Keokuk County Iowa IAGenWeb - 1903 Biography

ANDREW GARRETT

Among the representatives of the agricultural interests of Keokuk county that Virginia has furnished to this state is Andrew Garrett, who was born in Morgan county of the Old Dominion on the 22d of March, 1836. His father, Silas Garrett, was also a native of that state, where he spent his early childhood, and then went with his parents to Kentucky, where he remained with his father until his marriage. He wedded Elizabeth Cheatam, a native of Kentucky, and they became the parents of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, as follows: Jeremiah, John and Milton, all deceased; Eliza J., the wife of Caleb Reynolds of Delta; Robert, deceased; James H.; Mary, the widow of Sam White; Andrew; Laurael, who has departed this life; Eliza; and William. All of the children were born in Iowa, with the exception of the first named, who was born in Kentucky. For, a time the father resided in Indiana, but leaving that state he came with his family to Iowa, locating in Jefferson county, near Fairfield, making his home on a farm there for nine years. He then came to Keokuk county and settled on a farm in Washington township. Here he purchased two hundred acres of land, but soon afterward sold that tract and bought another farm in the same township. The second farm he subsequently sold and then went to live with his daughter, Mrs. Reynolds, dying at her home at the advanced age of ninety-three years. He was always a staunch Republican from the formation of the party and was at one time a member of the Christian church, but later in life joined the United Brethren church. His life was honorable and upright and he left to his family the priceless heritage of an untarnished name.

Andrew Garrett spent his childhood days in Indiana, remaining with his parents until about twenty-two years of age, when, desiring to have a home of his own, he completed his arrangements for this by his marriage to Miss Hester Crocker, a native of Pennsylvania, in which state she spent her early childhood, remaining with her parents until her marriage. Eleven children have been born to them, six sons and five daughters, of whom eight are yet living, namely: Marion; Thomas A.; Elizabeth, the wife of Perry Nelson of Deep River, Iowa; Samuel E.; Grant; Frances, the wife of Delmar Hewitt; Ida May, the wife of Henry Bell; and Earnest.

After his marriage Mr. Garrett located upon a farm of eighty acres in Washington township and made his home thereon for two years. He then removed to the farm where he now lives and at one time had a large tract of land here and was extensively engaged in general farming, but of recent years he has sold all of the place with the exception of eighty acres, which he has under a high state of improvement, equipped with the accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century. His farm work has been the means of bringing to him a comfortable competence and his career has been a prosperous one, owing to his diligence and capable management. When age gave him the right of franchise he cast his ballot for the men and measures of the Republican party and has since followed its banner. He is a member of the Kendrick Chapel Methodist Episcopal church and is found as a friend of all measures for the promotion of the county's best interests.

ROBERT H. GEMMILL

Robert H. Gemmill is one of the highly respected citizens of South English, whose useful and well spent life has not only gained for him the confidence of his fellow men, but has also secured for him a comfortable competence which enables him to lay aside all business cares and spend his declining days in ease and retirement. His father, John Gemmill, was a native of Paisly, Scotland, and on his emigration to America in 1846 settled in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, where he followed his trade of a weaver for about two years. He then removed to Potters Mills, the same state, and remained there until 1854. His next place of residence was Milroy, Pennsylvania, where he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1887. In 1838 he was united in marriage to Miss Jane Dempster, also a native of Scotland, and they became the parents of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, who in order of birth were as follows: William; John, James W. and Maggie J., all three deceased; Annie; Robert H., our subject; Mathew, deceased; John D.; Alexander, deceased; and Kate.

Mr. Gemmill was born, reared and educated in Centre county, Pennsylvania, the date of his birth being April 9, 1850. He remained with his parents until he reached the age of nineteen years, and on leaving home came to Keokuk county, Iowa, locating in Lafayette township, where he worked at farming in the employ of others. In June, 1873, he married Miss Elizabeth Archer a native of Scotland, and to them were born two children, but both are now deceased.

After his marriage Mr. Gemmill removed to German township, where he continued to work for others until 1884, when he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which was all raw land when it came into his possession and which he improved. However, he continued with his former employer, David Archer, until 1892, when he took up his residence upon his own place and devoted his energies to its improvement and cultivation until his removal to South English in 1901. He has since lived in practical retirement, enjoying the fruits of his former toil, surrounded by all the comforts which make life worth the living.

