West Liberty History 1838-1938

Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
HISE FAMILIES

George and William Hise came to Iowa in 1856, making their first home on the prairie southwest of West Liberty. The following year they brought their families. They and other early settlers made up a little community called " Pokertown." William Hise was postmaster and kept a little store. George was a blacksmith and one winter walked five miles morning and night, to an from work.

George and his wife Libbie and their son Howell moved to West Liberty in 1862. William and his wife Rachel and son Ed had preceded them a year. William managed the " Bowlsby House," afterwards called the "Lewis House", and George worked in Ephriam Fenstemaker's blacksmith shop. Later George built a shop of his own on the west side of Calhoun street where Harold Templeman is now located. While William was operating the " Lewis House," it became a great gathering place during the Civil War. All of the men met there to talk over war news and sing patriotis songs. In 1874 he built the "Hise House" where he passed the remainder of his life.

In 1866 the George Hises built the house on Calhoun street where they lived until their deaths. This is one of the early houses which is still standing.

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