Samuel Waters
A native of Allamakee county, Samuel Waters was born in Ludlow
township on June 27, 1873, and has devoted practically all of his
active life to agricultural pursuits, now owning a valuable farm
of one hundred and twenty acres near Postville. His parents were
Samuel and Catherine (Lyons) Waters, the former a native of
County Wicklow, Ireland, where he was born on May 26, 1833, and
the latter born not far from Dayton, in Montgomery county, Ohio,
on August 6, 1845. When sixteen years of age the father came with
his parents to the new world, the family making settlement at
Pittsburg. Samuel Waters had already worked in the lead mines of
Ireland and took up similar work near Pittsburg, continuing so
until 1852, when he came west to Iowa and purchased land from the
government in Ludlow township. For thirty years he resided
thereon, bringing it to a high state of cultivation, and then
made removal to Clayton county, having put his old homestead into
pasture. There he operated a farm of several hundred acres until
1891, when he returned to the homestead, where he remained for
another seventeen years active in its cultivation, when he went
to Frankville, Winneshiek county, where he now lives retired. The
mother passed away on February 7, 1910. Mr. Waters, Sr., had been
previously married to Miss Anna Overholt, by whom he had four
children. Of the second marriage eight children were born. In the
acquirement of his education Samuel Waters attended district
school for three terms in Ludlow township and subsequently the
district schools of Clayton county. He remained at home until
about twenty years of age, when he hired rented land in Ludlow
township, successfully cultivating it for two years, and then
removed to Emmet county, Iowa, where for ten years he rented,
returning at the end of that time in order to assist his father
for two years with his work on the old homestead. He then bought
one hundred and twenty acres of land where he now lives. The farm
was but partially improved at that time but he has since brought
it to a high state of productivity, has erected a modern and
comfortable residence, a substantially built barn and other
necessary buildings which greatly increase the value of the
property. He engages in general farming and in addition to his
holdings rents eighty acres, which he also operates. He is a
stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Store at Postville and
also in the Cooperative Creamery.
On March 13, 1895, Mr. Waters married Miss Jennie Hughes, who was
born near Red Cloud, Nebraska, on November 21, 1873, her parents
being Frank and Emily (Early) Hughes. The father is a native of
Indiana and the mother was born in Post township, this county.
Mr. Hughes always followed agricultural pursuits, coming from
Indiana to this county and later removing to Nebraska. About 1890
he proceeded to Oklahoma, where he took up government land,
retaining his Nebraska land, and he now lives at Hartwell,
Arkansas, still active in his occupation. The mother passed away
in 1884. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Hughes were three
children, of whom Mrs. Waters is the oldest. Mr. and Mrs. Waters
have one daughter, Clara Catherine, born August 6, 1902. The
religious faith of Mr. Waters is that of the United Brethren
church and he is helpful in its work and expansion. Politically
he is independent, giving his support of the best men available
without considering party affiliations. However he inclines
toward the prohibition party, taking a firm stand upon matters
which concern the liquor question. While he has attained success,
he has been a factor for good in his community and has
contributed towards the upbuilding of moral and intellectual
standards as well as to agricultural development.
-transcribed by Cathy Joynt-Labath
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