Mills County, Iowa
History of Fremont and Mills County, 1901
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1901
Biographical Sketches
H
HALE, CHARLES P.
Charles P. Hale, who is occupying the position of auditor of Mills county, was born in Lincolnville, Maine, on the 9th of August, 1858, his parents being William A. and Anna M. (Bartlett) Hale, both of whom are also natives of the Pine Tree state, whence they came to Iowa in the year 1878, taking up their abode in Moulton, where they spent their remaining days, the father passing away at the age of sixty-one years, while the mother died at the age of fifty-eight years. He was a carpenter by trade, following that pursuit in early life but later he engaged in conducting a hotel in Lincolnville, Maine, and while in Iowa was connected with the Moulton Woolen Mills.
Charles P. Hale, whose name introduces this record, is indebted to the public schools of his native city for the early educational privileges which he enjoyed. He afterward attended the Moulton Normal School and then spent two years in Nebraska. On the expiration of that period he returned to Iowa and began the study of telegraphy, also familiarizing himself with the labors connected with the conduct of a railroad station, being thus employed at Corydon, Iowa. For seventeen years he followed those pursuits in the employ of the M.L. & M. and Wabash railroads, after which he spent three years engaged in general merchandising in Norwich, Iowa. He was then called to public office. In politics he has always been a staunch Republican and on the ticket of that party, in the fall of 1900, he was elected to the position of auditor of Mills county by a majority of four hundred and forty-two, thus becoming the successor of C. P. Kinney who had filled the position for six years. He has proved a capable, energetic and diligent official, his course reflecting credit upon himself and proving highly satisfactory to his constituents.
In 1882 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hale and Miss May Martin, of Glenwood Junction, Missouri, and their union has been blessed with seven children, namely: Bertha M., Earl M., Clara M., Florence M., Alta G., Eugene and Inez. The parents held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Hale is a representative of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, exemplifying in his life the beneficent and helpful spirit of that fraternity.
HAYNIE, PAUL
A leading citizen of Lyons township, Mills county, Iowa, a progressive, liberal and highly esteemed man, is Paul Haynie, the subject of this sketch. He was born in St. Clair county, Missouri, June 3, 1849, and was a son of John and Mary Elizabeth (Ward) Haynie, both being natives of Tennessee. John Haynie engaged in farming and stock-raising in his early life, but in later years became a dealer in grain, this being his business at the time of his death, November 29, 1891. Mrs. Haynie survived her husband until July 25, 1895. The Haynie family is of French descent and is noted for longevity. The children of this family numbered nine, our subject being the sixth in order of birth.
Mr. Haynie has made farming and the raising of stock his business through life, being very successful in both lines. He owns three hundred acres of some of the finest land in Mills county, which he has improved and cultivated into a state of great perfection. His buildings are modern and substantial, while his orchards and groves of shade trees make his place very attractive. He and his wife show great hospitality and none are more respected through the community.
The marriage of Mr. Haynie took place February 21, 1875, to Miss Elmira Elizabeth, a daughter of John Franklin and Nancy Minerva (Dodge) Williams, native of Ohio. They have had eight children, four of whom still survive: Leroy, who is engaged in the mercantile business at Pacific Junction, Iowa; Charles Franklin, who also is in the mercantile business at Pacific Junction; Woodie Paul, who is a student at Shenandoah; and Ralph John.
The respect and esteem of his neighborhood belong to Mr. Haynie. He has lived a life among his neighbors that has been a benefit to them, and he is most justly regarded as a valuable man in his community.
HEINSHEIMER, DAVID L.
The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose success has been worthily achieved, who has attained wealth by honorable business methods, acquired the highest reputation in his chosen calling by merit, and whose social prominence is not the less the result of an irreproachable life than of recognized natural gifts. Of America is a self-made man a product and the record of accomplishment in this individual sense is the record which the true and loyal American holds in deepest regard and highest honor. In tracing the career of the subject of this review we are enabled to gain a recognition of this sort of a record, for he is a man of strong mentality and one who by his own unaided efforts has advanced steadily to a position foremost among the leading business men of southern Iowa. He stands at the head of the firm of D. L. Heinsheimer & Company, of Glenwood, proprietors of what is doubtless the largest dry-goods and clothing house in this portion of the state.
