Lee County Iowa Genealogy

1879 Lee County History, Biographical Sketches
Fort Madison, City
 

Fort Madison Biographies
Roth thru Wright

Roth, J. F., restaurant and saloon; born in Wittenberg, Germany, in 1847; when 12 years of age, he emigrated to America and came to Burlington in 1859 and learned the baker´s trade. He enlisted in the army in March, 1864, in the 15th I.V.I., Co. H, and served until Aug. 3, 1865, and was discharged. He came to Fort Madison March 15, 1868, having taught school the winter previous at Niota; has been in business since 1868; owns the building he occupies and other property. He married Miss Catharine Doerr, a native of Germany, May 28, 1868; they have one son - Rollin G.; lost one son.

Russell, Robert A., insurance agent; was born in Maryville, Blount Co., Tenn., Dec. 12, 1803; he received his education there and prepared himself for teaching. He married Miss Louisa D. Spyker, a native of Abingdon, Va., in August, 1833; in October, they came to Illinois and lived there until 1839, when they came to Iowa and located at Fort Madison. He engaged in teaching for three or four years. Was elected to the office of County Treasurer, Collector and Recorder; he held the position of Secretary and Agent of the projected railroad from Fort Madison; he was elected County Judge and served four years; he was appointed Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue for the district. He is now engaged in the insurance business. Judge and Mrs. Russell have had three children, none of whom survive. They are members of the Presbyterian Church; Judge Russell has served as Elder in the church for over fifty years.

Sawyer, Jennett, Mrs., is a native of Middlesex Co., Conn.; she was brought up in that State. She married Joseph Sawyer at Seneca Falls, N.Y., in 1838; he was a native of England; the year following, they emigrated to Iowa; arrived in Fort Madison in September, 1839, and were among the early settlers; he brought a stock of boots and shoes; they spent the first winter in West Point; about one year after, they removed to Fort Madison, and Mr. Sawyer built the third brick house here; he was actively engaged in business here for many years, and died in October, 1877, leaving quite a large property; Mrs. Sawyer has no children; she is actively interested in all charitable enterprises. Is an active member of the Presbyterian Church and has been a teacher in the Sabbath school over thirty years.

Schafer, George H., of the firm of George H. Schafer & Co., wholesale manufacturing druggists; was born in Fort Madison July 15, 1847; he attended school here and completed his education at Western Union College, Lyons, Iowa; he commenced to learn the drug business with Samuel Eckhart, of this city, who died in 1864; after his death, Mr. Schafer managed the business for McFarland & Eckhart; when he became of age in 1868, he became a partner of Robert McFarland under the firm name of McFarland, Eckhart & Schafer, which continued until the spring of 1872, when the firm became George H. Schafer & Co.; they have the only steam laboratory in the West for the manufacture of the purest and best goods for the drug trade; they are pioneers in this line of business in the West; Mr. Schafer has the management of business and has labored indefatigably, and by his determined energy built up a large and constantly increasing trade. He married Miss Natalie Koester June 15, 1869; she was born in Soest, Prussia, and came with her parents to America; they came to St. Louis, where her father died of cholera; he was an intimate friend of Carl Schurz. Miss Koester was brought up by Rev. Mr. Reis, former Pastor of the Lutheran Church, here, under the guardianship of Mr. Shullenberg, of St. Louis; she was educated and graduated at Fulton, Ill.; after graduating, she went to Europe to visit relatives in Prussia and Belgium, and, upon her return, they were married at the Astor House, in New York City, and now live in the old homestead in this city; they have two children - Robbie and Lulu.

