Biographies | 1896 Bios
William Guthrie
Mr. Guthrie was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, April 4, 1830, son of William and Mary Guthrie. He is the youngest of their family of nine children and is the only representative of the family now living. His mother was left a widow a short time before the birth of our subject and as she had but limited means and a large family, homes were found for her children in other families. When only .eighteen months old William was taken by strangers, and has never known much of his family history. He remained with his foster parents in Tuscarawas county until he was sixteen years old. Then he went to Indiana and launched out in life on his own responsibility. For two years he worked at whatever he could get to do, after which he decided to learn the trade of blacksmith and served an apprenticeship at this trade. In 1850, at the age of twenty, he was a victim of the California gold fever and went overland to the Pacific coast. His experience on this trip was thrilling in the extreme. For twenty-two days he was without a mouthful of bread. The company with which he traveled numbered forty when they started out, and twelve of the party died on the trip; four were drowned at one time and the other eight died from diarrhea and exposure due, in part at least, to short rations. Arrived in California Mr. Guthrie engaged in mining at Placerville, with the miner's usual luck, and after four years spent in the Golden State he returned to Indiana, the return trip being made by water and in twenty-two days. His journey across the plains covered a period of five months. Mr. Guthrie has many interesting reminiscences connected with that memorable trip across the plains, then called in our school geographies the Great American Desert. Little did he think then that the Great American Desert would within his life-time blossom out into fertile farms and be dotted over with happy homes; yet such is the case. Had it not been, however, for the aggressive spirit of the brave and hardy young men of '49, and the years immediately following, the great wealth of the West must have laid dormant.
On his return to Indiana, after his experience in California, Mr. Guthrie married Miss Catherine Williams, who has since been his companion and helpmeet. In 1855 he brought his wife to Jasper county, Iowa, and located on a farm, but after a short experience in farming there he moved into the town of Clyde, opened a blacksmith shop, and until 1880 was engaged in work at his trade at that place. In 1880 he came to Guthrie county. He bought a farm in Victory township, this county, on which he made his home for seven years, and at the end of that time sold out, moved to Guthrie Center arid invested in his present business, and here he has resided ever since. He handles a full line of general merchandise, including dry goods, groceries and provisions, flour and feed, hardware, etc., and occupies three store rooms, owning the buildings in which his business is located.
Mr. and Mrs. Guthrie have had nine children, four of whom died in early childhood. . Those living are as follows: Eugene Fremont, who is ably assisting his father in the business above referred to; Mary Ann, now Mrs. Bates, is a resident of California; Sadie, now Mrs. Stowell, is a resident of Des Moines, Iowa, her husband being City Clerk of Des Moines; Alvina, at home; and Minnie, wife of W. F. Salmon, resides at Newton, Jasper county, Iowa.
In his political views Mr. Guthrie is independent, and he is·not connected with any church organization. He has had a broad and practical. experience with men and affairs, knows how to attend strictly to his own business and allow others the same privilege, and is free from what may by some be termed the hampering·influence of politics and religion. Genial and whole-souled, he makes friends with all with whom he has any dealings whatever.
A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company 1896, pg. 481.