Mr. Heinsheimer was born in Baden, Germany, March 19, 1847. His parents were Leopold and Jeanette (Bierman) Heinsheimer, natives of Baden. They came to America when the subject of this review was six years of age, sailing from Havre, France, in the year 1853, and reaching the harbor of New York after twenty-one days spent upon the broad Atlantic. The father was a baker by trade and followed that pursuit in the new world for about eight years. They took up their abode in Cincinnati, Ohio, where Mr. Heinsheimer engaged in the baking business, providing for his family in that way. He died in Cincinnati, at the age of fifty years, and his wife passed away at the age of forty. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are now living.
Mr. Heinsheimer of this review pursued his education in the schools of Cincinnati until 1860, when at the age of fourteen years he came to Mills county, Iowa, and when seventeen years of age he secured a clerkship with D. P. Foster, a merchant of Glenwood, which position he creditably filled for about three years, or until 1872, when his ability and business capacity secured for him a partnership in the enterprise. His employer recognizing his worth gave him a share in the business and the relation between them was thus maintained until 1875, when Mr. Heinsheimer embarked in business alone in Glenwood. He established a dry-goods and clothing house and was sole proprietor until 1878, when his brother Albert was admitted to the business under the firm name of D. L. Heinsheimer & Brother. Under that name the store was successfully conducted until 1894, when a stock company was organized, with our subject as president. He has since remained at the head of the D. L. Heinsheimer Company and is the leading spirit in the management of the extensive dry goods and clothing house controlled by the corporation. They carry a very large stock of all grades of goods and their patronage is steadily increasing, for the firm enjoys an unassailable reputation in trade circles. Mr. Heinsheimer is a man of resourceful business ability whose efforts have not been confined to one line, but have been extended into several fields of endeavor. He is the president of the Mills County National Bank, a position he has occupied for four years. He has been connected with the institution since 1882 and has been an active factor in its successful conduct. The other officers are A. D. French, cashier, and F. M. Buffington, vice-president, the latter a prominent farmer of Oak township. Our subject is also the owner of extensive property interests, having farming lands and city property which he rents.
On the 20th of September, 1870, Mr. Heinsheimer was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Pettinger, of Glenwood, who was born in England and was a daughter of Richard Pettinger. Her father was born in England, is a farmer by occupation and is now residing in this county, at the age of seventy-eight years. Her mother passed away in England. They were the parents of but one child, Mrs. Sarah Heinsheimer, and by a second marriage the father had another daughter, Mrs. Sarah Stewart.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Heinsheimer have been born six children, of whom five are yet living, as follows: Mrs. Carrie Shoninger, who has one child; Edward R.; Jeanette M.; Lester D., and Theresa. All were born in Glenwood.
In his political views Mr. Heinsheimer is a Republican having given his unfaltering support to the principles of the party since casting his first presidential vote for U. S. Grant. He served as one of the presidential electors for McKinley in 1896 and was a delegate to the national convention in 1892 when General Harrison was nominated as the presidential candidate. He takes a deep interest in the cause of his party and does everything in his power to promote its growth and success. Education also finds in him a warm friend and for eighteen years he has capably served on the school board, acting as president for half of the time. Since attaining his majority he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity and in his life exemplifies its benevolent spirit. As a citizen he takes a deep interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community and his financial aid has been of great benefit to Glenwood. He regards this as a public duty and as a privilege, and seeks no official return therefore. With his own hand Mr. Heinsheimer has shaped his destiny. The common testimony of him is that he is a man of the strictest integrity, a quality of the human mind that we could scarcely overestimate in business and many relations of life; a man who sees much sooner than he speaks; a man who is careful, prudent and honest; a man therefore favored not by chance but by the due exercise of his own good qualities.
HOLCOMBE, SAMUEL A.