Fraternally Mr. Gemmill is an honored member of Naphthali Lodge, No. 188, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of South English, and the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 263, of the same place. Politically he has always been identified with the Republican party since attaining his majority, and in religious belief is a Presbyterian, being an active and prominent member of his church. He is a man of upright character and is highly respected and esteemed by all who know him.

SAMUEL GILLFOY

Samuel Gillfoy, a retired mine operator, living in What Cheer, lowa, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on the 4th of January, 1828, and bears in his veins some of the best blood of our early colonists. His paiernal grandfather, Samuel Gillfoy, served with distinction as an officer in the Revolutionary war under General Washington. He was a native of Virginia and was of Scotch-Irish descent. Our subject's father, who also bore the name of Samuel Gillfoy, was born and reared in Maryland, removed to Illinois in 1840, locating near the city of Peoria in Peoria county, but later settled in Havana, Mason county, that state, where his death occurred in 1857. By occupation he was an engineer. He held membership in the Methodist Protestant church and took quite an active part in its work. Politically he was a Douglas Democrat and was honored with various city offices, being quite active and prominent in municipal affairs. He was twice married, his first wife being Mary Clements, who was also a native of Maryland and died when about twenty-seven years of age. She was of Irish lineage. The only child born of this union was our subject. For his second wife the father married Mary A. Carver, by whom he had two daughters.

When the subject of this sketch was but three years old his father removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and ten years later the family took up their residence in Illinois, where our subject grew to manhood, remaining with his father until he had attained the age of twenty. He then started out in life for himself, being first engaged in the sawmill business near Peoria for about three years. On the expiration of that period he was appointed general manager of the Kingston coal mine, which at that time was the largest in Illinois, and he filled the position of superintendent for ten years. He next engaged in the coal mining business on his own account at Mapleton, continuing there until his removal to Keokuk county, Iowa, in 1879, at the solicitation of the Turlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad Company. Locating at What Cheer he opened a mine called Shaft A, and later became general manager of all the principal mines of the place, operating them until the supply of coal was exhausted, which took about nine years. In the meantime Mr. Gillfoy had been appointed general agent for the lot association, which owned a large part of the present site of What Cheer, and he held that position until most o£ the lots were disposed of. He then opened another coal mine as general manager for C. D. Ives, but resigned at the end of nine months and retired from active business to enjoy a veil earned rest.

On the 3d of October, 1850, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Gillfoy and Miss Margaret J. Th___, who was born in Pekin, Illinois, where her childhood was passed; they have become the parents of twelve children, namely: Edward C, Hiran, Mary A., Rosa M., George, Laura, Emma, and Margaret, who are still living, while Samuel, James, Frank and Samuel, second, are now deceased. The Democratic party has always found in Mr. Gillfoy a stalwart supporter of its principles, and while lesiding in Illinois he held a number of local offices. He has also served as a member of the school board in What Cheer for twelve years, and has ever given his support to those enterprises calculated to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of his community. For half a century he has been connected with the Masonic fraternity, having attained to the twentieth degree, and he has filled all the chairs in the Blue lodge, of which he is a prominent and active member. He eminently deserves classification among the purely self-made men of the county who have distinguished themselves for their ability to master the opposing forces of life and to wrest from fate a fair measure of success and an honorable name.

C. M. GLANDON

Through a long period C. M. Glandon has been a resident of English River township, Keokuk county, where he has carried on farming with good success. He was born in this township, February 26, 1861, and represents one of the old pioneer families of the locality. His father, Stephen M. Glandon, was a native of Indiana and on emigrating westward located in English River township among the first settlers to establish homes within its borders. He secured eighty acres of school lands on which not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made, but he at once began to plow the tract and plant his crops and eventually reaped rich harvests. He afterward added two hundred and six acres more to his place and improved the entire amount. When a young man he engaged in teaching school to some extent and also followed the occupation of carpentering, but during the greater part of his life he carried on farming. He was married at Deep River to Miss Elizabeth J. Rundle, a daughter of Oliver Rundle of Deep River, Iowa. Eight children, two sons and six daughters, were bom of this union, our subject being the elder son and the fifth child. Of these Amanda died in infancy and Alma is also deceased. The others are: Emogene, the wife of Thomas Linebarger, of English River township; Laura, the wife of O. M. Worrell, a lumber dealer of North English, Iowa; C. M., of this review; Mollie, who died in early childhood; Hattie, the wife of I. Fuhrmaster; and David L. From the time when he located in Iowa in 1850 until 1897 the father resided continuously upon the old homestead. He then removed to South English, where he remained for three years, and then passed away on the 18th of October, 1900, at the age of sixty-eight. He was a prominent and influential citizen of this community and aided in organizing the first church in his township, acting as one of its trustees until his death. This was the Methodist Episcopal church of South English. His political support was always given to the Republican party and he was ever loyal and fearless in defense of what he believed to be right.