Schaffer, John D., was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, April 22, 1817; he emigrated to America in July, 1838; he worked as a journeyman baker successively in Philadelphia; Cincinnati and Detroit, until he settled in Cairo, Ill., in 1840, where he started in business for himself, with William Bender, now a prominent merchant in Memphis, Tenn.; in 1843, he removed to Iowa; settled in Fort Madison. On the 2d of June, 1846, he married Louisa Peters, daughter of Matthias Peters; they have six children. He is still living in the residence-part of the old homestead, which, with two store-rooms, constitutes what is known as Schaffer´s Corner, built by him in 1844, and where he carried on the general mercantile business, until the hard times, bad debts, Eads´ securities, and other reverses, compelled him to sell off his stock at cost, pay all of his debts, one hundred cents on the dollar, and seek to recover his fortunes as sutler in the army; for most of the time since the war, he has been and is still engaged as Guard at the Iowa State Penitentiary. He is a quiet man, of unassuming manners, kind to his family, and loved by all who really know him.

Note: a sutler is an army camp follower who peddled provisions to the soldiers.

Schlapp, George, of the firm of Geo. Schlapp & Bro., Fort Madison Brewery; was born in Germany, Nov. 27, 1839; his parents emigrated to America when he was only 12 years of age; came to Iowa in 1853, and located in Lee Co.; he engaged in the brewing business in 1858, and in 1866, he built the large brewery on Front street, where they carry on the business; it has a capacity of manufacturing 4,000 barrels yearly. Mr. Schlapp is prominently identified with the building of the Fort Madison Western Narrow-Gauge R.R., and is also actively identified with the interests of the city and county; he is a stockholder and one of the Directors of the German-American Bank. He married Miss Mary Dupuis, from Germany, in October, 1863; they have six children - Otto, Charlie, Max, Ida, Mary and George.

Schlapp, Henry, of the firm of George Schlapp & Bro., Fort Madison Brewery, was born in Germany Jan. 15, 1841; with his parents emigrated to America in 1851, and came to Iowa and settled in Des Moines Co. When the war broke out, he enlisted in 1861, in the 5th I.V.C., Co. F; he was in the battles of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, and in many other fights and skirmishes; was taken prisoner, paroled and left on the field with the wounded; he was in the service until 1865; after the war, he lived in Davenport. He came here and began working in the brewery in 1871, and became associated with his brother in the business. He married Miss Augusta Platscher, a native of this county, in August, 1875; they have two children - Helena and Fanny.

Schlemer, Henry, billiard hall and saloon; born in Marion Tp., Lee Co., Iowa, May 1, 1843; he was brought up on a farm and lived there until March 2, 1869, when he removed to Fort Madison, and went in the grocery business; he was City Marshal one year, and was elected Justice of the Peace and served three years; then was appointed Deputy Sheriff; also, held school offices; he then engaged in farming for four years; in January, 1879, he came in the city and engaged in his present business. He married Miss Mary Ann Kern Nov. 24, 1864; she was born in Lee Co., in Marion Tp.; they have five children - John T., Elizabeth, William H., Anna C. and J. Bennie.

Schroeder, Henry L., of the firm of Roberts & Schroeder, publishers of the Fort Madison Democrat; was born here Aug. 25, 1848; entered the office of the Plain Dealer, where he learned the printing business; he remained there nine years; in 1874, he became associated with Dr. Roberts, and since then they have published the Democrat. He married Miss Lizzie Borchers, of this city, May 21, 1872; they have two children - Ida and Genevieve.

Schulte, Stephen, plasterer; was born in Prussia Jan. 18, 1821; he emigrated to America Dec. 25, 1846; came to Iowa and settled in Fort Madison in the spring of 1847; worked in the brickyard and at steam boating; then learned the plasterer's trade, and has worked at the business ever since then; he has worked longer at the trade then any other plasterer in Fort Madison; when he came here he only had $7 in money; now owns a nice home and other city property. He has held the office of City Alderman ten years. He married Anna Mary Steffensmeyer, from Prussia, Feb. 22, 1846; they have seven children; they lost three sons; Theresa is teaching in Baltimore; John, Mary, Stephen, Frank, Katie, Joseph.

Schwartz, John H., dealer in dry goods and clothing; was born in Fort Madison Jan. 10, 1846; he attended school here, then in Kentucky for three years; in 1861, he entered a store in Keokuk, and continued there until the spring of 1864, when he engaged in business here; from a small beginning he has, by his energy and business ability, built up a large and extensive trade. He married Miss Pauline Hellman, a native of Galena, Nov. 13, 1875; they have three children - Eddie, Albert, Ernie.

