; Walter F. is foreman in an automobile factory in Chicago; Howard G. is an investment broker in Los Angeles, California; Amelia M. is living at home; Elizabeth, the widow of J. B. Berner, is residing in Los Angeles; Clara E. is with her parents in Ackley. These children have been given every advantage of education and they are all well situated in life and are highly respected wherever they are known, all reflecting the influence of the wholesome atmosphere in which they were reared.

Elkanah Reece, pp. 673-675

The Reece family has taken a prominent part in the history of Providence township, Hardin county, and their history has been given at length in the sketch of William Reece, the father of Elkanah Reece, who is living on the pioneer Reece farm in section 21, Providence township. Elkanah Reece was born in Yadkin county, North Carolina, on November 21, 1843, and was seven and one-half years old when his parents took the memorable overland trip to Hardin county, which is described in the sketch of William Reece. Elkanah Reece, though so young, still vividly remembers many incidents of this journey, so wonderful an event to him. His parents spent the first winter in a broken cabin near Bangor, and William Reece in 1852 pre-empted two hundred acres of land on section 21, Providence township, to which he brought his family in 1852, and there built a cabin. The early schools were poor and Elkanah Reece received but a meager schooling. He remained with his father clearing the land on the original farm until he was twenty-three, when he married, and settled on land in section 22, adjoining the home farm, on which he lived until 1879, when he returned to the old farm. In 1882 he old this farm and went to California, where he bought a farm and set it out in fruit. In 1907 he returned to Hardin county, and again bought the pioneer farm, where he now resides.

Elkanah Reece was first married to Rachel Hobson, the daughter of William and Sarah Hobson, who came in 1852 to Hardin county and settled in section 17, Providence township, and improved the farm, then in 1875 moved to Oregon and settled at Newburg, where they spent the remainder of their lives. William Hobson was the founder of the Friends church at Newburg and of the school known as Pacific College. The children of William and Sarah Hobson were Samuel, Rachel, Stephen, Mary, Jessie and Anna. Mrs. Rachel Reece was born on December 30, 1846, and died on March 2, 1890, aged forty-three years, two months and three days. She bore to Mr. Reece the following children: Alida, born October 1, 1868, who married John Sheldon; Leota, who was born on June 29, 1874, and married Morton Walton, of Providence township, who is deceased, to whom she bore two children, Ralph Walton and Glen Morton; Waldo H. married Inez Lotson and they have one child, Bernard Neal.

On May 14, 1891, Mr. Reece was again married to Asenath C. Baldwin, the daughter of Caleb and Matilda (Lindley) Baldwin. Her parents were natives of North Carolina, and in 1869 settled in section 21, Providence township, Hardin county, Iowa, then in 1880 moved to Providence village, where they lived some time. Her mother, who was born on November 4, 1822, died in 1882. Mr. Baldwin then married Sarah Hadley, the widow of Josephus Hadley, and went to California, where he, who was born on February 11, 1819, died on September 20, 1896, and where his wife later died. The children of Caleb and Matilda Baldwin were Asenath C., born on September 2, 1844; Martha, born on January 28, 1846, who married on March 25, 1869, George Williams, of Boise, Idaho; Samira, who was born on September 24, 1847, and died on November 6, 1847; Mary, born on April 2, 1849, who married Zachariah Morris on March 17, 1870; Caroline, who was born on February 28, 1851, and on April 4, 1878, married William D. Strang, of Providence township; Lindley M., born on March 17, 1853, who married Sarah Reece, on March 26, 1874, and lives in Whittier, California; Hadley J., born on October 12, 1854, who married Esther McConnell on November 11, 1875, and died on November 5, 1881; Horace, born on July 19, 1856, who, on November 29, 1877, married Mary Eliza Hunt, and after her death was married on December 25, 1902, to Anna E. Bailey; Albert, born on April 28, 1858, is single; Emily, born on March 26, 1865, married Elias N. Parisho on October 28, 1880, and lives in Providence township; Oscar was born on January 6, 1863, and married, on September 9, 1886, Juliaetta Allen, who died April 24, 1908, and is now a resident of Whittier, California, where he married Sarah Gidley, November 23, 1910; Naomi, born on November 2, 1864, married Thomas C. Parisho on August 20, 1884, and lives in Greenleaf, Idaho.

Elkanah Reece is a man who has been successful in all the meanings of the word, and gained a reputation among those who know him as a man of straight-forward, honest character. He has ever in the course of his own long life been true to the example set him by his own father of noble character, and now in his later days can look back on a life well spent, and useful to the world and helpful to this brother man.

William Reece, pp. 419-422

The Reece family, whose members are so well known in Hardin county, Iowa, all trace their descent to Abraham Reece, who was taken as a bound boy from Pennsylvania to Surry (now Yadkin) county, North Carolina, about the year 1755. He was one of the first settlers in that section, about three miles south of the Yadkin river, near the present site of the town of Boonville. He was married about 1870 [sic] to Mary Hough, and from this pair are descended the Hardin county branch of the Reece family. The name has come through many changes, being originally of Welsh origin.

To Abraham and Mary Reece were born eight sons and four daughters, namely: Daniel, Jemima, Eli, Levi, Abraham, Mary, Joel, Jesse, Keziah, Thomas, Sarah and John. Of these sons, the ones more generally mentioned are Levi, Joel, Thomas and John, although it may be that the descendants of the others are just as worthy. This review is concerned with the family of Levi.

Levi Reece married Sarah Shugart about 1796, and to them were born the following children: Mary, Daniel, Zachariah, Abraham, Katherine, Eli, Levi, Jesse, Sarah, Franklin, Miles, William and Keziah. Of these, Mary married a York and moved to Virginia, where she lived to advanced years. Daniel moved to Missouri, where he also lived to be very old. Zachariah, Eli and Jesse all went to Indiana about 1840, where each lived to be nearly ninety years old. Levi, William, and Keziah, who married Levi Southard, all went to Iowa in 1851, taking with them their father and mother, Levi and Sarah Reece, also William and Mary Dobbins, the father-in-law and mother-in-law of both Levi and William Reece, they having married sisters, Ruth and Mary Ann Dobbins. William Reece and Mary Ann Dobbins were married on September 5, 1839. About 1870 Abraham Reece also moved to Iowa. All these lived to be nearly eighty, and Levi saw ninety-four years. Miles went to Georgia, where his descendants still live and where he died at an advanced age. At present the Reeces seem to be more densley grouped about two centers, the original home in Yadkin county, North Carolina, and in Hardin county, Iowa, where Levi, William and Abraham settled and lived and died. These large families have continued to increase until they have "taken" a large section of the country in southern Hardin county, which is now called the "Reece Settlement."

The stories of pioneer life as related by those who went to Indiana and Iowa in an early day are most thrilling indeed. In making this entire trip of twelve hundred miles by wagon, not a single railroad was crossed. The journey was begun on April 24th and continued until June 24th, when they arrived at Salem, Iowa, where Friends had already settled. Here they rested a week, and then continued their journey as far as Richland, another settlement of Friends, where they remained six weeks. Again they took up their journey toward the north and west; where Marshalltown now stands a lone cabin was found on the bluff overlooking the river. Marietta, the first county seat of Marshall county, was being laid out on the day the emigrants passed that way.