C. M. Glandon spent his early childhood days on the old home farm and acquired his early education in the district school, after which he entered Iowa College at Grinnell, Iowa, remaining there as a student for two years. When twenty-three years of age he was married, on the 1st of January 1884, to Della Noffsinger, a native of Enghsh River township, and a daughter of David Noffsinger, a farmer and an early resident of that township. The home of our subject and his wife was blessed with seven children, four sons and three daughters: Nellie, Roy, Clarence, Irene, Donald and Loran twins, and Gladys.

Mr. Glandon remained at home until his marriage, when he purchased the farm upon which he now lives, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable land. Everything about the place is neat in appearance and indicates the careful supervision of the thrifty owner. He uses the latest improved machinery and all modern equipments and his farm is now a pleasing picture of the landscape. He belong to South English Camp, No. 6168, Modern Woodmen of America, and holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church of South English. Erom the time he attained his majority he has been a staunch Republican and is at present serving as assessor of English River township. Having always made his home in this locality he is widely known in this portion of the county and the circle of his friends here is an extensive one.

HUGO GOELDNER

Hugo F. Goeldner, one of the leading young attorneys of Sigourney, Iowa, was born in Clear Creek township, Keokuk county, on April 10, 1873. He was given excellent school advantages and graduated from Sigourney high school in 1894, entering immediately upon the study of law and graduating with honor from the law department of the State University in 1897. He was admitted to practice in Keokuk county and entered into partnership with his brother-in-law, A. G. Schulte, the firm name being Schulte & Goeldner, the firm only being dissolved upon the death of Mr. Schulte on January 30, 1900. In politics our subject is an active Republican and he is fraternally connected with the Royal Arch Masons. The success which he has attained in his chosen profession has been most gratifying and argues for still higher honors in the future.

JOHN G. AND FERDINAND L. GOELDNER

John G. Goeldner was born in Prussia, Germany, January 14, 1812. His parents lived and died in Germany, the mother dying when John was a boy of six or seven years. At the age of twenty-seven he married; his wife died leaving him two daughters. He married a second time, choosing Rosa Liersch as wife. In 1858 the family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Goeldner, two daughters by the first wife and two sons by the second, came to America and settled in Clear Creek township, Keokuk county, Iowa. He bought eighty acres, involving himself to some extent in debt but soon gaining a more than an ordinary income and through continued industry arriving at considerable wealth. In 1876 the family moved to Lafayette township in the same county; and there they live now (1902), Mr. Goeldner holding possession of about two hundred forty-eight acres of fine farming land. The children by his first wife are: Ernestine, widow of Charles Nauman; Hannah, wife of Fred Just. By his second wife he had the following children: John A., living in Adams county, Iowa; Frederick T., of Keokuk county; Herman, of Washington county; Henry, living in Keokuk county; Ferdinand L., living at Sigourney; Alvina, who lives at home with her parents; Mary V., widow of Herman C. Axthelm; John G., who died at the age of sixteen; and Rosa, who is still at home. He is a Republican; religiously he and his wife are of the Lutheran persuasion, both being prominent members of the church and highly respected and esteemed by
friends and acquaintances.

Ferdinand L. Goeldner has had better educational advantages than his father, in fact better advantages than most men of his age and community, and his life has been more eventful than ordinary and marked with singular success. He was born on a farm in Clear Creek township, this county, on March 5, 1864. His early education began at the little country school near his home. Later he attended the Keota high school and graduated from that institution in May, 1884. At Ames he attended the Iowa Agricultural College for two years. His was not a consecutive course of training, for at intervals he taught in the public schools. In the spring of 1889 he became deputy clerk of the district court and for four consecutive years he filled that office with universal satisfaction. In the meantime he studied law with the Hon. G. D. Woodin and on May 11, 1892, he was admitted to the bar before the supreme court of Iowa. The next day he was admitted to the United States circuit court, southern district of Iowa, at Des Moines. January I, 1893, he opened an office in Sigourney and began the practice of law. Mr. Goeldner is a Republican and an active man in his party. In 1893 he was chairman of the Republican central county committee and in the fall of 1894 was elected county attorney for Keokuk county. His party kept him in office for a second term and at the expiration of that time he resumed his law practice. Mr. Goeldner is a member of the Knights of Pythias and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is still a young man and has already met with that degree of success which indicates a brilliant future.

