AKERS, William H.

AKERS, GUNTER, COLLINGS, TASH, HICKMAN, MCLAUGHLIN, COOPER, HOFFMAN, DUFTY, BOARD

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/18/2014 at 20:30:02

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.
Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith, Supervising Editors
The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. pp. 306-07. Chicago. 1915

WILLIAM H. AKERS

Among the well known and successful farmers of Decatur county is William H. Akers, of Grand River township, who was born in this county on the 22d of November, 1855, the fourth in order of birth of the twelve children born to the union of Beniamin and Mary Jane (Gunter) Akers. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Bede Akers, was born in Kentucky in 1799 and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Lydia Collings, was born in that state in 1802. They were married in 1819 and ten years later removed to Indiana, whence in 1839 they went to jSIissouri. They were the parents of thirteen children. Bede Akers passed away in Missouri in 1847. In 1852 his widow was united in marriage to John Tash and in that year they removed to Decatur county, where she passed away in 1877.

Benjamin Akers was born in Indiana, June 17. 1830, and on the 23d of February, 1851, was married in Mercer county, Missouri, to Miss Mary Jane Gunter, whose birth occurred in the Hoosier state on the 30th of October, 1831, and whose parents, Thomas and Nancy Gunter, became residents of Mercer county, Missouri. In 1851 Mr. and Mrs. Akers removed to Decatur county, Iowa, locating in Decatur township, where the father entered one hundred and sixty acres of land. The mother died May 6, 1873, and in 1875 the father was united in marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth Hickman, who passed away in 1878. Later the father was again married, Mrs. Mary A. McLaughlin becoming his wife. He passed away on the 20th of January, 1894, in this county. He was a democrat in politics and his religious faith was that of the Baptist church, in which he served as deacon.

Benjamin and Mary Jane (Gunter) Akers were the parents of the following children: Elzann, who was born February 11, 1852; Sarah Ellen, whose birth occurred on the 23d of February, 1853, and who passed away February 19, 1870; Nancy Emorine, born May 8, 1854; William H., of this review; Lydia Ann, who was born July 16, 1857, and died September 8, 1876; Thomas F., born March 27, 1859; Jesse D., whose birth occurred February 8, 1861, and who died in Oregon, December 28, 1890; John H., who was born July 18, 1863, and who died September 10, 1864; Laura E., born August 17, 1865; Benjamin F., born May 12, 1867; Edgar B., whose birth occurred November 5, 1869, and who died June 9, 1870; and Mary Eva, born February 10, 1872. To the third marriage of Mr. Akers two children were born: Austin Elmer, whose birth occurred September 12, 1879; and Hattie L., born June 26, 1882.

William H. Akers was reared on the home farm in Decatur township and in the acquirement of an education attended the [illegible] schoolhouse in that township, four miles northeast of Decatur City. The building was of logs and the furniture was very crude, the seats being long benches of slabs with pins for legs and without backs, and a rude desk was made by driving wooden pins into holes bored in the wall by an auger and by laying boards over the pins. In this pioneer school Mr. Akers acquired not only a knowledge of books but also habits of industry and application and through the training which he received at home he became familiar with agricultural methods and became impressed with the value of industry and integrity. On reaching mature years he determined to follow the occupation to which he was reared and has never had occasion to regret his decision as he has found farming both congenial and profitable. He owns one hundred acres of excellent land in Grand River township and his enterprise and progressiveness have enabled him to accumulate a competence.

Mr. Akers was married on the 17th of February, 1878, to Miss Mary J. Hickman, whose birth occurred on the 4th of July, 1863. Her paternal grandparents were Kimball and Mary (Cooper) Hickman, natives of Virginia, from which state they removed to Ohio and later came to Decatur county, Iowa, in 1859, settling in Eden township on a five hundred acre farm. There Mrs. Hickman died in 1865 and Mr. Hickman passed away in 1877. In their family were ten children, including Joseph Hickman, the father of Mrs. Akers. He was born and reared in Ohio and came with his parents to this county, where he was married in 1861 to Miss Elizabeth McLaughlin. To Mr. and Mrs. Akers have been born six children, namely: Hallie A., who was born November 24, 1878, and who died April 12, 1888; Harry L., whose birth occurred July 31, 1881, and who died in August, 1883; Henry M., born September 10, 1886, who married Ruth Hoffman on the 28th of August, 1912; Jesse F., born January 12, 1890, who married Lavon Dufty on the 4th of March, 1914; Lizzie L., who was born March 26, 1892, and who on the 12th of March, 1913, was united in marriage to Joseph H. Board; and Elmer O., born November 14, 1898. Mr, and Mrs. Akers have one grandchild, Meilin Josephine Board, who was born February 1.5, 1914.

Mr. Akers is a republican and consistently supports the candidates of that party at the polls. He holds membership in the Palestine Baptist church of this county and is now serving as deacon therein. His life has measured up to high standards and he is respected not only because of his ability and enterprise but also because of his integrity.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014