Among the representatives of agricultural interests in Mills county is Samuel A. Holcombe, whose well developed farm in Center township stands as a monument to his enterprise and capable labors. He is numbered among the soldier boys of the Civil war, and since putting aside the uniform of blue he has been found as true and faithful to his duties of citizenship as when he followed the stars and stripes on the battle fields of the south.
Samuel A. Holcombe was born in Herkimer county, New York, in 1847, and is a representative of one of the old families of Massachusetts. The Holcombes originated in Devonshire, England. One of the ancestors was a crusader and a knight, and received large grants of land from the king of England, in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The name is composed of two Saxon words, "holt" and "combe" The first representative of the family to seek a home in the new world came in 1630. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Bethuel Holcombe, who was born in Granville, Massachusetts, on the 9th of September, 1763, while his wife, Desire Holcombe, was a native of Southwark, Massachusetts, born in 1767. He served as an officer in the Colonial army in the war of the Revolution. The grandparents had ten children, among whom was the Rev. Chester Holcombe. The others were: Hosea, who was born in 1787, Cynthia, who was born in 1789; Clarissa, who was born in 1791, Clarissa, the second, born in 1794; Silas, born in 1796; Edmond, born in 1800; Martin, born in 1802; Almond, born in 1806; and Amanda, born in 1809.
The Rev. Chester Holcombe was born in Herkimer county, New York, and became a Presbyterian minister, devoting his entire life to the work of the gospel. He was twice married. He first wedded Catherine Beebe, who was born in 1800, and they became the parents of the following children: Edward Seymour, Charles Wilson, Edwin Clark, Andrus Hart, Julia Elvira, Henry Martin, Harmon Walton and Catherine Beebe. All were natives of the Empire state, having been born in Oswego, Oneida and Herkimer counties. Of these, five of the sons, Edward, Andrus, Charles, Henry and Harmon, were soldiers in the Civil war and won distinction by reason of their valor at the battle of Gettysburg. Harmon was struck by a piece of a shell, which was deflected by a Testament in his blouse pocket. He was not injured but the force of the blow knocked him temporarily senseless and he was carried off the field as dead. After the death of his first wife the Rev. Chester Holcombe married Miss Lucy Tompkins, who was born in Massachusetts and prior to her marriage was a successful teacher in the Female Seminary at Clinton, New York. The children of this marriage are: Chester, Gilbert T. and Samuel A. The father died in Wayne county, New York, in 1865, and the mother passed away in the Empire state in 1861.
Their son Chester was born in Winfield, Herkimer county, in 1842, and is a very distinguished man, a diplomat and an author, whose opinions on Chinese matters are regarded as authority. He prepared for college in the old academies in Webster and Sodus and was graduated in Union College in a class of one hundred and fifty-six. He ranked third in scholarship, won the much coveted Phi Beta Kappa prize, and was graduated at the earliest age of any alumnus of that institution. After studying for the ministry he was ordained to preach the gospel in the Presbyterian church. During the war he went to the south as a teacher, but on account of ill health was forced to discontinue that work, and sailed for China as a missionary under the auspices of the American board. Soon after his arrival there Dr. S. Wells Williams, author of "The Middle Kingdom," and secretary of the American legation at Peking, resigned and induced Mr. Holcombe to accept the position of secretary, in which capacity he served until 1884. Since that time he has made various visits to China, going to the empire on commercial and financial business for people in this country. He is the author of a work entitled "The Real Chinaman," a fascinating and valuable treatise on the educational, social and commercial relations of the Chinese. It was issued in a fine volume two years ago by Dodd, Mead & Company, and has had a large sale. recently Chester Holcombe has completed another work which was published by the same house, in October, 1900, and is devoted more especially to the treatment of the governmental matters of the Chinese in China, military and otherwise. He is a constant contributor to the newspapers, magazines and periodicals, his articles being eagerly read. He has filled all the different posts in our diplomatic service in China. As a member of the commission for that purpose he assisted in the negotiations of two treaties between the United States and China. Associated with Admiral Shufeldt he also negotiated the treaty between the United States and Corea (sic).
In 1884 he was appointed to represent our government at the capital of the United States of Columbia, but declined the appointment. He was twice offered a decoration of high order by the emperor of China, but declined the honor.
