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WILLIAM H. HOLLISTER, farmer, of Delaware
township, Delaware county, was born in the town of Warsaw,
Wyoming county, N. Y., March 23, 1830. Horace Hollister, his
father, was a native of Vermont, as was also his mother, whose
maiden name was Julia Smith. The father was born in 1798, the
mother in 1800. They grew up in their native state and were
there married. They subsequently moved to New York, settling in
Warsaw, Wyoming county, where the mother died in 1845 and the
father in 1876. They were plain, substantial people, coming of
the thrifty, staple stock of New England, and passed all their
lives in industrial pursuits. In early life the father followed
the trade of a wagon-maker; later he was engaged in farming.
They were the parents of five children, the subject of this
notice being the third. These are all now deceased but our
subject. The others are Elizabeth, John, Maria and Delia.
The subject of this notice was reared in the county of his
birth and in Chautauqua county, the same state. He resided in
the latter county ten years, moving there when ten years old. He
grew up on the farm, and was trained to the habits of industry
and usefulness common to farm life. Having married in 1849, he
moved, three years later to Boone county, Ill., where he resided
till the spring of 1855, coming thence to Iowa and settling in
Delaware county. On locating in this county he purchased a tract
of land in Delaware township, in connection with Hassell Munson,
on which he settled and on which he has resided since. His place
lies about four miles north and east of Manchester, on Honey
creek, and, being half of the original purchase, consists of
eighty acres. Taking this then when it was in a state of nature,
Mr. Hollister has made all the improvements which appear on it,
having all of it now under cultivation and furnished with all
needful conveniences for use and enjoyment. Mr. Hollister has
been engaged in farming all his life and he has met with a fair
amount of success. He has taken an active interest in the
affairs of his township, and has filled the usual number of
local offices, the duties of which he has discharged with credit
to himself and satisfaction to those concerned. Having reared to
maturity a family of some size, he has naturally felt a deep
concern in all those influences that affect home life. He has
zealously supported the school interests of his locality, and
all its social institutions and charitable purposes.
Mr. Hollister married, as stated above, in 1849, the lady
whom he took to wife being Miss Margaret E. Wilcox, who was born
in Mayville, Chautauqua county, N.Y., July 30, 1832. She is a
daughter of John and Eliza (Perry) Wilcox. Mrs. Hollister's
father was born in Vermont, and her mother in New York, and both
died in Michigan, the mother in 1885 and the father in 1888.
Mr. and Mrs. Hollister have had born to them a family of
eight children, all but one of whom are now living. The eldest,
William H., born April 4, 1850, resides with his father. John
J., born July 30, 1851, married Mary Durfey and resides in this
county. George F., born June 25, 1853, married Cora B. Napier
December 20, 1883, and resides in Clayton county, this state,
the father of three children: Charles, Gracie and Hiel.
Alson A., born September 20, 1855, married Mina Hudson October
22, 1877, by whom he had two children, Irene and Ralph, and from
whom he was divorced. Ralph died in infancy. He afterwards
married Mary Eaton, having one child by this marriage:
Jay, and now resides at Greeley, this county. Horace A., born
October 14, 1857, married Annette Sathwell, March 16, 1881, is
the father of two children: May and Ethel, and now resides at
Bellevue, this state. Ella M., born October 12, 1859, was
married to George Miller, by whom she has four children: Vidella,
Maud, Mabel and Roy, and resides in Manchester, this county.
Jane H., born August 13, 1861, died October 27, 1863. And
Gracie, born March 16, 1868, was married to Augustus Clute
December 26, 1887, by whom she has one child: Ethel, and resides
in this county.
In the quiet of their peaceful home,
surrounded by the many evidences of their patient toil and
excellent foresight, Mr. and Mrs. Hollister are spending the
evening of life in the substantial enjoyment of those things
with which fortune has favored them, and solaced and sustained
by the pleasant reflection that they have lived to a good
purpose, having discharged their duties faithfully in all the
relations of life. |