JOHN FREDERICK GOELDNER

Among the worthy and substantial citizens of Keokuk county, Iowa, who developed a fine farm in Clear Creek township and became one of the leading agriculturists, was the late John Frederick Goeldner, who was born in Schlesien, Germany, on April 23, 1831, and passed out of life on his farm in German township, to which he had moved about six years previously, on August 5, 1897. Mr. Goeldner was reared in his native country and there learned the trade of plasterer and acquired a fair education in the local schools. He reached America in the fall of 1852, prior to his marriage, accompanied by several of his brothers, and all for a time remained in Baltimore. It was the object of our subject, however, to obtain land in some new state and develop it and establish a home. From Baltimore he drifted to near St. Louis and finally reached Keokuk county, Iowa, where he soon purchased land in Clear Creek township. Here he went industriously to work and in the couse of years became the owner of a fine farm of three hundred and sixty acres. He was a successful man, but this success may be entirely attributed to his own efforts. At the same time that he was acquiring property and thus securing the comfort of his family, he was growing in the esteem of his fellow citizens.

In 1856 he married Theresa Nauman, who is a sister of Charles A. Nauman, elsewhere mentioned; she was born in Saxony, Germany, June 2, 1840, and accompanying her parents to America in 1853. The marriage took place in Keokuk county, Iowa, and seven children were born to them: Otto T., born October 16, 1858, who is a farmer in Clear Creek township, Keokuk county; Hulda E., May 25, 1861, died October 26, 1901; Ida M., August 20, 1863, who is the widow of A. G. Schulte; Guido H., January 21, 1866, of Clear Creek township, where he is farming; Arthur E., February 11, 1869, who is a farmer in German township; Hugo F., April 10, 1873, who is an attorney in Sigourney; and Charles M., January 29, 1877, who is a farmer on the home place, his mother residing with him there. In political sentiment Mr. Goeldner was a Republican.

THEODORE L. GOELDNER

Throughout his active business life Theodore L. Goeldner has been actively identified with the agricultural interests of Keokuk county, and is to-day numbered among the prominent farmers and stock raisers of English River township! He was born in Clear Creek township, this county, on the 17th of August, 1855, and is of German descent.

His father, John W. Goeldner, was born December 4, 1820, in the village of Breslau, Silesia, Germany, and there he grew to manhood, receiving a good practical education in the public schools of his native land. In early life he worked as a farm laborer and later was proprietor of an inn. Before leaving Germany he was married in 1846 to Miss Dora Schnered, who was also born, reared and educated in Breslau. They became the parents of five children, two sons and three daughters, of whom three are still living, our subject being the fourth child and second son in order of birth. After his marriage the father continued to reside in Germany for six years and three of his children were born there. In July, 1852, he crossed the broad Atlantic in company with his family, and on landing in the new world came at once to Keokuk county, Iowa, taking up his residence in Clear Creek township, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres of wild land. That place he improved and cultivated, being engaged in its operation throughout the remainder of his days. After a useful and well spent life he died at the home of his son Theodore in English River township at the age of sixty-six years. On becoming a naturalized citizen he joined the ranks of the Republican party and was ever afterward one of its ardent supporters, taking an active part in pohtical affairs.

On the old homestead farm in Clear Creek township Theodore L. Goeldner gained an excellent knowledge of all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, while his literary education was received in the district schools of the locality. He remained at home assisting his father in the operation of the land until twenty-five years of age. On his twenty-fifth birthday - August 17, 1880 - Mr. Goeldner married Miss Barbara Smith, who was born in German township and was there reared and educated. Unto them was born one child, who died in infancy, and the wife and mother died at her home near Webster in English River township on the 31st of January, 1884. Our subject was again married, June 8, 1886, his second union being with Miss Sarah J. Boehne, a native of Washington county, Iowa, where her childhood was passed and her education received. Her father, William Boehne, was born in Germany and on coming to this country became a farmer of Washington county, Iowa. Two children were born of the second marriage of Mr. Goeldner, a son and daughter. The latter is still living but the son died in infancy.