Mr. Holcombe spent some time in Japan in the early part of 1895, in connection with the negotiation of a treaty of peace between that empire and China. In 1896 at the request of the Chinese government, he prepared in detail, in English and Chinese, the papers for a loan of one hundred million dollars. He also developed in both these languages the detailed plans for about three thousand miles of double track railway, involving an estimate cost of two hundred and forty million dollars, a scheme for raising the necessary funds, and the establishment of schools for the instruction of Chinese in railway construction and management. His health gave way under the intense nervous strain and he was obliged to return to the United States.
He has spent nearly his entire life in the capital of the Chinese empire and has the reputation of being the best foreign speaker of that most difficult language. He has prepared several books in the Chinese tongue, his first volume in English, being "The Real Chinaman"
Mr. Holcombe is a man of broad culture. He is a deep thinker, keen in his perceptions, positive in his beliefs. His magazine articles are sought for by the best publications. His literary style shows that he is a master of pure English in the very best sense, both the diction and subject matter of his work being of the very best. As a speaker he is equally interesting and is much sought after. He delivered a lecture on China to the students of Union College and during a recent campaign he made several political speeches which were models of convincing argument. He is an American of Americans, a staunch Republican, progressive, broad-minded, and interested in charities at home and abroad. He is especially interested in foreign missionary work, being one of the directors of the American board. He has a broad acquaintance with prominent men in this and other countries. He is on terms of friendship with Earl Li Hung Chang and nearly all of the prominent Chinese statesmen, and was a special friend of General Grant. As United States minister, he accompanied him and his party through China on the General's famous tour of the world, and entertained him for several weeks in the legation at Peking.
Gilbert T. Holcombe, the second brother of our subject, is a graduate of Union College and he, too, studied for the ministry. He was pastor of the Congregational church at Glenwood, Iowa, for three years and also visited China, but only remained a short time. He is now and has been for several years connected in an important official relation with the Children's Home Society, with headquarters in St. Louis.
Samuel A. Holcombe, whose name introduces this record, has a high school and an academic education, acquired by means of the excellent facilities afforded in his native state. At the age of seventeen years he responded to his country's call for aid, enlisting in September, 1864, at Rochester, New York, as a member of the Eighteenth New York Independent Battery, and with that command he went to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he remained until February, 1865, when they were sent to Dauphin Island, on Mobile Bay, and participated in the capture of the city of Mobile. The only real battle in which he took part was at Fort Blakely, one of the outworks of Mobile, in April, 1865. The war having ceased, he returned home and was mustered out of the service. Since 1882 Mr. Holcombe has been a resident of Iowa. He carries on general farming and his labors bring to him a good income. He was married at Downers Grove, Illinois, in December, 1875, to Mrs. Margret L. Dunham, a widow, who was born in New York city. Her family name was Brunt and her father was a contractor of New York city. Mrs. Holcombe was called to her final rest in 1888, leaving no children.
In his political affiliations the subject of this review is a staunch Republican who keeps well informed on the issues of the day and gives an unfaltering support to his party, yet has never been a politician in the sense of an office seeker, though he served for one term as township trustee, but has always preferred to give his time and energies to his business affairs. He is a member of the Grange and also holds membership in the Congregational church at Tabor, Iowa.
HONEYMAN, JOHN
John Honeyman, who for many years was identified with the agricultural interests of Mills county, was of Scotch birth. He was born in the county of Fife, Scotland, in the year 1842, his parents being John and Margaret (Blythe) Honeyman. The father was born in the county of Fife, in 1797, and spent his entire life in his native land, passing away on the 29th of December, 1864, in the house which had been built by his great-grandfather. He was a mason by trade and became a contractor and builder along that line. His wife, who was born in Scotland, March 20, 1804, also died in the land of hills and heather. Their marriage was celebrated June 7, 1830.
John Honeyman, whose name introduces this record, was educated in the high schools of his native country and when fifteen years of age entered the service of the Commercial Bank, of Scotland, remaining with that institution until 1872, when, believing that he might better his financial condition in the new world, he sailed for America. Landing in New York, he did not tarry long in the eastern metropolis but journeyed westward to Detroit and thence to Chicago, remaining a short time in that city. In June, 1873, he came to Mills county and located on the farm which he made his home until his death, with the exception of brief intervals spent in other lines of business elsewhere.
