Biographies

~ Galusha, Simeon ~

Among Newton's prominent and most highly respected citizens is Simeon Hicks Galusha, one of the earliest settlers of this locality and for good many years a prominent figure in its political and official affairs. His days of activity now over, he is leading a retired life as befits his years, having passed his seventy-seventh milestone, but up until the last fifteen years there were few men in all Jasper county whose lives were so full and varied as his, for he has been a most conspicuous actor in the drama of civilization as played here in this, one of the most favored sections of the great Middle West, having taken an active and influential part in its growth from the pioneer epoch to the opulent present.

Mr. Galusha, like many of the leading businessmen of this part of Iowa, is a native of the old Empire State, his birth having occurred on April 14, 1834, in Cattaraugus County, New York. He is the son of David and Manila (Hicks) Galusha, both natives of Vermont, the father born near Bennington and the mother near East Arlington. David Galusha, who devoted his life principally to school teaching, was the son of Simeon Galusha and wife, an early New England family. When Simeon H. Galusha was thirteen years of age his parents moved from New York to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and there he received most of his schooling. When he was twenty-one years of age he moved with his parents to Iowa, settling first at Marion, Linn County, in 1855. He had previously learned the trades of brick mason and plasterer, and he followed these lines most of his active life. About a year after he came here he returned to Ohio, and after a short stay there came again to Iowa, this time locating at Newton, where he has made his home continuously to the present time, his life history and that of the town being closely interwoven. Up to fifteen years ago hardly a brick building was erected that he did not build, wholly or in part; he helped erect the old Central school build, erected in 1858 and which has but recently been replaced by the stone building which now occupies its site; in fact, the major part of the town of Newton stands as a monument to his skill as a builder.

In the month of April 1858, Mr. Galusha was united in marriage with Harriett Newell, daughter of Samuel Fleming and Julia A. (Fugard) Newell, the former a native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and the mother of New Hampshire. Mr. Newell was a carpenter by trade. He came to Newton, Iowa, from Mt. Vernon, Ohio, in 1855, and here he became well known, was regarded as a very fine workman and was highly respected, and here his death occurred at the age of seventy-six years, his wife having died when forty-three years old. Mrs. Galusha was born in Ohio on December 15, 1839; she being the eldest of a family of five children; the others are Jackson F., who was killed in one of the principal battles during the siege of Vicksburg, in Company C, Twenty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry; Adaline, now deceased, married Henry McFarland; Margaret F, wife of John M. Steele, lives at Olympia, Washington; Elsworth L. owns and operates a ranch near Stockton, California.

Mr. Galusha, of this review, was one of a family of seven children, namely: Julius died in Wisconsin; Ruben died at St. Paul, Minnesota; David Henry died, it is presumed, during a yellow fever epidemic in the South, having been a soldier in the Third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War, at least he was never heard from after that; Delia, Lydia and Julia are all deceased. The father of these children died at the age of eighty-four years, the mother, reaching the age of ninety-one years, and Grandfather Hicks lived to be one hundred years old. Mr. and Mrs. Galusha are the parents of six children, namely: Samuel Henry is living at Wichita, Kansas; he was formerly treasurer of Jasper County, Iowa; Edward died in infancy; Julius M. who is now living in Des Moines, Iowa, was formerly department treasurer of Jasper County, and he is now manager of the Western Newspaper Union; David Murray, who lives at Memphis, Tennessee, is connected with the Western Newspaper Union; Reuben G. who is deceased, was associated with the Western Newspaper Union and A. N. Kellogg Newspaper Company at Chicago, Omaha and Wichita, as manager, and was a brilliant and forceful young man; Ned L., a brick mason and plasterer at Newton.

Simeon H. Galusha was a member of the Home Guards during the War of the Rebellion. He was at one time department auditor of the county and he was township clerk for many years. He was elected on the Republican ticket and served two terms as Treasurer of Jasper County. He and his wife belong to the Congregational Church of Newton, she having been a member since the age of nineteen.

Mr. Galusha was employed as bookkeeper in Morgan's store at Newton for several years. He is the owner of two valuable and desirable properties in Newton. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has attained the Knights Templar degree in Masonry; all his sons except Ned are Masons. The subject spent a few years in Los Angeles, California, for his health. Page 452

~ Gates, Alvin C. ~

Alvin C. Gates, who was born in Ashland, Ohio. October 14, 1855, is the son of E. N. and Sarah (Cunningham) Gates, the father being a native of Vermont and the mother of Ohio. It was in the year 1840 that the father came to Ashland, Ohio, and engaged in the practice of law. Here he met and married his wife and here he resided until 1857, when he came to Geneseo, Illinois, again engaging in the law business. Mr. Gates' reason for stopping at this point was that he might wait until the railroad should have been built farther west.

