James S. Abrahams

ABRAHAMS, BEEDLE, ELDRIDGE, KELSO, SARGENT, WESCOTT

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/15/2004 at 11:08:39

James Abrahams is successfully operating a fine farm which he owns on section 24, Douglas township, and is recognized as a good citizen and able agriculturist. He was born in Miami, Indiana, June 5, 1845, a son of Stephen and Sarah (Kelso) Abrahams. The father was born in Virginia on the 7th of June, 1794, and having removed to Indiana as a young man, he followed agricultural pursuits there, cultivating land which he owned. On the 7th of August, 1854, he came overland to Madison county, Iowa, and bought land for a dollar and a quarter per acre. However, the land which he bought for his home place was improved to some extent as there was a cabin upon it, considerable fencing had been done and some of the land was broken, and for this tract he pa-id fifteen dollars an acre. At that time there were only three houses between his home and Winterset and the prairies still stretched unbroken as far as the eye could see. He was married in Ohio to Miss Sarah Kelso, who was born in that state in 1806, and there were eleven children in the family when removal was made to this state in 1854. It required four wagons to bring them and their household belongings and the journey was a long and tedious one. After the home had been established here there were many privations to be endured and the big snow storms of the first few years were noteworthy, as they were so heavy that it was necessary to tunnel a way from the house to the barn. Mr. Abrahams owned four hundred and forty acres in Grand River township besides the home farm in Douglas township and the care of his property required his undivided attention. He gave the district the use of land near his home as long as it was occupied by a schoolhouse. At that time oxen were used exclusively in farm work and some idea of the extent of his operations may be obtained from the fact that he used from ten to fifteen yoke. Only two of the eleven children born to him and his wife are now living, the brother of our subject being a resident of Texas.

James Abrahams, who was the ninth child in order of birth, pursued his studies in a log schoolhouse in Indiana and attended the early district schools in Douglas township, this county. He remained at home with his parents and cared for them during their declining years, his father passing away in March, 1877, and his mother July n, 1884. Following their deaths he came into possession of the homestead and has continued to operate it until the present time. It comprises one hundred and twelve acres of land and is in a high state of cultivation, as he has always followed approved-methods of farming and has spared neither time nor energy in developing and improving it. He engages in general farming and stock-raising and the gratifying measure of prosperity which he is enjoying is well deserved. As a young man he was compelled to haul provisions from and drive stock to Keokuk or Eddyville, as there were no railroads in this county.

In 1879 Mr. Abrahams married Miss Carrie Sargent, who was born in Momence, Kankakee county, Illinois, a daughter of Levi and Rebecca (Beedle) Sargent. Her uncle, John R. Sargent, was one of the early settlers of this county. Both her father and mother were born in Fountain county, Indiana, the formers birth occurring in December, 1829, and the latter's natal day being the 8th of October, 1831. Levi Sargent was a farmer, carpenter and wagon-maker, having learned his two trades from his father, and while living in Illinois he worked at carpentering and wagon-making. In the late '6os he came west to Iowa, settling in Union township, Madison county, and continued to follow his trades, being connected with Gould & Howell, who were in the implement business in Winterset. His eyesight partially failed as the result of a wound sustained in the Civil war and he was compelled to give up that work. He enlisted in the Union army from Momence, Illinois, in 1862, as a member of Company K, One Hundred and Thirteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and became first lieutenant. He participated in many engagements, including those of the siege of Vicksburg, and his record was in all respects one of which he had just cause to be proud. He was honorably discharged in 1864. In 1883 he removed to the state of Washington, where his death occurred in 1901, and his widow is still living at Aberdeen, that state.

To Mr. and Mrs. Abrahams have been born four children: William B., owning and operating a farm in Douglas township, married Miss Grace Wescott, by whom he has two children, Clyde and James; Walter, a farmer of Jackson township, married Miss Vergie Eldridge, by whom he has a son, Dean; Laura is keeping house for her father; Leonard is attending school at Winterset. The wife and mother has been an invalid for ten years but her courage and cheerfulness have equaled the devotion with which the family have ministered to her. Although she is a member of the United Brethren church she has reared her children in the Baptist faith and has taught them to live lives of uprightness and consideration for others.

Mr. Abrahams has never been active in political affairs but has served as school director, thus expressing his interest in the public-school system. He has so ordered his life that it has contributed to the moral advancement and material prosperity of his community, and the name of Abrahams is an honored one in his locality.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915”