Semple, F. H., attorney; was born in Bradford Co., Penn., June 24, 1841; when only 4 years of age, his father removed to Iowa; settled in Lee Co. in 1845, near Franklin, and practiced law in this county from 1847 to 1875; F. H. received his education in this county, and studied law with his father; was admitted to the bar in December, 1867, and since then has practiced law here. He enlisted July 25, 1862, in Co. E, 19th Reg. Iowa Inf., and served three years. He married Miss Catharine G. Walter, a native of Venango Co., Penn., Sept. 25, 1866; they have four children - Edgar H., Jessie W., Albert H. and Francis.

Shaw, Wm. B., retired bricklayer; was born at New Albany, Ind., April 30, 1825; when 11 years of age, moved to Illinois; came to Iowa, and located in Fort Madison, in the spring of 1841, and learned the trade of bricklayer; worked at that business until 1868, and since then, for the past ten years, he has been engaged in buying and selling real estate and attending to his property; when he began life, he had nothing, and by industry and good management, he now owns a number of houses and lots here, 100 acres adjoining the city and two other farms. He married Julia McGinley, of Ohio, in 1851; she died in 1860, leaving two children - Mary and Eddie. He married Elizabeth Boley, from Indiana, in 1864; they have one daughter - Cora.

Slack, Thomas A., blacksmith and agent for agricultural implements; was born in Greene Co., S. C., May 30, 1829; he came to Cincinnati in early childhood, lived there and in Indiana, and learned the trade of blacksmith; he came to Iowa and located in Lee Co., in 1852; he has been engaged in selling agricultural implements for fifteen years and has done an extensive business; in the fall of 1874, his place of business was burned out; he lost considerable; he has a taste for fine horses, and his daughter, “Kittie,” is one of the most expert drivers in the State. He married Emily Sargent, from England, in April, 1877; they have one son, Thomas Edward, born Feb. 12, 1879. Mr. Slack has had three daughters by former marriage - Juliet, Lizzie and Kittie.

Smith, Edwin D., dealer in hardware, stoves and house-furnishing goods; was born in England Nov. 21, 1840; his parents emigrated to America when he was only 6 years of age; came the same year to Iowa, and settled in Fort Madison; he enlisted in the 19th I.V.I., Co. E; he was in the battle of Prairie Grove, capture of Vicksburg, Fort Brown, Texas, Spanish Fort, and many other severe fights and skirmishes; he received four flesh wounds; was taken prisoner at Morganza, but was held only a few minutes, when, with two others, he escaped; after his return, he engaged in the hardware business. He married Miss Bessie M. Smith, a native of Virginia, in October, 1876.

Smith, Edwin F., of the firm of E. F. Smith & Co., meat market; was born in England April 29, 1847; his parents emigrated to this country in 1848; came to Iowa the same year, and located in Fort Madison, in June, 1848; Edwin was brought up here; he was engaged in steamboating for three years, holding the position of clerk and express agent; he established his present business in 1872, and since then has carried it on successfully; in 1875, his brother became interested with him in the business. Mr. Smith does a strictly cash trade, and never asks credit of any one, nor will he buy anything unless he pays for it when he gets it.

Smith, Joseph A., Dr., Cashier of the Fort Madison Bank; was born in Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Penn., Feb. 27, 1821; his father was a native of Boston, Mass., and was a graduate of Yale College, and took a degree at Harvard; he removed to Pittsburgh, Penn., and published The Hesperus, the first literary paper published west of the Alleghenies, and was the first editor of The Saturday Evening Visitor, which is still published there. Dr. Smith was brought up and attended school in Pittsburgh; took his classical course and completed his education at Danville, Ky.; he studied medicine and graduated in 1844; practiced medicine in Ohio until the spring of 1851, then came to Iowa, and located in Farmington and practiced his profession for some years; then engaged in the mercantile business, also, in the packing and provision business; he carried on this business very successfully; in the fall of 1868, he removed to Fort Madison; in 1875, he associated with him Mr. Charles Brewster, engaged in banking; they are men of large property and sterling integrity, and enjoy the confidence of the citizens of Lee Co. and the whole State; when Dr. Smith began life, he had nothing, and owes his success in life to his own efforts. He married Miss Ellen E. Laws, from Barnesville, Belmont Co., Ohio, Dec. 3, 1845; they have one adopted child, Ellen E. P. Smith.