Before leaving Ohio, the father had, in 1854, journeyed to Jasper County, Iowa, and entered something over four thousand acres of land from the government, paying the regulation government price of one dollar and a half per acre for it. It was situated in different parts of the county. It was this wise and far-seeing move on the part of the father, which laid the foundation of the Gates fortune, which is considerable.

In June 1860, the father finally came to Jasper County, settling in Newton. A year later he moved out on one of his big farms a mile and a half northeast of Newton. After this, although he still practiced law to some extent, he practically gave up his profession, giving his attention to his vast farming interests.

E. N. Gates was one of the able lawyers of his time. He was also a brilliant and forceful orator and a man of fine public spirit. During the war he was commander of the board of enrollment for the sixth congressional district of Iowa, acting as attorney and settling all legal questions. On account of this position he was ever afterwards called "Judge" Gates. He was very prominent in the state Grange of his time. He died in Newton in December 1882, at the age of sixty-eight years.

Alvin C. Gates, the subject of this sketch, is one of six children, all boys, of whom but two are living. Three died in infancy; Sumner E., who died in Jasper County in 1900, was born in Ohio and at his death was a farmer of considerable means; Lorin A., who was born in Illinois, in 1858, resides in Newton, was formerly engaged in the mercantile business, but is now engaged in oil operations in Kansas.

Alvin Gates attended law school at Iowa City .in 1876-77 and graduated from that school, afterwards opening a law office in Newton, where he engaged in the general practice of law for four years. Disliking the work, he purchased a livery stable in Newton, which he conducted for three years. He was then appointed deputy sheriff under I. L. Patten, which office he filled for three years. Next he was elected city clerk and superintendent of the Newton light and water plant, which position he held seventeen years. During the latter part of that time Mr. Gates and George Parsons organized the G. W. Parsons Company, of which Mr. Gates is secretary and treasurer. This company manufactured heavy excavating machinery, selling their products all over the United States and in foreign countries. He is also vice-president of the One Minute Manufacturing Company, known all over the United States. Mr. Gates also has other interests of importance, owning some valuable lands. He is a member of Newton Lodge No. 59, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, also Gebal Chapter No. 12, Royal Arch Masons, and Oriental Commandery No. 22, Knights Templar, also Za-Ga-Zig Temple, Ancient Arabian Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Des Moines, Iowa. Mr. Gates is also a member of Des Moines Lodge No. 98, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

On December 5, 1877 Mr. Gates was married to Jennie, daughter of Ephraim and Martha (Harvin) Bennett, both natives of Iowa. Mrs. Gates is one of three children, two of whom are dead, Adam and David. Mrs. Gates was born January 23, 1860, and is a woman of rare culture and refinement. She is also prominent socially, being a member of the local chapter of the P. E. 0. She is also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. To this couple have been born four children, one only surviving at this writing: Grace and Glen, twins, born 1879; Grace died in 1880 and Glen in 1889; Earl, born in Newton in 1889, resides in Newton. He is shipping clerk for the Parsons Company. He was recently united in marriage with Catherine Wilson, of Newton; Harry Dale, born in 1893, died in Newton in 1894. Page 508.

~ Gates, Sumner and Margaret I. ~

The lady whose name introduces this sketch is the widow of Sumner E. Gates, and lives upon her farm, which is located on sections 23, 25 and 26, in Newton Township. It is a fine old home, about one-half mile east of the city limits of Newton, comprising four hundred and fifty acres of land.

Margaret I. Gates is a native of Jasper County, Iowa, having been born November 13, 1856, in Newton Township, the daughter of Cobane and Sarah J. (Read) McConkey. Her father was born in Hopedale, Harrison County, Ohio, and the mother in Guernsey County, Ohio. The family came west and settled in Scott County, Iowa, in 1853, where Mr. McConkey engaged in farming for a couple of years. At the expiration of that time he came to Jasper County, and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Newton Township. At the time of his death, which occurred in 1896, at the age of seventy-four years, he was retired and living in Newton. Mrs. McConkey, who is now seventy-five years of age, lives with her daughter, the subject of this sketch. The fathers of both Mrs. Gates' parents, Samuel M. McConkey and John Read, served in the war of 1812. She is one of eight children, of whom she is the eldest, the others being as follows: Jane, wife of Frank Graham, died in Jasper County; Alice, wife of John Munn, a farmer, living in Newton Township; Edward died at the age of seventeen; Mary died at the age of nineteen; Lillie, who became the wife of Bert Beatty, lives on a farm in Newton Township; Charles is a carpenter in Newton; William died at the age of twenty-nine.

