Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: A History of Linn County, Iowa, containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, &c., a Biographical Directory of its Citizens, War Record of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion, General and Local Statistics, Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men, History of the Northwest, History of Iowa, Map of Linn County, Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, &c., 1878, Clinton Twp.

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879, Seventy Six Twp

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879 Cedar Twp

History of Nodaway County, Missouri, printed 1882 page 760.
Contributed by June Brewer Welsch

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879 Wilton Twp

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879 Cedar Twp

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879, Sweetland Twp

He first married a Miss Lee, a native of Massachusetts, and they lived for some time in Muscatine, Iowa, but later returned to the east where she died.  Later, while on his way to Iowa, he met the lady who subsequently became his wife, she being the mother of our subject. They were married in Tipton, Iowa, in 1845. She was born in New York state July 15, 1827, of Holland ancestry, and died February 5, 1883, and both were buried at Tipton. By his first marriage he had six children, only two of whom are now living.  Those born of the second union were C. A., our subject; J. A., now deceased, married Martha Stonacker, now a resident of Cedar Rapids; F. A., a resident of Marshalltown, Iowa, who first married Jennie Mills and after her death wedded Sarah Kennedy; John H., who married and lives in Burlington, Iowa; Sarah M., deceased, who first married William Carnahan, and second C. W. Morton, of Dennison, Iowa; and Emma, who died at the age of six years.

C. A. Gillette was reared in this state and attended the district schools until fourteen years of age. He was next a student at the Tipton high school for about five months, and completed his education at Cornell College at the age of sixteen. During the terrible tornado of 1860 he was with the family upon the home farm, while the father was serving as postmaster at St. Mary's. Our subject was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1866, when the father traded his farm for a stock of merchandise at Mt. Vernon, and the following year bought a hotel, a part of which he converted into a store room. Our subject assisted his father in conducting the store until it was destroyed by fire in 1868, after which they ran a dray and hack line for some time. This business was subsequently carried on by our subject and his brother until 1876, when the former commenced traveling through northeastern Iowa buying wool and selling woolen goods. The following year he traveled through the country introducing the patent medicines now known as the Chamberlain remedies, which are manufactured at Des Moines. He was next engaged in teaming until 1881, when he embarked in the creamery business, establishing a regular route, over which he traveled in the winter time buying poultry, and also spent some winters in the poultry house at Lisbon. His time was thus taken up until the fall of 1899, when he rented a place belonging to his father-in-law and resumed farming. He is also interested in the fruit and nursery business, owning two acres of land which he has devoted to the same.

On the 25th of January, 1882, in Franklin township, Mr. Gillette was united in marriage with Miss Alice Yeisley, who was born in Monroe county, Pennsylvania, August 9, 1858, and is of German descent. Her parents were Philip and Margaret (Steele) Yeisley, the former also a native of Monroe county, Pennsylvania, and the latter of New York state. They were married at Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania, and came west in 1870, locating first in Jones county, Iowa. In 1881 they came to Franklin township, Linn county, where the father purchased a farm on which they still reside. Mrs. Gillette is the youngest of their three children, the others being Horace, who married Josephine Shaler and resides in Lisbon, Iowa; and Charles, who wedded Mary Hilbert Caster Gilbert, now deceased, and makes his home in California. Mr. and Mrs. Gillette have three children: Harry A., born November 19, 1882; C. Edgar, born March 5, 1887; and Earl LeRoy, born March 19, 1892. The oldest son will graduate at the Lisbon high school in the class of 1901.

The Republican party has always found in Mr. Gillette a stanch supporter of its principles, but he has never taken a very active part in political affairs and cares nothing for office. He was formerly a member of the Legion of Honor and Star of Bethlehem Lodge, No. 3, K. P., of Mt. Vernon, and has been officially connected with both orders. He attends St. Paul's Lutheran church of Lisbon, and is held in high regard by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

Source: Biographical Record of Linn County, Iowa, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1901.

Samuel Gilliland spent the first twenty years of his life at the place of his nativity and obtained his literary education in the primitive log school house so common in those days. He then went to Indiana, where he spent two years, and in the fall of 1836 came to Iowa, locating in Cedar county, on the day Martin Van Buren was elected president of the United States. For many years he successfully engaged in farming there, and together with his sons still owns two hundred and forty acres of land, which he purchased from the government at one dollar and a quarter per acre.

In Pioneer township, Cedar county Mr. Gilliland was married, July 18, 1839 to Miss Martha Comstock, theirs being the first marriage celebrated in the township. She too was a native of Ohio and a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Fox) Comstock. Her father was born in Massachusetts, in 1795, and was twelve years of age when he removed with his parents from that state to New York. He was one of the defenders of his country in the war of 1812.

At an early day he went to Ohio, and in the spring of 1836 came to Iowa, settling fifteen miles north of Muscatine, where he made his home for three years. He was accompanied by two other families and they were the first to come out from Muscatine with teams. He next located in Pioneer township, Cedar county, where he followed farming until his death, which occurred July 19, 1864, when he was seventy-one years of age. His wife died there at the age of fifty-nine years. they had a family of ten chidren, but only three are now living. Prior to his marriage with Elizabeth Fox, Mr. Comstock was married in New York. By this wife he had two daughters - Angeline, who married M. Sterns and Julia, who married George Lattimer. Mrs. Comstock died prior to Mr. Comstock's emigration west. Mr. Comstock took a very prominent part in public affairs and was called upon to fill many local offices, including that of county trustee. He also assisted in the platting of the town of Tipton.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gilliland were born seven children, namely: (1) Francis Marion, born May 28, 1840, engaged in farming on the old homestead in Cedar county for a number of years, but is now living retired in Mr. Vernon.  He married Louise Freeman, of Cedar county, a daughter of Walter Freeman, a native of Ohio, who settled in Sugar Creek township, Cedar county, in 1836, and followed the miller's trade throughout the greater part of his life. In 1852 he went to the Pacific coast and died in Oregon, at the extreme old age of ninety-three years. His wife died in 1842 when Mrs. Gilliland was only nine months old. Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Gilliland had three children, all born in Cedar county, namely: Dollie, deceased; Harry C. and Don W., deceased. (2) Nathan, born December 3, 1842, enlisted September 23, 1861, at the age of nineteen years, in Company A, Thirteenth Iowa Infantry, and was mustered into the United States service on the 18th of October, following. While at Vicksburg he re-enlisted January 4, 1864, as a veteran and was made corporal of his company. He participated in the battle of Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, and the engagements at Bolivar, Iuka, Holly Springs, Vicksburg, Monroe, Jackson, Meridian and Atlanta. He was wounded in a charge on the works at Nickajack creek, July 5, 1864, and was again wounded on the 21st of the same month, and died a few hours later, his remains being interred at Marietta, Georgia. (3) Julia A., born January 16, 1844, died in 1864. (4) Elizabeth, born November 18, 1850, died at the age of fourteen years, five months and eleven days. (5) Mary, born November 5, 1852, died January 23, 1865. (6) Daniel C., born June 27, 1855, is engaged in the agricultural implement busines in Mechanicsville, Iowa. He married Florence Brogan, and they have three children, Maude, Ethel and Haven. (7) William M. born November 29, 1861, married Annie Wareham and died in Toledo, Ohio, November 10, 1886. The mother of these children departed this life May 31, 1865. She was a devoted wife and loving mother, and a consistent member of the Methodist church.