Mr. Honeyman was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Gregg Miles, a native of Scotland, who died June 8, 1874. He then returned to his native country, but after a short time again came to America, and in September, 1874, took charge of a bank, implement house and grain elevator in Emerson, where he remained for one year. He then went to Ashkum, Illinois, where he had charge of a grain business for a year, when he again came to Mills county. In 1876 he had charge of an elevator in Emerson and at one time in the period of eight days raised twenty-six thousand nine hundred and sixteen bushels of corn measured as shelled, and at the same time there were two other firms in Emerson engaged in buying corn. On leaving Emerson he returned to his farm, which comprised two hundred and thirteen acres of rich land in Indian Creek township, and throughout his remaining days he gave his attention to the cultivation and development of his land, winning thereby creditable success.
In March, 1876, Mr. Honeyman again married, his second union being with Miss Ella Viola, a daughter of Milton Cheney, formerly of Mills county. Her family came to Iowa from Stephenson county, Illinois, in the year 1852. A location was first made in Pottawattamie county, but after a year they came to Mills county, locating near Glenwood. In 1862 they went to Utah territory and resided for a short time near Salt Lake City, but in 1863 they returned to Mills county, and the father again purchased the farm which he had sold on his removal to the west. Mr. Honeyman has three brothers, Horace B., Elihu and Gilbert, who are farmers in Indian Creek township. She was born near Glenwood after the family came to Iowa and pursued her education in the district schools. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Honeyman were born eight children, seven sons and one daughter, as follows: John; Milton C.; Arthur B.; Alex.; Stuart; James D.; Robert R.; Ella V.; and Warren Lee. The subject of this review had a wide acquaintance throughout Mills county and was a popular citizen, his many excellent qualities gaining for him the high regard of all with whom he came in contact. He died December 29, 1897, and the community thereby lost one of its valued and respected citizens, a man whom to know was to honor. Mrs. Honeyman still survives her husband and is a most estimable woman. She holds membership in the Presbyterian church, also belongs to the Ladies' Aid Association and is active in missionary work and in other departments of church activity. Her life is in harmony with her professions and in many ways is well worthy of emulation. In politics Mr. Honeyman was a Republican and took an active part in the Republican politics of Mills county. He was a leader of men, ever loyal to his friends and ever true to his word.
HOWARD, SAMSON
The characteristics which combine to make men successful as farmers in England render them still more so amid the superior opportunities afforded in America, where the same amount of business ability and the same effort will produce better results, partly because the farmer may be a land-owner here instead of a tenant, and may have a surplus of income which he may apply to the improvement of his property instead of payment for rent. Mills county, Iowa, has a contingent of English-born farmers of whom any county in the United States might be proud, and one of the best known of these is the prominent retired agriculturist of Ingraham township whose name is above.
Samson Howard was born in Lincolnshire, England, January 1, 1835, a son of John Howard, also a native of Lincolnshire, who died in 1837, leaving thirteen children, of whom ten grew up and of whom four are living at this time, our subject being the twelfth in order of birth. Those living are William Howard, a Nebraska farmer; Jane, who married a Mr. Bugg, whom she survives, and is living in England; Samson; and Sarah, who lives in Nebraska, not far from Sioux City, Iowa. The mother of these children survived their father, who was a laboring man and farmer and died in England at the age of eighty-two years.
Mr. Howard's educational advantages were very meager, and after he was six years old were limited to facilities afforded by night schools, in which he learned to read but not much more. At the tender age of six he began the battle of life for himself, working hard, for six pence a day, or three shillings a week, boarding himself. His fortunes improved somewhat, however, as he grew older, and in 1854, when he was nineteen years old, he came to America, making the voyage from Liverpool to New York in a sail vesel, which was about nine weeks between port and port.
