JAMES DWIGANS

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Mr. James Dwigans and Mrs. James Dwigans

James Dwigans, deceased, was one of the honored early settlers of Cedar county and for over sixty years he made his home within its borders, the greater part of that time being devoted to agricultural pursuits, though his last days were spent in retirement in Tipton, where he passed away on the 22d of June, 1903. He was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, February 27, 1827, and was a son of Callihan and Sarah (Coleman) Dwigans, who were natives of Maryland and Ohio respectively and died in this county.

Our subject, who was the eldest of their nine children, was about ten years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Rock Island county, Illinois, where the family resided for two years. It was in the spring of 1839 that they came to Cedar county, Iowa, and located upon a farm near Tipton, where he grew to manhood. In the spring of 1850 he went to California and was engaged in mining for a period of three years. At the end of that time, however, he returned to Cedar county, where throughout the remainder of his life he followed farming and milling. In December, 1869, he purchased a farm three miles west of Tipton in Center township and upon that place he resided until his removal to Tipton, devoting the greater part of his time and attention to its cultivation and improvement. Being of a mechanical turn of mind, he was greatly interested in machinery and, as he could not secure a millwright, he planned and erected the stone mill which he owned and conducted for several years. In his business undertakings he prospered and at his death left four hundred acres of land, two and hundred and forty of which his widow still owns. Having acquired a comfortable property, he finally removed to Tipton in 1902 and there spent the remainder of his days in ease and quiet, enjoying the fruits of former toil.

In December, 1863, Mr. Dwigans was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary (Ives) Leabhart, whose birth occurred in Muskingum county, Ohio, on the 5th of March, 1841. Her father, Stephen Ives, was born in New Hampshire in August, 1803, and on reaching manhood was married in Vermont, January 18, 1836, to Miss Sarah Nutt, a native of that state, whose birth occurred in June, 1812. Coming west in 1840, they first located in Muskingum county, Ohio, and later removed to Coshocton county, that state. It was in 1855 that they brought their family to Cedar county, Iowa, and located on the place where the stone mill now stands. At the early age of nine years Mr. Ives entered a woolen factory and throughout the remainder of his life followed the occupation of carding and cloth dressing, owning and operating a small factory in this county until his death, which occurred March 30, 1857. His second wife survived him for many years, dying in Tipton in December, 1896. By his first marriage he had two sons: Victor, who was drowned at the age of eight years; and Orange, now a resident of Denver, Colorado. His second union was with Sarah Nutt and to them were born four children: John N., now of Boulder, Colorado; Mary, now Mrs. Dwigans; William, who died in 1900; and Emma, the wife of Justus Keller, of Emmettsburg, Iowa.

Mrs. Dwigans was only fourteen years of age when brought by her parents to this county, and after reaching womanhood was married in February, 1858, to Solomon Leabhart, who was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, February 20, 1835, and died in West Liberty, Iowa, in July, 1862. He was a contractor and house finisher, employing several men. By that union there was one son, William O., who was born in West Liberty, March 1, 1859, and now resides with his mother in Tipton, while he operates the home farm. He married Miss Fannie Barnes, of West Liberty, and their only child is Charles Herman, now sixteen years of age, whom Mr. Dwigans especially loved. There was one child, Charles C., born to our subject and his wife, but he died in 1884 at the early age of nineteen years, when life seemed to hold so much of promise for him. This was one of the greatest sorrows of Mr. Dwigans’ life.

On his removal to Tipton in 1902 Mr. Dwigans purchased and remodeled the house on Mulberry street, near the northern limits of the town, where his widow still resides. In his political affiliations he was a republican, taking active and prominent part in local affairs, and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, called upon him to fill various township and school offices. For over thirty years he was an earnest and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church at West Bethel, having united under the pastorate of Rev. George Metzgar, and on the Sabath day he was always found in the house of worship, nothing but illness keeping him away, and his life was ever in harmony with his professions. In business and social relations he ever held to high standards and enjoyed in large measure the confidence and trust of those with whom he was brought in contact in every relation of life.