For his second wife Mr. Gilliland married Mrs. Abigail Puffer, a younger sister of his first wife and the widow of Charles Puffer, who was born near Keene, New Hampshire, and lived there until twenty-three years of age, when he removed to Cedar county, Iowa. There he was united in marriage with Miss Abigail Comstock, June 13, 1847, and was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising in that county until called to his final rest February 15, 1863, at the age of forty-three years. He was a prosperous man and had the respect and confidence of all who knew him as he was upright and honorable in all his dealings. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Puffer were born the following children: (1) Authernial G. W., born in 1848, followed farming on the old homestead in Cedar county, where he died at the age of forty-seven years. He married Amanda Boyles, and they had three children, Ray, Mabel and Everett. (2) Levi died in infancy. (3) Priscilla H. is the wife of William Bassett, a farmer of Bloomfield, Davis county, Iowa, and they have four children, Frank, Ora, Austin and Guy. (4) Daniel married Laura Boland, and is successfully engaged in farming in Mercer county, Missouri, where he owns seven hundred acres of land. (5) Jemima died at the age of fifteen years. (6) Mary is the wife of George Keister, an architect of New York City, and they have one child, George (7) Nathan, a farmer of Bloomfield, Davis county, Iowa, married Dora Van Zent, and they have two children, Helen and a boy.

Source: Biographical Record of Linn County, Iowa, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1901.

Source: History of Guthrie and Adair Counties, Iowa  Springfield, Ill: Continental Historical Co., 1884.

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879, Seventy Six Twp

Louis Gollnitz, a well known farmer of Liberty township, was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, July 16, 1868, a son of Fritz and Sophia (Frunt) Gollnitz. They spent their entire lives in the land of their birth and died when their son Louis was about twelve years of age. Six children were born to them. One died in infancy and the other five came to America about 1882. They were: Ricka, who became the wife of Fritz Benning of Davenport; Fritz, who died in Davenport in February, 1909, at the age of fifty-nine years, leaving two sons and two daughters; Chris, a resident of Davenport; Louis, the subject of this sketch; and Ida, who became the wife of Ernest Loraine, of Davenport.

Louis Gollnitz, who was about twelve years of age when he was left an orphan, remained for two more years in the fatherland, where he received his education. At the age of fourteen he and his brothers and sisters embarked upon their journey to America. They came directly to Scott county, where Louis Gollnitz obtained work upon a farm. After he had worked for others for about nine years, gaining experience in agriculture and familiarity with the customs and language of this country, he married and came to live upon the land where he now resides. It is a tract of one hundred and sixty acres belonging to his wife and is situated on section 31, Liberty township. Here he pursues general farming, winning a well deserved success from his labors. He has brought his farm to a high state of cultivation and has instituted many substantial improvements.

On the 24th of February, 1894, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Gollnitz and Miss Meta Arp, who was born in Davenport township, Scott county, October 15, 1871, her parents being Claus and Doris (Sienknecht) Arp. Her father was born in Holstein, Germany, August 23, 1827, while her mother was born near the city of Kiel, September 2, 1832. They came to this country about fifty years ago, settling in Davenport, where they were married April 14, 1868. Mr. Arp bought a large amount of land, which was procured at a low price in those days, owning at one time five good farms, which amounted to seven hundred and forty acres. This property was the result of his own labors, for he came to America a poor boy, and it indicates with what success he operated his farm in the vicinity of Davenport. About fifteen years ago he felt he was justified in retiring from active life and, accordingly, took up his residence in Davenport, which is still his home. Mr. and Mrs. Arp are the parents of seven children: Theodore, who lives in Colorado; Hannes, who lives near West Liberty; Minnie, the wife of Julius Kuelper, of Walcott; Herman, who resides in Stockton, Muscatine county, Iowa; Meta, now Mrs. Gollnitz; Otto, who resides on the homestead near Davenport; and Delia, who lives with her parents. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gollnitz have been born two children, Ray and Edna.

The early life of Mr. Gollnitz was one of many hardships and privations, but from his struggles he learned the lesson of industry and making the best use of his opportunities. In consequence he has attained a well earned success in his field of occupation and one of which he may be pardonably proud. Indeed, he deserves to be numbered among the numerous citizens of this land who wear with distinction the title of a self-made man.

"History of Davenport and Scott County" Vol. II by Harry E. Downer-S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. Chicago IL 1910
Transcribed by Debbie Clough Gerischer for the Scott Co GenWeb Project- used by permission

Source: The History of the State of Nebraska, 1882, Western Historical Company, A. T. Andreas, Proprietor, Chicago, IL.; Burt Co.

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879, Wilton Twp

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879 Wilton Twp

Source: William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas, Cowley Co.

 Source: History of Benton County, Iowa 1878

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879 Cedar Twp

Prominent among the farmers of Montpelier township is the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this review.  For nearly fifty years a resident of the county, he has shown an enterprise and clear judgment in his business affairs which early gave promise that he would be unusually successful in his career.  This promise has been amply fulfilled and today Mr. Grimm is one of the prosperous farmers of the county and is recognized as a man whose influence is always for the best interests of those with whom he is associated and also for the welfare of the district in which he lives.

He was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, August 28, 1851, a son of Daniel Grimm, a native of Prussia, Germany, who emigrated to America in 1847 and for fifteen years made his home in Ohio.  He then came to Montpelier township, Muscatine county, Iowa, where he purchased one hundred and forty acres of land in section 6, upon which he established his home.  After the encroachment of years had deprived him of the ability for active pursuits, he retired to Montpelier, where he departed this life in 1896.  Industrious and economical, he set a good example for his neighbors and children and was one of the substantial men of the region.  Politically he was in sympathy with the democratic party and in religious belief he was a German Lutheran.  The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Philippena Rausch, was also a native of Germany.  Of the eight children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Grimm six are now living, two of whom make their home in Muscatine county.

Daniel Grimm grew up under the friendly shelter of a peaceful home and was taught as a boy by his father that all useful work is honorable.  He received his education in the public schools of Ohio and coming to Muscatine county with his parents, assisted in the work of the home farm until he reached the age of twenty-one years, when he began working for himself.  Commencing at the bottom of the ladder financially, he carefully saved his money and at the age of twenty-five years purchased one hundred acres of land in Montpelier township, which he still owns.  To this he has added from time to time until the farm now comprises four hundred and forty acres, which he cultivates with good judgment, also devoting a great deal of time to stock-raising.  That he is successful in all departments of farming is evident to those who have reason to visit his well arranged place, which is thoroughly provided  with modern buildings and machinery, and the owner may well be proud of his many years of labor.