This interesting company of composed of the following persons: William Reece and Mary Ann, his wife, their children, Martha, Keziah, Elkanah, Mary, Miles and Daniel; also Levi and Sarah Reece, the parents of William; William and Mary Dobbins, the parents of Mary Ann Reece, and their daughter, Martha, who later married B. I. Talbott; Levi Reece, Ruth, his wife, and the following children: Julia, Delancy, Sylvira, Lucinda, Sarah Ann, Mary, Rebecca, William and Sanford; William Dobbins, his wife Rebecca and the following children: Daniel, Levi, Hiram, Joshua and John; Levi Southard, wife Keziah, and children Nancy, Sarah Ann, William, Mary, Abraham, Emma, Caroline and Celia; J. J. Thornton and E. I. Reece, sons-in-law of Levi Reece , and William Baker, who later married and settled at Richland, Iowa.

Little did these people realize the privations and hardships that were before them; their log houses afforded but slight protection from the rigors of an Iowa winter. Clapboard roofs were very poor protection from the awful blizzards that came, driving the snow up under the boards until everything inside the house was covered by it. After the new homes were established, as a people, they took steps to provide for their religious well-being; in 1852 a "meeting" was established, the first meeting being held in the home of William Dobbins, northeast of where Honey Creek meeting house now stands; Jeremiah Grinnell, a minister, and Israel Negus, his companion, were present at this meeting, which was the organization of the first religious body in Hardin county. The religious gatherings of these people were times of great interest. At monthly or quarterly meeting times the people would come for miles and find a most hearty welcome and care and shelter for themselves and their animals.

William Reece, never too busy to attend "midweek meeting," also attended "quarterly meeting" at Bangor, with his family, making the trip with an ox team; here they met with acquaintances from a wide range of country.

The first land entered in Providence township was by William Reece in 1852, and lies near Honey Creek church. A few years later it became known that part of the land was numbered wrongly; a man had discovered this, started to Des Moines on horseback early one "fifthday" morning to get the land for himself. William knew of his going, but, true to his principles of life, he waited until after a midweek meeting, and then started on foot for Des Moines, after he had eaten his dinner, to correct the mistake, and get the proper numbers. All the afternoon and most all of the night he walked on, now wading a stream, again picking his way over some marshy place, and then out onto the broad prairie with its waving grasses. He reached Des Moines in the early morning, wondering which had won; entering the land office, he found that he was first; the mistake was quickly corrected and William, going out, met the man, coming into the office, who would have taken from him the land.

In September, 1852, the hand of the grim reaper, Death, came into the quiet settlement and four from the home of William Reece passed away, William Dobbins, on September 6th; Daniel Reece, the youngest son, on September 12th; Mary Dobbins, on September 26th, and Mary Reece, a daughter, on September 30th. The whole family were sick witht eh exception of the husband and one daughter, Martha; yet in those days of heavy burdens and deep bereavement they found an unfailing source of comfort in the Heavenly Father.

In 1854 they had their first school, conducted in a log house just west of Honey Creek cemetery. The first teacher was James Talbott, and a term was taught the next spring or summer by Susannah Bales, and William Hobson taught the winter term of 1855. Their milling was done sixty miles away at Linn Grove, and the first lumber for doors and tables was brought from Timber creek, forty miles away. Waterloo was the market for their hogs. It was years after they had made their settlement before the railroad reached Marshalltown, which then became their trading point.

Amid scenes such as these, William and Mary Ann Reece lived and reared their family -- simple, thrifty, frugal, honest, God-fearing people, who counted character and moral worth and intelligence a greater legacy than anything else they could bestow upon their children. When sickness and affliction came into the community, their hands were never too full to help minister; when suffering and need presented themselves, they shared what they had, that it might be relieved; for the erring they had words of counsel, for the tempted, words of encouragement. The afflictions of life which came to them were borne with patience and fortitude.

The last fourteen years of William Reece's life were spent in total blindness, yet through it all he was the same cheerful, energetic man as of yore. On September 23, 1895, we went peacefully to the one who said, "Come unto me and I will give you rest," his day's work well done. Thus with an affectionate farewell he passed from earthly scenes to scenes of glory, leaving behind the wife who had so faithfully walked by his side, sharing his joys and sorrows throughout their years of wedded life. During these years of lonely widowhood she has manifested her faith in God by kind words and loving ministrations to those about her; in her faithful attendance at church services and Sabbath school and in prayer and in testimony in the congregation of the people, and now, at the advanced age of ninety-five, is a living witness of God's power to keep those who trust him. Truly it may be said of her, "The hoary head is a crown of glory it it be found in the way of righteousness."

The children of William and Mary Ann Reece were Martha, who married Lycurgus Armstrong; Keziah, who married Zimri Wilson Lundy; Elkanah, whose sketch see; Mary, who died at the age of seven; Miles, who married Nettie Adams, and after her death Georgia Griffith; Daniel, who died aged one; Sarah, who married Lindley M. Baldwin; William S., who married Laura L. Painter; Ruth, who married Franklin Pierce Lewis; Eli, who married Elma Birdsall; and James Lindley, who was born on November 2, 1861, and married, on March 24, 1887, Effie L. Clampitt, who was born on November 25, 1866. To this marriage were born two children, Russell L., on October 11, 1888, and Agnes M., on February 13, 1899. James Lindley Reece is a man who has taken his full share in all the activities of the community in which he lives, and who, like all the descendants of William Reece, has lived a life in conformity with the teachings of that worthy man, and who highly esteems the memory of his father's character as the noblest heritage which he could receive.

He is one of the prominent farmers of Hardin county and the proprietor of the Brookside stock farm, of Scotch Short Horn cattle, stocked with a specially fie herd of this famous breed of cattle.

John D. Reed

The record of John D. Reed, one of the representative business men of Hardin county and a popular druggist at Eldora, is that of an enterprising gentleman who worthily upholds an honored family name and whose life has been very intimately associated with the general prosperity of his community during the most progressive period of its history, and he has always been found on the right side of questions looking to the development of his locality in any way. While he has been prominent in the business affairs of Eldora, he has also won an enviable reputation for honesty and straightforward dealings in all the relations of life.

Mr. Reed was born at Steamboat Rock, Iowa, June 2, 1868, and is the son of Jackson and Elizabeth (Ross) Reed. The mother was born in Canada, but her parents emigrated to that country from Scotland. The father of the subject was a native of Clermont, New Hampshire, where he was born in 1828. He came to Hardin county in 1853, but returned East and in 1857 he located at Steamboat Rock and has been a resident of Hardin county since. The parents had six children, all living: C. W. Reed, of Woodbine, Iowa; Mrs. Charles Marks, of Steamboat Rock, Iowa; Grant Reed, of Woodbine, Iowa; John D., the subject; Mrs. J. B. Stow, Jr., of Eldora; Chester, of Steamboat Rock. Three brothers are engaged in the drug business. Their mother died on March 4, 1895.