On December 22, 1875, was solemnized the marriage of Margaret McConkey and Sumner E. Gates, the son of E. N. and Sarah (Cunningham) Gates, natives of Vermont. E. N. Gates was provost marshal at Newton during the Civil War, and was a lawyer of renown. He began his practice at Ashland, Ohio, but later removed to Genesee, Illinois, where he continued the practice of law until 1854, at which time he came to Newton. He was one of Newton's most prominent lawyers until his death, which occurred December 12, 1882, at the age of sixty-six. At that time he was the owner of the place where Mrs. Gates now lives, and after his death Sumner Gates purchased the interest of the other heirs, and when his death occurred it passed into the hands of his widow, the subject of this sketch.

There were six children born to Judge Gates and his wife, three of whom grew to maturity: Sumner E.; Alvin C., a prominent manufacturer of Newton; and Loren, formerly in the shoe business in Newton, but now in Kansas City, Missouri.

Sumner E. Gates was born May 20, 1848, in Ashland County, Ohio, and died in Newton, Jasper County, Iowa, on August 4, 1900. He came to Iowa with his parents in 1854. At the time of his marriage he owned three hundred and twenty acres of land in Kellogg Township, and at the time of his death he had increased his holdings of real estate until he owned eighteen hundred acres of land in Kellogg Township, which was sold in 1909. He was a man of great force of character, of good judgment and possessed of a fine public spirit. He was broad-minded and had a host of friends. He was engaged extensively in stock raising, and was one of the progressive farmers and up-to-date citizens of his community. He was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church at Newton.

To Mr. and Mrs. Gates were born five children, namely: Simon, born March 3, 1877, married Georgia Randolph, lives in Newton, engaged in the ice business; Edith, born February 17, 1879, is the wife of Thomas Buchanan, and lives on a farm in Newton Township; Golda died at the age of two years; Estes, born June 6, 1889, married Bessie McQuislon and lives at home with his mother; Glen, born December 31, 1890, lives at home; she is a graduate of the Newton high school and is also an accomplished musician. Both of the sons are prominent members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having attained the highest honors of the order. Page 848.

~ Gauch, August ~

One of the thrifty and highly respected Germans who cast his lot with the people of Jasper County in its period of rapid development and has since prospered by his close application and the exercise of sound business principles is August Gauch, a distinctive type of the successful self-made man. Not a pretentious or exalted life has been his, but one that has been true to itself and to which the biographer may refer with feelings of satisfaction and respect. He has shown himself to be a man of strong and alert mentality, deeply interested in everything pertaining to the advancement of the community along material lines and today is recognized as one of the representative men of the county.

Mr. Gauch was born in Baden, Germany, August 18, 1859. He is the son of Christian and Mary Ann (Blink) Gauch, both natives of Baden, Germany, where they grew to maturity, and were married and there the father spent his life, dying in the fatherland at the age of fifty-five years. The mother came to America with her son August, of this review, in the spring of 1868 and she died at Montour, Iowa, when sixty-two years old, and her remains rest in the cemetery at State Center.

Three sons and two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Christian Gauch, namely: Anton died in Marshall County, Iowa, in 1911; Mrs. Pauline Dischner died in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Mrs. Catherine Kuckert lives in Eden Township, Marshall County; Joseph lives in Clear Creek Township, Jasper County; August, of this review, is the youngest. They were all born in Germany and there spent their early childhood, being reared principally in Eden Township, Marshall County, Iowa, the subject having been nine years old when he came here.

August Gauch received his education in the common schools and early in life he turned his attention to farming, which has been his chief life work. He was married on September 25, 1894, to Minnie Schorman, who was born in Allamakee County, Iowa, September 17, 1866, and there she grew up and was educated. She is the daughter of Fred and Henrietta (Dravis) Schorman, both born in Germany, the mother in Detmold, Lippe, and there they grew up and were married and from there emigrated to America in early life and here became well established and here spent the rest of their lives, the father dying in June 1878, and the mother on November 27, 1907. They were the parents of four sons and three daughters, named as follows: Fred, of Baxter, Jasper County; Minnie, wife of Mr. Gauch, of this review; William is a well known merchant of the-town of Baxter, Iowa; Mrs. Goodman, Henry, Herman, Sophia. They were all born in Allamakee County except the youngest, whose birth occurred in Jasper County.

To Mr. and Mrs. Gauch have been born three daughters, as follows: Anna, born March 22, 1896; Henrietta, born January 16, 1897; Irene, born in Melbourne, September 29, 1899. The two eldest were born in Baxter, and all three are now attending the public schools here.

