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Samuel S. Wherry
Samuel
S. Wherry, a retired agriculturist of Jefferson, Iowa, was born in
Guernsey county, Ohio, March 30, 1830. He was a son of John and
Catherine (Bunnell) Wherry. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and
went to Guernsey county, Ohio, with his parents when he was a mere
child. There he was reared to manhood and bought a farm of his own. In
1853 he came to Jones county, Iowa, with his family and lived a retired
life until the time of his death when he was seventy-six years of age.
He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a staunch
democrat. His wife died at the home of her son Samuel, in Jefferson, at
the age of eighty-two years. There were nine children born to this
worthy couple, five of whom are now living: Samuel S.; Harriett W., the
wife of Burton Fuller, of Seward, Nebraska; J. P. and M. M., who live
at Churdan; and Mrs. John Shannon of Jefferson.
Samuel S. Wherry spent his boyhood days in Ohio, splitting rails and
doing the various tasks assigned him on the farm. He could spare but
little time from this work but he spent that time in the district
school. He came to Iowa with his parents and lived on a farm near
Oxford Mills, Jones county, until September, 1861. His patriotism was
so aroused at that time that he enlisted in Company C, Fourteenth Iowa
Infantry, and for two years and a half was on the frontier chasing
Indians. His army duties were so attractive to. him that he re-enlisted
for three years in the Seventh Iowa Cavalry and was stationed at Fort
Sully, where he fought the Indians from that time until June 22, 1866,
when he received his honorable discharge at Sioux City, Iowa.
At the close of-the war Mr. Wherry returned to Jones county to engage
in farming. This he did with great success and in the fall of 1880
removed to Greene county, where with the capital he had accumulated he
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of partially improved land on
section 5, Grant township. It is now within the corporate limits of the
city of Jefferson. He has seen many changes take place in this city,
while his land has been transformed from farming country to town
property. After one year spent upon this farm he purchased twenty acres
of land, where he has since resided.
Mr. Wherry was married in Jones county, Iowa, to Dorcas Green, a native
of Ohio, who for the past year has been a great sufferer from the
effects of inflammatory rheumatism. Mr. and Mrs. Wherry are the parents
of three children: Serepta and Nettie, who reside under the parental
roof; and Luther, who carries on his father’s farm. This family are
members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are active workers in its
interests.
Mr. Wherry has always given his support to the democratic party. In
fact he was born and reared a democrat and unless something happens
that the democratic party has not thus far been guilty of, he will die
a firm believer in its principles. He is a member of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows and of General George H. Thomas post, No. 23, G.
A. R. Though Mr. Wherry is now seventy seven years of age and has lived
through an interesting period of American history, in which he has
always taken an active part, he is still hale and hearty. From the time
when the foreign nations thought that the United States could not
endure he has not only watched his native land and proved the fallacy
of this idea, but has always been an active worker in its steady growth
and prosperity. Though his efforts have been modest and unassuming, he
has helped the general welfare by adding his might whenever the
opportunity presented itself.
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