John D. Reed lived at Steamboat Rock until he was ten years of age, then the family moved three miles east of that town, over in Grundy county, and located on a farm, which they improved and where they lived about six years and on which the subject worked during the summer months. When sixteen years of age he attended school at Steamboat Rock. Deciding upon pharmacy as a vocation, he went to Des Moines before he was seventeen years old and found employment in a drug store, and he continued clerking until about 1902, during which time he improved every opportunity to advance himself in his chosen line. He then went to Portsmouth, Iowa, and bought a share in a drug store, which was conducted under the firm name of A. F. Porter & Company. He continued there for six years, when, his health failing, he returned to the farm, where he remained three years. Not being contented out of the drug business, as soon as he had regained his original vitality he went to Eldora, and on February 8, 1902, formed a partnership with George F. Smith, and they conducted a drug store on the north side of the court house square until January 21, 1910, when they dissolved partnership, since which time they have each conducted a store of their own, each continuing alone. They have enjoyed a very satisfactory business for years. Mr. Reed has a well arranged and neatly kept store, well stocked with a large and carefully selected line of drugs and drug sundries, and he enjoys a liberal trade with the surrounding country, for his reputation for fairness and courtesy has long been established here.

For two years Mr. Reed has been president of the Hardin County Fair Association, during which time he has discharged the duties devolving upon him in a most satisfactory manner. Politically, he is a Republican and is prominent in local affairs. He has held a number of local offices, always in a manner that reflected credit upon himself and satisfaction to the public. He has been councilman, overseer of the poor and filled other positions of trust and responsibility.

Mr. Reed was married in 1894 to Bertha Baker, who was born in Persia, Iowa, but she was living at Portsmouth, this state, when she was married. She received a good education and her family is highly respected. She is the daughter of Milton and Emma (Platt) Baker. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Reed, namely: Fern, aged fourteen, and Donald, now four years of age. Fraternally, Mr. Reed is a Royal Arch Mason and he also belongs to the Modern Woodmen.

William Isaiah Reep, pp. 486-487

An enumeration of those men of the present generation in Tipton township, Hardin county, who have won honor and success for themselves and at the same time have benefited the locality to which they belong, would be incomplete were there failure to make specific mention of William Isaiah Reep, who has sustained an enviable reputation in agricultural circles. Mr. Reep was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1846, the son of William B. and Jane (Titus) Reep, both natives of Pennsylvania, where they grew to maturity and married, Mr. Reep devoting his life to farming. In 1854 he moved with his family to Davenport, Iowa, and later to Rock Island county, Illinois, remaining there until about 1863, when he moved to LeClaire, Scott county, Iowa, and after remaining there three years moved to Chickasaw, this state, and bought a farm which he operated three years, then came to Hardin county, securing one hundred and sixty acres in section 3, Tipton township. Here he improved his place, established a good home and remained until his death, in 1883, hiw wife having preceded him to the grave in 1875. He was a Republican and active in politics. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. They were the parents of the following ten children: Lewis died of the measles in Arkansas in the early sixties while in the Union army; Henry lives at LeClaire, Iowa; Mary Ann is the widow of Isaac Barnhart, of Tipton township, this county; WIlliam Isaiah, of this review; Amos lives at Des Moines, Iowa; Sarah Jane lives in Tipton township, this county; Fannie married Joseph Wagner and they live in South Dakota; Lavina was the wife of Luke Taylor, both of whom are deceased; a son died in infancy; Hannah was the youngest child.

William I. Reep received his education in the rural schools and grew up on the home farm. As a boy he had to work hard during the crop seasons and walk two and a half miles to school during the brief winter months. He remained at home until his marriage, on April 10, 1867, to Margaret Jane Hall, of Wabash county, Indiana, the daughter of Joseph N. and Susan (Shoe) Hall, the father a native of Maryland and the mother of Ohio. Moving from Ohio to Wabash county, Indiana, they lived there several years, then, in 1863, went to Mitchell county, Iowa, locating on wild land near Osage, where they established a good home and in 1866 went to Chickasaw county, Iowa, and located near North Washington, later moving to Beloit, Kansas, where they got a claim and where Mrs. Hall died. In 1868 Mr. Hall came to Hardin county, Iowa, where he lived until his death in 1886, having been a very successful farmer. He was a Republican and he and his wife belonged to the United Brethren church. They were the parents of nine children, namely: Eli died of smallpox during the Civil war; Martha, who married James Simpson, is deceased; John is farming nearing Portland, Oregon; George is farming in Ellis township, this county; Nicholas is farming at Sidney, Nebraska; Margaret Jane, wife of Mr. Reep; Julia, who married John Smith, is deceased; Hannah is the widow of Asa Meeker, of Tipton township, this county; Sarah, who married James Rogers, is deceased.

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Reep, namely: Laura is the wife of Ora Axtell, of Ellis township, this county; Mary is the wife of Homer Clinton, of Seward county, North Dakota, and they had eight children, Eugene, Calvin, Millard, Rosetta, Morilla, George, Luc and one daughter deceased. William Reep, who is farming in Mitchell county, Iowa, married Mary Shrodes and they have four children. Belle Reep married John Wood, of Seard county, North Dakota, and they have one child, Maude; Jennie married Miner Riley, of Pleasant township, this county, and they had eight children, Ralph, Clarence, Ray, Calvin (deceased), Ida, Lucile, Leah, Grace.

About 1868 Mr. and Mrs. Reep located in Ellis township, Hardin county, where they remained one year, then moved to Tipton township, where they have since made their home. Mr. Reep owns sixty-eight acres in section 3. He pays special attention to raising blooded stock, short-horn cattle, Chester White and Duroc-Jersey Red hogs, also Morgan horses. He finds a very ready market for his excellent live stock.

Politically, Mr. Reep is a Republican and he has held some of the offices of his township. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church, of which has been head of the Bible class for ten years and is active in church work.

Carl Reinert, pp. 1024-1025

[bio not yet transcribed]

Abram Fletcher Repp, pp 842-844

Prominently connected with the history of Hardin county during the generation that is just past, the record of the late Abram Fletcher Repp is eminently worthy of permanent record. Greater fortunes have been accumulated by others in this favored section of the great commonwealth of Iowa, but few lives furnish a more striking example of the wise application of sound principles, safe conservatism and correct ideals than does his. There was nothing small or narrow in his composition, but on the contrary he took broad and liberal views of men and affairs and stood “four square to all the world,” a splendid example of well rounded manhood and a model worthy of imitation by those with careers and destinies yet to be achieved.

Mr. Repp was born at New Windsor, Maryland, September 30, 1851, and he was the son of William and Ann M. (Baile) Repp. He grew up on a farm in Maryland and when twenty years of age came to Manteno, Illinois, where he engaged in farm work about five years. He then moved to Sandwich, that state, where he continued the same occupation and lived there seven years. He moved to Iowa about 1880 and bought a farm four miles north of Iowa Falls and lived there one year, then bought a fine farm seven miles southeast of Iowa Falls, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres, where he continued general farming and stock raising in a successful manner until March, 1901, when he moved to Iowa Falls, where he spent the remainder of his days. After moving to his city he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres north of here. He was very successful in a business way and owned a modern and pleasant home.

