Igo, Lewis

IGO

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/29/2021 at 12:22:22

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.682

LEWIS IGO
Lewis Igo is now practically living retired in Indianola, although he still gives personal supervision to his property and business interests. He has been eminently successful in an active and honorable business career and is today one of the most extensive landowners in this part of the state, having ten hundred and forty acres in Warren County. He was born in Ross County. Ohio, December 14, 1832.
His father, Silas Igo, was also a native of that county and was descended from French and Dutch ancestry. He had a brother, Daniel Igo, who served as a soldier of the war of 1812. Their father, Lewis Igo, removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio at an early period in its development and his son, Paul, was the first white child born in Ross County. Silas Igo was reared amid the wild scenes and environments of pioneer life in a district where the work of civilization seemed scarcely begun. The forests stood in their primeval strength and the Indians still infested the neighborhood, while game of all kinds was to be had in abundance. In 1832 he settled in Hamilton County, Indiana, removing thence to Henry County, Indiana, in 1850.
In 1854 he purchased land in Iowa, and in 1855 brought his family to Warren County. As the years passed Silas Igo aided more and more largely as his years and strength increased in the work of clearing and developing the home farm and throughout his entire life he carried on general agricultural pursuits. He was a hard working and industrious man and his life was always in harmony with his professions as a believer in the Christian religion. When a young man he was licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church. His political endorsement was given to the Whig party and upon its dissolution be joined the ranks of the new Republican Party. He wedded Miss Mary Meyer, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1806 and was therefore about five years his junior, for his birth occurred in 1801. Mrs. Igo was of English and Irish lineage and had an uncle, Daniel Hare, who was a captain of the war of 1812. She, too, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The death of Silas Igo occurred in February, 1878, at Palmyra, and his wife, surviving him for twenty years passed away November 14, 1898, at the remarkable old age of ninety-two years.
Lewis Igo was the eldest son and the only son now living in a family of seven children. He was reared upon the homestead farm in Indiana and attended the country schools. When a young man he worked by the year selling lightning rods but later began farming on his own account. On the 20th of May 1855, he arrived in Iowa, taking up his abode in the village of Palmyra, where he engaged in merchandising, conducting his store for about twelve years. He was afterward in a packing house in Des Moines for four years with General James Tuttle. All of this time his family were upon the farm, to which he returned about 1871, and then engaged heavily in buying and shipping stock, becoming one of the best live-stock dealers in this part of the state. He continued the business with constantly growing success until 1897, when he removed to Indianola, where he has practically lived retired, although still watching over his large landed interests. As the years have passed he has made judicious investments in property from time to time and his judgment has been most sound as displayed in the choice of the land which he purchased. He is today the owner of ten hundred and forty acres in Warren County and from the property derives a handsome annual income. He now lives in a pleasant home in Indianola and is enabled as the result of his seemingly inex­haustible energy in former years, his capable business management and his correct judgment to now enjoy all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
On the 17th of March 1859, Mr. Igo was married to Miss Elizabeth M. Varner, who was born in Parke County, Indiana. October 27, 1843, and is a daughter of Isaac and Ruth (Whipple) Varner, who were natives of Ohio and of German descent. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Igo were born fourteen children namely: Ida, the wife of N. Bartholomew, a real-estate dealer of Des Moines, Iowa, by whom she has one child; Reese L.. who is deceased ; Grant S., who is engaged in the stock business near Indianola: William S., who has also departed this life; Silas, who is on the homestead farm, is married and has four children; John, deceased ; Estella, the wife of H. H. Bassler, judge of the county court and a resident of Tekamah, Nebraska, by whom she has four children; Ernest B., who resides in Jackson Township, Warren County, is married and has two children; Ulda W., who is the wife of William T. Sinnard, conducting the Elie farm near Palmyra, and who is the mother of two children; Ruby N., who graduated from the high school and Simpson College and is now engaged in teaching in the Indianola schools; Ruth M., the wife of Jerry Shuler, a farmer of Lincoln Township, Warren County; Roy L., who is engaged in farming in Greenfield Township, this county; Hall W., deceased; and Philip A., who is a graduate of the high school of the class of 1908 and is at home.
The following letter is self explanatory:
"White House, Washington,
November 14, 1904.
My Dear Mr. Igo:
Congressman Hall has given me the photograph you sent me of your family. I wish to thank you for it and to congratulate Mrs. Igo and you on having such a family. I send to you and her my photograph. With best wishes,
Sincerely yours,
Theodore Roosevelt.

Mr. Lewis Igo,
Indianola, Iowa
Enclosure."
Mrs. Igo is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which she joined when fourteen years of age. In politics Mr. Igo has been a stalwart Republi­can from the organization of the party and has been prominent in its local ranks. He has been a delegate to the district and state conventions and was made an alternate delegate to the national convention. He has done every­thing in his power to promote its growth and insure its success, and his interest is that of a public-spirited citizen and not one who is seeking for office. His residence in the county covers fifty-three years and he has been active in its progress and development along many lines. He assisted in organizing the Old Settlers Association and is now its president. His life record clearly indicates what can be accomplished by firm determination and unfaltering perseverance for from early manhood he has been dependent on his own resources and unaided has worked his way upward until he stands today as one of the most prosperous residents of his adopted county.