|
Jasper County
>> 1894 Index Portrait
and Biographical Records of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa R Unless noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton. AUGUST RASMUS is one Of the respected and retired residents of Clay Township, Grundy County. His birth occurred June 26, 1840, in Oldenburg, Germany. He was a son of Gerhard F. and Mary A. (Meyer) Rasmus, who lived and died in their native country. Our subject sailed for tbe United States in 1861, on the vessel "Orpheus," and was eight weeks on the briny deep. After his arrival here he worked for two years in Orange County, N. Y., on a farm; he then worked by the month in Whiteside County, Ill., but in 1867 came to Iowa, purchased a farm in Marshall County, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres of wild land, and lived on it until 1875. He then returned to the Old Country on a visit, but in the spring of 1877 returned to Iowa and purchased a farm in Clay Township, it being the one on which he now lives. This comprises two hundred and seventy-five acres of splendid farming land. January 3, 1877, our subject was united in marriage with Louisa C. Montgomery, a native of St. Joseph County, Ind., having been born February 12, 1852, to William and Nancy Montgomery. The father was a native of Virginia and died in Moscow, Iowa, when fifty-four years of age. The mother is still living, making her home with her son John in Marshall County, this state. Our subject is one of seven children, three of whom are yet living. His wife is one of eleven children, six of whom still survive. One child has come to bless the home and fireside of our subject and his wife, whom they named Sophy E. She was born December 22, 1877, and is attending school in the vicinity of her home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rasmus received good educations in their youth, and hence are ever ready to push forward any movement in an educational way. In April, 1864, our subject was enlisted in the late conflict, enrolling his name in Company D, One Hundred and Fortieth Illinois Infantry, under the command of Captain Smith. He served several months, engaged in general bushwhacking expeditions, and was honorably discharged at Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Rasmus are attendants of the Presbyterian Church, to which they are liberal supporters. They are highly respected by all who know them. Mr. Rasmus in his political views is a stanch Republican, and cast his ballot for Abraham Lincoln, the father of the party. John
H. Roadman owns and operates three hundred and twenty acres of the fine
land whose richness has made Grundy County the garden spot of Iowa.
His estate, located on section 31, Fairfield Township, has been supplied
with a beautiful farm residence and all the accompaniments in the way
of barns, sheds, etc., that are needed in properly carrying on the domestic
and farm economy. Mr.
Roadman is a native of Pennsylvania, where his parents, William and
Polly J. (McConaughy) Roadman, were born. The father was a merchant
in his native state, and after his removal to Iowa carried on farming.
He first came to this state in company with his brother and purchased
eight hundred acres of land, a part of which is in the possession of
our subject. After transacting this business he returned to Pennsylvania,
and ten years later went to Wayne County, Ohio, and there bought a quarter-section
of improved land. Having been a merchant for twenty- five years in Pennsylvania,
William Roadman opened a general store in a small village called Cedar
Valley, and for some time was engaged in this business in connection
with carrying on his farm. Then, desiring to improve his property in
this state, in 1874 he came to Grundy County, and erecting buildings
on his estate, gave his time and attention to the cultivation of the
soil. After
the decease of his wife, which occurred in Iowa, June 30, 1875, the
father of our subject was married to Mrs. Catherine Miller, and in 1886
they left the farm, and moving to Cedar Falls, there resided until his
death, which occurred October 31, 1893, when in his seventy-fifth year.
He was a man of culture, and his progressive public spirit placed him
among those who sought to promote the growth and enhance the general
welfare of this community, and his name is thus inseparably connected
with the advancement of various enterprises calculated to improve the
county. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. November
29, 1876, Mr. Roadman and Miss Lucetta E. Murray were united in marriage.
The lady was born on a farm in Lucas County, this state, and was one
in a family of ten children born to John and Elizabeth (Burkhead) Murray,
natives respectively of Ohio and Virginia. Her brothers and sisters
who are living are: Flora A., Clara J., Frank F., Charlie W., Herbert
B. and Estella. The
parents of Mrs. Roadman are still living and make their home in Lucas
County, this state, where they own a valuable estate of five hundred
acres. The father, who was in early life a blacksmith, came in 1853
to this state, and in the above county purchased a large tract of land.
He has been very prosperous in his undertakings as an agriculturist
and is now living in retirement. He is respected by those that know
him, and is pointed out as a fine example of the self-made men. He has
been a member of the County Board of Supervisors, and in his political
belief is a Republican. The
five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Roadman are: Murray W., Velma P.,
Charles W., Earl A. and Willie J. Mrs. Roadman is a lady of fine education.
She completed her studies in the high school at Chariton, this state,
and afterward taught many terms. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and has aided her husband very materially in the accumulation
of his handsome property. After his marriage, our subject removed to the eighty-acre farm which was given him by his father, and by good management and prudent investments he has added to it until he now has a valuable estate. Prior to settling down to a farmer's life, he taught school in Ohio, and was thus occupied for five terms after coming to this state. In politics he upholds the principles of the Republican party, and for many years has been Justice of the Peace. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is highly regarded by all who know him or have had dealings with him.
|