August Gauch remained at home until he was twenty-two years old, then he went to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he remained about ten years, then returned to Jasper County, Iowa, where he has continued to reside to the present time. He has been very successful in a business way and is the owner of considerable valuable property, including a substantial business block in Baxter, a modern and well furnished home here, eight acres within the city limits of Baxter, and three hundred and twenty acres of excellent land in Texas. He believes in securing the best of everything for his family, giving his children every advantage, and in a public way he supports all measures having as their object the general good. Politically, he is a Democrat and was reared a Catholic. Mrs. Gauch and children attend the Christian Church.

He belongs to Baxter Lodge No. 188 of Melbourne, and Baxter Lodge No. 168, Knights of Pythias. This is one of the highly respected and influential families of Baxter and this part of the County, having here a host of warm personal friends. Page 1133.

~ Gearhart, Herley G. ~

Among the honorable and influential citizens of Jasper County is Herley G. Gearhart, of Sherman Township, who has here maintained his home for many years, winning a definite success by means of the agricultural industry to which he has devoted his attention during the years of an active business life. His career has been without shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil and thus he has ever commanded the confidence and esteem of his fellow men.

Mr. Gearhart was born in Pennsylvania, October 30, 1852, the son of Jacob and Julia (Reeder) Gearhart, the father a native of France and the mother of New York, the former having emigrated to America with his parents when a mere boy and located in Pennsylvania, in which state his parents died. Julia Reeder's parents were natives of Ireland, from which country they immigrated to Pennsylvania. The father was a heater in the iron works in Pennsylvania for eighteen years. In 1857 the family came to Iowa and located in Jasper County, buying eighty acres in Sherman Township. This land they cleared, broke and developed into a good farm. Jacob Gearhart added to his original purchase until he owned a fine farm of about four hundred acres at the time of his death, in 1903. He was a successful farmer and lived a quiet, home life. His widow survived until 1907. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are living.

Herley G. Gearhart was educated in the public schools of Jasper County and reared on the home farm, and he has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, first renting land, then moved to Shelby County, this State, where he lived five or six years. Returning to Jasper County in 1893, he here bought one hundred and sixty acres in Sherman Township, which he has placed under high-grade improvements, and he has since purchased one hundred and sixty acres more. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser and has a pleasant home.

Politically, Mr. Gearhart is a Republican and he has held a number of the Township offices, always in a most acceptable manner. Fraternally, he belongs to the Blue Lodge of Masons.

Mr. Gearhart was married in 1873 to Cynthia Green, a native of Illinois, and the daughter of Harvey and Mary Green, old settlers there. To the subject and wife seven children have been born, namely: Charlotte, Arthur, Delia, Jacob, Mary, Morton and Earl. Page 830.

~ Gearhart, William Henry ~

William Henry Gearhart, of Sherman Township, was born in Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania, December 2, 1849. He was the son of Jacob and Julia (Reeder) Gearhart, the father born in France in 1821 and when four years of age he came to America and settled in Pennsylvania. The mother was born in that state in 1818, and there they both grew to maturity and were married. Jacob Gearhart worked in the Pennsylvania rolling mills and steel plants for a period of thirteen years, and in 1855 he brought his family to Michigan and in 1857 drove with two teams and a wagon from that state to Jasper County, Iowa. He traded one team of horses and the wagon to a Mr. Watts for eighty acres in Sherman Township. Here he went to work with a will and cleaned up and developed the land, establishing a good home, and, prospering through his efforts and good management, he added to his original purchase from time to time until he became the owner of four hundred acres of valuable and desirable land. He was known as one of the most extensive and leading farmers of his day. In his old age he moved to Colfax where he lived in retirement until his death. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company D, Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and he saw some hard service, being wounded in the side in one battle. He spent three years in the army. He was a member of the Christian church, a man of intelligence and upright principles. His family consisted of the following children: Mrs. Sarah E. Harter; Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Fullington is deceased; Mrs. Ella Annetta Swihart is also deceased; William Henry, of this sketch; Herley G. and Charles L. are living in Sherman Township, this County; Napoleon Bonaparte is a practicing physician in South Dakota.

William H. Gearhart, of this review, was eight years old when his parents brought him to Jasper County and here he grew to manhood and received his education in the district schools, working on the home place during the crop seasons. When eighteen years of age, having received what textbook training he could in the poorly equipped school in his neighborhood in Sherman Township, he started in life for himself by working out by the month. After his marriage he rented land of his father for two years, then bought eighty acres, which he later sold and bought another eighty in Sherman Township where he still resides and where he has a very good home and a productive farm.

Mr. Gearhart was married on August 3, 1870, to Sarah Ellen Harter, who was born in Madison, Wisconsin, the daughter of William Harter, an early settler in Jasper County, whither he cast his lot in 1854. To Mr. And Mrs. Gearhart three sons have been born, Frank, Fred and Charlie.