Smith, Roswell J., Recorder of Lee Co.; born in Denmark Tp., Lee Co., Feb. 12, 1841, where he received his education; he has used crutches since he was 4 years of age; yet he educated himself, and when he was 16 years old, began teaching, and when 21 years of age, he had a good horse and saddle and $200 out at interest, all saved from his earnings; he taught ten years, and was engaged in the boot and shoe business ten years, and was elected Recorder in 1876, and re-elected in 1878. Married Miss Carrie A. Sheffield Sept. 3, 1867; she was a native of Indiana, but her childhood was passed in the city of New York; they have two children - Winnifred A. and John Owens; they have lost two children.

Smith, Thomas, dairyman and ice-dealer; was born in England Aug. 20, 1815; lived there until 1848, when he emigrated to America; came to Iowa and located in Fort Madison the same year, arriving there in June, 1848. While in England, married Mary Ekins in 1837; after coming here he kept a dairy for a long time; he owns Island No. 14 in the Mississippi River, opposite Fort Madison, and has served steamboats with milk day and night during the summer season for twenty-eight years; he has also been engaged in the ice business over twenty years. Has held the office of City Alderman. They have six children - Robert, Walter, Ekin, Edwin B., Mayme and Sidney T.

Soechtig, August, Jr., of the firm of Soechtig & Diedrich, grocers and bakers; born in Brunswick, Germany, Nov. 25, 1841; his parents came to America when he was only 2 years of age; after living in New Orleans, and Belleville, Ill., they came to Iowa and located in Fort Madison in 1844; August was brought up here and learned the baker´s trade; he was in St. Louis about three years. He enlisted in the army Oct. 6, 1861, in the 5th Regiment I.V.C., Co. F, and was in battles of Fort Donelson, Murfreesboro, and many fights and skirmishes; he was in the service three years; was mustered out Oct. 10, 1864; after the war, he returned and engaged in business here Oct. 1, 1866. He married Miss Elizabeth Diedrich, a native of Germany, Sept. 25, 1865; she died April 23, 1874, leaving four children; three survive - Freddie, Dora and Lulu. He married Miss Louisa Diedrich in 1875; she was born in this county Dec. 5, 1848; they have one son - Charlie.

Spreen, Henry C., saloon; was born in Germany Sept. 13, 1843; when 15 years of age, he came to America in 1858, and lived in Pittsburgh, Penn., until the war broke out, when he enlisted as private in August, 1861, in the 77th Regiment Penn. V.I., Co. B, Army of the Cumberland; he was in the battles of Shiloh, Stone River, Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, where his regiment was nearly all captured, also at Lookout Mountain, in the Atlanta campaign, at Jonesboro, Franklin and Nashville; he was wounded in the battle of Stone River; was promoted and commissioned Lieutenant, and received the Badge of Honor; it is of gold; the triangle represents the 4th, the acorn, the 14th, and the star, the 20th, army corps; after the war, returned to Pittsburgh; he came to Iowa and located in Fort Madison in January, 1875. He married Miss Sophia Voight, a native of Germany, in September, 1867.

Stempel, H. C., Deputy Clerk of the Courts of Lee Co.; was born in Prussia in 1833; when 14 years of age, he came to America, in 1847; he came to Iowa and located in Fort Madison, and learned the saddler´s trade; he afterward studied law with Hon. John Van Valkenburg, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1862; he was appointed Deputy Clerk of the Courts in 1864, and served two years, and since then has practiced law here, until he was appointed to his present position in January, 1879. He married Miss Anna B. Degenhardt, a native of Prussia, May 1, 1867; they have four children - Guido, Austin, Carl and Selma.

