Keokuk County Iowa IAGenWeb - 1903 Biography

CRISLEY TERRELL

Crisley Terrell, a prosperous agriculturist of Lancaster township, also engaged in the deep well business, possesses those sterling traits of character, a large capacity for work, sound judgment, and a willingness to make the most of what life offers him, which in themselves insures success to a man at every step in life. Like many of the farmers of the vicinity, he came here in the early days, and has taken a keen interest in the growth of the community and all the civilizing influences brought to bear upon it.

Mr. Terrell comes of good stock and is the son of Robert R. Terrell who was born in Virginia and who, in the early days, about 1810, settled in Ohio. Here as a bricklayer he carried on a lucrative business for many years. Later he engaged in building, and many residences of Cincinnati were the results of his industry and supervision. Mr. Terrell was married to Barbara Miller, who was born in Ohio, and they became the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters, all of whom grew to maturity, and of whom Crisley was the youngest. Mr. Terrell died in 1846, and his wife's death occurred in Indiana many years later.

Crisley Terrell was born in Fayette county, Ohio, April 28, 1846, and at the early age of five months, by the death of his father, was deprived of that parent's fostering care. He remained at home with his mother, however, until he was twenty-one years old, and received a good common school education, and was disciplined to habits of industry and attention, which had not a little to do with his future success in life. With little, if anything, but his own hands to depend upon, he came to Keokuk county in 1868 and hired out as a farm laborer. Attending strictly to business, he found no difficulty in holding positions, and continued this line of work for two years, receiving his wages by the month. Ambitious for something better, at the end of this period he rented a farm and settled down to work for himself. In 1869 he married Lucretia Reed, who was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, and in 1855, when nine years old, came with her parents, Park and Lorana Reed, to Keokuk county, where the family afterward resided. To Mr. and Mrs. Terrell have been born nine children, five of whom have been married, as follows: Park, in business with his father, and a resident of Sigourney, married to Elva Fair; Mattie, married to Charles W. Arganbright, and they reside in the city of What Cheer; Gusta, a resident of Primghar, Iowa, married to C. W. Martin; Annis, married to C. L. Beall, a farmer of Lancaster township; Mary has taught school since she was seventeen years old without missing one term, and recently married Dr. Floyd G. Bott, of Iowa City. The other children are: Lottie; Edna Fern, who is now deceased; Georgia; and Avery, who is in business with his father.

Mr. Terrell met with most excellent results as a farm tenant and continued on the rented place until 1899. Then, having saved considerable money, he invested in his present farm, a splendid eighty-acre tract of well improved land in Lancaster township. This place, which he has come into possession of by his own thrift and industry, is one of the most productive in the vicinity, and here he is still carrying on a flourishing industry. Besides attending to his farming he has for some time been engaged in the deep well business. The industry has proved a profitable one and he has taken in as partners his sons Park and Avery. The firm, known as Terrell & Sons, has an excellent reputation throughout the county, where it is doing a large business.

Mr. Terrell has for thirty-four years been a resident of the county, and during that time has always evinced a keen interest in public affairs. He is especially interested in the establishment of good schools and the furthering of higher education. He is liberal in local politics, but in national affairs always votes the Democratic ticket. Fraternally he affiliates with the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

JAMES J. TERRELL

One of the honored citizens and distinctively representative business men of the thriving village of Ollie, which is located in Jackson township, Keokuk county, is Mr. Terrell, and his progressive and public spirited attitude has greatly benefited this section of the county, in whose industrial and civic advancement he has ever shown marked interest. James J. Terrell was born in Fayette county, Ohio, on the 6th of June, 1848, being a son of Samuel C. Terrell, who was born in Virginia in February, 1802. The latter's father, Samuel Terrell, was likewise a native of Virginia and was a member of the Society of Friends. By reason of his great repugnance to the institution of slavery, which so greatly obtained in his native state, he emigrated thence to Ohio in an early day, his son Samuel C. being at the time a mere child, and he was numbered among the pioneers of Highland county, having located on the site of the present village of Leesburg. He there reclaimed and developed an excellent farm, and it may be noted that he had one of the most extensive maple-sugar camps in that section, which still continues to be celebrated for its products in this line. He was finally compelled to abandon this farm, the government authorities deciding that this and other land in the vicinity was the property of the heirs of General Lee, a distinguished officer of the Revolution. Mr. Terrell then purchased another tract of land in the same locality and also brought this under effective cultivation.