Mr. Gearhart believes in leading his own life and abstaining from interfering in the affairs of others. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World. Page 854

~ Geise, Adolph ~

Scientific methods of fanning disseminated through the medium of the agricultural schools throughout the country have come as a great blessing to those pursuing agricultural callings. Yet the farmers of a generation or two ago had no such advantages. They had to depend upon their own judgment, their own foresightedness, their own intuition, as it were, to overcome many a perplexing agricultural problem. Their success was more often than not almost phenomenal: and we can pardon them if they look askance upon our newer methods. One of the progressive farmers of Malaka Township, Jasper County, is Adolph Geise who never attended an agricultural school for the purpose of learning intense farming, but he has always farmed scientifically nevertheless, being a close observer, and his well cultivated land today shows that his efforts did not go unrewarded.

Mr. Geise was born in Malaka Township, this County, on the farm where he still resides on March 26, 1866, and here he grew to manhood, received his education in the public schools and has always been identified with agricultural pursuits. He is the son of Henry and Louisa (Wagner) Geise, both natives of Germany, the father born in 1832 and the mother in 1833; there they grew up, were married and from there emigrated to America and located in Jasper County in an early day, residing in Newton the first two years and here they became well established, owning a good farm in Malaka Township. The mother died in Baxter in 1903, at the age of seventy years, and there the father's death occurred in January 1907. Their family consisted of six children, namely: Mrs. Etta Shirk, who lives in Iowa City; Henry A., vice-president of the State Savings Bank of Baxter; Fred also lives in Baxter; Adolph, of this sketch; Mrs. Minnie Diehl lives in Baxter; Edward lives in Newton.

Adolph Geise as married on September 20, 1892, to Pearlina Harre, who was born in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, October 3, 1864. She is the daughter of Fred and Wilhelmina (Mierkort) Harre; the father, a pioneer of Jasper County, is now deceased, but the mother is living in Baxter. There were eight children in the Harre family, all living, namely: Mrs. Kracht, of Baxter; Fred lives near Kearney, Nebraska; Pearlina, wife of Mr. Geise Of this sketch; Otto lives in Marshall County; Albert is agent for the Chicago Great Western Railroad Company at Waverly, Iowa; Mrs. Mattie Kanne lives in Malaka Township; Clara, wife of Fred Hager, president of the State Savings Bank of Baxter; William lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

To Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Geise one daughter, has been born, Delia Martha, whose birth occurred on September 20, 1894; she has received a good education, having completed her work in the German parochial schools of Independence Township.

Mr. Geise is the owner of a well kept and well tilled farm of one hundred and twenty acres in sections 20 and 21, Malaka Township, and here he carries on general farming and stock raising in a most successful manner, and he has a modern home and good outbuildings. He has secured a competency through his close application and good management.

Politically, Mr. Geise is a Republican, and he has been a member of the school board of Malaka Township. The family are members of the German Reformed Church of Independence Township, and stand high in the congregation of the same. Page 1106.

~ Geise, H. A. ~

Reared to the sturdy discipline of the homestead farm, H. A. Geise, of Independence Township, Jasper County, during the mature years of his life has not wavered in his allegiance to the great basic art of agriculture. To the public schools he is indebted for the early educational privileges that were afforded him and he duly availed himself of the same, while he has effectually broadened his knowledge through active association with men and affairs in practical business.

Mr. Geise was born in Malaka Township, Jasper County, Iowa, March 30, 1860, and there he grew to manhood and has always been identified with the agricultural interests of the County as above intimated. Henry Geise, his father, was born in Germany in 1832, and died in Baxter, Iowa, in January 1907. He married Louisa Wagner, also a native of Germany, born in 1833, and who died in Baxter, Iowa, in 1903, at the age of seventy years. They grew up in Germany and immigrated to America, locating in Jasper County, Iowa, in an early day, residing in Newton the first two years. They were very poor when they came, but, being hard workers, they soon had a good home and the entire family secured a competency from Jasper County soil in later years. There were six children in the family, as follows: Etta Shirk, of Iowa City; H. A., of this review; Fred, of Baxter; Adolph lives on the home farm in Malaka Township; Minnie Diehl, of Baxter; Edward, of Newton.

The parents of these children found truly a new country when they arrived in this section of Iowa, but they could foresee a great future for it, and were willing to endure the privations of life in an undeveloped country. Mr. Geise hauled his grain to Iowa City and the next crop to Oskaloosa. There were no railroads here in those days.