Mr. Repp was married on February 17, 1875, to Isabelle Rogers, daughter of David Kendall Rogers and Margaret (Yerdon) Rogers, of Herkimer county, New York, from which also came David and Betsey Rogers, grandparents of Mrs. Repp. Margaret (Yerdon) Rogers was also a native of the state of New York. Mrs. Repp was born and reared at Sandwich, Illinois, to which place her parents came from Herkimer county, New York.

To Mr. and Mrs. Repp two sons were born, David William, born September 21, 1877, and Oliver Wendell, born June 24, 1881. The latter grew up on the home farm near Iowa Falls and lived there until 1900, when he moved into the city, where he was employed for one year in Fidler’s book store. Then he worked a year in the Iowa Falls Creamery, his next employment being with the J. M. Rinehart grocery store, where he remained until he secured employment with the Stewart Lumber Company’s yard, where he has been employed about eight years, rendering the utmost satisfaction to the company. He belongs to Alpine Lodge No. 7, Knights of Pythias, also is a member of the Iowa Falls Fire Company. He is secretary of the Fireman’s Accident and Insurance Company.

David W. Repp, mentioned above, is the efficient and popular manager of the Stewart Lumber Company, is married and has his own home. His sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Both these sons are excellent businessmen and highly respected in business and social circles.

The death of Abram F. Repp, of this review, occurred in July, 1909. He [sp] always manifested a due interest in public life and served his community as park commissioner of Iowa Falls, and, taking a great deal of pride in the parks, the city owes much to him for the present beautiful park system. He remained in this capacity until his death. He was for years a director of the Hardin County Fair Association, and much of its success was due to his efforts.

Mrs. Repp, a woman who enjoys the esteem of a wide circle of friends, is living with her sons in Iowa Falls. Mr. Repp was well known, his good nature and genial disposition giving him a warm place in everybody’s heart and he was popular throughout the county. No man was more just and honest in his dealings than he, and his entire career was characterized by uprightness and usefulness.

David W. Repp, pp 772-773

Among the progressive young business men of Iowa Falls, identified with important industrial enterprises, and one whose technical training and executive ability have enabled him to achieve noteworthy success as the practical manager of one of the leading lumber firms of Hardin county, is David W. Repp. A man of intelligent ideas and wide experience, his interests have been so interwoven with the establishment with which he is identified as to make the history of the one practically the history of the other during the past few years, and as an expert in the line of endeavor to which his energies and talents have been devoted he has an honorable and much more than local reputation.

Mr. Repp was born in 1877 near Sandwich, DeKalb county, Illinois, and he is the son of Abram Fletcher and Isabelle (Rogers) Repp, an excellent old Hardin county family, a complete sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.

The boyhood of this subject was spent on his father’s farm, which he worked during the crop seasons and attended the local schools in the winter time. When he reached manhood he took a position in Butler’s End-Gate Factory at Iowa Falls, where he was employed a year and a half. He then took a position in the lumber yard of Hoag & Griffith, of this city, where he showed such aptitude that a year later, when the business was taken over by the Stewart Lumber Company, the new owners placed Mr. Repp at its head as manager, which position he still holds, having given the firm the utmost satisfaction at all times and proving himself to be a business man of rare acumen and energy.

Mr. Repp has take some interest in public affairs of his home city, and has held official positions in the Iowa Falls Fire Company, of which he is a member. Fraternally, he belongs to Alpine Lodge No. 7, Knights of Pythias, in which he has served as inner guard. Politically, he is a Republican.

On September 28, 1909, Mr. Repp was united in marriage with Clara Boward, daughter of Martin L. and Mary (Dermody) Boward. Mrs. Repp was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia, where she grew to womanhood and was educated. Her father is deceased, but her mother is living; she makes her home at Bedington, near Martinsburg. Mrs. Repp came to Iowa Falls in 1901, with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Dillon, of this city. They were in Virginia on a visit in that year and she accompanied them home.

One child, Mary, a bright-eyed daughter, graces the home of Mr. and Mrs. Repp, her bith having occurred in November, 1910. Personally, Mr. Repp is an obliging, whole-souled, unobtrusive gentleman who inspires the good will and esteem of all with whom he comes into contact.

Erasmus A. Rhodes, pp. 736-738

There are no more painstaking and scientific farmers in Hardin county than Erasmus A. Rhodes, of Providence township, as a look over his attractive and well cultivated farm would readily indicate, and his long years of close application have been appropriately rewarded. Mr. Rhodes was born in Lincoln county, Ohio, March 5, 1850, and he is the son of Peachy H. and Elizabeth (Krouse) Rhodes, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Licking county, Ohio. The paternal grandfather was a native of Virginia and the maternal grandfather was a native of Pennsylvania. They both died in the East. The father of the subject grew up in Virginia and was educated there. He married in Licking county, Ohio, and was a pioneer there. He obtained wild land which he improved and on which he established a good home, giving especial attention to stock raising. He and his family came to Vinton, Iowa, in 1856 and later to Steamboat Rock, this state, where they bought a farm. In 1862 he moved to Georgetown, Colorado, having driven through with an ox team, and while there he enlisted for service in the Union army, participating in several battles with the Indians. His wife died in 1865, and he later came back to Iowa, locating in Hardin county, where he farmed for a short time, then returned to Colorado, where he lived several years, then returned to Iowa and lived with his children, dying in Eldora December 20, 1889. While living in Colorado he devoted his attention to mining and was very successful, but was swindled out of a great deal of his holdings. He was a member of the Methodist church and he joined the Masons in Ohio. He was thrice married, his second wife being a Mrs. Hoover. His third wife was Mrs. Mary Smith, of Steamboat Rock, Iowa. Twelve children were born of his first union and one by his third wife, namely: Catherine is living in Nebraska; Sarah; Evaline; Lydia A. is deceased; Erasmus A., of this review; John, of Des Moines, Iowa; Jennie; Erastus, deceased; George, Ella, Esma, Flora and Peachy, of Hardin county.

Erasmus A. Rhodes was educated in the home schools and he started in life for himself at the age of nineteen, working out five years. He followed farming in Sherman township, this county, two years, then farmed in Eldora township two years, then he bought eighty acres in section 21, Providence township.

On March 18, 1874, Mr. Rhodes married Emeline E. Walton, of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Ezekiel and Catherine (Waggle) Walton, natives of Pennsylvania. In 1852 this family moved to LaSalle county, Illinois, and in 1866 to Pleasant township, Hardin county, Iowa, where they spent the balance of their lives on a farm, both dying there. Their family consisted of twelve children, namely: Thomas, Nancy, John, Sarah J., all deceased; Martha lives at Buffalo Center, Iowa; William and Wilson are both deceased; Emeline E., wife of Mr. Rhodes; Almina and Nancy are both deceased.