Stempel, Herman F., M.D., physician and U.S. Revenue Gauger; was born in Prussia, July 24, 1824. He was brought up and received his education there, and studied medicine; he emigrated to America in 1847; came to Iowa and settled in Ft. Madison the same year; practiced medicine until 1852; then held the office of Deputy County Treasurer and Recorder for eleven years, until January, 1864; in 1869, he was appointed U.S. Revenue Gauger, and since then has held that position, and has also practiced his profession. He married Charlotte Walter, from Hanover, Germany, Nov. 10, 1853; she died in 1876, leaving six children - Eugene, Arthur, Valeska, Wolfgang, Willie and Herman; they have lost three children.

Stewart, William, Col., retired; was born in Sussex Co., N.J., June 4th, 1790. His father, Daniel Stewart, was born in Litchfield, Conn., November 18, 1762; when 15 years old, he enlisted as a soldier in the Revolutionary army, and served till the close of the war; he then removed to Sussex Co., N.J., where he engaged, successfully, in business for several years, and accumulated some property; in 1801, he exchanged his property in New Jersey for two shares in the Ohio Company´s purchase, and closed out his business with a view to moving West. Col. William Stewart, his son, who accompanied his father to Ohio, says: “In October, 1802, father returned to the old farm to rig out a team for emigration to the Northwest Territory; the preparations having been completed, a day and hour was set for starting; at the appointed time, 8 o´clock A.M., about a hundred friends and neighbors from all quarters came flocking in to bid us farewell, and I shall never forget the scene that followed; they all thought we were going so far beyond the world´s boundary that we should never be heard of again; the hubbub lasted till 5 o´clock in the afternoon before father could say good bye with a strong voice, and then we started; went three miles and camped for the night. The next morning, we moved on; the teams were heavily loaded and the roads tolerable till we approached the Allegheny Mountains, when they became terribly rough and dangerous; crossing the mountains the family were afraid to ride in the wagons, and, therefore, walked this part of the way; at the very steep descents, father would cut saplings, fasten them, top-foremost, to the tail of the wagon, and then go down, depending on the saplings as a brake. The journey was a long, wearisome and dangerous one, but we finally reached the Hockhocking in safety.” This was in the winter; Mr. Stewart settled on a fine tract of land on the river about a mile above the mouth of Federal Creek; possessing considerable means, great energy and uncommon business talent, he soon had the best farm in the county; as early as 1810, he had an orchard of three thousand fruit bearing trees - two thousand peach and one thousand apple trees - at that time, probably, the largest orchard in the State; he was one of the first two Justices of the Peace in the township (Elijah Hatch being the other), and acted as such altogether more than twenty years; he was County Commissioner for many years, and was appointed by the Legislature one of the early Appraisers of the College lands. Mr. Stewart was an active member of the Methodist Church for sixty years of his life; always contributed liberally to the support of its ministers and the erection of churches; he died Feb. 20, 1858. The subject of this sketch came to Ohio with his parents in 1802; when 17 years of age, he was elected a Lieutenant in the Militia, and was Captain of a company raised there in 1812, which expected to be but was not called into the service; some years later he was appointed a Colonel. The contract for erecting the Ohio University Building was awarded to him in 1817. He married Julie Hulbert, a native of Connecticut, in 1813; she died in 1823, leaving two children - William R. and Emeline; he afterward married Miss Julia C. Carpenter, a native of Connecticut; they emigrated to Iowa, located in Lee Co. in 1840, and engaged in the mercantile trade; in 1847, he was elected Superintendent of schools, and during that and the following year he organized one hundred and five school districts; he has held other offices. There are very few men now living who have seen the first President of the United States, yet Col. Stewart has seen George Washington, and was well acquainted with Aaron Burr. Col. Stewart has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1810 - nearly seventy years. Col. Stewart and his wife have six children - Charles, living in Chicago; Mary (now Mrs. Knapp); Alexander, living here; Edward, living here; D. Wallace, living in Ottumwa; Lucy (now Mrs. Hawley), living in Ottumwa.