H. A. Geise, of this review, was married on May 26, 1886, to Lizzie Hager, who was born near Waukon, Allamakee County, Iowa, December 13, 1859. Her father, Simon Hager, was born in Lippe-Detmold, Germany, in 1825, and died in Independence Township, Jasper County, Iowa, in 1876. He married Minnie Dalbameier, who was also born in the locality last mentioned, in the fatherland, on August 18, 1827, and she died in Jasper County, Iowa, on September 21, 1895. There were seven children in their family as follows: William, born January 23, 1857, is living in Baxter, Iowa; Lizzie, wife of Mr. Geise, of this review; George T., born September 11, 1860, of Baxter; L. A., born December 4, 1864, died in Santa Barbara, California, September 20, 1909; G. A., born April 14, 1866, lives in Baxter; Helen died in infancy; Lydia, born in Jasper County, December 2, 1875, lives in Santa Barbara, California. To Mr. and Mrs. Geise two sons have been born: Robert O., whose birth occurred on August 18, 1890, is assistant cashier in the State Savings Bank at Baxter; he graduated from the high school at Baxter in the class of 1909, after which he attended Drake University at Des Moines. The other son, George R., was born May 29, 1893, is also a graduate of the high school at Baxter and he intends to complete the course in pharmacy at Highland Park College in Des Moines.

Politically, Mr. Geise is a Republican. He has been a member of the school board of Malaka Township and has served in the same capacity since moving to Baxter. He was treasurer of Malaka Township for a number of terms and was assessor for four years. He and his wife are members of the German Reformed Church of Independence Township.

Mr. Geise has been very successful as a businessman. He is the owner of a very productive and well-improved farm of one hundred and thirty acres in Independence Township. He is also vice-president of the State Savings Bank at Baxter, and much of the success of this popular, sound and conservative institution during the past few years has been due in no small measure to his influence and judicious counsel. He has a commodious, modern and well-furnished home.

Like his father and the other members of this worthy family, Mr. Geise is a broad-minded, enterprising, liberal and hospitable gentleman whom it is a pleasure to meet. Page 1176

~ Gibford, Daniel L. ~

It is at all times very interesting to compile and preserve the experiences of the old soldiers who went out to fight the country's battles during the slave holders' rebellion fifty years ago. These gallant old fellows are fast passing away, and we should get all their experiences first hand before it is too late, for it is not only interesting but important that we preserve these personal experiences, for, after all, those are the events that make history. What would history be worth were it not for the vivid actions of the individuals? That is all there is to the splendid histories of ancient and modern times. The story as told by one who has passed through the bloody experiences of a half century ago of several years of stubborn struggle and was in numerous battles, marches and campaigns, and perhaps, prisons and hospitals, is far more interesting than if narrated long hence by some writer who may distort events out of their true historic significance. One of the honored veterans of that great conflict whose military career would, if properly set forth, make a volume of interesting narrative is Daniel L. Gibford, of Newton, Jasper County.

Mr. Gibford was born in Allen County, Indiana, February 3, 1841, the son of William and Sarah (Ritter) Gibford, both natives of Ohio. His grandparents on both sides came from Germany, the subject having been named after his grandfather, Daniel Ritter, a tavern keeper in Stark County, Ohio, in the early days, by reason of which fact he became widely known. The subject's father was the third child in the family of Abraham Gibford and wife, whose family consisted of seven children. In 1840 the parents of Daniel L. Gibford came from Ohio and settled in Allen County, Indiana, but soon after the birth of the subject of this sketch they returned to Stark County, Ohio, and a few years later they removed to Monroe, Green County, Wisconsin, where the father, William Gibford, engaged in manufacturing and continued his trade of cabinet making. In 1854 he came to Newton, Iowa, having been induced to come here by W. B. Ritter, brother of Mrs. Gibford, who had come to this County a short time previously. After living in Newton three or four years, they moved to a farm in Palo Alto Township, and in 1867 Mr. Gibford sold his farm and again moved to Newton and there spent the rest of his life, dying in 1891 at the age of eighty-two years, his wife having preceding him to the grave in 1884, dying at the age of seventy-six years. Their family consisted of eight children, of whom Daniel L., of this sketch, was the eldest; the others are, Jonathan, a veteran of the Civil War who lives at the Soldiers' Home; Catherine, now deceased, was the wife of L. D. Jones, formerly of Reasnor, this County; Frank, who was killed by a train in California; William, a stone-mason, lives in Denver, Colorado; Emily, wife of Frank Osborn, lives in Seattle, Washington; Charles owns a plumbing establishment in Newton; Alexander is in the dairy business at San Bernardino, California.