The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rhoades: Edith married Oliver Reece, of Providence township, this county, and they have two children; Frank, who is farming in Grant township, this county, married Ruth Andrews and they have five children; Harley, who married Maggie Reed, is farming in Providence township; Myrtle married A. Rash and they live in Providence township; Floyd, who married Nellie Mills, is farming on the home place.

In 1878 Erasmus A. Rhodes located in Providence township, this county, on the farm which he still owns and operated and on which he placed many valuable and extensive improvement and which he has brought up to a high state of cultivation. He has a pleasant and substantial home and convenient outbuildings. His place consists of two hundred and forty acres, and in connection with general farming he raises an excellent grade of live stock, including draft horses. He has always been a farmer and has given his exclusive attention to this line of endeavor, with the result that he has met with success all along the line, and, having been a hard worker all his life, he deserves it, having started out for himself with no capital and no one to aid him.

Politically, Mr. Rhodes is a Prohibitionist. He has held many of the township offices, always to his credit and to the satisfaction of all concerned, for he has ever taken an abiding interest in the upbuilding of his community and county. He and his wife are worthy members of the Friends church.

Frank Wilson Rhodes, pp. 543-544

Among the young farmers of Grant township, Hardin county, to whom the future seems to hold a great deal in store is Frank Wilson Rhodes, one of the honored native sons of the county and the representative of an honored early family, so that the name he bears has been a very familiar one in this vicinity for many decades. It has always stood for progressive ideas, wholesome living and patriotism, and while the life of the immediate subject has been practically without incident of an unusual nature, it has shown that steady, consecutive endeavor, coupled with an honesty of purpose, will accomplish large results in the end.

Mr. Rhodes was born on February 5, 1877, a short distance west of Eldora, this county. He is the son of Asbury and Emeline (Walton) Rhodes, now living in their pleasant home in the town of Providence. They have a complete sketch in another part of this work.

When he was two years of age, the parents of Frank W. Rhodes moved to the southwestern part of Providence township where the father bought a farm and there established the family home. There the son, Frank W., grew to maturity, assisted in developing the place and attended the neighboring schools in the winter time, remaining at home until he was married in March, 1899, to Ruth Andrews, daughter of S. D. Andrews, of Hubbard, a sketch of whom is to be found on another page of this work.

After his marriage Mr. Rhodes farmed for two years on his father's farm and one year in Story county; then, in 1902, he bought the farm where he now lives in the southeastern part of Grant township, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, which he has kept well cultivated and is improving from year to year. He has a good farm and a very comfortable home.

Mr. Rhodes and wife have five children, namely: Irene Myrtle, Vern Wilson, Wayne Asbury, Roy Dexter, Bernice Frankie. This family belongs to the Friends church.

Benjamin I. Ridout, pp. 962-963

Briefly, but we hope correctly, the biographer essays to set forth in the following paragraphs the salient facts in the life of Benjamin I. Ridout, one of the leading farmers and stock men of Ellis township, Hardin county. Public-spirited and enterprising, he gives his support to all objects calculated to advance the moral, intellectual and material welfare of the county and is therefore looked upon as one of its most worthy and substantial citizens.

Mr. Ridout was born in Black Hawk county, Iowa, July 2, 1859. He is the son of Elmer and Hattie (Boots) Ridout, the father of Scotch-Irish stock and a native of Ohio. The Boots family is of German origin and Mrs. Ridout was born in Indiana. Elmer Ridout grew to maturity in Ohio, was educated in the public schools there and when a young man went to Black Hawk county, Iowa, and was one of the pioneers there, settling eighteen miles east of Waterloo, where he secured a large tract of valuable land. In 1866 they went to Jasper county, Iowa, and got land there, where they made their home until 1904, then moved to Missouri. The elder Ridout is now living retired; his wife died in 1894. They were the parents of eight children, all living but one. Benjamin I. Ridout was the only one of the family to come to Hardin county except a sister who lived here eighteen years, but is now living in Oregon. He received a limited education in the common schools of Jasper county and he remained at home, assisting with the general work about the farm until he was twenty years of age, then moved to Tipton township, Hardin county, where he rented land for several years and thereby got a good start, buying his present fine farm in Ellis township in 1892; this place, formerly known as the Allen Caraway farm, lives near Cottage. Here he as prospered by hard work and good management and now owns in all two hundred and forty acres, all well improved and in an excellent state of cultivation. He has a substantial and pleasant home and everything about his place denotes good management and thrift.

On November 27, 1881, Mr. Ridout was united in marriage with Experience M. Benshoof, of Pennsylvania, a daughter of Samuel Benshoof, who came to Scott county, Iowa, and later to Hardin county, settled in Ellis township, where he secured a good farm; he was a blacksmith by trade. He and his wife are now both deceased; they were highly respected in their neighborhood.

Eight children, all still living, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ridout, namely: Oliver lives in Alden township, this county; Elmer also lives in Alden township; George L. lives in Buckeye township; Albert is at home; Pearl, Marlyn and Bert are also at home. The wife and mother passed to her rest on July 10, 1904. She was a good woman and had a host of friends wherever she was known.

For many years the subject has bought, fed and sold cattle on a rather extensive scale; he makes a specialty of raising Hereford and short-horn cattle, Percheron horses, Duroc-Jersey Red hogs, in connection with general farming. he is eminently deserving of the large success that has attended his efforts, having started in life a poor boy and worked himself up to the front of the enterprising men of his community. He is a Democrat, but has never aspired to public office. He belongs to the Masonic lodge at Hubbard, Iowa, also the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 454, at that place.

Frank G. Riley, pp. 957-959

One of the worthy native sons of Ellis township, Hardin county, who, realizing that better opportunities existed for him right here at home than anywhere else, has been contented to spend his life here, is Frank G. RIley, progressive agriculturist and stock raiser, -- in short, he grew up with the country and has aided in any manner possible in its development, thus benefiting himself and the community in general.

Mr. Riley was born here on December 25 (Christmas Day), 1866, and he is the son of John Riley, who was born November 18, 1826, in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, being the son of Henry and Mary (Cline) Riley, the former born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and the latter in Mercer county, he of Welsh stock and she of English and German descent. Henry Riley grew up in the city of Pittsburg and when a young man went to Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where he purchased heavily timbered land where he cleared and on which he made a home. Later in life he moved to Lafayette county, Wisconsin, where he and his wife spent their last days. He devoted his life to farming. Politically, he was a Whig, but never aspired to public life. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he was a fine type of the honest, rugged pioneer. There were six children in his family, namely: Joseph is a retired farmer of Holt county, Nebraska; John; Jacob is farming in Lafayette county, Wisconsin; Sarah and Cossett were twins, the former being now deceased, the latter being a blacksmith in Edwards county, South Dakota; Mary, now Mrs. Reece Malott, lives in Butler county, Iowa.