On that farm the father of our subject was reared, amid the environments of pioneer life, and after his marriage he continued to make his home in that locality for several years, his first wife dying there, in 1844. They became the parents of three children, all of whom are now deceased. In 1847 Samuel C. Terrell consummated a second marriage, being then united to Mrs. Malinda (Johnson) Horton, the widow of Greenbury Horton. She was born and reared in Ohio, being the daughter of Micajah and Rachel Johnson, who were pioneers of the Buckeye state, where they died, her grandfather having previously been the owner of a valuable estate in North Carolina and having been a clergyman. Samuel C. and Malinda (Johnson) Terrell became the parents of four children, of whom one died in infancy, while the three surviving are: James J., the immediate subject of this sketch; Sarah V., the wife of R. H. Cutler, of Sigourney, this county; and Samuel C. of Lancaster, Iowa. In the year 1855 Samuel C. Terrell removed with his family from Ohio to Iowa, locating in Jackson township, Keokuk county, on a farm of seventy-five acres, which he improved, and there he continued to reside until he had attained the venerable age of eighty-seven years when he retired from active affairs and thereafter made his home in Ollie, with his son James J., until his death, which occurred in April, 1889, his wife passing away in October, 1891.

James J. Terrell remained at the parental home until he had attained the age of twenty-four, and on the last day of the year, 1881, he located in Ollie where he opened a blacksmith and wagon shop, which he successfully conducted for several years. He finally established a feed mill here and afterward erected and equipped a saw-mill, conducting operations with marked success until 1895, when he disposed of his interests in the enterprises noted. Eventually, however, he again became identified with the industrial activities of the place, and he is now the owner of the planing mill and wagon and machine shops which are among the important business establishments of the town. He was the first president of the Bank of Ollie, originated the plans for its building and was chairman of the committee which had charge of the erection of the same, in which connection he drew the warrants in payment for all work done on the structure. Mr. Terrell has shown marked executive ability and keen business discrimination and he has attained a position of independence, being known as one of the substantial citizens of the county, while his course has ever been such as to retain to him unqualified confidence and esteem.

In politics Mr. Terrell has given an unswerving allegiance to the Republican party and has been an active worker in its cause, while he has ever taken a deep interest in public affairs of a local nature, and has naturally been called upon to serve in offices of trust and responsibilty. In 1894 he was elected a member of the board of county supervisors, retaining this incumbency for a period of six years, while he has held various other local offices and has been president of the school board for a long term of years. He is a member of the Baptist church at Ollie, as is also his wife, and both have taken an active part in its work. Fraternally our subject has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for the past thirty years, being a member of Kossuth Lodge, No. 32. He is also a member of the time-honored fraternity of Freemasons, in which he served his lodge as master, at various intervals, for a period of about eight years, while he also represented the same in the grand lodge of the state. He is a member of the lodge of Knights of Pythias at Ollie and also of the Mutual Benefit Association here, having been the first president of the latter.

In 1883 Mr. Terrill was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Bowersox, who was born in Pennsylvania on the 21st of September, 1851, and who accompanied her parents on their removal to Iowa when she was a child. They first located in Washington county, and when Mrs. Terrell was about sixteen years of age they came to Keokuk county. To Mr. and Mrs. Terrell have been born eleven children, their names, in order of birth, being as follows: Oscar S., Mary M. (deceased), David S., Nannie A. (deceased), Frank A., William A., James W., Gertrude A., Mary and Martha (twins, both deceased) and Charles C. (deceased).

