For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 220
FRANK WARFIELD. Frank Warfield is a representative of one of the old families of Muscatine and has himself been a resident of this city for more than six decades, during which period the village has been transformed into a metropolitan center with extensive manufacturing, commercial and industrial interests. His birth here occurred December 30, 1849, and he is now well known as a prominent and successful factor in real-estate circles. He was one of the five children of David R. and Johanna ( Steengergen ) Warfield. The former was a son of Launcelot Warfield, a native of Maryland and of English lineage. He was Methodist preacher and death came to him while he was standing in the pulpit proclaiming the words of the gospel. He was twice married, his first union being with a Miss Robertson, and David R. Warfield was their only child. He was born in Maryland where he remained until early manhood, and then left that state for Iowa, making his way in 1837 to Muscatine, then the little village of Bloomington. Here he engaged in the real-estate business and also erected the first sawmill ever built in this county. He also built the first Congregational church, known as the old " Sternwheel " Congregational church. Farming and the raising of fine stock claimed his attention part of the time, and all of his business affairs were carefully, systematically and successfully conducted. He bred many fine horses, among then being Kirkwood, which at one time was the fastest trotting stallion in the world with a record of 2:24. Mr. Warfield was the owner of slaves while living in Maryland but freed his bondsmen when he left that state. He died upon his home farm in Bloomington township, April 23, 1872, at the age of fifty-five years. A part of the old homestead now lies within the corporation limits of Muscatine. He was a major in the first organization of the State Militia of Iowa and in many ways left an impress of his individuality and ability upon the early life and progress of Muscatine county. His wife survived him for about three years, passing away January 8, 1875, at the age of fifty-six years. Both were members of the Congregational church. Mrs. Warfield was born in Ohio and was a daughter of Charles and Luvica ( Lucas ) Steenbergen. Her father was a native of Virginia and his father was a German consul from Holland. Charles Steenbergen followed farming as a life work and died in Chillicothe, Ohio. His wife was a sister of Iowa's first governor. They had a family of five daughters, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Mary, Johanna and Luvica. Of these Johanna became the wife of David R. Warfield, the marriage being celebrated in Muscatine in a little frame house that stood on the lot where the Reinemund dry-goods store is now located, and the bride was given away by her uncle, Governor Lucas. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Warfield were born five children: Alice, the deceased wife of Daniel Hayes; George, who died in August, 1909; Frank, of this review; Charles L., of San Diego, California; and one who passed away in infancy.Frank Warfield, whose name introduces this record, was reared in Muscatine and, entering the public schools, passed through consecutive grades until he became a high school student. He afterward began clerking in the hardware store of Charles Stone and later conducted a fine stock-breeding farm east of town. He continued in that business for seventeen years, during which period he owned the celebrated stallion Attorney and also raised the mare that is mentioned in the pedigree of Minor Heir, which has recently made the championship pacing record of the world, 1:58, and is owned by the same man that owns Dan Patch. Mr. Warfield sold his breeding farm in 1900 and since that time has been engaged with real-estate values and has negotiated many property transfers.
On the 16th of January, 1878, Mr. Warfield was married to Miss Ida Hare, who was born in Muscatine, a daughter of Colonel Abraham and Emeline ( Austin ) Hare. Her mother's grandfather, Captain Benjamin Barnes, was a soldier and officer of the Revolutionary war. Her maternal grandfather, Charles G. Austin, was a native of Connecticut and followed general merchandising. He married Helen Curtiss and both died in Muscatine in 1844, during the fever epidemic. They had six children, Edward, Emeline, Lucy Ann, Charles H., William and Francis. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Warfield was Jacob Hare, a native of Ohio, who followed farming as a life work and became very wealthy through judicious speculation. At his death he left property in the city of Columbus valued at a million dollars. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Teeters and they had a family of thirteen children, including Colonel Abrahan Hare, who was born in Columbus, Ohio. He wedded Emeline Austin, a native of Ravenna, Ohio, and they became early settlers of Muscatine. Her father visited the city in 1837 and took up his permanent abode here in 1839, while his wife came in 1843. He died in this city in February, 1903, when more than ninety-one years of age. He had been a soldier of the Civil war and won his title by commanding the Eleventh Iowa Infantry. His wife died August 22, 1882, at the age of fifty-six years.. Their family numbered six chldren: Austin J.,Elizabeth, William P.,Harriet, Ida Bell, and Robert. Mrs. Warfield still owns what is known as the Colonel Hare building, the erection of which was begun by her father in 1848. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Warfield has been born a son, Howard David, who is in the publishing department of the Deering Plow Works of Moline, Illinois. He married Miss Eva Brandenburg and they have one child, Marian Alice.
Mr. and Mrs Warfield hold membership in the Congregational church and he gives his political support to the republican party. Theirs is a hospitable home and they have many friends in this city who entertain for them warm regard. Few are more familiar with the history of Muscatine than Mr. Warfield, who has been a witness of its growth and developement through six decades. He rejoices in what has been accomplished and has always taken deep interest in everything pertaining to the general welfare.
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