The passage was a dangerous one and was marked by a pathetic incident which Mr. Howard will never forget. He was accompanied by his brothers John and Thomas and the latter's wife and five children. John died of ship fever and was buried at sea. Thomas located in Lorain county, Ohio, where he died at the age of seventy, leaving a small estate to seven children.
Samson found work on Lorain county farms and remained there three years. From there he went to Ottawa county, Ohio, where in 1859 he bought eighty acres of timber land. He cut down the timber, and disposing of his interests there bought twenty acres of improved land in Wood county, that state, on which he settled in 1863. He had been married, July 20, 1861, to Lettie Hollom, a native of Lincolnshire, England, born July 4, 1843, who had come to America in 1852 with her parents, Samuel and Ann (Hollingsworth) Hollom. After having farmed in Ohio for six years he moved with his family to St. Joseph county, Michigan, whence he removed to Iowa in the spring of 1871, settling on the spot on which he now lives. It was a forty acre patch of new prairie land, which he bought at fifteen dollars an acre and on which there were no improvements. He went in debt to a considerable extent in buying the property and in erecting a small frame house upon it, but by hard work and good management he soon placed himself on the broad highway of prosperity and made subsequent purchases of land until he now has a good two hundred and eighty acre farm, with an orchard and shade trees and a commodious brick veneer residence and ample barns and other outbuildings. He does mixed farming growing eighty to one hundred and forty acres of corn and thirty five acres of wheat and other cereals, and keeps twenty to forty head of grade Durham cattle and markets a good number of hogs.
Politically Mr. Howard is a Democrat and he is ably filling the offices of township trustee and school district trustee. Mrs. Howard is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their house, erected in 1891, was the second one built on the farm and it has become widely known for its hospitality, Mrs. Howard's parents, both of whom are dead, left seven children, six of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Howard have had seven sons and four daughters: Marietta, the oldest of these, married L. C. Alexander, a farmer in Ingraham township, and has eight children. Elmer Ellsworth lives at Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has two sons and two daughters; Ella Jane is the wife of J. T. Skerritt, whose farm adjoins her father's and has a son and four daughters. Francis Edward is a farmer in this county, and has one son. Lettie Eliza is Mrs. John Wilson. George Henry is a member of his father's household. Charles William is farming in Clay county, Iowa. Herbert Parker is a member of his father's household. Walter Otis lives at Colorado Springs. Grace Mary is a member of her father's household, as is also Clarence Edward, a boy of fifteen. All of Mr. Howard's children have a good district school education. Mr. Howard is deeply interested in all questions affecting the welfare of the people, and his public spirit has impelled him to do everything in his power for the advancement of his township and county.
HUTCHINGS, SAMUEL B.
Forty-five years have passed since Samuel B. Hutchings came to Mills county to cast his lot with its pioneers. People of the present century can scarcely realize the struggles and dangers which attended the early settlers, the heroism and self-sacrifice of lives passed upon the borders of civilization, the hardships endured, the difficulties overcome. These tales of the early days read almost like a romance to those who have known only the modern prosperity and conveniences. To the pioneer of the early days, far removed from the privileges of city or town, the struggle for existence was a stern and hard one, and these men and women must have possessed indomitable energies and sterling worth of character, as well as marked physical courage, when they thus voluntarily selected such a life and successfully fought its battles under such circumstances as prevailed in the northwest. As one of the honored pioneers of Mills county and as a leading and enterprising citizen, Samuel B. Hutchings certainly deserves representation in this volume. At the present time he is serving as mayor of the city.
A native of Indiana, he was born in the year 1848. His father, William Hutchings, was born in Ohio seventy-eight years ago and is now a resident of southern Kansas. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Samuel Hutchings a native of Ohio. He married Margaret Stout, and they removed to Indiana, where they spent their remaining days. Their children were William; John, who formerly followed merchandising, but is now deceased; George W., a resident of Indiana; Jacob J., who is living in the same state; Samuel, deceased; Wilson R., also of Indiana; and Frank, a well-to-do physician in Crawfordsville, that state. One of the brothers, Wilson R. Hutchings, was a valiant soldier in the Civil war, serving with distinction in the effort made to perpetuate the Union. On one occasion he was wounded in battle. The father also attempted to enlist, but on account of physical disability the government refused his proffered service.