HARVEY OLIVER TRESSLAR

Harvey Oliver Tresslar, a well known and prosperous farmer in section 7, Sigourney township, was born April 22, 1850, in Johnson county, Indiana. His father, Henry C. Tresslar, a Virginian by birth, moved with his parents to Ohio, thence to Johnson county, Indiana, where the subject of this narrative was born, and like his son, possessed marked ability as a farmer. Coming to Keokuk county from Indiana in June, 1852, and locating in section 18, Sigourney township, the father bought a farm of some four hundred acres and by thrift and able management added thereto until he found himself possessed of about eight hundred acres of fine land; enough to provide handsomely for his children as they came of age, each receiving a good farm at his generous hands. The father lived to be sixty-seven years of age and was widely known for his ability and success as a farmer and further as an influential member of the Democratic party, which he rendered invaluable assistance, always without seeking the rewards of office or personal preferment. His wife was Hannah Byrd, also a native of Virginia, who moved, however, when quite young to Ohio and lived to the ripe old age of seventy-eight. Her father, Thomas Byrd, was of German descent and also born in Virginia.

John Tresslar, grandfather of our subject, was also born and reared in the natal state of our first great President, was of good old German stock and lived to the advanced age of ninety-six. He served as a private in the war of 1812 with honor and devotion to his cause. Like his descendants, he, too, was a farmer of marked ability and at one time operated a mill in Ohio with considerable financial success.

Harvey Oliver Tresslar was the youngest of eight children, three daughters and five sons, all of whom lived to maturity. He was of the tender age of about two years when he came to Keokuk county. Here he was reared and received a good education at the Sigourney township schools. He first located in Warren township, from which he went to his present location, where he passed about five years, thence he went back to his father's home for about the same period and finally located permanently where he now lives, building himself a comfortable and inviting home, setting out a fine orchard and establishing himself among most enviable surroundings as a prosperous farmer.

On April 8, 1880, he wedded Barbara Taux of West Point, New York, who was born on November 4, 1857, and was a daughter of Joseph and Madelina Taux, both natives of Germany. She was the fourth child and second daughter of the eight children born to them and was brought to Keokuk county when only two months old and there received an excellent education in the Sigourney schools.

He has been a life long Democrat and has taken an active part in politics; for seven years he was trustee in his township; was member of the school board and has been throughout his career distinguished foi his ability and activity in affairs throughout the state and county, as well as for his integrity and business ability. He has given munificent support to the church and has in general exercised a strong influence in the direction of progress and the improvement of all things about him.

CHARLES A. TRUMBAUER, M.D.

Exacting demands are made upon the physician. Of him we demand not only a thorough knowledge of the medical science and marked skill in his profession, but also a genial nature, a sunny disposition and kindly sympathy. Dr. Trumbauer, meeting these requirements, has already gained success as a member of the medical fraternity, although he is yet a young man. He was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, November 30, 1870, and comes of a family of German lineage. His father, Addison Trumbauer, was born and reared in Pennsylvania and by occupation was a farmer. He removed to Iowa in 1884, locating in Independence, Buchanan county, on the 3d of April of that year. He now resides at Waterloo, this state. In early manhood he wedded Mary Romig, a native of Pennsylvania, who was of Holland descent and who died at the age of fifty-two years. This worthy couple were the parents of ten children, of whom five daughters and three sons are yet living.

Dr. Trumbauer is the fourth child and the second son of this family and was thirteen years of age at the time of their removal to Iowa. His education, which was begun in the schools of Pennsylvania, was continued in this state and for two years he was a student in the high school of Jesup, Iowa. When he was eighteen years of age his father gave him his time, and for five months thereafter he was employed in the insane hospital at Independence. He then entered Central College, at Pella, Iowa, where he pursued a three years' preparatory course. He then went to Kansas and entered the normal at St. John and in the fall of the same year became a student in the Keokuk Medical College, of Keokuk Iowa, where he was graduated in the spring of 1897. Dr. Trumbauer then located at Eldon, Iowa, where he remained for six months, and in August of the same year he took up his abode at Harper in Keokuk county, Iowa, where he was in practice until January, 1902, when he located at Keota. He has already won recognition here by reason of his skill in practice and his thorough understanding of the principles of the medical science.

On the 25th of March, 1897, the Doctor was united in marriage to Laura L. Bryson, a daughter of J. K. and Harriet (Dunham) Bryson. Socially the Doctor is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In his political views he is independent when casting his ballot at local elections, supporting the men whom he thinks best qualified for office. He belongs to the Baptist church and is deeply interested in everything pertaining to the general good along social, intellectual and moral lines. His professional connection is with the Keokuk County Medical Society and he now has a good practice, being recognized as one of the leading physicians of the county.