Daniel L. Gibford, when twenty-one years of age, enlisted in August 1862, in Company K, Twenty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, at Newton, under Capt. John Meyer, later made colonel; M. W. Atwood, first lieutenant, and M. C. Dean, second lieutenant. This regiment gathered at Iowa City and when they were ordered south many of the boys carried a bottle of whisky with them, the subject being among the number; but he knew his mother would not have approved of this had she known of it, so he gave his bottle to a comrade and eased his conscience, and he has never bought a drop of whisky since. He served faithfully until the close of the war and was honorably discharged in August 1865, at Savannah, Georgia. He was in thirteen battles, some of which were among the most hotly contested of the war, among them being Port Gibson, Jackson, Champion's Hill and the Siege of Vicksburg. He participated in the Red River Expedition and went with Sheridan into the Shenandoah Valley and was in the battles of Winchester and Cedar Creek, being wounded in the former, and he was one of the boys who tossed his hat when Sheridan dashed up from Winchester from his famous ride, arriving in time to rally his fleeing troops and turn defeat into victory. For meritorious service Mr. Gibford was made fifth corporal and color guard.

After returning from the war Mr. Gibford engaged in farming near Newton, this County. He had sent the money received from his services in the army home for his father to take care of, but it appears that the latter was a poor financial manager and when the young soldier returned from the front he found that he was practically penniless; however, he did not regret his services to his country. He bargained for fifty acres in 1867, in section 15, Palo Alto Township, agreeing to pay one thousand dollars for the same. He did not have a dollar to pay on it at the time, in fact he was compelled to borrow two dollars from a comrade with which to pay for the revenue stamp at that time required on all such legal papers. But he was a man of determination and grit and, working hard and looking careful to details, he gradually forged ahead until he had it all paid for. He not only improved it, but added twenty-five acres more, making a very desirable farm, which he still owns. The land is under laid with coal, which may prove a profitable source of income to the family.

In 1866 Mr. Gibford was united in marriage with Nancy A. Watkins, who was born in Kentucky in 1848. To this union three children were born, as follows: Eddie Sheridan, born in 1867, was named for the noted general. On September 10,1890, on the anniversary of the battle of Winchester, he applied for a marriage license, intending to be married two days later. N. Townsend was the license clerk, and had fought in that battle, and in the same regiment. Twenty-eighth Iowa, in which Mr. Gibford had fought, and the clerk induced the boy to have his wedding that night. His wife is now deceased, but he has four children, all daughters; he is a contractor and lives at Kearney, Nebraska. Alice S. Gibford, the subject's second child, was born in 1868 and she married Lester Wolford. They live on a farm near Lewellen, Nebraska, and have three children. Howard T. Gibford is a dentist at Greenfield, Iowa.

On August 29, 1879, Mrs. Gibford was claimed by death, and on November 2, 1881, the subject was united in marriage with Elizabeth Bates, born October 25, 1850, in Stevenson County, Illinois. She is the daughter of J. and Hannah (Lambert) Bates, the father a native of Vermont and the mother of Massachusetts. Her parents came to Iowa at a very early date, soon after their daughter, Elizabeth, was born. Her father died in 1853 and her mother passed away in 1865. Their family consisted of three daughters and two sons, namely: Harriet married Horace Smith, a farmer of Palo Alto Township; Ellen married George Foster, who is in the employ of the United States government, having formerly been lock tender for the government on the Illinois canal; Edwin, a veteran of Company I, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and formerly engaged in the livery business, now lives retired in Plattsmouth, Nebraska; Isaac died when eleven years of age.

Five children were born of Mr. Gibford's second marriage, namely: Alta Edna, born March 12, 1883, married Marion DeBolt; they live in Newton and have one child; he is with the Western Stock Remedy Company, being a stockholder in the same. Raymond B., born April 15, 1884, formerly cashier for three years in the Laurel Savings Bank, Laurel, Iowa, and for sometime bookkeeper in the Citizens Bank at Newton, is now with the Ehman-Gibford Chemical Company of this city as vice-president and general manager. Karl B., born May 22, 1887, who lives on the home place in Palo Alto Township, is married and has one child; Morrell, born October 1, 1892, died August 22, 1893; Virgil, born May 14, 1894 died on September 20th following.

For a period of forty-two years Mr. Gibford lived on his farm and then bought property in Newton in 1908, having accumulated a competency, and retired from active work, and here he is now living in honored retirement surrounded by plenty as a result of his former years of industry. He is a member of Garret Post No. 16, Grand Army of the Republic. Politically, he is independent. His wife belongs to the Methodist Church. Page 541.