William Hutchings in early life accompanied his parents on their removal to Indiana, and in Delaware county, that state, he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Cecil, also a native of Ohio. In 1855 they came to Iowa, casting in their lot among the pioneer settlers of Mills county, where for many years they resided, taking an active part in the work of transformation and development here. The mother died at the old family homestead in Indian Creek township. In their family were two sons and four daughters, namely: Samuel B., of this review; John J., who is living with his father in Cowley county, Kansas; Mrs. Phebe Gustin, a resident of Pottawattamie county, Iowa; Mrs. Esther Martin, of Cowley county; Mrs. Barbara Elizabeth Allen, of Harrison county, Iowa; and Mrs. Nancy Rebecca Campbell, who is living in Indian Creek township, Mills county.
In taking up the personal history of Samuel B. Hutchings, we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely known in Mills county, for he came hither when only seven years of age. The family located on a farm in Indian Creek township and experienced the usual hardships and trials which fall to the lot of early settlers. In those days it was no unusual sight to see deer and elk drinking at the streams almost as commonly as the cattle do at the present date. The greater part of the land was still in possession of the government and the work of improvement seemed scarcely begun; but the labors of the pioneers laid broad and deep the foundation for the present prosperity and made possible the establishment of a commonwealth which is certainly a credit to the nation. by earnest effort and close application to the few school books which he could obtain, Mr. Hutchings acquired a good education. For a few terms he was a student in the subscription school, his first teacher being Mrs. J. U. Cox. The school house was built of logs, with an immense fireplace in one end of the building, while a heavy slab board placed on pins driven slantingly into the wall served the pupils as a writing desk. The other furnishings were primitive, the school books few; but therein Mr. Hutchings gained a knowledge of the branches of learning that fitted him for life's practical duties and, as the years have passed, reading, experience and observation have added to his stock of useful knowledge until he is now a well informed man. Throughout his active business career he has been engaged in farming, but about five years ago he removed to Hastings, where he has a beautiful cottage home and is now living in honorable retirement.
In 1867 Mr. Hutchings was united in marriage to Miss Emma A. Cary, the marriage being performed by the Rev. Isaac Kelly. The lady is a daughter of Abel Cary, who was born in Ohio, thence removed to Indiana and afterward came to Iowa. His father was Ephraim Cary and the paternal grandmother bore the name of Abigail Watson. The year 1852 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Cary in Mills county, where he died in October, 1900, at the advanced age of seventy-nine years. He wedded Elizabeth Stansberry, who died in Mills county, in 1863. Her father was Jesse Stansberry. Farming has been the usual occupation of the Cary family. Mr. Hutchings had the following children: Ira R., who is married and lives in Mills county; Mrs. Ida Traplett, a resident of Montgomery county, Iowa; Mrs. Nora Carey, of Mills county; Ora, who was a student at the Western Normal College at Shenandoah, Iowa, and also pursued a shorthand and commercial course in the Omaha Commercial College, and is now employed in an important commercial position in Omaha; Luella, who is at home; Elizabeth, who was a student in the Western Commercial College at Shenandoah and is now teaching school in Henderson, Mills county; and Charles Oscar, who also is with his parents.
In his political affiliations Mr. Hutchings is a Democrat, having supported the men and measures of the party since casting his first vote for Horatio Seymour for president of the United States in 1868. On that ticket he was nominated and elected to the office of mayor of Hastings, and is now a capable and efficient officer, discharging the duties of the position in a most prompt and business-like manner. He is also a justice of the peace. Socially he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of the World, and his wife holds membership in the Methodist church. They are people of the highest respectability and of sterling worth and enjoy the warm regard of all who know them.
Mr. Hutchings is a self-made man, without any extraordinary family or peculiar advantages at the commencement of life, has battled earnestly and energetically, and by indomitable courage and integrity has achieved both character and fortune. By sheer force of will and untiring effort he has worked his way upward, and today he is not only numbered among the substantial citizens of his adopted county, but is also classed among the honored residents who have borne an important part in the work of progress and development.
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