John Riley, father of the subject, attended the old-time subscription school taught in a log house, equipped with puncheon seats, greased paper for window-panes, etc. He lived at home until he was twenty years of age. He went by steamer to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, thence down the Ohio river and up the Mississippi river to Galena, Illinois, thence to Lafayette county, Wisconsin, to the town of Fayette. He took a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, which he later sold, then located in Iowa county, Wisconsin, and in 1869 he came to Hardin county, Iowa, locating in Ellis township, purchasing eight acres in section 27, which he later traded for one hundred and sixty acres in section 26. While living in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, he was married to Phredima Rawdon, a native of Ohio, the daughter of Stephen and Levina (Adams) Rawdon, natives of Vermont and pioneers of Lafayette county, Wisconsin, where they spent the last years of their lives. Mr. Rawdon was a carpenter by trade, also followed farming. They were the parents of twelve children. Eight children, born to Mr. and Mrs. John Riley, grew to maturity, namely: Henry, who married Jane Percival, is farming near Mitchell, South Dakota, has seven children; Albert, of Medelia, Minnesota, married Jane Benshoof and they have eight children; Ezra J., who is farming at Bowden, South Dakota, married Sarah Anderson and they have four children; Preston W., who is farming in Ellis township, this county, married Rhoda Carr and they have fou children; Ada, now deceased, married J. J. Allen and theyhave five children; Frank G., of this review; Martha J. married Lee Van Patter, a merchant of Glen Flora, Wisconsin, and they have five children; Minnie is living at home.

Frank G. RIley, of this review, received his education in the common schools and he lived at home, assisting with the general work about the place until he was twenty-one years of age. He was married on December 8, 1893, to Sophia Canham, of Sangamon county, Illinois, her birth having occurred near Springfield; she was the daughter of George and Susan (Layton) Canham, both born in Cambridgeshire, England, where they grew to maturity, were educated and married, subsequently emigrating to America and settled in Illinois. In 1885 they came to Hardin county, Iowa, and located in Ellis township, buying one hundred and sixty acres in section 14, and here they became well established and spent the rest of their lives, the father dying on April 28, 1909, and the mother on July 1, 1901, aged eighty and seventy-five respectively. Mr. Canham devoted his life to farming. He was a member of the Episcopal church. There were seven children in his family, namely: John is farming in Sangamon county, Illinois; George, also of Sangamon county, Illinois; David L. is a carpenter at Iowa Falls, Iowa; James H. is farming in Sangamon county, Illinois; Charles H. Lives at Iowa Falls, Iowa; William E. is farming on the old home place in Ellis township, this county; Sophia, wife of Mr. Riley, of this review.

Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Riley, namely: Harold G., born July 24, 1896; Esther, born November 17, 1901; Clyde, born August 17, 1903.

Mr. Riley started in life for himself when twenty-one years of age and, with little outside assistance, he has been very successful and is now well establishe, being one of the energetic and substantial general farmers and stock men of his township. He moved to his present farm in 1907. It is known as the Henry Riley place and is located in section 26, Ellis township, and it consists of one hundred and sixty acres. The year he took possession he erected a good, cozy dwelling and convenient barn and outbuildings, besides making other extensive improvements on the place. He makes a specialty of raising short-horn cattle, Duroc-Jersey Red hogs and draft horses.

Politically, Mr. RIley is a Republican and he has very acceptably served in several local offices, having been a member of the school board ten years and trustee of his township for one term. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Hubbard, and the Methodist Episcopal Lincoln church of Ellis township.

Preston W. Riley, pp. 581-583

The name of Preston W. Riley is too well known in the northern part of Hardin county, in fact throughout this locality, to need an introduction here, for he has long been regarded as one of the leading farmers and one of the influential citizens of Ellis township and his life has been such in every respect as to command him most highly.

Mr. Riley is a native of the Badger state, his birth having occurred in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, October 23, 1857. He is the son of John Riley and wife, a complete sketch of whom will be found on another page of this work. Preston W. Riley was educated in the common schools of Ellis township, Hardin county, Iowa, whither he had come with his parents when a child, and he remained with them until he was twenty-seven years of age. But before that time he had purchased eighty acres in section 21, Ellis township. He was married on March 22, 1887, to Rhoda E. Carr, who was born in Mercer county, Illinois, the daughter of William Carr, who was born in November, 1835, in Yorkshire, England. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Carr; the latter died in England and the former came to America in 1841 and located in Mercer county, Illinois, where he lived until his death. Five children came to America with him, but all are now deceased.

William Carr had little chance to attend school. He lived with his father until he was married, on April 13, 1861, to Lydia Ellen Welsh, of Wayne county, Indiana, the daughter of Henry and Rebecca (Woodard) Welsh, the father a native of South Carolina and the mother of Tennessee. They went to Indiana as children, grew up and married there. He was a farmer and a mason by trade. They located in Mercer county, Illinois, about 1855, and there his death occurred, and her death occurred in Hardin county, Iowa. They were the parents of twelve children. Those living are: Wiley, who lices in Kansas; James, Illinois; Amanda, in Oklahoma; Lydia Ellen, wife of William Carr, and living in Barnesville, Minnesota.

In the fall of 1862 William Carr enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, at New Boston, Illinois, and was with the Army of the Cumberland, serving gallantly until the close of the war. After the close of the struggle he returned to Illinois and lived five years in Mercer county, then went to Neosho county, Kansas, and later returned to Mercer county, Illinois. There they spent five years, after which he brought his family to Hardin county, Iowa, and located on four hundred acres of land in Ellis township, which he improved and became one of the leading farmers of this part of the county. He went to Barnesville, Minnesota, where he purchased six hundred and forty acres, which he later sold and for many years he lived retired during the latter part of his life, his death occurring on June 30, 1910, at an advanced age. He had been very successful in a financial way and was a good and useful man, whom everybody held in high esteem. He was a Republican and he and his wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. His widow is still living in Minnesota. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are living, namely: William is a farmer and hotel keeper at Baker, Minnesota; Kate lives with her mother; Rhoda E., wife of Mr. Riley, of this review; Harvey is farming at Baker, Minnesota; Aggie is the wife of David Canham, of Iowa Falls; Stephen is also farming at Baker, Minnesota; Grace married Charles Stewart, of Zelanda, Canada; Sanford and Eva are deceased.

Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Riley, namely: Glen W., born June 24, 1889; Albert L., born October 6, 1890; Flossie E., born September 23, 1896; Floyd R., born April 5, 1903.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Riley located on their present farm. He first got eighty acres in section 26, in 1898, then added another eighty and in 1909 he bought his father's old home place of one hundred and sixty acres, being now the ownder of three hundred and twenty acres of as valuable and well improved land as the county can boast, it being in a high state of cultivation. Mr. Riley has proven himself a scientific and modern agriculturist and an excellent judge of live stock. The place was not much improved whenhe took possession, but he went to work with a will and succeeded by persistent application, good management and honest dealings with his fellow men. He built his home in 1901 and his barn in 1899. He has a beautiful residence and substantial outbuildings, and everything about his place denotes thrift, good taste and the exercise of good judgment. Mr. and Mrs. Riley spent one season at Scotts Mills, Oregon. He makes a specialty of short horn cattle, also raises Norman grade horses and Chester White hogs. He has devoted is active life to farming and has succeeded above the average tiller of the soil.

Mr. Riley has served several years as school director. He votes the Prohibition ticket. His wife is a member of the Methodist church in Ellis township, and Mr. Riley is a member of the Friends church. They are well known and highly respected throughout the county.