After his first marriage Mr. Goeldner bought a farm in English River township, consisting of one hundred and fifty-one acres of improved land, and he subsequently purchased ninety-eight acres more, all of which he still owns, it being his home at the present time. He has placed this land under a high state of cultivation and has made many improvements thereon which add greatly to its value and attractive appearance.

On attaining his majority Mr. Goeldner became identified with the Republican party, but is now a pronounced Democrat. He is widely and favorably known throughout the county where his entire life has been passed, and commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact either in business or social life. Since 1891 he has been interested in the raising of fine stock, making a specialty of Aberdeen Angus cattle and at present has a herd of about thirty head of pure blooded stock. He also owns a thoroughbred Shire stallion.

JAMES A. GREENLEE

James A. Greenlee, of Richland, has for years been one of the prominent stock dealers of his section, and is still carrying on an extensive trade in this line. He not only speculates in cattle, but raises and breeds some of the finest in his state. Having invested a large amount of the proceeds of his business in real estate he is also a large landowner; in fact he is one of the largest in the county. Mr. Greenlee comes of a family of pioneer settlers. His grandfather came from Pennsylvania in the early days and settled in Kentucky. His father, John Greenlee, was an energetic man, who assisted in the opening of this county to settlers. Born in Kentucky, in 1807, he spent his early days in that state. In 1841 he moved to Miami county, Ohio, where he remained for about four years. Later, in 1845, he decided to cast his lot with the men who were gaining possession of the rich lands of Iowa. Coming to Keokuk county, he purchased land of George Cook, of Sigourney, a fine tract three-fourths of a mile from Blackhawk Mills in the township of Clear Creek. Here he spent many years in clearing and improving his land, and became one of the most successful farmers in the region. He spent the last seven years of his life in Richland township, four miles north of Richland, and died at the age of sixty-seven. During his young manhood he married Nancy Bleyn, who was born in Kentucky in 1807. She died in the same year as her husband, 1874. By this marriage there were seven children, two sons and five daughters, James A. being the third child and the oldest son.

James A. Greenlee was born in Lewis county, Kentucky, March 4, 1838, and was but seven years old when the parents came to Iowa. It was therefore in the new township of Clear Creek that he received his rearing and the training for his lifework. Here in a little log schoolhouse he obtained his education, acquiring habits of self-reliance and alertness, which were of value to him in later years. After leaving school he remained at home for some time, assisting in the management of his father's farm. While living here he married Sarah John, and among their children was a son named John, who is now in business with his father. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Gieenlee settled upon a farm in the township of Richland, five miles north of the city of that name. Here he engaged in general farming and gradually worked into the stock-raising business. Investing in thoroughbreds he made a specialty of breeding them, and in time began shipping them to eastern markets. Fairfield in Jefferson county is one of the shipping points in his vicinity, and from this place he annually shipped large droves of cattle. As his stock has been among the best put on the market it has always commanded for him a high price. His general farming he has by no means neglected, and his crops have been large and among the best in the county. He has from time to time purchased new land and now owns about five hundred acres of rich land, which is well improved and largely under cultivation. For twenty-four years he has been a resident of Richland and now owns one of the handsomest residences in the vicinity.

Mr. Greenlee is a public spirited man, who has all his life helped to further both by word and deed the up-building of all beneficial industries in his section. He is popular in his county and has filled local offices with eminent ability. He has pronounced political convictions and affiliates with the Gold Democrats. Fraternally he has belonged to the Free and Accepted Masons for thirty-six years, and for eighteen years has served as treasurer of his lodge, exercising both wisdom and marked fidelity in the discharge of his duties. There are probably but few better known or more highly esteemed men in the county than Mr. Greenlee.

DAYTON GREESON

Dayton Greeson, a wealthy citizen of Richland, now living in retirement at his handsome residence, which he erected in 1902, has made his money in the stock-raising business, and the profitable agricultural industry of his county. Coming here in the early days, when quite young, he grew up with the country, and becoming well acquainted in the vicinity, secured in his young manhood some of the best land in the market. Here he made his home and his fortune. He was born in Morgan county, Indiana, September 25, 1845, and is the son of Levi and Louisa (May) Greeson.

