WOOLUMS, Hamilton Edward - 1912 Bio (1863-1915)

WOOLUMS, WALKER, PACKWOOD, DUKE, MCCREERY, CARPENTER, LENZ

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 10/6/2007 at 18:54:01

History of Jefferson County, Iowa -- A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol II, Published 1912, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 382-384

H. Edward WOOLUMS is the owner of four hundred and twenty acres of fine land in Black Hawk township, his home farm comprising two hundred and forty acres which is highly cultivated and improved with many modern equipments that indicate his progressive spirit and practical methods. He was born in Highland county, Ohio, November 25, 1863, a son of Fieldon C. and Matilda J. (WALKER) WOOLUMS. The father's birth occurred in Highland county, February 12, 1841. He was of Scotch-Irish (sic) descent and was a cooper by trade, learning the business under the direction of his father in his boyhood days. Later he turned his attention to farming and in 1867 removed westward to Illinois, spending four or five years in Henry county, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits. On the expiration of that period he came to Jefferson county, Iowa, settling in Black Hawk township where for one year he cultivated a rented farm. He then purchased eighty acres on section 19, Black Hawk township, known as the old WOOLUMS homestead. As the years passed by he prospered and invested more and more largely in farm property until he was the owner of six hundred and twenty acres of fine land all in the same township. That his life was well spent and that his business judgment was sound was indicated by the fact that when he came to Iowa his possessions consisted of little more than two horses and a wagon. As the architect of his fortunes he builded (sic) wisely and well and his record shows what may be accomplished when energy and determination point the way. He had resided upon his farm until 1901, when, with a handsome competence acquired through his own labors, he retired to private life and removed to Packwood, where he passed away on the 25th of August, 1911. He died very suddenly of heart failure, being taken ill while milking, and in fifteen minutes the end had come. His widow is still a resident of that town and is widely and favorably known in the county where she has made her home for almost forty years. In their family were four children of whom H. Edward is the eldest, the others being: Elijah W., of Barnes City, Iowa, who is proprietor of a general store there; Jennie May, the wife of Dr. S. D. PACKWOOD, a practicing physician and surgeon of St. Joseph, Missouri; and Curtis A., a farmer living on the old homestead on section 19, Black Hawk township.

H. Edward WOOLUMS accompanied his parents to Iowa in his boyhood days and remained upon the home farm until twenty-two years of age, when he began farming on his own account although he continued to reside with his parents until his marriage. He then rented land for three years and in 1892 purchased eighty acres of his present homestead farm, to which he has added from time to time until he has two hundred and forty acres in this tract. He also had one hundred and eighty acres elsewhere in the township and with the aid of his son operates his entire holdings, comprising four hundred and twenty acres. The soil is naturally rich and productive and responds readily to the care and labor which he bestows upon it. His methods are both practical and progressive and his home place is equipped with all of the modern accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century.

On the 21st of March, 1889, Mr. WOOLUMS was united in marriage to Miss Anna B. DUKE, a daughter of Luther and Mary Jane (McCREERY) DUKE. Her father was born in Virginia, came of English descent and was a farmer by occupation. The mother, who was of Scotch-Irish (sic) lineage, was born in this county near Abingdon. Mr. DUKE came to Iowa prior to the Civil war and settled near Abingdon, where he made his home until 1896, when he went to Trenton, Grundy county, Missouri, where he and his wife now reside. He has retired from active business cares and is enjoying the rest to which his former labor well entitles him. In the DUKE family were nine children: Mrs. WOOLUMS; George T., a real-estate man living in Hedrick, Iowa; May, the wife of George B. CARPENTER, a farmer of Grundy county, Missouri; Frank, who is also a resident farmer of Grundy county, Missouri; Orville, who died when but five weeks old; William W., a ranchman living near Centerville, New Mexico; Jesse, a farmer of Grundy county, Missouri; Mabel, the wife of David LENZ, who follows farming in Grundy county; and Lena V., who is at home with her parents in Trenton, Missouri.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. WOOLUMS has been blessed with two children. Irl R., who was born February 20, 1890, and spent one year in the high school at Trenton, Missouri, after attending the district schools, now assists his father in the operation of his farms. Don C., born May 15, 1895, is a pupil in the Packwood high school and his attention is given to the farm work when not busy with his studies. The parents are both members of the Christian church of Packwood and are interested in all that pertains to the material, intellectual and moral development of the community. Mr. WOOLUMS votes with the democratic party and has served as school director in district No. 4 of Black Hawk township for a year. He was also supervisor of roads in the township for seven years but otherwise has never sought nor desired public office, feeling that his farming interests made ample demands upon his time and energies. He is, however, public-spirited and in business affairs is diligent and determined, recognizing the fact that industry is the basis of all honorable success and therefore working persistently and energetically to attain the prosperity which now crowns his efforts.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.