William H. Phifer (1850-1935)

PHIFER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 3/26/2022 at 17:34:05

William H. Phifer
(January 13, 1850 – February 7, 1935)

The subject of this sketch has spent almost his entire life in Iowa and has witnessed the greater part of its development and progress. Since 1892 he has made his home in Calhoun County, and is now successfully engaged in the operation of his fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 36, Jackson Township. He was born in Sangamon County, Illinois, on the 13th of
January, 1850, and comes of a good old Virginian family, his paternal grandfather, William Phifer, having been a native of the Old Dominion. The latter spent a number of years in Kentucky, and from there removed to Illinois, becoming one of the first settlers of Sangamon County, where he opened up a farm and reared his family. Subsequently he removed to Iowa, and his last days were spent in Marion County, this state.
James Phifer, the father of our subject, was born in Kentucky, but was reared in Illinois, and there married Miss Sophia Ann Mickey, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Robert Mickey, who had removed from that state of Illinois at an early day and settled in Sangamon County. There Mr. and Mrs. Phifer made their home until after the birth of three of their children, and in
1852 came to Iowa, becoming pioneers of Jasper County, where he developed a farm. On locating there he had to go forty or fifty miles to mill, and was forced to endure many of the hardships and privations of frontier life. In later years he sold his farm in that county and located on another five miles south of Mt. Pleasant, where his last days were spent. There he died in 1892, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife still survives him and continues to reside on the old home farm. In the family of this worthy couple were nine children, three sons and six daughters, namely : Sarah, now the wife of L. Gundy, of Rush County, Missouri; William H., of this review : Martha, wife of William Bales, of Kansas; John H., a farmer of Calhoun County, who married a daughter of Nathan Bales; Mary, wife of Al Frame, of Nebraska; Alice, wife of Julius Hunting, of Henry County, Iowa; Ida, who is married and resides in the same county; Phebe, wife of Alfred Bales, of Kansas; and James P., of Henry county, Iowa.
William H. Phifer grew to manhood in Jasper County, Iowa, attending the district schools of his neighborhood and aiding in the work of the farm. Once during his boyhood he had the pleasure of accompanying his father on one of those long trips to mill and it was a great experience for the lad. He remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority, giving his father the benefit of his labors upon the farm, and then rented land in Jasper County and engaged in farming on his own account. Subsequently he owned two different farms in Marion County, Iowa, and on disposing of his property there he came to Calhoun County in 1892, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land where he now lives. It was a partially improved place, and to its further development and cultivation he has devoted his energies with marked success. He has remodeled the house, so that he now has a very pleasant residence, has built a large barn and has made many other useful and substantial improvements. He raises a good grade of stock and has prospered in all his undertakings since coming to this county.
In Marion county, December 20, 1871, Mr. Phifer was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Gossett, a native of Highland County, Ohio, and a daughter of Joseph and Louisa Gossett. After the death of her father her mother married again and removed to Marion County, Iowa, where Mrs. Phifer was reared. Our subject and his wife have two daughters. Addie, the older, is now the wife of J. W. Truex, a farmer of Calhoun County, and they have four children, William LeRoy, Myrtle Ethel and Harold. Myrtle, the younger daughter, is the wife of John J. Lasher, a carpenter of Glidden, Iowa, and they have one son, William Lawrence.
Mr. Phifer has always affiliated with the Republican party since casting his first presidential vote for General U. S. Grant in 1872. While a resident of Marion County he was elected and served seven years as school treasurer of Red Rock Township, but has never cared for political honors. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church of Lake City, and he also belongs to the Odd Fellows Lodge at that place. [Source – Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.270]