His grandfather, George Greeson, was of German descent, but was born and reared in North Carohna, and there upon reaching manhood he married. He resided in this state for some time after his marriage, but later moved to Indiana. By occupation he was a farmer, and very successful in his line. Levi Greeson, father of Dayton, possessed the energy and force of character which eminently fitted him for pioneer life, and in Keokuk county, which in the early days he took a hand in opening to settlers, he was favorably known and long remembered. Born in North Carolina, he was but nine years old when his parents moved to Indiana. It was in this new country that he was mainly reared and educated. Here in Morgan county upon reaching manhood he married Louisa May, who was born in North Carolina, daughter of George Daniel May, also born in North Carolina, who in later life became a pioneer settler of Keokuk county, Iowa. Mrs. Greeson was of German descent. She died in Keokuk county. To her and her husband were bom six children, four daughters and two sons; four are now living. Soon after his marriage, in 1848, Mr. Greeson came to Iowa and in Keokuk county purchased forty acres of good land and settled down as a farmer. He made many improvements on his property, and in time it became very valuable. He lived to the age of sixty-seven years. As a man of influence in the new settlement, he took an active interest in public affairs, and served very efficiently as trustee of his township for some time. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, where he was a zealous worker.

Dayton Greeson, being but three years old when his parents settled in the township of Richland, Keokuk county, was mainly reared in that vicinity. Here, in the little log schoolhouse, which stood one and one-half miles east of Richland, and in. the schools of Richland he received his education, which has served him well for all practical business purposes. For some time after leaving school he assisted his father on the home place. Then, March 8, 1868, he married Eliza Greenlee, who was born in Clear Creek township, Keokuk county, Iowa, August 27, 1848, youngest of the seven children of John and Nancy (Blue) Greenlee. Like her husband she was reared in the county, and received her education in one of the log schoolhouses. To Mr. and Mrs. Greeson have been born ten children, six living and four dead: Grant, who has never married and lives at home; John L., who married Harriet Sellars, a livery man in Richland; Martin Levi, who married Cora Mitts, and is engaged in farming on the home place; William, also a farmer, married Mollie O. Swalt; Lulu, who has never married and lives at home; Frankie, who also lives at home; and the following are deceased: Harry; Wayte G.; Mary H.; and one child who died in infancy.

Soon after his marriage Mr. Greeson settled upon a farm four miles north of the town of Richland, where he engaged in farming very successfully for seven years. Then finding a more desirable location one and one-half miles north of the village, he purchased it and moved there. Here he spent the best years of his life. Having by this time accumulated some wealth he erected, in 1883, a substantial house and barn at the cost of about five thousand dollars. Here he began stock raising, arid in 1889 undertook the breeding of short-horn cattle. Of these he made a specialty for some years, and shipping them to eastern markets, secured good prices. Keeping himself well informed upon everything pertaining to stock raising, he met with few, if any, drawbacks in his business and realized from it in time immense profits. Having from time to time made new land purchases he now owns four hundred acres of the best land in Richland township.

For over fifty-four years Mr. Greeson has been a resident of the county, and having kept steadily on the rising plane through life, he has won the confidence and respect of his community at large. He has achieved success in life mainly by confining his efforts to one particular field of labor.

Mr. and Mrs. Greeson are members of the Methodist church, and in politics he is a staunch Republican.

HENRY GROTHE

Father Henry Grothe, who is pastor of St. Elizabeth's church at Harper, Iowa, was born at West Point, in Lee county, this state, on the 26th of December, 1863, and is the oldest of the seven children of Henry and Elizabeth (Grabenschroer) Grothe, both of whom were natives of Germany and came to America in early life. The mother crossed the Atlantic in 1860 and in 1854 the father had made the same voyage. He is a farmer and basket-maker and is now about eighty years of age, while .his wife has reached the age of sixty-seven years. They are yet residents of Lee county.

Henry Grothe was reared in his native county until eighteen years of age. He entered the Catholic schools and further continued his education in St. Francis Seminary, near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was there ordained in 1890 and for three months acted as substitute priest at West Point, Iowa. Later he spent seven months as assistant at Fort Madison, Iowa, and three months at Portsmouth, Shelby county, this state. Later he was assigned to the pastorate of the Catholic church in Richmond, Washington county, Iowa, where he remained until October, 1896, when he came to Harper, where he has since continued. The church here has a membership of one hundred and twenty families and is the largest Catholic church in the county. There is also a school conducted in connection with the church. The present house of worship was erected in 1883 and the school was built in 1900, while the pastoral residence was erected in 1885. Father Grothe is popular with his people and well known and highly respected among other denominations. He labors untiringly for the advancement of the cause he represents and under his guidance the church at Harper has made satisfactory growth.

