Acker, William C. (1833-1897)

ACKER

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/10/2007 at 21:01:09

William C. Acker
Mar 5, 1833 - Feb 9, 1897

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.238, Valley Twp.)
W. C. Acker, farming, P. O. Hancock, was born at Beardstown, Cass Co., Ill., in 1838, son of John Acker, born in New York STate at the head of Lake Champlain; he is a retired farmer; his wife, our subject's mother, is dead. They had eight children, one of whom is dead. Our subject was educated at Mr. Morris Seminary, Illinois, and moved with his father, in 1842, to Oregon, Ogle Co., Ill. There he remained till about 1853, when he went to Chicago and served an apprenticeship at carriage-making; he resided in Chicago about seven years, it being a small place at that time. In 1865, he came to Iowa, and built the first carriage shop erected in the town of Boone. In the fall of 1875, Mr. Acker sold out his buiness in Boone, came to Pottawattamie County and bought his present farm of 240 acres, situated in Valley Township. This land, then in a wild state was worth from $5 to $8 per acre; now, in a state of cultivation, it is worth from $25 to $30 per acre. When Mr. Acker first settled here, this part of the township was but thinly settled, and he circulated petitions for roads and schoolhouses. He was married, in 1855, to Miss S. L. Vanloon, a native of Ohio, daughter of Isaiah Vanloon. Mr. and Mrs. Acker have five children - W. C., born September 15, 1858; Elwood W., February 2, 1861; Estella M., May 5, 1865; Belle L., December 4, 1869, and May E., born May 11, 1872. Mr. Acker is a member of the A. H. T. A. In politics, he is a Republican.

[From the 1891 Briographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.694]
WILLIAM C. ACKER, a prominent farmer of Pottawattamie Co., is the son of JOHN ACKER, who was born in Sandy Hill, NY, near the head of Lake Champlain. He studied surveying and also received a good education, and later became a school teacher. In 1830 he went to Illinois where he ran a steam sawmill at Beardstown, and where he was married to ELIZA ELMORE, a widow lady, formerly a Miss EARLY, and they had 7 children: David, John, William, Mary, Nathaniel, Sarah, and Samuel. In 1837 Mr. ACKER settled in Oregon, Ogle Co., Illinois, where he ran a ferry for some years and was also a trunk-maker. About 1852 he bought a farm, where he remained some tie, and then engaged in the mercantile business at Ashtown, remaining five years. In 1876 he came to Pottawattamie Co., Iowa, where he was in business at Avoca for some time;next he lived in Marysville two years, and then retired from active life. He is now living with his son, William C., and has always enjoyed the respect of the community in which he lived. He was an industrious man, and was entrusted with many public offices in Illinois, having been County Commissioner, Trustee, and Clerk of the county. He had three sons in the Civil War: John, Nathaniel, and Samuel. The two former were in the Army of the Potomac, were on General McClellan's bodyguard, and were in many battles. Samuel was in the Army of the West. Mr. ACKER is still living, at the age of 90, and bids fair to live to the age of 100. His eyes are still bright and his health firm. WILLIAM C. ACKER, the subject of this sketch, was born March 5, 1835, in Beardstown, Illinois, and learned the carriage and wagon-maker's trade in Chicago, where he worked for 25 years. After his marriage, he settled in Ashton, Ogle County, Illinois, and established a wagon and carriage shop, where he remained five years. He then went to Amboy, same State, remaining until 1869 when he settled in Boone, Boone Co., Iowa, where he had the first carriage shop, and also was one of the founders of the town. He lived there about six years, and then came to Pottawattamie County, settling on his present farm of 160 acres in Valley Township, which is well improved. Mr. ACKER takes an active interest in the sfchools. He built the first school-house in his district; has been School Director and Township Supervisor, and has always commanded the respect of the community. He has ornamented his place by setting out fine trees, and now has a beautiful home in which he has been assisted by his sons. His father is a stanch Republican, and has always been an active temperance man; and William C. is also very earnest and active in the cause of temperance, assisting to enforce the law in his county and advocates the cause. Mr. ACKER was married in Ogle Co., Illinois, to SOPHIA VAN LOON, daughter of ISAIAH and ISABEL (REEDER) VAN LOON. The father was born in New York and went to Ohio when a boy, then moved to Illinois, where he is now a well-to-do farmer of Ogle County. They were the parents of 7 children, viz: Harriet, Elsworth, Jane, Phoebe, Clarissa, Sophronia and Rachel. Mr. and Mrs. VAN LOON are members of the Methodist Church and the father is now 76 years of age. The children of WILLIAM C. ACKER married as follows: William C. Jr. married EMMA BILGER, and is now a farmer in Valley Township. They have three children: Frank, Ray, and Cottie. ESTELLE ACKER married B.B. BROWN, a farmer in Valley Township, and they have three children also: Mabel, Bert, and Clarence.