In 1875, Mr. Grimm was united in marriage to Miss Philippena Metz, a daughter of Michael and Henrietta (Gettert) Metz.  By this union ten children have been born, nine of whom are now living, namely: Bena, who married George Brei and has five children; George, a resident of Sweetland township; Daniel, Jr. who married Katheryn Saltan (sic); and Jake, Clara, Emma, Mildred, Andrew and Louie, all of whom are at home.

Successful in his business, happy in his family relations, and broad-minded and progressive in the discharge of his duties to the community, Mr. Grimm may truly be regarded as a useful factor in the upbringing of the county and state.  He is a man of genial social qualities and is a valued member of Lodge No. 190, M.B.A.  He gives his political allegience to the democratic party and has served as township trustee and in other offices of political responsiblity, always displaying a fairness which met the hearty indorsement of the people of his township.  He and his wife have many friends in the community and are affiliated with the German Lutheran church, to whose teachings they give unquestioned acceptance.

Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa
Note: daughter Bena's full name was Phillipina-she went by Bena her whole life and was my great grandmother, to whom this website is dedicated (see her photo on the introduction page)
If you are researching this family please contact [email protected]

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879
Note: correct surname is Grossheim- his son Oscar was later known as a professional photographer.  The Musser Public Library in Muscatine has over 50,000 of Oscar Grossheim's glass plate negatives depicting people and scenes of Muscatine Co. from which prints may be ordered.

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of the State of Nebraska, 1882, Western Historical Company, A. T. Andreas, Proprietor, Chicago, IL.; Ord, Valley County.

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879, Sweetland Twp

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879, City of Muscatine

Richard H. Hanson was born in the village of Lugum, District of Tondern, Schlesswig-Holstein, on November 30, 1845. The province at that time was under Danish rule, the sovereignty not passing to Prussia until the close of the war of 1865. As was customary, Mr. Hanson served his three years in the army and had returned home, when a few months later, he was recalled to take up arms in the Franco-Prussian war. During the fourteen  months that this war was in progress, he was in the battles of Wirth, Vionville, GraveIotte, Beaumont, Sedan, Strausberg and Metz. A younger brother Fred, fell in the battle of Gravelotte, but Richard and an older brother,  William, passed safely through the war.

Richard Hanson came to America in the spring of 1872, taking passage on the "Cymbria" on March 6, and   landing at Castle Garden twelve days later. He proceeded westward to Davenport, and thence to Muscatine,    Iowa, where he found work on the farm of Oliver Silverton. His brother, Hans, wrote him for money in order  that he too might come to the much-dreamed new world without delay. Richard's employer accordingly paid  him the balance of his five months' wages in advance, thus enabling Hans to start at once. He arrived in Iowa in August of year. He prospered and later owned a farm in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, where he died.

In December, 1881, Mr. Hanson was married to Miss Anna Attie Muller, a native of the village of  Ditmarchen, Holstein. Her parents, by a strange coincidence embarked on the same vessel which had taken Mr.  Hanson to this country four years before they emigrated. The family settled on a farm near Davenport. In the spring of 1882 they moved to Omaha, where the father lived the remainder of his life, and died October 29, 1890, at the age of fifty-nine years. The mother lived there until her death, which occurred January 20, 1911, at  the age of eighty-five years, three months and twenty-nine days.

After his marriage Mr. Hanson moved to Shelby county, and farmed rented land for three years, but March 5, 1885, found him and his wife, on their own farm about five miles south of La Port, the old county seat, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres at twelve dollars and fifty cents per acre. He began at once to improve this open prairie land, first building a small house, then adding sheds and barns as occasion demanded. An orchard and groves were started and soon he had a very thrifty looking farm. In 1895, a large addition was erected, making the farm house very roomy and comfortable. The original farm has since been increased by the purchase of an adjoining quarter section. He has also purchased a quarter section of fine land about seven miles southeast of Wayne. In 1907, after living twenty-two years on the farm, he moved to Wayne and is now taking life more easily than heretofore.

Mr. Hanson's parents followed their children to the new world in 1882, making their home with one or another of their children. The father died at Minden, Iowa, on February 20, 1896, at the age of eighty-two, and  the mother died at the age of seventy years, two months and sixteen days.

Mr. and Mrs. Hanson have had six children born to them, all of whom are living: Hans J., occupies the old homestead; Regina, now Mrs. Alfred Hass, is in Iowa county, Iowa; Catherine, Anna, Richard H. Junior, and Harry are still at home.

In politics, Mr. Hanson is a democrat and he is also a member of the Lutheran church. He is an associate of the German army societies and attends their meetings in Omaha, talking over with old comrades the days of trial  in the trenches and in the open fields. He has several medals made from the bronze, of captured French cannon,  which commemorates deeds of valor done in the heavy battles of the Franco-Prussian war.

Although they did not come to Nebraska until 1885, still Mr. and Mrs. Hanson have, many stories to tell of  their trials here, which includes reminiscences of the days when they had to burn twisted hay and corn for fuel.   Mrs. Hanson has had the experience of learning English since coming to this state, and can now read, write and speak that language as fluently as her children.

Source: Compendium of History, Reminiscence and Biography of Nebraska, Alden Publishing Co, Chicago IL 1912, p.594-595

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879 Sweetland Twp

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879 Wilton Twp

Source: Herringshaw's Encyclopedia of American Biography of the Nineteenth Century,  p 453

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879 City of Muscatine

Born on the 12th of August, 1884, Lisle R. Hawley is the son of George R. and Mary Margaret (Griffith)    Hawley, the father a native of Rhode Island and the mother born in Cincinnati, Ohio. The lineage on both sides of the family can be traced to English origin and in the paternal line there is a considerable admixture of Scotch blood. George R. Hawley was engaged in business in Muscatine until his death in 1916, and his wife survived him but two years. To this couple were born three children: Lisle R.  Hawley, and his two older sisters, Mrs. W. D. Downer and Mrs. Elmer C. Nichols, both of Muscatine.

The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood in this Iowa city and graduated from the high school on the 8th of June, 1902, when he was seventeen years old. Immediately he went to work for the Great Western Cereal Company of Chicago, as an office boy in its branch office at Muscatine, and has remained in that line of business ever since. During this long period of years he has been employed by but two companies, the one with whom he was first associated and his present firm–the Quaker Oats Company. During the nine years he was connected with the Great Western Cereal Company he worked up to the position of assistant feed sales manager in the main office at Chicago.  Meanwhile he had been a traveling salesman for the firm for some time, and during the last five years of this nine-year period had been in the Chicago office. In 1911 Mr. Hawley resigned his position with   this company to become southern feed sales manager of the Quaker Oats Company of Chicago. Until  1920 his headquarters remained in that city, although he had the entire south as his territory. In that  year the company completed a very large plant in Memphis and established its southern agency in this city, with Mr. Hawley in charge as manager. As this is the only branch of this large concern in the south Mr. Hawley has an enormous territory under his supervision and is conducting a brisk trade.   Under his careful management the volume of business has been growing steadily and the company's  products are reaching a wider and more extensive market.

On the 14th of September, 1912, Mr. Hawley was married to Miss Gladys May Lloyd of Chicago, who  is a native of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Hawley have one son, Lisle Richard, Jr., born June 30, 1917.