[For more on St. Elizabeth's, go to Harper Centennial Book Churches and Cemeteries page.]

WILLIAM W. GWIN

It is now our privilege and pleasure to trace the life of one of Keota's most honored citizen from the time his grandfather came to this country over a century ago, until the present, when the grandson after a successful life is spending his remaining days in peaceful contemplation of the past and hope of the future. Isaam Gwin, grandfather of William W. Gwin, was a native of Ireland; his wife was Mary Canteberry; he left the land of his birth when very young, and settled with his wife in Tennessee about the time it became a state. By trade he was a miller and by profession a Baptist preacher. Although a slave holder, the practice was abhorrent to his nature, and in 1820 he freed his slaves and moved to Indiana, that he might be in a state opposed to slavery, and in this state he died. He was the father of ten children, the father of our subject being the ninth child and the youngest son.

R. W. Gwin, the father of Wlliam W., and an early settler of Iowa, was born on his father's homestead in Tennessee on January 30, 1804, and there his boyhood was passed, and he received such educational advantages as were then to be had. He was not yet twenty years old when his father removed to the free state of Indiana. There he was married when twenty-one years of age and five years later moved to Illinois and occupied a farm of one hundred and sixty acres east of the Illinois river. In 1831, crossing the Illinois, he settled on another farm of one hundred and sixty acres and remained there about five years. His next move was across the Mississippi into Des Moines county, Iowa, where he lived for two years; then for five years he was in Louisa county, and in 1843 he bought, in Washington county, four hundred acres of land from the government, which he improved and cultivated until 1858. Then emigrating with part of his family to Kansas, he settled on five hundred acres of partly improved land, on which he built a house and made many improvements; about 1878 he moved further south to Montgomery county, Kansas, purchasing a fine farm and town property in Independence, and here in 1885 he ended his long and useful life. He was a Republican in politics and a member of the Sons of Temperance. His wife was Nancy Watkins, born in 1807 in Kentucky, where she was reared and educated; her parents were John and Mary Watkins, who removed to Indiana about the same time Mr. Gwin's father did. Mr. and Mrs. Gwin were the parents of fifteen children, five boys and ten girls. One child died in 1843, and from then on until 1885 the family was unbroken by death. The children are as follows: Mary (deceased), William W., Jane, Sarah, Martha (deceased), John, Louisa, Nancy (died in 1843), Ehzabeth, Marguerette, CaroHne, Anna, Richard, Martin, and Walter.

Our immediate subject, WilHam W. Gwin, whose father and grandfather we have just sketched, was born in Indiana on September 29, 1827, and so was nine years old when his father crossed the Mississippi river into Iowa. And in 1858, when his father removed to Kansas, he had already acquired a fine farm of two hundred acres in Washington county. He had purchased his land from the government between the years 1847 and 1855 and had brought it into a fine state of cultivation. In 1885 Mr. Gwin moved to Keokuk county and bought a house and lot in Keota, and retired from active farming. For two years he was engineer in a flour mill, and in 1889 he engaged in the lumber business by buying out the old Hinkle lumber yard. This venture proved very successful, and later he took in S. S. Wright as partner; in 1895 he sold his interest to his partner and has since lived retired, having well earned a rest and freedom from business cares.

Mr. Gwin was married in 1851 to Catherine Bush, who was born in 1833 in Ohio, where she remained till she was thirteen years old; she is the daughter of Absalom Bush and Violet Arnold, who came to Iowa and settled on a farm in 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Gwin were the parents of ten children, six boys and four girls: Joshua (deceased), Anderson (deceased), Nathan A., Violet (deceased). Smiley (deceased), Ella May, Williard D., Nora A., Lillie, and Orley.

Mr. Gwin is a charter member of Masonic Lodge, No. 96, at Richmond. He is a charter member of the Christian church at Keota, helped to build it, and among the first officers of the church he was chosen the first elder and the third trustee, and is now also president of the official board. As a Republican he has served as a member of the city council. His life spent in varied activity has reflected honor not only upon himself but upon those with whom he has lived.