Eveline Walston Prosser

PROSSER, WALSTON, MILLER, AHERNS, WATTERS

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 5/6/2010 at 07:52:18

History of Jackson County, Iowa, James W. Ellis, 1910

MRS. EVELINE (WALSTON) PROSSER.

Mrs. Eveline (Walston) Prosser, who is well known and highly esteemed throughout the community in which she resides, owns and manages an excellent farm of eighty acres on section 19, Monmouth township. Her birth occurred in Ross county, Ohio, about twenty miles from Columbus, on the 16th of August, 1838, her parents being Leven and Julia A. (Miller) Walston. The father, a native of Vermont, was still but a boy when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio prior to the war of 1812. When a young man of eighteen he enlisted for service in that conflict, fighting valiantly for his country in its second war with England. He owned a fine farm in the Buckeye state and there devoted his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits until 1848, when he sold his land and made his way across the country to Iowa with a team of horses and a wagon, the journey consuming sixty days. He located on the present site of Oxford station, entering one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land and also a quarter section of timber land from the government. There he energetically and successfully carried on his farming interests until the time of his death, his well directed labors eventually bringing him a gratifying measure of prosperity. This part of the state was still largely wild and undeveloped at the time of his arrival, and during one entire winter a band of eighty Indians were encamped in the vicinity of his home. He became a prominent and leading citizen of his community and his labors were an important factor in the work of early development and upbuilding. He furnished the land for the cemetery and laid it out and also did much to promote educational and moral advancement, being a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His political allegiance was unfalteringly given to the men and measures of the republican party.
Eveline Walston was reared to womanhood amid the scenes and environment of pioneer life and obtained a good practical education in the common schools. On account of the dangers incident to life in an unsettled region Mr. Walston taught his daughters the use of firearms and our subject early became quite a proficient "shot," accompanying her father on his hunting expeditions. She has killed a number of prairie chickens and, although now well advanced in years, still retains her skill with the rifle. She remained under the parental roof until 1864, when she gave her hand in marriage to Carlos B. Prosser, whose birth occurred in Warren county, New York, in 1841. During the period of hostilities between the north and the south Mr. Prosser loyally defended the interests of the union as a member of Company F, Forty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three months, participating in the engagements at Vicksburg and Memphis and also in other battles. Throughout his business career he was actively engaged in general agricultural pursuits and at the time of his death owned eighty acres of valuable land on section 19, Monmouth township, which is now in possession of his widow and to the management of which she devotes her attention. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Prosser were born three children, namely: Julia, the wife of Milton Ahrens, who is a prosperous stockman, banker and leading citizen of Sidney, Nebraska; Elmer E., an agriculturist of Anamosa; and Amy M., the wife of Lonnie Watters, who follows farming in Jones county, Iowa.
Mr. Prosser was a stanch supporter of the republican party, believing its principles most conducive to good government. He belonged to the G. A. R. post and was widely recognized as a substantial and respected citizen of his community. His demise occurred in July, 1906, and on the fourth day of that month his remains were interred in the Oxford cemetery, which had been laid out by his father-in-law.
Although Mrs. Prosser has not the right of franchise she is deeply interested in politics, always keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day and advocates republican principles. Reared on a farm, she early became accustomed to riding and driving horses and is a lover of a good horse, always keeping on hand one or two specimens of the noble steed. She has lived in this part of the state for more than six decades and has witnessed a most wonderful transformation as pioneer conditions have given way before the onward march of civilization. She is a gentle, kindly woman, charitable in her estimate of every one and her many excellent traits of heart and mind have won for her the esteem and admiration of a host of warm friends.

Eveline Prosser Grave
 

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