In the comparatively short time that Mr. Hawley has lived in Memphis he has formed a large circle of acquaintances in the business world, and has become a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club. His religious affiliations are with the Presbyterian church, and fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order. Possessed of high standards of character and a keen sense of his social obligations as related to the promotion of the welfare of the community in which he makes his  home, Mr. Hawley has already created for himself a place among the representative citizens of Memphis.

 Source: Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769–1923: Volume 2,  page 792

In October, 1869, he moved to Saline County, Mo., and in 1870 came to Kansas, locating, in February, 1871, in this township, and has since been engaged in farming and raising stock. In 1876 he moved on to his present farm, which consists of 160 acres, all well improved, and on which there is a fine orchard of about four acres. Mr. Hawley is one of the enterprising men of his neighborhood. He has filled many of the local offices, and in 1875 was elected a member of the Board of County Commissioners, which office he filled two years.

Source: Andreas History of The State of Kansas, Allen County

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879 City of Muscatine

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879 Wilton Twp

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879 City of Muscatine

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Benjamin worked on his father's farm summers, and his early education consisted of about three months in the district school each winter, from the time he was 7 years old until he was 15. He attended a three months' term in the commercial college conducted by a brother, at Vincennes, Ind. This concluded his school education and was of much benefit to him all through his business life. At the age of 16 he started out in life for himself, and in five weeks had earned $90 by work in the harvest  field. This was the first money he had carned and appropriated to his own use, and it stimulated his desire to make money for himself and be independent. He went to Louisa county and taught school for six months, and, though he gave good satisfaction, did not like the work. For about two years he conducted a little store near his father's farm in Sweetland Center, then bought a store in Fairport,  where he engaged at the same time in other business, but was not satisfied with his opportunities.

March 1, 1874, he was married to Miss Isabella Sweet, of Fairport, and the next day started for Creston, where they have since lived. The town then had 1,200 population, and Mr. Heinly went into partnership with I. L. Mackemer, his brother-in-law, in the retail grocery business. The partnership with Mackemer lasted for five years, during which time both added considerably to their stock of worldly goods. Mr. Heinly then purchased his partner's interest, and about six months later his younger  brother, T. A. Heinly, was admitted as a partner. The business grew and its owners prospered. In August. 1882, with J. C. Wallace, they started the first wholesale grocery house in Creston, under the firm name of Wallace, Heinly & Brother. With persistent effort many obstacles were overcome, and they did a fairly good business in the jobbing line. After Mr. Wallace had been associated with them for two years, the Heinly brothers purchased his interest and he retired with a good profit on his investment. They then associated with them Mr. H. B. Holcomb, who acquired an interest in the wholesale business which he retained until the death of T. A. Heinly in January, 1890. Mr. Heinly then  purchased Mr. Holcomb's interest and continued the business under the firm name of B. F. Heinly & Brother, the brother's widow retaining her interest in the firm.

There has been no change in the firm since 1890. It has held its own through all the trying financial times. Mr. Heinly was one of the incorporators, and is now president of the Anchor Mutual Fire Insurance company. It was organized in Creston in 1889 as the Hotel Owners Fire Insurance company; changed its name a year later, and moved to Des Moines in 1895. It is a strong company.

Since living in Creston Mr. Heinly has served three terms as alderman at different periods. His political affiliations, in the main, have been republican. He loves the grand old party and the humane and brilliant war and reconstruction record it made, but he is a firm believer in the remonetization of silver at  the ratio of 16 to 1 by the United States. Mr. Heinly is a member in good standing of the First Congregational church of Creston, superintendent of the Congregational Sunday school, member of the Men's club, the West End Social club, the Masonic order, the Modern Woodmen and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. and Mrs. Heinly have three sons and a daughter: Earl Casper, born  June 23, 1876; Webster Guy, born September 19, 1879; Vinton Sweet, born September 15, 1887;  Maurine Louise, born February 6, 1890.

Source:  Biographies and Portraits of the Progressive Men of Iowa. Gue, B.F. Des Moines:Conaway & Shaw Publishers, 1899.  p.494

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879 Sweetland Twp

Robert W. Helms, merchant and postmaster at Brainard, was born in the state of New York, July 30, 1839, and is a son of William and Hannah (Robins) Helms. William Helms was a native of Scotland and at the age of seven years he accompanied his parents on their emigration to America. They located in Essex county, New York, where Mr. Helms spent the remainder of his years, dying at the advanced age of ninety-three years. He followed farming during his active years and was fairly successful in his business affairs. He took a leading and prominent part in local public affairs and held at different times many of the township and county public offices. He was a Republican in politics and in religion was affiliated with he Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a class-leader at the time of his death. He married Hannah Robins, a native of Vermont, and they became the parents of thirteen children, six of whom are living, namely: Robert W., who was the first born in the family, Jennie, Martha, Carrie, Addie and Melvin. The mother of these children was sixty-three years old at the time of her death.

Robert W. Helms remained in his native state until he was twenty-four years old. At the age of twenty-one years he enlisted in the First Regiment of United States Sharpshooters and served fourteen months assisting in the suppression of the Southern rebellion. During most of this time he was on detached duty, but he was actively engaged during the three-days battle at Gettysburg, and, with his regiment, took part in several other of the noted engagements of that war, seeing much hard service. At the conclusion of his military service he returned to Essex county, New York, and, as before stated, at the age of twenty-four years he came to Fayette county, Iowa. He soon afterwards went to Wisconsin, where he remained two years and then returned to Fayette county, which has since been his home. He is the owner of some splendid farming land, his home place being located in sections 30 and 36, while he also owns a good farm in section 16. He carries on general farming and also gives considerable attention to livestock, in the handling of which he has been very successful. He is a breeder of registered Hereford cattle, maintaining on his farm a good herd of these cattle, and he also buys and sells much other stock, mostly cattle and hogs. Besides his farming interests, Mr. Helms is doing a successful general merchandise business, being the proprietor of the only store in Brainard, where he carries a large and well-selected stock of such goods as are in demand by the trade. He is postmaster and maintains the office in his store. Courteous and accommodating, he has gained for himself the good will of all who have dealings with him and is numbered among the leading men of his community.

In 1875 Mr. Helms was married to Artherlinda Mounce, who was born in Lynn (sic) county, Iowa, in February, 1849, and whose death occurred in 1903, at the age of fifty-four years. To this union were born four children, namely: Clara Louella is the wife of E. O. Randall, of Muscatine, Iowa, and they have two children: Harley W., of Brainard, married Celia Bohanan and they are the parents of three children; Ethel D. is the wife of Martin Hovey, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and they have one child; Judson, who was the first born of these children, died at the age of fourteen months.

