W. S. Wamsley

WAMSLEY, SWIM, BAIRD, CAROWAY, PARKS, WYKOFF, MOORE, RICHARDS, KIRKER, ILGENFRITZ, NEAL, FOWLE

Posted By: Diane Wilson (email)
Date: 5/27/2004 at 22:22:51

W. S. Wamsley was born in Adams county, Ohio, September 19, 1828, his parents being John and Sarah (Swim) Wamsley. When but a small boy he removed with the family, to Iroquois county, Illinois, where the mother died, leaving four children – Malon B., William S., John N., and Melissa J., now the wife of Colonel Harlon Baird, of Dakota county, Nebraska. The family then returned to Adams county, Ohio. The father subsequently married Mrs. Sarah Caroway, nee Parks. Soon after the four children named, commenced the battle of life alone.
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William S. worked for at time at farming for different parties. He subsequently entered the employ of Jesse Wykoff – owner of a steam saw mill – whom he served until he reached his twentieth year. Mr. Wamsley being energetic and ambitious, decided to engage in business for himself. He therefore, with his brother, Malon B., purchased a one-half interest in the mill, which did not prove a success, and in 1850 William S. accompanied by his younger brother John N., boarded a steamboat at Cincinnati, and started out in search of a location on the western frontier.
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Arriving at Dubuque, they at once set out on foot, for the Turkey river, where the country, not meeting their expectations, they turned their steps southward and soon arrived in Washington county, Iowa. Here they met Henry Moore, son of Aaron Moore – better known as Uncle Aaron – the early settler of the Shell Rock valley, who wished some help in taking a drove of cattle into Bremer county. As he gave a very glowing description of the country, they concluded to assist him providing he would bear the expense.
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They found immigration brisk, and during the month of May Mr. Wamsley helped a German erect a cabin a little north of the present site of Waverly – the first cabin in that vicinity. After wandering about a few days Uncle Aaron and W. S. Wamsley concluded to explore “Coon Prairie,” of which the former had heard trappers speak. They started on horse-back, and, after a few hours ride, they reached their destination, and finding the country, without doubt, the finest they had ever seen, Mr. Wamsley at once concluded to settle.
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As the land was not yet in market, he returned to Ohio, leaving his brother in the employ of Uncle Aaron. On the twentieth day of February, 1851, he was married to Miss Ann Eliza Richards, daughter of Sampson and Elsie (Kirker) Richards. In March Mr. Wamsley and bride, accompanied by his half brother, Martin VanBuren Wamsley, better known in Butler county as “Van” Wamsley, started with a team for the western frontier.
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At Muscatine they met Malon B. Wamsley and family, who had come to that place by steamboat. From thence they journeyed on together, arriving at Uncle Aaron’s about April twentieth, and on the twenty-sixth of said month W. S. Wamsley locate d on the northeast quarter of section 12, Jackson township, where he still resides.
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W. S. and Malon B. Wamsley were poor men, having but one team of horses and a wagon which they had brought from Ohio. They each purchased a cow, a pig and a few chickens; these, with a few household goods, comprised their personal property. They each also purchased eighty acres of land at $1.25 per acre, and this took the balance of their cash.
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The summer of 1851 proved to be a very wet season and it was often very difficult to get to market. In June W. S. Wamsley started for Muscatine; when he arrived at Marion it was raining. Purchasing a few goods he started back. He found the streams so swollen that was compelled to fasten the box onto the running gear to keep it from floating away while crossing. During the summer in order to cross the Cedar River, he often had to take the wagon apart, transfer it across on canoes, and swim the horses to the opposite shore.
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In the winter of 1851-2 he made a wooden mortar, and in this crushed their corn for bread-stuff. This, with a few potatoes and a small amount of meat, constituted their provisions. After the fist year, however, they fared better, as they raised wheat, and this they could get ground at Cedar Falls, but had to do the bolting by hand.
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Mr. Wamsley has given his attention almost exclusively to farming, and has met with marked success. He now owns over four hundred acres of well improved land. He is one of the founders of the Butler county bank, and for many years served as on of its directors. In politics he is a democrat and has held local offices. Mr. and Mrs. Wamsley have had nine children, six of whom are now living – Didama J., now Mrs. A. J. Ilgenfritz, Alvira, now Mrs. John Neal, Isolina, now Mrs. Fowle; Wylie C., Amy and Ida.
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Source: History of Butler and Bremer Counties, Iowa
Union Publishing Co., Springfield, IL, 1883
Pages 493 - 495