WILLIAM S. ENLOW

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William S. Enlow , Mr. Phillip Mattison and Mrs. Phillip Mattison

The strongly marked characteristics of William S. Enlow were such as endeared him to all with whom he came in contact. As a reliable and enterprising business man, as a progressive citizen, as an earnest and loyal Christian and as a faithful friend and a devoted husband he is remembered. He was born January 22, 1853 in Columbiana county, Ohio, and was a son of Samuel and Hulda Enlow. When a young boy he accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa and thereafter remained a resident of Cedar county until called to his final rest. He was reared to the occupation of farming and continued to follow it throughout his entire life.

In 1880 Mr. Enlow was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Mattison, the eldest daughter of Philip and Mary (Sullivan) Mattison. Mr. Mattison was born near London, England, in 1837, and when seven years of age came to America with his parents, who settled near Massillon, Ohio. There his father died, and the mother with her family came to Iowa in 1855, taking up her abode in the little village of Springdale. Philip Mattison was married in 1857 to Miss Mary A. Sullivan, a lady of Scotch-Irish lineage, who was born in Dublin in 1835 and came to America while in her teens, arriving in Springdale in 1854. In 1863 Mr. and Mrs. Mattison removed to their present home in Gower township, four miles northeast of West Branch, and in the early days experienced the usual hardships and trials of pioneer life. Their land was a prairie tract with not a tree in sight. With characteristic energy, Mr. Mattison began the development and improvement of the property and the farm of two hundred and forty acres is now one of the finest and most productive in the county. The fields respond readily to the care and labor which is bestowed upon them, and everything about the place is indicative of the practical methods and progressive spirit manifested by the owner. The death of Mr. Mattison occurred in 1898 and the community thereby lost one of its representative and valued citizens. Unto him and his wife were born six children: Anna M., who is now Mrs. Enlow, of West Branch; Nellie, who in 1881 became the wife of Dr. J. M. Mingus, of Iowa City, Iowa; Charles a prominent lawyer of Butte, Montana, who married Antony Grieve, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1895; Edwin, a druggist of Omaha, Nebraska, who wedded Mary Ford, of Hubbel, Nebraska; Clara, who died in infancy; and Harry P., who in 1898 married Anna Barkhurst, of Springdale, and resides with his mother on the old homestead. The family have long been connected with the Society of Friends.

At the time of her marriage, Anna Mattison went with her husband to the home which he prepared and for eighteen years they traveled life’s journey happily together, their mutual love and confidence increasing as time went on. They secured a home near Oasis and Mr. Enlow devoted his time and energies to general farming, manifesting good business ability in the management of his affairs. He never enjoyed very good health, however, and ten years prior to this death, accompanied by his wife, he made a trip to California, hoping that he would be benefited thereby. A year’s stay convinced them that he was not improving on the coast and they accordingly returned to their Oasis home. From that time on Mr. Enlow’s health seemed to improve, until a few days prior to his demise, when he was suddenly taken ill and on the 29th of December, 1898, passed away.

He was a devoted Christian and his life exemplified his faith in the principles and teachings of the Methodist Episcopal church. He took an active interest in all the departments of church work, serving as a trustee and steward of the church and as secretary of the Epworth League. For ten years he was superintendent of the Sunday school and was a great favorite with the children in whom he took the greatest interest and who loved him as a father. As a trustee, he was faithful, always looking after the interests of the church and standing firm in support of what he believed to be right. His efforts in behalf of the Epworth League contributed largely to its growth and improvement. For four years he was a member of Wapsinonoc Lodge, No. 381, A.F. & A. M. of West Branch, in which he filled various official positions. He was also a devoted member of the Woodmen camp at Oasis and in his life exemplified the beneficent spirit upon which those organizations rest.

A paper published by the church of which he was a member said of him: “None knew him but to love him; none named him but to praise, and the example of his upright life will live forever in our hearts and his presence will be missed, yet we must say our loss is his gain, and surely he lived not in vain * * * In his death the bereaved wife has lost a kind, devoted and loving husband; the mother a dear son; the sister, a beloved brother; the church, a faithful and earnest Christian; the community, a good, grand and noble citizen.”