The subject is a Republican, but has endeavored to keep clear of political affairs. He was, however, induced to serve as justice of the peace for a number of years, having retired from the office in 1908 because of the press of his other business affairs, which would not permit a division of his attention and time. He is a firm believer in the uplifting influence of the church and he gives a liberal support to the Baptist and Methodist Episcopal churches. In many ways Mr. Helms has shown qualities of the highest order and has invariably given his support to every movement having for its object the advancement of the best interests of the community. Genial in disposition, optimistic in temperament and accommodating in his dealings with others--it is not strange that he enjoys a large circle of warm and loyal friends. Such men are desirable elements in any community and are the foundation of its growth and prosperity.

Source: The History of Fayette County, Iowa  1910

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879, Seventy Six Twp

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879, Seventy Six Twp

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 5th ed., 1887, Franklin Co.

Source: The History of the State of Nebraska, 1882, Western Historical Company, A. T.
Andreas, Proprietor, Chicago, IL.; Fillmore County

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: History of Mills Co IA 1881 Malvern Twp

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879 Wilton Twp

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879 City of Muscatine

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

After the death of his parents, with two elder brothers our subject came to Louisa County, Iowa, in 1857, and secured employment as a farm hand, receiving $12.50 per month for his services.  For four years he worked as a farm hand, and then commenced farming for himself on the land now owned by Patrick Dalton, near Letts, but in the month of August, 1862, he abandoned farm life to enlist in the service of his country.  He was mustered in at Muscatine, Iowa, being assigned to Company F, 35th Iowa Infantry, and from there went to Cairo, Ill, and later to the South.  He participated in an engagement at Duck Port, opposite Vicksburg, and from that place, under the command of General Grant, went by the way of Grand Gulf to Jackson, Miss, where the enemy was encountered, and a battle fought.  The next service was at Vicksburg, where Mr. Hidlebaugh participated in all the battles, and then after its surrender proceeded with his regiment to Jackson, Miss, which the army recaptured from the rebel General Joe Johnston.  He next participated in the Red River campaign, taking part in the battles of Marchville Plains, Old River Lake, the battle of Tupelo in Mississippi, Spanish Fort in Alabama, also the battle of Selma, Ala, after which he went to Davenport, Iowa, where he was mustered out of service.

On the 10th of August, 1864, Mr Hidlebaugh reached home, and on the 20th of that month commenced working by the month upon a farm.  During the following November he was united in marriage with Lucinda Wagner, a daughter of Philip and Elizabeth (Gower) Wagner, both of whom are now deceased.  By the union of this happy couple three sons and five daughters have been born -- Elizabeth C, Mary E, John C, William W, Clara Bell, Nettie M, Nellie C, and Harry A.  With the exception of the last two, who died in infancy, all are at home.

Mr. Hidlebaugh resides on section 10, Grand View Township, where he is the owner of 579 acres of land, which is highly cultivated and well stocked with a fine grade of cattle, horses and hogs.  He makes a specialty of raising the Hereford and Durham cattle, thoroughbred Chester-White hogs, and horses of the Norman and Clydesdale stock.  He is a systematic and progressive farmer, and everything about the place denotes thrift and enterprise.  For the past six years Mr Hidlebaugh has held the office of School Director, and also served as Road Supervisor of his township for several terms.  He has always taken an active part in the upbuilding of the county, has aided in its progress and development, has been prominent in the promotion of its enterprises, and is one of Louisa County's best citizens.  Politically, he is a supporter of the Republican party, but being liberal in his views, at the local elections he often votes for the man whom he thinks will best fill the office.  Socially, he is a member of the G. A. R.., Colwell Post, at Letts, and also belongs to the Masonic fraternity.  During his thirty-years residence in the county he has won the confidence and goodwill of all with whom he has come in contact, and is held in high esteem by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

Biographical Record of  Louisa County Biography, page 574,575
Contributed by June Brewer Welsch

Source: History of Guthrie and Adair Co IA 1884

He moved to Muscatine county, Iowa where he was engaged in prairie-breaking and farming. He married there in 1859, to Miss Lydia Rebecca Davis, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Rippey) Davis. Mrs. Hidlebaugh was born in Indiana in 1837, and died in the winter of 1867. William was married in May, 1874, to Miss Elizabeth E. Davis, a sister of his first wife (born in Indiana in 1845). The have three children--James D., Mary E. and Effie A. From Muscatine county he moved to Guthrie county, in 1869, settling on their present location. Mr. Hidlebaugh enlisted in company H, 11th Iowa infantry, in 1862. He took part in the siege of  Vicksburg, Atlanta, Georgia, and a number of skirmishes. He was with Sherman in his march to the sea. He was mustered out in 1865. He is a member of May's Post No. 264, and has been township trustee.

Source: History of Guthrie and Adair Co IA 1884, Dodge Township

Source: Herringshaw's Encyclopedia of American Biography of the Nineteenth Century,  p 453

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879, Lake Twp

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879 Sweetland Twp

Zeno K. Hoag is the scion of a sterling old New England family, and he himself was born in New Hampshire, having first seen the light of day in Wolfboro, October 10, 1842.  He is the son of Lindley Murray and Huldah (Varney) Hoag.   The family is of Welsh descent and have been worthy American citizens for many generations.

Rev. Lindley Murray Hoag was the son of Joseph and Huldah Hoag, and he was born in Charlotte, Virginia, September 29, 1808.  His parents were early settlers in that part of the state and had to endure many of the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life, consequently they could not give to their children, eight in number, all the educational advantages that they desired.  They were both ministers of the gospel, Joseph Hoag
being prominent in the affairs of the Friends church in Vermont, traveled extensively, and was absent from his home more than half the time for twenty years.  He was a member of the famous "underground railroad"system while living in Vermont and he held many slaves to escape.  Lindley M. Hoag's early training devolved prinicipally upon his mother, and he bore witness to her faithfulness to this trust.  He learned to read at a very early age and, other books being scarce, he became a great Bible student, so that it could be said of him as of Timothy, "He knew the Scriptures from a child."  He was recorded a minister of the gospel, of the society of Friends, in his twenty-first year, and became one of their most famous preachers.  His preaching was remarkably in accordance with the injunction of the apostle, "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God."  So copious were his quotations from the Bible and from doctrinal authors, and so just and illustrative his application, that some who hard [sic] him queried, "How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?"  In his twenty-first and twenty-second years he traveled, as an evangelist, in the state of New York, in the New England states, lower Canada and some of the adjacent Atlantic islands.

In 1831 he located on a farm at Wolfboro, New Hampshire, and soon afterwards married Huldah B. Varney, of that place.   She possessed a conspicuous and lucid mind, a vivacious and amiable disposition, combined with engaging manners.  Their married life was a very happy one.  Four children were born to them, three of whom are living.  The oldest, Mrs. Hannah H. Liggett, lived in New York; she was widely known and conspicuous as a minister and evangelist and temperance worker, and lived a beautiful life, gaining the love and esteem of very many people; he death occurred in January, 1910, at Batavia, New York.  Zeno K. Hoag, the immediate subject of this sketch; and Joseph L. Hoag, who was second in order of birth.  The last named came to Iowa Falls, Iowa, in the fall of 1855 with his father.  The first year or two he engaged in the fur business, then turned his attention to farming a few years, and in 1873 he and Doctor Foster engaged in the drug business a year, and were getting a good start when, in 1874, the town, with the exception of the postoffice building, was burned up.  He and the Doctor were burned out, but rebuilt and continued in the drug business until 1877, after which Mr. Hoag continued that same business alone until in the nineties, when he sold out and moved to California on account of failing health, and his death occurred in that state in 1902.  Joseph L. Hoag was a very prominent Mason and he was a member of the council of the city of Iowa Falls for a number of years.  He married Emma Frost, a native of New Hampshire, and two children were born to them, one dying in infancy; the other, now Mrs. Bertha Harrington, resides with her mother
in California.

