West, William H. H.

WEST, PHILLIPS, VOLNER, BARR, MCCULLOUGH, HIGH

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/14/2003 at 20:58:07

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

WILLIAM H. H. WEST

More than half a century has passed since W. H. H. West came to Clinton county, and to-day he is numbered among the substantial farmers of DeWitt township, his home being on section 23, where he owns and operates a valuable and well-improved farm of four hundred and forty acres, pleasantly situated about two miles from the town of DeWitt. He is one of the worthy citizens that Pennsylvania has furnished to Iowa, his birth having occurred in Fayette county November 8, 1834. His father, Edward West, was also a native of that county, and the West family were among the pioneers of the Keystone state, and were of English descent. The father was reared in the place of his nativity, and was there married to Sarah Philips, also born in Fayette county. There he followed farming and during the years of his residence there two sons and two daughters were born to him and his wife. In 1843 he emigrated westward with his family, making his way down the Ohio and up the Mississippi rivers to Camanche. He made his permanent location in Clinton county, casting his lot among its early settlers; subsequently he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 23, DeWitt township, where he built a small house and began the work of breaking the prairie and improving the farm. He made all of the shingles for the house and did most of the carpenter work. Subsequently he erected a more commodious residence, which is still standing on the old homestead. As the years passed he purchased more land, becoming the owner of four hundred acres, and in the community he was known as a substantial farmer, as well as one of the honored early settlers. He never sought nor would he accept public office, but was a stanch Whig and voted for William Henry Harrison in 1840, remaining a supporter of the Whig party until he joined the Republican ranks. He died on the old homestead, and for several years was survived by his wife.

W. H. H. West is their eldest son and the third in order of birth in the family of five children, all of whom reached mature years, namely: Ellen, the wife of Albert Volner, of DeWitt township; Sarah, wife of Israel Barr, of Scott county; W. H. H.; Daniel, a resident farmer of Orange township; and Rachel, the wife of Leonard McCullough, of Poweshiek county, Iowa.

Mr. West, of this review, became a resident of Clinton county when a lad of nine years, and upon the old homestead he spent his youth, assisting in the work of developing and improving the farm. He was educated in the common schools of DeWitt, and at the age of eighteen manifested his patriotic spirit by enlisting in 1861 for three years’ service in the Union army, becoming a member of Company B, First Iowa Cavalry. He served in Missouri and Arkansas, performing scout duty, taking part in many skirmishes, and was in the battles of Prairie Grove and Fayetteville. He served until after the close of his term, and was honorably discharged at Davenport, Iowa, in September, 1864, returning to his home with a creditable military record.

Mr. West then resumed work on the home farm, and subsequent to his father’s death he purchased the interest of the other heirs in the old home place. He also bought eighty acres, upon which stands his present residence, and in connection with the cultivation of the fields he engages in stock raising, having some high grades of cattle, hogs and horses. He is counted one of the successful farmers and stock men of the county, and his work is systematically conducted and brings to him a good financial return.

In 1868, in Davenport, Mr. West was united in marriage to Mary High, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania, and went to Davenport with her brothers and sisters. Six children have been born unto our subject and his wife, namely: Sarah, Margaret and John, who are at home, the last named assisting in carrying on the home farm; Edward, the first born, died on the home farm, at the age of twenty-nine; William, who died at the age of four years; and Bessie, who passed away when about fifteen years of age. In politics Mr. West has been a lifelong Republican, having supported the men and measures of the party since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. Political office had no attraction for him, yet he served for a few years as road supervisor and discharged his duties in a prompt and acceptable manner. He belongs to the Grand Army post of DeWitt. For fifty-eight years he has been a resident of the county, and has witnessed its wonderful growth and development. At the time of his arrival the huntsman had ample opportunity to indulge his love of the sport, for deer and lesser game abounded. As civilization has advanced towns and cities have sprung up, and the wild lands have been transformed into productive farms. Mr. West has ever borne his part in the work of development, and is known as an honored early settler and a man of integrity and worth, and he has the confidence and respect of all with whom he has been associated.