A. J. ULIN

A. J. Ulin, one of the enterprising farmers and early settlers of Keokuk county, is a native of the Buckeye state, his birth having occurred in Hardin county, Ohio, on the 27th of December, 1843. His father, A. J. Ulin, was a native of Ohio, and in the year 1849 came to Iowa, settling in Keokuk county, where he engaged in the milling business, following that pursuit for about twelve years prior to his death. He was married in his native state to Miss Elizabeth Obenour, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, and they became the parents of sixteen children, twelve sons and four daughters, of whom three sons and one daughter are yet living, namely: A. J., of this review; William W., of Seattle, Washington; John C., of Warren township; and Sarah, the wife of Jerome Shadwick. The mother of these children is still living at the advanced age of eighty-four years and now makes her home with her son John. The father was at one time a member of the Masonic fraternity and in his life exemplified its beneficent and helpful spirit. His political support was always given to the Democracy and he was a devoted and faithful member of the Christian church.

Mr. Ulin, of this review, spent his early childhood days in his native state and with his parents came to Iowa when about seven years of age. He lived at home until he had attained the age of twenty-three and early became familiar with the work of the fields. From the time that he could handle the plow he assisted in the cultivation of the crops. He was married in May, 1864, to Samaria J. Wilcox, who was born in Indiana, but was reared in Iowa, her father, Ephriam Wilcox, having been one of the early pioneer settlers of Keokuk county. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Ulin has been blessed with ten sons and two daughters, namely: Mary E., who is deceased; Andrew E.; John T.; Alfred, deceased; Elmer; James W.; George R., deceased; Jesse L.; Cora, the wife of Nason Lisk of Warren township; Clyde; Walter, deceased; and Arthur. All of the children were born in Keokuk county. They were provided with good educational privileges and have been a credit to their parents.

Soon after his marriage Mr. Ulin purchased the farm upon which he now resides, and it has since been his home. It comprises two hundred and forty acres of land under a high state of cultivation. He raises the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate, and annually the products of his fields return to him a good income. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and formerly he was identified with Keota lodge, but at the present time his membership is in Chicago Lodge No. 385, of Delta. He indorses the political views which are embodied in the platform of the Democratic party and he is a member of the Christian church. His life has ever been an honorable and upright one, and though quietly passed, his example is well worthy of emulation because he has always been found loyal to the truth and to the right.

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HON. A. M. UTTERBACK

Among the well and favorably known citizens of Keokuk county is A. M. Utterback [missing text] numbered A. M. Utterback, of Hedrick. He is a native of this county. His birth occurred in Lancaster township, April 9, i860. Of Josiah Utterback, his father, a biographical sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.

Mr. Utterback was reared on the farm and given a common school education. He remained at the parental home until he was married in 1879, Miss Julia E. Hayes becoming his wife. Her parents, J. W. and Esther (Brolliar) Hayes, were among the earliest settlers of Keokuk countv. For the three years succeeding his marriage, Mr. Utterback was engaged in farming, and then for one year was in the lumber business at Delta, Iowa. He then removed to Martinsburg, where he was engaged in the same business for a very brief period. For several years thereafter, Mr. Utterback followed agricultural pursuits together with stock raising and dealing, in Steady Run township. He left the farm in 1892 and removed to the town of Hedrick, which has since been his place of residence. In company with others he became interested in the Hedrick race course, of which he later became sole proprietor. Under his ownership and management for four years this race course became famous and yielded him good revenue, contributing at the same time materially to the up-building of Hedrick, which also became well advertised by reason of the excellent and well attended races. This business interest he sold after conducting it alone for four years. In 1902, in association with others, he was an organizer of the Hedrick State Bank, of which he has been president since its organization. For many years Mr. Utterback has extensively dealt in stock, in cattle mostly, and is reckoned among the leading stockmen of the county.

Politically he has always affiliated with the Democratic party, and as the Democratic candidate he was elected in 1901 to the lower house of the Iowa legislature as representative from the Twenty-fourth district. He has also served one term as a member of the county board of supervisors. As a citizen Mr. Utterback's course in life has been of public-spirited man. His business career has been characterized by enterprise and success. His genial disposition and pleasing manners have gained for him innumerable friends. Five children have been born into his home. Their names are Hubert, Blanche, Alta, Fred and Ruth. The family is numbered among the leaders of social circles in Hedrick, where they are held in highest esteem.