~ Gillespie, A. D. ~

The most of people who have never lived on a farm think that it does not require any special skill to conduct the operations of husbandry. They are accustomed to think that the driving of a team of horses to a plow or harrow, a reaper or a wagon, the scores of other duties connected with general husbandry do not require a finished education or a high degree of intellectual activity. Neither does it to conduct a grocery store a hotel or a foundry. In both cases it does require, however, a thorough knowledge of the subject. The farmer must know how to sow his grain, the best varieties and whether it is in good condition, when to cut his wheat and his grass, when it should be cured, when it is ready to stack, whether it has gone through the sweating process and is ready to thresh, in fact, he must know a thousand such things, without which he is certain to lose heavily, a thing he cannot afford to do, because the farmer's profits are some years small and he must figure very close to the grain if he is adequately repaid for his expenditure of hard labor. Such a farmer is A. D. Gillespie, of Rock Creek Township, Jasper County.

Mr. A. D. Gillespie was born in Mobile, Alabama, in 1846, the son of George Washington C. and Virtue (Turner) Gillespie, the father born in Tennessee and the mother in England, from which country she came to America with her parents, George and Mary Turner, who located in Philadelphia where they lived for a period of ten years, then moved to Alabama. The paternal grandparents lived and died in Tennessee.

The parents of the subject came to Iowa in 1848 and located at Burlington, coming to Knoxville, Marion County, in 1851, and in 1864 they moved to Jasper County, locating on forty acres, which they purchased in Rock Creek Township. Here the elder Gillespie set to work with all his courage and soon had a good home and a comfortable income, adding to his original purchase from time to time until he became the owner of two hundred acres of excellent land on which he lived until his death in 1891, his widow surviving until 1906 when she passed away at the age of eighty-two years. They were high respected in this part of the County and in fact, wherever they were known. Their family consisted of eight children, six of whom are living. Politically the father was a Republican.

A. D. Gillespie was reared on the home farm, which he worked when boy, and attended the public schools in the winter months, later taking a course at Grinnell Academy. He has spent his active life on the home place, having been about eighteen years old when he came here, and he and his sister Mary are still operating the homestead, having kept it well improved and well tilled. He raises a diversity of crops and raises considerable livestock. Mr. Gillespie has remained unmarried. Politically he is a Republican. Page 964.

~ Gillespie, Elmer Lincoln ~

Success has been worthily attained by Elmer Lincoln Gillespie, who is today accounted one of the prosperous farmers and substantial citizens of Rock Creek Township, Jasper County. To his energy, enterprise, careful management and keen discernment his present station in life is attributed. He started upon his career as an independent factor with no large amount of outside assistance and he is now the owner of a very desirable farm property and occupies a conspicuous place in the list of the County's agriculturists, being well known here, as was his father before him, this family having come here in pioneer times and its various members have played no inconspicuous role in the drama of advanced civilization here.

Mr. Gillespie was born in the Township in which he still maintains his home, on September 24, 1865, the son of George Washington C. and Virtue (Turner) Gillespie, the father a native of Tennessee and the mother of England, the latter having been brought to America by her parents when four years of age. They came to Iowa in an early day and later, in 1864, settled in Jasper County on a farm, having first lived at Burlington, then Knoxville, Marion County. They bought a place of forty acres in Rock Creek Township when they came here, and, prospering, he became the owner of two hundred and eighty acres in Audubon County, which the elder Gillespie finally had divided among his children. His son and daughter, A. D. and Mary Gillespie, still live on the Jasper County farm, a separate sketch of the former appearing herein. During his lifetime he supported the Republican ticket, but never aspired to public office. His family consisted of eight children, six of whom are living.

Elmer L. Gillespie was reared on the home farm in Jasper County and was educated in the public schools, and early in life took up farming for himself, in 1890 buying a farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Rock Creek Township which he still owns and which he manages in a manner that it yields abundant returns for the labor expended on it. Here he has erected a large, modern and attractive residence and a good barn and other buildings. He always keeps a good grade of livestock and this, together with general agricultural pursuits, has resulted in a competency.

Elmer L. Gillespie was reared on the home farm in Jasper County and was educated in the public schools, and early in life took up farming for himself, in 1890 buying a farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Rock Creek Township which he still owns and which he manages in a manner that it yields abundant returns for the labor expended on it. Here he has erected a large, modern and attractive residence and a good barn and other buildings. He always keeps a good grade of livestock and this, together with general agricultural pursuits, has resulted in a competency.

Politically, Mr. Gillespie is independent and he and his wife belong to the Society of Friends.

In 1884 the subject was united in marriage with Saphrona See, a native of Story County, Iowa, and the daughter of George and Priscilla See. The latter died in Story County when Mrs. Gillespie was but six years of age, and the father subsequently moved to Jasper County, being one of the old settlers here.

Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gillespie, namely: Harry I., who married Ruby Pugh; Roy died in infancy; Chetta I. is the wife of Warren McDonald; Floy J. is the wife of E. E. McDonald, Port Angeles, Washington; Minnie P. is the wife of W. A. Thomas; Roe E.; Lawrence died when fourteen months old. Page 934.