After his marriage, Rev. Lindley M. Hoag, father of the subject, was, as the apostle exhorts, "Diligent in business and fervent in spirit," working on his farm to provide things comfortable for his family and still faithful to the calls of his Master.  He visited the churches of his own denomination and held public meetings in the towns and many of the cities of New England, New York, and some of the Middle, Western and Southern states.  His wife passed to her reward in 1843.   She also was a minister, highly esteemed in the church and society for both her Christian and native graces.  Soon after this bereavement Rev. Mr. Hoag visited Europe, preaching in England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany and Switzerland, preaching before several European monarches.  Upon his return he produced to the church abundant testimonials to the appreciation of the value of his labors from those amongst whom he traveled.  He was absent about three years, and, as Paul resumed his occupation of "tent-maker," so did Rev. Mr. Hoag again grasp the handles of the plow, on the banks of Lake Winnipissiogee, and he could say, like the apostle, "Mine own hands have ministered to my necessities, and to the wants of those dependent upon me."  In 1853 he re-visited Great Britain, also Norway and Denmark, where he found many seeking to know the truth, and he was absent on his trip about a year.   Soon after his return he sold his property in New Hampshire, and in the summer of 1854 came to Iowa and bought land in Hardin and Marshall counties and returned to New Hampshire.  For a time he conducted a store in New York, but he handled no goods except those produced by free labor, no slave products bing accepted or sold.  In the spring of 1855 he came again to Iowa, and was married to Anna C. Darlington, of Muscatine, this state, and with her he came to Hardin county in November of that year.  One child, Ella Hoag, was born to this union, who became an accomplished teacher.

Lindley M. Hoag was one of the proprietors of the village of Rocksylvania, living on a farm adjoining.  During the remaining twenty-five years of his active and useful life he was often engaged, with others, in organizing churches of his own denomination in different parts of the state, spending much of his time away from home in missionary work, in the states of Tennessee, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana and some parts of New England, Canada, New York, Kansas and Missouri.  He was a life-long friend of the slave and the Indian.  He was first a Whig, later a Republican.    As a citizen he was ever ready to do his part to promote the interests of the community.  As a neighbor he was kind and obliging.  In his family he was genial, affectionate and sympathetic.  "Having fought the good fight and kep the faith, he finished his course (on the 27th of November, 1880, in the seventy-third year of his age), to receive a crown of righteiousness from Christ, the righteous Judge."   Mr. Hoag was gifted with a wonderful memory and he caused his hearers to wonder at his ability to quote so extensively from the Scriptures, having, it seemed, a profound insight into the word of God.  He had a style of delivery peculiarly his own, and often would thrill his hearers with the most beautiful imagery and word painting.    His personal magnetism was wonderful.  It is the opinion of many persons who have listened to our great pulpit orators, Beecher, Talmage, Brooks, Chapin and others, that Mr. Hoag had the natural ability, if placed where circumstances would draw it out, to equal any of them.  Remarkable as they may seem, yet it is true; and this gifted man gave his time and great talents to the society of Friends, among whom he stood as one of the chief pillars, not only in this country but across the ocean in foreign lands.   His wife, Anna Hoag, was a great help to him in his life work.  Gifted herself with more than ordinary talent, she served to increase and widen her husband's influence.   During her entire life she has been known as a lovely Christian character, exerting her influence in all the venues of Christian influence and being a power for good in her society.  She was a teacher in Hardin county in the early days and had few equals, filling many stations as an educator with great success.  She remains to continue the good work which her lamented husband laid down, being now a residnt of Iowa Falls, advanced in years, but still influential for good, and a crown awaits her as a faithful, efficient, self-sacrificing servant of the Master.

Zeno K. Hoag, the immediate subject of this biographical review, lived in New Hmpshire until he was about fourteen years of age, then he accompanied the family to Iowa Falls, Iowa, where, after a somewhat tedious trip, they arrived in the month of June, 1856.  This country was then a wild and sparsely settled prairie, the nearest railroad to Hardin county being at Iowa City.  They began life in typical pioneer fashion and never murmured at hardships, for they had the sagacity to foresee that this was destined to be a great country.  Here the father entered a whole section of land from the government, northwest and east of the town of Iowa Falls, which was developed in due course of time into one of the valuable and choice landed estates in the county.

Before leaving New England, Zeno K. Hoag attended the Brown school at Providence, Rhode Island.  His boyhood here was spent in farming, which he continued until he was about twenty-eight years of age; he then entered the lumber, coal and salt business here.  Since then, at different times, he has been in partnership with J. D. Steere and J. B. Griffith, but is now in business alone again, having been engaged longer in his special line than any other man of Iowa Falls, and with one exception is the oldest merchant in any line in this city.  He has been very successful in whatever he has turned his attention to and has long been regarded as one of the leading business men of this part of the county.

Always an active Republican, Zeno K. Hoag has long been an influential factor in public affairs, having faithfully discharged the duties of various offices within the gift of the people in this community.  He is progressive in his ideas in both public and business affairs.  Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen.

In 1874 Mr. Hoag was united in marriage with Anna Griffith, daughter of Daniel P. Griffith, a complete sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.   He has one son by this marriage, Lindley Murray Hoag, who is successfuly engaged in the banking business in Thief River Falls, Minnesota.  Mr. and Mrs. Hoag are both worthy members of the Friends church.  Like his honored father before him, Mr. Hoag stands high with all who know him and he as a wide circle of friends, being a man of scrupulous honesty, genial and obliging disposition.

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

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879 City of Muscatine

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

His birth occurred in Linn county, Iowa, February 26, 1865, his parents being Jeremiah and Mary T. (French) Hollenbeck, both of whom were natives of New York, in which state their marriage was celebrated. They cam to Iowa in 1864 and first took up their abode on a farm in Linn county, where they remained for two years. On the expiration of that period they established their home in Pike township, Muscatine county, and subsequently came in possession of one hundred and twenty acres of land, in the cultivation of which Mr. Hollenbeck was actively and successfully engaged until called to his final rest in 1884. The mother was married a second time and now lives on a portion of our subject's farm. She has attained the age of seventy years. By her first marriage she was the mother of three children, as follows: Ida May, the wife of John Ziegler, of Johnson county, Iowa; Ulissis G., of this review; and Walter, a widower residing at Nichols, Iowa.