ELLIOTT UTTERBACK

Elliott Utterback has long been a resident of Lancaster township, Keokuk county, Iowa, and was born in Johnson county, Indiana, April 14, 1842, son of Corbin and Sarah (Hanks) Utterback. His father's history is recorded in the personal sketch of Josiah Utterback, elsewhere jn this work. Mr. Utterback was the seventh child and fourth son and was about eight years old at his coming to Keokuk county. He was educated in the district school of Lancaster township and assisted his father on the farm. In 1859, when in his eighteenth year he lost a leg, but notwithstanding he has had a successful career. He owns a fine, well improved farm of two hundred acres.

On December 14, 1869, he married Olive Beall, who was born in Holmes county, Ohio, March 15, 1847. Her father was Brooklyn Beall, a native of Maryland, and an early settler in Holmes county, Ohio, where he died at the age of forty-three. Her mother was Mary Ann Sigafoos; she as born in Pennsylvania, came when a small girl to Ohio and later, in 1865, came to Keokuk county, where she died in her seventyeighth year. She was the mother of eleven children, of whom Mrs. Utterback was the eighth. The latter was seventeen years old when she came to Keokuk county. Mr. and Mrs. Utterback located at the west end of Lancaster township. They were the parents of five sons: Lester C, married Julia Pennington, of Lancaster; Vernon D., the husband of Maud Jacobs, of Lancaster; S. Curtis, who married Florence Gladfelter and resides in Lancaster ; Chelley C, married Artie Long and lives in Lancaster; and Elver C, at home, assisting on his father's home.

Mr. Utterback holds membership in the Christian church at Lancaster and is one of its trustees. In politics he is a Democrat. He is one of the substantial old settlers of the county and has been actively interested in all the affairs pertaining to the advancement of the community.

JOSIAH UTTERBACK

Josiah Utterback has lived in Sigourney since 1892. He was born on a farm in Johnson county, Indiana, May 15, 1834. His parents were Corbin and Sarah (Hanks) Utterback, both natives of Kentucky and early settlers of Johnson county, Indiana. In 1850 they came to Keokuk county, Iowa, settHng on a farm about three miles southeast of Sigourney. They lived there until their death; the mother passing away at the age of seventy-one and the father when nearly ninety-four years old. Of their twelve children nine are living, of which number Josiah is the eldest. Corbin Utterback was a successful farmer and extensive stock raiser. He belonged to the Democratic party.

Josiah received only a common school education and most of his life has been devoted to farming and stock raising. In 1853 he married Frances Dyer, a native of Johnson county, Indiana, and by this union they became the parents of eight children. At the time of his marriage Mr. Utterback moved to a farm in Lancaster township, this county, and here he made his home until 1892. He was one of the organizers of the Sigourney Savings Bank and became its first president. Through a period of ten years he has directed the bank's affairs with the utmost care and success, and he has- been retained at its head to the present time. Mr. Utterback is still interested in farming and still engages in the buying and selling of stock. Some time along in the eighties he wasmade treasurer of Keokuk county. He has also taken an interest in public affairs and found the Democratic principles such as he could best accept.

LANDON UTTERBACK

Landon Utterback, son of Corbin and Sarah (Hanks) Utterback, of whom mention is made in the personal sketch of Josiah Utterback elsewhere in this volume, was born September 3, 1845, and was about five years old when the family came to Iowa. In the district school of the neighborhood he received his early instructions. At an early age he began to assist on the farm and throughout his life has been a successful farmer. His farm consists of one hundred acres of finely cultivated land, on which he carries on a general farming business.

Mr. Utterback was twice married. In 1868 Hannah M. Moore became his wife and bore him one son, Allen F., a resident of Ottumwa, Iowa. His second wife was Julia J. Vittetoe, of Keokuk county, and of one of the oldest families of the county. Her father was a native of Tennessee and her mother of Kentucky, and they came to Keokuk county in 1845. Mr. and Mr. Utterback had four children: Lustella, deceased; Alvin L. deceased; Arthur C., at home; and Lullu M., at home.