Christopher Risse, pp. 1000-1002

[bio not yet transcribed]

The Robertson Family, pp. 785-787

No family of a past or present generation in Hardin county is more deserving of specific mention than the Robertsons, for they have played well their roles in the drama of civilization here, always standing ready to do their full share in promoting all enterprises having as their object the general good along material, moral and civic lines.

The family is of hardy Scotch ancestry. George Robertson, Sr., the first to come to this country, was born in Scotland March 16, 1822, his parents, James and Isabella Robertson, remaining in their native country, both reaching a ripe old age, the father nearly attaining the century mark. His grandmother lived to be over one hundred years of age. In 1843 George Robertson, Sr., married Mary Moncor, and was subsequently engaged in contracting and building railroads, improving rivers, etc. He emigrated to the United States in 1865 and after traveling over a considerable portion of the northwest, located in Jackson township.

George Robertson, Jr., was born in Perthshire, Scotland, July 16, 1862, the son of George, Sr., and Mary (Moncor) Robertson, both also natives of Perthshire. Including George, Jr., there were nine children in this family, seven born in Scotland, the two youngest having been born in America, namely: Agnes, Annie, James, Lizzie, Kate, George, Jennie, John and Maude.

In May, 1866, the family emigrated from the land of heather and bluebell and located in Jackson township, Hardin county, Iowa, and bought a farm in section 6 from a Mr. Pyle who had entered the land from the government, and the family home was maintained in Jackson township many years. When they came here the country was a wild, unbroken prairie, the only road being the stage road and it was not very near. It ran from Eldora to Iowa Falls. In the latter place there were still many stumps in the main street. They saw the town and country develop into a thriving community. The Robertsons got their first land for six dollars per acre, which is now worth one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre. They bought one hundred and sixty acres, to which they added more land from time to time as they prospered, continuing to buy land until they owned nearly twelve hundred acres before they sold any.

The elder Robertson's children married as follows: Agnes married Duncan McKay; they live in St. Louis and have two daughters and one son, Kate, Agnes and Duncan. James married Ella Webb and lives at Simpson, Mitchell county, Kansas, where he owns about three thousand acres of land; they have four children, George, Viola, Charley and Beatrice. Lizzie married Levi Roe in Colorado, but they now live in Rogers county, Oklahoma, on a farm which they own, and they had three children, Scott, George and Agnes, the daughter dying at eight years of age, and George lives in Iowa Falls. Kate married Lane James Thomas, a live stock commission merchant on St. Paul, Minnesota. George is unmarried Effie Rankin and lives in Iowa Falls; they have one daughter, Wilma, now nine years old; he owns a farm of four hundred acres in Jackson township. Maud married WIlliam Pearce, a farmer of Jackson township, and they have two children, Clifford and Harry.

About 1888 George Robertson, Sr., the head of the family, retired from active life and turned the management of his farms over to his sons, who carried forward on an extensive scale the work he had inaugurated. His wife was called to her rest in September, 1897. In January, 1906, the father, George and Jennie Robertson and George Roe moved to a pleasant and beautiful home in Iowa Falls, the house overlooking the Rock run at the east end of Washington avenue. In July of that year Jennie and Annie bought a farm of one hundred and seventy-three acres in Ellis township, which was known as the Thomas Knapp estate, and there the family moved and made it their home until February, 1911, when the father, George, Jennie and George Roe moved back to the home at Iowa Falls, where they now reside.

George Robertson, Sr., and his son, George, have both been prominent in political life and public matters, assisting in the good roads movement, the educational development, etc. Nearly all the family are Presbyterians, and they helped build the church at Owasa. George Roe belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Iowa Falls.

When the family first came here wolves, game and fish were abundant. They started in on a small scale, worked hard, raised considerable stock from year to year and advanced from humble to affluent circumstances in due course of time. They have established reputations for industry, steady and commendable habits, and as reliable and generous neighbors. In the early days the Robertsons raised great numbers of cattle and grazed them on the abundant wild grass, also raised lots of hogs, dealing far more extensively in live stock than their neighbors. Indians were camped along the river for many years after this family came here. They bought sugar from the Indians and traded meat to them, the red men being fond of pork. Mrs. Robertson's life was doubtless shortened by the fact that her lungs became weakened by inhaling smoke while fighting a prairie fire. The elder Robertson can relate many interesting stories of life and conditions here in the pioneer days. He is a fine old gentleman whom it is a pleasure to meet.

William H. Rodwell, pp. 669-670

A worthy pioneer of Hardin county is William H. Rodwell, who, after a long life of labor and usefulness, is living retired in a cozy home in the village of Union, having come to us from the old Tar state in the early days and played well his part in developing the newer Hawkeye country, winning material success and the esteem of a wide circle of friends. He has always been known as a man of strong convictions, fearless in defense of what he believes to be right, and his name has long been a synonym for honesty in his dealings with his fellow men. His life has been singularly free from faults, and by reason of his genial manner he ranks with the popular and successful citizens of the township where he has so long maintained his residence.

Mr. Rodwell was born in Orange county, North Carolina, in September, 1832. He is the son of William and Margaret (Potts) Rodwell, the father a native of Warren county, North Carolina, and the mother of Virginia. The Rodwell family was of Scotch descent and was always noted for its sterling virtues. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. William Rodwell: William H., of this review; Mary, Elizabeth, Anna and one died in infancy.

William H. Rodwell received a limited education in the public schools of his native state. When sixteen years of age he moved to Yadkin county, North Carolina, and in 1869 made the long overland journey to Bangor, Iowa, and in 1872 located in the village of Union, Hardin county. Thus for a period of nearly forty years he has been known here and actively identified with the growth of this community. He followed various clerkships creditably and successfully until he retired in 1891.

Mr. Rodwell was married in 1857 to Martha Williams, who was born in Yadkin county, North Carolina, the daughter of C. W. and Ann (Johnson) Williams, one of the honored old families of that section of the state. The Williams family was of Scotch descent and the Johnsons were of English extraction.

Mrs. George Hauser, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Rodwell.

William Harvey Rowen, pp. 576-578

The gentleman whose life is here reviewed is one of the able and well known farmers and stock raisers of Union township, Hardin county, Iowa, who owns an excellent farm on section 18. He was born on August 30, 1860, in section 16, Union township, a son of Cyrus and Amanda (Groves) Rowen. Cyrus Rowen was a native of Indiana, and was an early settler of Union township, Hardin county. He was among the first in Union township to build a frame house, for which he hewed the timber from the native oak and dressed it by hand. He was a hard-working man, whom every one could call a friend. His home was used in turn as a tavern for the travellers of that day, as a school house, as a church, and as a court house for the early trials. William H. Rowen's mother died in 1862, aged forty-one, when William was but two years old. She was buried in the Sheppard cemetery. Her children were Direxy, deceased, who married Philip Cox, of Marshall county, Iowa; Albert L., Hiram, Cyrus Burton and William Harvey, all of Union township.