Stoevener, John T., Deputy County Treasurer; was born in Germany, April 30, 1845; attended school and entered the seminary at Buerin, Westphalia, where he completed his education, graduated and received his certificate as teacher; he came to the United States in November, 1866; after remaining in St. Louis a short time, he taught school in Madonnaville, Monroe Co., Ill., three and a half years; then came to Fort Madison, in 1869, and was engaged in teaching over five years, and resigned May 1, 1875; was a partner in the Concordia Brewery until Jan. 1, 1876, when he was appointed to his present position; he has held office of Town Clerk for three years. He married Miss Nellie Scheid in August, 1868; she is native of Germany, but has lived in this State since 4 years of age; they have four children - Theodore, Lizzie, Minnie, Nellie; they lost one son, Ferdinand.

Tewksbury, J. R., photograph artist; born in New Hampshire, near Concord, May 17, 1831; his parents, who were from Tewksbury, England, removed to Western New York, where he was brought up; he came to Iowa in 1854; in April, 1856, he opened the first railroad ticket office in Keokuk; he held the position of General Western Agent of the C. B. & Q. R.R., for six years; went across the plains to Idaho and Montana; was engaged in fruit culture in Southern Illinois; was in business in New York City; then returned to Iowa and was engaged in photographing at Farmington for eight years, and established the business here in the fall of 1875. He married Miss E. Carrie Grubb May 27, 1856; she is a native of McConnellsville, Morgan Co., Ohio; her father, Walter Grubb, came to Iowa in 1841, and was an old settler; he was Postmaster at Farmington for many years.

Tieken, John B., stone-mason; was born in Hanover, Germany, July 20, 1818; he came to America in January, 1841; lived in Vicksburg and St. Louis for three years; came to Iowa and settled in Fort Madison, in December, 1844, and began working at his trade of stone-mason; he has continued at it since then; when he came here he had nothing, and now owns several houses and lots and four acres of land in the city limits. He married Margaretta Meier, from Germany, June 24, 1844; she died in October, 1875; they have three children - Heinrich, living in Milwaukee; Elizabeth, teaching in High School; Anna Mary, at home, keeps house for her father.

Tremaine, Harmon H., of the firm of Dawley & Tremaine, publishers of the Fort Madison Plaindealer; was born in Oconomowoc, Waukesha Co., Wis., Aug. 3, 1852; when 14 years of age, removed to Webster Co., Iowa, attended school and prepared himself for teaching; he began teaching when 19 years of age, and taught for seven years, until coming to Fort Madison; he associated with John M. Dawley, and purchased the Plaindealer in November, 1878.

Unverzagt, Henry H., merchant and dealer in groceries and provisions; was born in Brunswick, Germany, Dec. 24, 1839; when only 6 years of age, his parents emigrated to America, and came to Iowa and settled in Fort Madison in the same year, in 1845; he was guard at the prison seven years; he has been engaged in mercantile business for the past thirteen years; he has held the office of City Alderman for seven years; held the office of Mayor pro tem. for two years, and was Representative in the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows; he was initiated in the Order in 1861. He married Miss Mary A. Kingsley, a native of Pennsylvania, at Greensburg, Penn., Oct. 25, 1863; they have one daughter - Sadie.