Our subject is a life-long Democrat and has never missed voting on election day since he became old enough. He belongs to the lodge of Woodmen of the World at Sigourney ; and he is a faithful member of the Christian church at Lancaster. Among his fellow men he commands the respect of all and his career is one of which he may be proud.

MATT VALERIUS

A prominent factor in mercantile circles of Harper is Mr. Valerius, who is here engaged in dealing in drugs and medicines, jewelry, wall paper, paints and oils. He was born in Wisconsin, February 4, 1862, and is a son of John and Kate (Webber) Valerius. The parents were born, reared and married in Germany, and after seeking a home in the new world they located in Wisconsin, where the father carried on agricultural pursuits. He improved a farm in that state and in 1866 left Wisconsin for Iowa, locating in Keokuk county on the 4th of March. He purchased a farm of one hundred acres in Lafayette township and to the further development and improvement of that place he devoted his energies throughout the remainder of his active business career. His death occurred when he was seventy-seven years of age, and his wife passed away at the age of sixty-seven. They were the parents of ten children, of whom one died at the age of four years but all the others reached manhood or womanhood.

Mr. Valerius is the eighth in the family of ten children and was four years of age when brought by his parents to this county. His boyhood days were spent on the old homestead in Lafayette township, and in the district schools of the locality he pursued his education. He also attended a graded school in Carroll, where he was graduated, and after putting aside his text books he followed farming for a year. He then went to Carroll, Iowa, and secured a position in the employ of John Nye, a general merchant. He afterward worked for the same man at Marion, Linn county, Iowa, for several months and then returned to Harper. He acted as assistant at the depot under Charles Hurless for about a year and eight months. Subsequently he carried on agricultural pursuits on his own account for two years and in 1892 became a factor in the mercantile circles of Harper by opening a drugstore, which he has since continued. He carries a large line of drugs and medicine, jewelry, wallpaper, paints and oils, and has been accorded a liberal patronage in recognition of his honorable dealings and his straightforward business methods.

In 1894 Mr. Valerius was united in marriage to Rose Hogan, and unto them have been born two children, Leo and Inger. Mr. Valerius votes with the Democracy and is well known as a citizen and prominent business man of Harper, his enterprise contributing not only to his individual success but also promoting the commercial prosperity of his community.

DAVID HARMAN VOLTMER

One of the prominent farmers of German, township, Keokuk county, Iowa, who is filling the position of township trustee and is one of the reliable and much esteemed citizens, is David Harman Voltmer. The birth of Mr. Voltmer occurred on his present farm on September 23, 1864, and he is a son of David and Christina (Mohme) Voltmer, the former of whom was born in Hanover, Germany, and came to America in youth. In 1842 the elder David came to Keokuk county, Iowa, and took up land from the government and still resides upon a portion of it in German township. At one time he owned two whole sections, but he has retained a farm of two hundred acres only, selling a part and giving the rest to his children. From his marriage with Christina Mohme, who was also born in Germany and came to America at the age of six years, fourteen children were born, eleven of whom grew to maturity, all being natives of Keokuk county. Mr. Voltmer is now in his eighty-eighth year, having been one of the pioneers here, his log cabin being one of the first built in the township.

David Harman Voltmer, the subject of this sketch, is the ninth child in order of birth and the sixth son of his parents' family, and was reared on the homestead and obtained his education in the public schools. On December 1, 1894, he was united in marriage with Miss Nellie Blaise, who is the daughter of Mathias and Margaret (Gergen) Blaise, who came to German township in its early days of settlement; Mrs. Voltmer is the youngest of their seven children, was born in German township and was educated in the schools of the same. Their four children are: Pearl, Edward, Albert and Nellie. Immediately after marriage our subject and wife located on the part of the old homestead where they have since lived and here have a fine farm of eighty acres, a very attractive and comfortable residence and surroundings which contribute very much to the enjoyment of life. Mr. Voltmer engages in general farming and cattle feeding and is an extensive stock raiser.

Our subject is a Democrat in politics and has held a number of the local offices, being well qualified for such positions. Since 1899 he has been the efficient township trustee, and is regarded as one of the most reliable members of the community. He is a member of the order of Modern Brotherhood of America, of Sigourney, and is a well known, progressive and public spirited citizen.