Ulissis G. Hollenbeck remained under the parental roof until twenty-four years of age, when he was married and established a home of his own. Having chosen the pursuit of agriculture as a life work, he began farming on a tract of forty acres of land which he owned in Pike township and which has remained in his possession to the present time. As his financial resources have increased he has added to his holdings by purchase until his farm now embraces three hundred and thirty-two acres of valuable land. In connection with the tilling of the soil he has also devoted considerable attention to the raising and feeding of high grade stock, this branch of his business adding materially to his income. His farm is a well developed property, the fields yielding golden harvests as a tribute to the care and labor bestowed upon them.

On the 31st of January, 1889, Mr. Hollenbeck was united in marriage to Miss Katie Smith, who was born in Muscatine county, Iowa, on the 3d of September, 1867, her parents being George and Elizabeth (Attic) Smith, natives of Germany.  They crossed the Atlantic to the United States in early life, first settling in Illinois, where they resided until 1865, when they came to Iowa, locating on a farm in this county. Mr. Smith gave his attention to its operation until 1906, when he put aside the active work of the fields and removed to Nichols, where he has since lived in honorable retirement. He has now attained the ripe old age of seventy-five years. Unto him and his wife were born ten children, namely: Adam, who resides on a farm in Pike township, this county; Mrs. Hollenbeck; George, who makes his home on a farm in Johnson county; Anna E., the deceased wife of Walter Hollenbeck, of Pike township, Muscatine county; Sarah M., who is the wife of Phillip Lentz, of Johnson county, Iowa; Ella Barbara, who gave her hand in marriage to Peter Lentz, of Johnson county; John M., who is married and lives on a farm in Johnson county; William, who died when eighteen months old; Nicholas G. and Louis J., who make their home on a farm in Muscatine county.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hollenbeck have been born six children, as follows: Rose May, whose birth occurred February 26, 1890, and who died August 6, 1891; Lilly Ann, who was born August 27, 1891; George, who first opened his eyes to the light of day on the 4th Of October, 1893; Nellie M., whose natal day was January 10, 1896; Arthur U., who was born February 26, 1898; and Albert, born March 31, 1905.

Mr. Hollenbeck is a democrat in politics but has no desire for the honors and emoluments of office. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, belonging to lodge No. 4195 at Nichols, while religiously he and his family are connected with the Christian church. Almost his entire life has been passed in this county and he is well known here as an active and industrious citizen, who utilizes his opportunities to the best advantage and who is not afraid of that close application and indefatigable industry which constitute the basis of all honorable success.

Source:  History of Muscatine County, Iowa

Mr. H. was one of the first in the State to turn his attention to the breeding of  short-horn cattle, and now has 100 head of well-bred stock; has also devoted much time and attention to the breeding of fine horses. They have four children--Ida T., born Sept. 11, 1856 (now wife of L. W. Newell, of this county); Mary C., born April 8, 1860; Sarah H., born April 19, 1863, and Edwin H., born Jan. 18, 1866. Republican; members of the First Congregational Church at Wilton. Has held various township and school offices, having been Assessor for three years; was appointed Enrolling Officer during the late war.

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879, Wilton Twp

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879, Lake Twp 

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879, Lake Twp

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Lindley Hoopes was a builder in Pennsylvania and followed the carpenter's trade for a time after coming to Iowa. He is now engaged in farming and breeding horses, cattle and hogs in Lake township, Muscatinecounty. They are Methodists and strong temperance people, using their best efforts for the social and moral welfare of the country.

William H. Hoopes was born November 19, 1840, at Warrior's Mark, Huntingdon county, Pa., and was the oldest son in the family of nine children His early education was under the tutorship of Bishop John  H. Vincent of Chautauqua fame. He afterwards attended school in Muscatine. When he attained his majority he left the farm and earned his own way through a two years' course in Greenwood academy,  in Muscatine. He afterwards engaged in the building business, was principal of the First ward school in Muscatine two years, and for a number of years was in the grocery and pork packing business.

In 1874 he commenced the Muscatine Island gardening business, and with various partners has been engaged in that important enterprise ever since. He now has associated with him his two sons. They  have 900 acres of land under cultivation there and produce the finest sweet potatoes, melons, cabbages, peas, beans, tomatoes and onions. He also has a vegetable and dairy farm in St. Louis Park, one of the suburbs of Minneapolis. During his farming career he has introduced many laborsaving  implements. Among them is one which sets plants of all kinds and saves labor and expense. Outside of his own immediate business Mr. Hoopes has helped promote the organization of other industries, among them a canning factory, street railway, electric light plant, high bridge over the Mississippi river, and in real estate operations. In public affairs Mr. Hoopes has worked with the republican party on account of its championship of temperance principles, in which he is deeply interested and to which he has given much of his best efforts. He was elected alderman as a republican in a ward usually democratic, and helped to inaugurate some of the most important public improvements in Muscatine, including the building of Riverside Park, which turned an unsightly river front into a beautiful spot. He was one of the most zealous supporters of the prohibitory law and had an important part in the prosecution of those who violated it. He has been prominently identified with the Musserville M. E.  church and has been trustee and superintendent of the Sunday school for more than twenty years, making him one of the oldest Sunday school superintendents in the state. He is also an active member of the Y. M. C. A. and the Muscatine Commercial club. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias,  Knights of the Maccabees and Woodmen of the World.

On the 12th of August, 1869, Mr. Hoopes was married to Phena Thompson, daughter of Philip Thompson, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Louisa county. Two children were born to them: Frank Everett, born April 29, 1870, and Fred Philip, born November 11, 1872. They assist their father in the management of the farms and the conducting of their large shipping and commission business. he family has a beautiful home on Beach Grove avenue, a mile and three quarters below the postoffice, on the west bank of the Mississippi river.

Source:  Biographies and Portraits of the Progressive Men of Iowa. Gue, B.F. Des Moines:
Conaway & Shaw Publishers, 1899.  p. 426

In 1886 Doctor Horn came to the United States, and reached West Liberty, Iowa, May 22, 1886, and in August of the same year reached Aurora, Nebraska, where for the following six years he was engaged  in working at different jobs he could secure, all the while saving his money with a definite object in view, that of preparing himself for the profession of medicine. In 1894 he entered the Manhattan Agricultural College, Manhattan, Kansas, and continued a student of that institution for three years.  His professional training was gained in the Topeka, Kansas, Medical College, from which he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Immediately thereafter he entered upon the practice of his profession in Morrowville, Washington County, Kansas, where he continued until 1918.

Doctor Horn has the distinction of having been the first of his profession at Morrowville to offer his services to the United States government during the World war, and he was called to the colors April 2, 1918. Commissioned a lieutenant of the Medical Corps, he was trained for overseas service and at  the time of his honorable discharge he was placed in the Medical Reserve Corps of the United States army, with the rank of captain, which position he still holds. He was assigned to Post Hospital at Fort Riley, Kansas and remained there eighteen months, including one year after the armistice. Upon his return to civilian life he located at Bethany and here he has built up a very large and valuable practice, and won the confidence of all with whom he is associated.

In 1914 Doctor Horn took passage on the steamship California for Germany with the intention of  visiting his mother and taking post-graduate courses. On June 28, 1914, he was shipwrecked off the coast of Ireland, but was rescued by the steamship Casandria, a Donaldson Line vessel. The outbreak of the World war prevented his carrying out his plans for study or his immediate return to the United  States, and for three months he was unable to communicate with his family.

