Hiram Z. Webster

WEBSTER, PALMER, MCGUIRE, JOHNSTON, GREEN

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 5/18/2009 at 13:45:49

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

page 816

HIRAM Z. WEBSTER, an early settler
and most worthy resident of Douglas
Township, was born in Madison County,
Illinois, near Alton, March 1, 1828. Zenas
Webster, his father, was a well-to-do farmer,
and a native of Woodstock County, Vermont.
He married Tarnel Palmer, a native of Ver-
mont, and at an early day removed to Illinois,
settling in Madison County, where he opened
and improved a farm. He died about the
year 1840, when Hiram was a lad of twelve
years. After the death of his father our sub-
ject remained with his mother until he was
twenty-three years of age. He was then
married to Mary A. McGuire, of Warren
County, Illinois. Soon after his marriage
Mr. Webster removed to Ogle County, Illi-
nois, and there resided eight years, following
the occupation of a farmer. From Ogle
County he went to Wood County, Illinois,
and there made his home for several years.
He then removed with his family to Marion
County, and bought a farm seven miles north
of Pella; there he carried on farming and
stock-raising on a large scale, residing there
twenty years. Disposing of his farm in 1870,
he came to Audubon County, purchasing a
new farm in section 3, Douglas Township;
it contains 320 acres, drained by the middle
branch of the Nishnabotna River, and is ad-
mirably adapted to the raising of grains or
for grazing purposes. When Mr. Webster
settled there his nearest postoffice was Exira,
where mail was received once a week. The
products of the farm were hauled to Atlantic,
oats selling for 9 cents per bushel, and
corn for 14 cents; coal sold for $6.50 per
ton, a disproportion so great, that it is
difficult to see how farmers managed to keep
warm during the long, cold winters. Not
finding a ready sale for his grain, Mr. Webster
turned his attention to feeding stock, thus
consuming all of his produce upon his farm.
This he found much more profitable; of late
years he has directed his attention to breed-
ing draft horses, of the Clydesdale stock; he
has formed a partnership with John Cameron,
and they also breed fine grades of mules.
This Mr. Webster does in connection with
his farming and feeding. He ships annually
from one to three car-loads of stock. Mr.
and Mrs. Webster are the parents of seven
children -- Hamilton C., Elizabeth A., wife of
Monroe Johnston; William D., Edith, wife
of Albert Green; Harry, Carrie and Edna.
For several years Mr. Webster has served as
road supervisor; he has been an active Re-
publican since the organization of the party.
He commenced his career without means, but
by honesty and industry he accumulated a
good property for his declining years. He
and his wife endured many hardships and
privations incident to the settling of a new
country, and are to-day enjoying their reward
in peace and plenty, and the comforts of
a modern civilization.