Van Valkenburg, John, attorney, of the firm Van Valkenburg & Hamilton; was born in Lincoln Co., Canada, April 16, 1832; when 9 years of age, he came with his parents to the States; they came to Iowa and located in Lee Co. in 1846, settling on a farm; when 17 years of age, John entered the preparatory school of Prof. Howe, at Mt. Pleasant; he remained there about three years, then went to Oberlin, Ohio, and completed his education at Knox College, Galesburg, Ill.; while there, he was elected Principal of the State Normal School of Iowa; by the recommendation of the President and Faculty of the College - after occupying this position for one year with ability and satisfaction to all - they tendered him the appointment for another year, but he declined; having chosen the study of law as his profession, he entered the law office of Cornell, Jamison & Wait; he completed his law studies with Miller & Beck, of this city, and was admitted to the bar Oct. 15, 1857; the following July, he began the practice of law; has continued for over twenty years, and is the oldest lawyer now in practice in Fort Madison; he was Congressional Elector in 1864, and Presidential Elector at large in 1876; in 1874, he was a candidate for Congress, and came within one vote of receiving the nomination; George W. McCrary was nominated on the 147th ballot; he held the office of Deputy District Attorney for two years; he is prominently identified with secret societies, being Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows, and is also in the highest chair of the order of Knights of Pythias in this State, and for three sessions has been a member of the National Council of the Grand Lodge of the World; he is the author of the Standard Manual of the Order of Knights, which is about to pass to its third edition; he has now prepared and ready for the press, “The Jewels of Pythian Knighthood;” Mr. V. is a self-made man, acquired his education by his own efforts, and worked his way to his present position. He married Miss Mary J. Douglass July 3, 1861; she is a native of this city and county, daughter of James Douglass; they have three children - Edward Douglass, Clement Lincoln and Joel Walker.

Walker, J. C., Dr., retired; was born in Springfield, Ohio, Feb. 7, 1813; he received his education in that State, and studied medicine and graduated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1836; he came to Iowa, and located in Fort Madison in December, 1836, and is one of the few old settlers now living, who emigrated here during that year; he engaged in the practice of medicine. On the 10th of October, 1838, he married Miss Martha N. Stewart; she was a native of Missouri, and daughter of Dr. Abraham Stewart, Surgeon in the United States Army; she came to Lee Co. in October, 1835, and is the oldest settler in Fort Madison; she has lived in three Territories without removing; when she came here, this was Michigan Territory, until July, 1836; from that time until 1838, was Wisconsin Territory, and in 1838, it became Iowa Territory. Her mother, now 84 years of age, lives with her. Dr. Walker practiced here for fifteen years. He held the office of Clerk of the United States District Court for five years, under the Territorial Government, and held the office of Collector of Internal Revenue of the First Iowa District, from August, 1862 until July, 1867. He has always been a strong Antislavery man, and has been actively identified with the interests of the city and county; he has held the office of Mayor of the city. Dr. and Mrs. Walker have had six children; three survive - Emily W., who married Rev. Geo. D. Stewart, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, of this city; Margaret, living in Washington, D.C., and Buffon S., who is a civil engineer.

Welsing, Herman, Treasurer of Lee County; was born in Westphalia, Germany, April 23, 1829; he emigrated to America in 1855; came to Iowa in 1857; located at West Point, in this county, and engaged in the mercantile business; he continued until the fall of 1875, when he was elected County Treasurer; re-elected in the fall of 1877; he has held office of Assessor, Justice of the Peace, Mayor and Postmaster of West Point, and other town and school offices. He married Miss Mary Ann Benjamin, of New Orleans, Oct. 11, 1863; they have six children - August, Annie, Theresa, Emrich, William, Ida.

Weston, John H., of the firm of Weston & Co.; among the large manufacturers of lumber in the West is the firm of Weston & Co., of La Crosse, Wis., and Fort Madison; the principal member of the firm, John H. Weston, was born in Skowhegan, Me., June 5, 1848; when 14 years of age, he came West and attended school in Chicago and in Bureau Co., Ill. for two years; then entered the office of his father, who was carrying on the lumber business; from his close application to the interests of the business, its direction devolving largely upon him, when 21 years of age he became associated with his father, and since then he has had the entire active management of the large and extensive business conducted by this firm; during the winter season they employ 300 to 400 men in getting out logs; besides their mills at La Crosse and Fort Madison, they have mills and warehouses in Wisconsin; their mills have a capacity of manufacturing 12,000,000 feet of lumber yearly; they also do a large logging business, selling from 8,000,000 to 10,000,000 feet of logs, in addition to what they cut for their own milling. Mr. Weston married Miss Adett V. Plotte, of Virginia, Dec. 13, 1871.

Wever, Laura C., Mrs., formerly Miss Laura C. McConn, is a native of this city, and a daughter of Daniel McConn, Esq., one of the earliest settlers of Lee Co.; she grew up here, and was educated in St. Louis. She married C. R. Wever, a native of Jefferson Co., N.Y.; he was engaged in the banking business, and died in February, 1874, leaving a large property.