After the death of his first wife, Cyrus Rowen married Hannah Dingle, and William lived with them until he was eight years old, when he went to live with his sister, and remained with her until he was eighteen, when he started out for himself and went to Nebraska. He stayed in Nebraska for two years, then returned to Hardin county, and in 1882 purchased his first farm, in section 18, Union township, where he now resides. This farm is very fertile and well improved, and on it he raises the best of grain and stock, and has found his intelligently applied labor very profitable.

In February, 1882, William H. Rowen was married to Isabella Reed, the daughter of James and Isabella (Hartinger) Reed. James Reed was the son of Andrew Reed, who died in Ohio many years ago. James was born in Pennsylvania on May 30, 1819, and died on May 14, 1900. In 1844 he married Isabella Hartinger, the daughter of John and Susan Hartinger, who was born on July 12, 1826, and died on December 24, 1900. She was a native of Ohio and there the couple were married. In 1853 James Reed drove with his wife and two children from Ohio to Hardin county, Iowa, and after the hardships of the trip located in section 17, Union township, where he improved his farm, which became one of the best in that district and where he and his wife died.

They are buried in Xenia cemetery at Secor. James Reed enlisted in Company F, Thirty-second Iowa Infantry, in 1862, and served through the war, being mustered out at Clinton, Iowa. The children of James and Isabella Reed, the two oldest of whom were born in Ohio, are: John W., born on April 15, 1845, who married Mary J. Rickard, and is now in California; Catharine, born on May 6, 1847, now living with her sister in Union township; Susan J., born on June 16, 1849, who married D. J. Wilcox, both of whom are deceased, and are buried in Sheppard cemetery; Mary Ellen, who was born on December 27, 1852, and married John W. Patton of California; Margaret, who was born on July 22, 1855, married C. A. Munroe, and lives in Union township, Hardin county; Elizabeth, born on February 13, 1858, married Hiram Rowen, of Union township; Martha, born on September 24, 1861, is the wife of William H. Rowen; James F., who was born on May 5, 1865, married Minnie Penn, and lives in Union township; William H., born on January 5, 1869, single and making his home with the subject of this sketch.

To Mr. and Mrs. William H. Rowen have been born the following children: Arminta Josephine, born on March 4, 1883, who married Roy Wilson, living in Providence township, Hardin county, Iowa; Clyde W., born on June 22, 1885, now at home, married Josephine Lockard; Ross B., born on January 4, 1894, now at home.

In politics Mr. Rowen is a Republican, and he has been honored by his neighbors with the office of township trustee, and has held other local offices. Mr. Rowen has been a director in the Hardin County Agricultural Society for nine years, and has been very active in the interests of the society. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen; in religion a member of the Christian church of Union. He is a gentleman of strong character and courteous demeanor, in whose company one cannot long remain without learning to respect him, and is esteemed by all who know him.

John Rumper, pp. 992-996

It is in the tendency of man, however sincere, to exalt the importance of their own callings and to be unconsciously influenced by the pursuits, activities, studies and tastes of their own lives. But they can often be pardoned for this, especially if their success has been gained through persistently following agricultural pursuits, to which John Rumper, of the village of Radcliffe, Hardin county, has devoted his life with the result that he is today regarded as one of the leading farmers and stock men in Sherman township, and, as might naturally be expected, he is an enthusiastic advocate of modern, scientific tilling of the soil, and those of younger years engaged in this vocation would make no mistake by following his example.

Mr. Rumper was born March 6, 1843, in Asendorf Hoya, Hanover, Germany, and he is the son of Henry and Mary (Holthaus) Rumper, both natives of the above named place; they spent there entire lives in the Fatherland, engaged in farm work. As far back as the subject can trace his genealogy his people lived on the same farm in Germany. His paternal grandparents were Henry and Margaretta (Holthaus) Rumper. The parents were members of the Reformed Lutheran church. The following five children in their family grew to maturity: Margaret, who lived in Radcliffe, this county, is deceased, as are also Richard and Henry; Dora lives in Germany; John, of this review.

John Rumper was educated in Germany and is self-learned in English. When twenty-six years old, in 1870, he emigrated to America and located in Mason county, Illinois, where he worked three years, then , in 1873, he stands. He purchased the southeast quarter of section 29 on which he built a house sixteen by twenty-four feet, on the east eighty.

On August 28, 1870, Mr. Rumper was united in marriage with Minnie Kullenkamp, of Nienburg, Germany, the daughter of Richard and Maggie (Tierman) Kullenkamp, both natives of the above named place. There the parents spent their lives engaged in farming, the father being a breeder of fine horses. He and his wife are both now deceased. They were the parents of six children, namely: Sophia, Mary, Maggie, Richard, Minnie (who married Mr. Rumper) and Dora. All are deceased but the subject's wife.

The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rumper: Ella, who married William Stukenberg, of Radcliffe, Iowa, has two children, Wayen and Vernie. Samuel W., formerly a merchant, is now farming near Radcliffe, Iowa; he married Eva Price and they have two children, Raymond and Ethel. Amanda married Newton E. Smith, agent for the Chicago & Northwestern railroad at Radcliffe. Lulu is at home. These children were educated in the home schools. Lulu also went to school at Cedar Falls, Iowa, and for some time she has engaged successfully in teaching, having taught one term in Concord township, five terms in district No. 7, five terms in district No. 8, and during the past three years she has taught in the fifth and sixth grades in the Radcliffe village schools.

In 1870 Mr. Rumper bought the land where his home now stands and in 1873 he built his first house and in 1874 another. In 1909 he built his splendid, modern eight-roomed home, around which is a beautiful lawn, on which he set out the shade trees and shrubbery. This was eight years before the village of Radcliffe was laid out. In 1881 the Chicago & Northwestern railroad was built through this locality and Mr. Rumper gave the land for the depot, yards, four blocks and the right of way. He helped lay out the village and he has done much for the same every since it was started. He has been very successful in a business way and is one of the substantial men of this part of the county. He is the owner of six hundred and forty acres of valuable land in Sherman township. It is well improved and very productive and is most desirably located. He has one hundred and sixty acresw of good land also in Buckeye township. For several years he and his son engaged in the mercantile business in Radcliffe and built up a very satisfactory patronage. He has always been an admirer of good stock and has raised fine Clydesdale and Norman horses, also mixed stock and full-blood Poland-China hogs. He has not been actively engaged in business since 1890, having since merely looked after his farming interests. Although starting out with nothing and having had no assistance, he has met with an unusually large degree of success.

Mr. Rumper is a Republican and he has held several township offices, always in a satisfaactory manner. He is a worthy member of the Evangelical church at Radcliffe, having held various offices in the same. He is well known and enjoys the good will and confidence of a wide circle of friends.

Charles O. Ryan, pp. 866-868

[bio not yet transcribed]

Hardin County >> 1911 Index

Past and Present of Hardin County, Iowa
ed. by William J. Moir. Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen, 1911.

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Hardin County >> 1911 Index

Past and Present of Hardin County, Iowa ed. by William J. Moir. Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen, 1911.

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Past and Present of Hardin County, Iowa
ed. by William J. Moir. Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen, 1911.