WESTENHAVER, Oliver Ingram - 1912 Bio (1838-1921)

WESTENHAVER, SIMPSON, BLISSFIELD, MORTIMORE, CASSADY, FUNSTON, BARCALOW, STAATS

Posted By: Debbie Nash (email)
Date: 10/30/2005 at 21:03:12

From the “History of Jefferson County, Iowa” – 1912, Volume II
Pages 403-405

OLIVER I. WESTENHAVER.

“Oliver I. Westenhaver, who was long and successfully identified with agricultural pursuits in this county, now operates a feed mill at Pleasant Plain. He also holds the office of justice of the peace and has ably discharged the duties devolving upon him in that capacity for thirteen years. His birth occurred in Ohio, on the 10th of September, 1838, his parents being Jacob and Elizabeth (SIMPSON) WESTENHAVER, who were natives of Virginia and Ohio respectively. The father drove from Ohio to Jefferson county, Iowa, in 1847 and subsequently made his way to Illinois, where he remained three years, subsequently purchasing a farm near Walnut Creek and operating the same for three years. On the expiration of that period he returned to this county and in Penn township purchased a tract of eighty acres which was nearly all covered with brush and timber that had to be cleared away before the land could be utilized for farming purposes. The cultivation and improvement of that property claimed his attention throughout the remainder of his life, his demise occurring in 1894 when he had attained the age of eighty-three years. His wife passed away in 1895 at the age of eighty-four.

Oliver I. WESTENHAVER was a lad of nine years when he came to Jefferson county with his parents. He began attending school at the early age of four years and pursued his studies in Ohio, Illinois, and also in this county. When he had attained his majority he left the parental roof and for two years was busily engaged in the operation of a rented farm. Subsequently he bought a tract of twenty acres in Penn township and began its improvement and by additional purchase later extended the boundaries of his farm, operating the same for many years or until the death of his wife. He next lived with his daughter at Brighton for six years, but at the end of that time returned to his farm in Penn township, there continuing his agricultural pursuits for two years. On the expiration of that period he disposed of the property and took up his abode in Pleasant Plain, purchasing a residence and nine town lots. A year ago he bought a food mill and has since operated the same with excellent success.

Mr. WESTENHAVER has been married twice. On the 4th of June, 1862, he wedded Miss Samantha BLISSFIELD, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (HENDERSON) BLISSFIELD, who were natives of Virginia. Coming to Iowa, they settled near Brighton and there continued to reside throughout the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of four children, as follows: Oscar Willis, who is a resident of Pleasant Plain; Cora B., who is the wife of E. A. MORTIMORE and resides at Brighton, Iowa; Ida L., the wife of Samuel CASSADY, of Brighton; and Hubert B., a railroad engineer living in Missouri. The wife and mother was called to her final rest in June, 1895, and on the 30th of August, 1907, Mr. Westenhaver was again married, his second union being with Carrie H. FUNSTON, a daughter of John P. and Maria (BARCALOW) STAATS, both of whom were natives of New Jersey. The father, whose birth occurred in November, 1813, chose the occupation of farming as his life work and in 1839 removed to Illinois, where he entered and improved prairie land and carried on agricultural pursuits until 1853. In that year he came to Jefferson county, Iowa, and entered a tract of land, devoting his attention to its cultivation and improvement until he passed away on the 12th of September, 1903, at the age of eighty-nine years.

In politics Mr. WESTENHAVER is a stanch republican and his services have been in demand in positions of public trust. He has been constable, school director and road supervisor and is now acting as justice of the peace, in which capacity he has ably served for thirteen years. His religious faith is that of the United Brethren church, to which his wife also belongs. He has now passed the seventy-third milestone on life’s journey and has long enjoyed an enviable reputation in both business and social circles.”

I am copying this for genealogical purposes and am not related to said individuals.