Wilson, Hazen, retired; was born in Windsor Co., Vt., June 21, 1825; when 12 years of age, his parents emigrated to Iowa; they came by wagons, his father driving one ox-team and he and his brother drove the other; they started May 19, 1837, were ten weeks on the way, and arrived in Lee Co. the last of July, 1837; they located in Washington Tp., on Sec. 1, and made a farm; they built a saw-mill on Lost Creek, started it in December, 1838, and sawed the first lumber in Lee Co.; in 1849, they rebuilt their mill; in the spring of 1850, Hazen started overland to Oregon; he went with an ox-team, and was six months on the way; he remained there three years, was engaged in manufacturing lumber; he built five sawmills while there; he returned in 1853, and in 1855 bought his brother´s mill on Skunk Creek; operated that a short time, and then removed to Mendota Ill., lived there three years; and went to Southern Illinois and engaged in fruit-growing; he had the largest fruit orchard in the State, if not in the country; it contained 1,100 trees and he grew small fruits in proportion; he returned to Ft. Madison in 1870, and since then has not been engaged in active business, except attending to the care of his property. He is a strong Republican and was an Old-Line Abolitionist when it cost men something to stand by their principles. He married Miss Susan Dean, a native of Ohio, Dec. 3, 1853; they have two daughters - Ada and Birdie May.

Winter, William, City Assessor of Fort Madison; born in York, York Co., Penn., Jan. 27, 1827; when 9 years of age, his father moved to Ohio; William lived there until the spring of 1847, when he enlisted for the Mexican War, in the 4th Regiment, O.V.I., Co. G; the regiment voted to enlist for the war; he was discharged Aug. 20, 1848, returned to Ohio, and, in the spring of 1849, married Miss Mary A. Crisher, a native of Pennsylvania; they came to Iowa, settled in Ft. Madison, and opened a bakery; in the summer of 1852, his wife and one child died of cholera, leaving one son - William H.; he returned to Ohio, remained two years, and there, on Dec. 17, 1853, married Minerva L. Cook, of Ashland, Ohio; they came here in 1854, and since have resided here. Mr. Winter has held the office of City Assessor for sixteen years; they have six children - Charles F. (pilot on the ferry), George, Albert, Clara, Julia and Sherman.

Witz, Fred, bricklayer; was born in Baden, Germany, Sept. 26, 1826; he learned his trade there; he emigrated to America in 1854, and lived in St. Louis until 1872, when he came to Iowa and settled in Fort Madison; since then he has followed his trade, and has made what he owns by his earnings. He married Amelia Nachtwine, from Prussia, in 1854.

Wright, Rosanna, Mrs., formerly Miss Rosanna Irvin; was born in Virginia; came to Indiana, where she married Thomas Wright in 1827; he was a native of South Carolina and was born in 1801; they lived in Indiana about ten years, then removed to Illinois, where they lived until coming here in 1851; Mr. Wright died of cholera in 1850, leaving nine children - Margaret (now Mrs. Henderson, who lives here), Mary, Perry C. (living South), Thomas W. (an engineer), Caroline (now Mrs. Col. Sanford, of Marshalltown), Nancy M. (now Mrs. Samuel Atlee), Ella (now Mrs. Strain, living in California), John T. (an engineer), Artemisia (now Mrs. Myers, of Kansas); during the war, Perry C. enlisted, served as ensign in the navy and had charge of the tug dispatch-boat Ivy.

Wright, Samuel, retired; was born in England in 1812; he learned the trade of machinist and emigrated to America in 1832, and lived in Ohio until he came here, in 1840, and located in Lee Co.; has made a farm close by Keokuk, where the west part of the city now stands; he was engaged in steamboating for fifteen years, acting as engineer. He married Miss Leonora Dowd, of Missouri, in July, 1874; she is a native of Vermont. When Mr. Wright began life, he had nothing; has earned what he acquired by his own industry.

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