In 1906 Doctor Horn married in Washington, Kansas, Miss Mary Maude Smith, a daughter of James B. and Mary Smith, farming people, who had twelve children. Doctor and Mrs. Horn have one daughter,  Hildreth Horn, who was born in Morrowville, Kansas, in 1906. She first attended school in Morrowville and later was a student of Bethany High School, from which she was graduated. At present she is attending Cotner College, preparing for medical work.

Doctor Horn is a Republican in political faith. The Christian Church has in him a conscientious  member. He is a Scottish Rite and Shriner Mason, and while a resident of Washington County was very active in the work of the Young Men's Christian Association. Both he and his wife are active factors in the life of Bethany, and they have many warm personal friends among its citizens, as they  did in their old home in Kansas. They are very proud of their daughter and are in thorough sympathy with her plans for the future, for they realize that she is fitted for medical work, and that in it she can accomplish much for humanity.

Source:  Nebraska: the Land and the People: Volume 2,   page 251

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879 Moscow Twp

Source: Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1949, p. 1331

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879 Wilton Twp

Source:  HISTORY OF EARLY CHICAGO:  MODERN CHICAGO AND ITS SETTLEMENT, EARLY CHICAGO, AND THE NORTHWEST BY ALBERT D. HAGER  page 699

Reared on the home farm Everett A. Houston early learned what it meant to work and economize, as well as intelligently plan. He assisted his father in the farm work, attended the district schools and finally became a student in Cornell, Iowa, College,. His professional training was acquired under the preceptorship of Frank R. Willis of Aurelia, Iowa, and in October, 1883, he was admitted to the bar of Cherokee County, Iowa.

The early '80s brought many enterprising young men to Nebraska, then attracting considerable attention from the country at large, and in the fall of 1884 Everett A. Houston joined the westward trend and located at Niobrara, which presented to him sufficient inducements to secure him as a permanent resident. His faith in its future has been justified, and he has never regretted his decision in its favor.   While, however, it has afforded him the openings he desired, he has in turn accomplished much for it,  and the city is much the better for his having come to it. A stalwart Republican, he soon, took the place within its ranks to which his ability and zeal entitled him, and he was elected attorney of Knox County, and served very acceptably in that office. As above stated, he has been city attorney of Niobrara for twenty years, and he has been a member of the different committees of his party at various times, and was tendered the office of delegate to the national convention of his party several  times, but declined the honor. The Masonic fraternity holds his membership, and he belongs to the Northeastern Nebraska Bar Association.

Mr. Houston married Miss Sarah A. McCulla, of Iowa, a daughter of James McCulla. Mrs. Houston  was educated in Muscatine, Iowa, and was a teacher in the public schools of Niobrara prior to her marriage. She is quite prominent in fraternal and club circles, belonging to the Eastern Star, of which  she is a past matron, and she belongs to the Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Houston have had the following children born to them: Ruth Alice, who is a student of the Niobrara High School; and Everett  T., who was graduated from the Niobrara High School, Cutler Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the University of Texas. He was admitted to practice at the bar of Nebraska in 1917. During the World war he served overseas for eighteen months as a private, and upon his return to the United  States was honorably discharged, and is now engaged in practice with his father. He is unmarried.    While the firm of Houston & Houston are particularly well versed in corporation law, and are attorneys for the Farmers Union Co-operative Association and other corporations, they also carry on a general civil and criminal practice and have a fair share of the important jurisprudence in their part of the state.

Source:  Nebraska the Land and the People: Volume 3   page 342

By birth he was a Hoosier, as he was born in Indiana, where his father, Cornelius Howard, a native of Pennsylvania, had first located in his westward trend, but later went to Iowa, and, locating in the vicinity of Muscatine,  there lived until claimed by death. He married Jane Morris, a member of the family that came to the  New World on the Mayflower, and which still has the Morris coat of arms brought here from England.

Zarelda Ray was a daughter of Benjamin Ray, a native of Arkansas, where his family were pioneers, and four of his sons were killed during the war between the states while they were serving in the Confederate army. She, too, is deceased, having passed away many years ago. Both she and her husband were Universalists in religious faith. Titus J. Howard is the oldest son. One brother, William G., unmarried, is practicing law in Springdale, Arkansas. There were four sisters, namely: Naney, who married David Cozard, has five children, and all are in California; Ida, who married George Grammer, has six children; Lillian, who is unmarried; and Eva.

As a boy Mr. Howard was remarkably alert and vigorous, both mentally and physically, and the discipline of his youthful years was moral as well as mental, and he was carefully reared. Until he was sixteen years old he attended the public schools, completing his school days at Malcom, after which he began working for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad on section construction, and in the course of time his faithfulness was rewarded by promotion to the position of foreman. After three years he began buying grain for the firm of Kendall & Smith of Lincoln, Nebraska, and continued as one of its buyers for seven years. Mr. Howard then began the study of law in the office of M. B. Gearon, of Greeley, and was admitted to the bar in 1895, and entered at once upon the practice of his profession in Greeley. In 1904 he was elected county attorney, serving for two terms, and in 1920 he was once  more elected to this office, and has held it ever since. In 1910 he was elected to the Lower House of  the Nebraska State Legislature, and served as a member of that body for one term. It is worthy of  mention that these honors have been accorded to Mr. Howard, a Protestant, in a strongly Catholic community, and are therefore all the more appreciated, for such support proves that he has been selected because his neighbors have faith in him, his ability and integrity. During the late war he was on the local Legal Advisory Board and the local Draft Board, was active in all of the drives, and as a fourminute speaker was kept busy all over the county, his eloquence and forceful sincerity producing very effective responses.

On June 12, 1887, Mr. Howard married at Lincoln, Nebraska, Sarah Elizabeth Sapp, a daughter of James and Jane (Dooley) Sapp, the latter of whom died in 1920. The former, a farmer of Ohio, enlisted in a regiment of Ohio infantry, served in the Union army during the war between the states and was  twice  wounded, and taken prisoner. His hardships and exposure resulted in his death when his daughter was a baby. The children born to James Sapp and his wife included: Electuse, who is a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Missouri, is married and has two children; Kizzie,  who married Oscar Weyent, has four children; James, who is deceased, married Anna Timmons. Mr.  and Mrs. Howard have one child, a son, Ray, who married a Miss Anderson, who died and left two children, Helen and Maxine, both of whom are with Mr. and Mrs. Howard. The family are all  Methodists. Mr. Howard is a Chapter Mason, and he is a past master of the Blue Lodge, in which he  has held all of the chairs, and he is now grand select master. Both in the Legislature and during the  time he has been county attorney Mr. Howard has but confirmed the high opinion held of him by his fellow citizens, and his fine record stands as a memorial to him and his faithfulness to the oath of office.

Source:  Nebraska: the Land and the People: Volume 2,   page 276

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879 City of Muscatine

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879

Source: The History of Muscatine County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, 1879