Biographies

~ Zachary, Hartwell ~

In placing the subject of this review before the reader as one standing in the front rank of Washington Township's young farmers, obstacles and win success and his example might be imitated with profit by those dissatisfied with present attainments who would aspire to wider fields of usefulness.

Hartwell Zachary was born on his father's farm in Washington Township, this County, on March 31, 1871, and here he has spent his life. He is the son of James and Sarah Ann (Fenton) Zachary, the father born in Ohio in 1846 and the mother a native of Iowa. The paternal grandfather, Larkin E. Zachary, was born in Virginia, November 20, 1818, and there grew up, moving with his family to Ohio in 1839. He learned the painter's trade in his native state, which he followed during the summer months after he came to Ohio, but worked in a furniture factory in the wintertime. In 1851 he drove overland to Jasper County, Iowa, from Ohio, bringing his family and all his worldly effects in a one-horse wagon. He arrived here with a cash capital of eighty dollars, fifty of which he paid for forty acres of land in Des Moines Township. He began life on the wild prairie in typical pioneer fashion and soon had a good farm and a comfortable home. He became an extensive cattle feeder on the open prairies and by hard work and good management prospered far beyond the average man in a new country, finally becoming the owner of twenty-four hundred acres of land in Jasper County, mostly in Washington Township. For many years he was one of the best known, most influential and substantial men in the county. In 1876 he became interested in a bank in Prairie City, later buying full control of the same, and it was known as the Zachary Bank and was one of the popular banks of this section of Iowa. Larkin E. Zachary was married on January 29, 1840, to Elizabeth Blee, a native of Ohio, and to their union eight children were born, six of whom are living. His wife lived to an advanced age, dying on May 27, 1890, but he survived her twelve years, dying in 1902. He was a grand old man, whom everybody admired and respected. Politically, he was a strong Democrat and pronounced in his convictions on any subject.

The maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was John Felton, who came to Jasper County from Ohio and settled on a farm in an early day, where he became well established and well liked.

James Zachary, father of Hartwell, of this sketch, worked on his father's farms until his death, in 1899. What little education he received was in the old log schoolhouses, but he was a man of energy and a good observer and succeeded.

Hartwell Zachary grew up on the farm and hid little chance to secure an education. When a small boy he herded cattle on his grandfather's farm. When he was only fifteen years of age he began the management of one of the farms and after both his grandfather and father had passed away, he bought eighty acres around the old home place in Washington Township. He remodeled the house and improved the place and has been very successful as both a general farmer and stock raiser. He keeps full-blooded short horn cattle, shipping several loads each year as well as many hogs to market.

Politically, he is a Democrat and he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias. The subject's mother died when he was small and the father remarried, his last wife being Mary A. Shaw, a native of Indiana, and she still lives in Des Moines. The subject has the following brothers and sisters: Robert, deceased; Mrs. Lida C. Stoner, Mrs. Cormia Belle George; and a half-sister, Imo Zachary

Hartwell Zachary was married on March 14, 1897, to Nettie May Turner, born in Prairie City, Iowa, the daughter of J. P. and Elizabeth Turner. The following children have been born to the subject and wife: Harry Leland, Loren Gerald, Raymond Fenton and Helen Grace. p. 718.

~ Zollinger, Jeremiah R. ~

In a necessarily brief sketch like this if is impossible to enter fully into detail. The course of most lives is largely determined by circumstances and environment, a man, as a rule, being only able to do the best he can in the place where he finds himself.

Jeremiah Rummel Zollinger was born December 7, 1829, near Hagerstown, Maryland, from which locality he removed in his early childhood with his parents to Pennsylvania, where he grew up. He learned the carpenter's trade, becoming a contractor and builder, and in that capacity came west at the age of twenty-five. At that time he invested somewhat in Iowa farmland. He was of a genial disposition, and had many friends. He was also possessed of sound common sense and good business ability, and, being thoroughly honest, he had the confidence of those with whom he dealt.

In August 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company K, of the Twenty-eighth Iowa, under Captain, afterward Colonel, John Meyer. There would seem to have been a warm friendship always between these two men. From private, J. R. Zollinger rose to be second lieutenant of his company, and was known for the thoroughness with which he performed all the duties falling to him, first as orderly sergeant, and later as second lieutenant. Like all of the Company K boys, he was a good soldier, always ready to fight, and never shrinking from any danger. He was in Hovey's division, and fought in thirteen battles, besides skirmishes and other fights. In April 1863, Hovey's division started for Vicksburg. They did not reach it till the 20th of May, when the city was invested and its bombardment began. In the meanwhile were fought the battles of Port Gibson, May 1st, and Champion Hill, May 16th, in both of which J.R. Zollinger fought, as well as later in the rifle pits of Vicksburg. Immediately after the surrender of Vicksburg the Twenty-eighth Iowa was marched off to take part in the siege of Jackson. Here, on the 7th of July, Lieutenant Zollinger received a wound in the head which did not at the time seem serious, but which gave him more or less suffering all through his later life. In December 1863, he was sent home as a recruiting officer and remained until the 27th of March 1864, when he rejoined his regiment in Louisiana and saw service in that state during the spring and summer. On the 22nd of July 1864, he was embarked at Algiers, Louisiana, on the steamship "Arage" and sent north to Virginia. Here, in the valley of the Shenandoah, he saw hard service, being engaged in the battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek, besides several skirmishes. At various times in the absence of a captain he had the command of three different companies in the regiment besides his own, and led Company D in a charge in battle. In January 1865, the Twenty-eighth was sent by sea to Savannah, Georgia. On the 12th of March they were sent to Newbern, North Carolina. Here the regiment by companies did guard duty on hospitals, prisons, and prisoners, and patrolled the town.In August, Lieutenant Zollinger, having been mustered out, returned to his home.

In January 1868, he was appointed deputy sheriff by William C. Hawk, the newly elected sheriff of Jasper County. In this position he served four years. He was then elected sheriff, and held that office for three successive terms. In 1879 he was made assignee of a bankrupt stock of goods in Colfax, and disposed of it satisfactorily to all concerned. In 1880 he opened a grocery in Newton, and remained a grocer until he died, on February 24, 1895. p. 522.

~ Zwank, Ira ~

There is a great deal in being born under a good eye, one that watches and guards off the error and folly that overtake so many young men. The father and the mother who are able to infuse into their children the spirit of the Spartans, the spirit that can meet any fate and make the most of the world, will see their children grow to years of maturity with excellent habits and splendid principles and see them become exemplary citizens. The subject of this brief notice was fortunate in having so able and clean a father and so solicitous and gentle a mother. He was taught from the start the duties of life, not ordinary instruction, but the highest duties which all owe to each other and to society. The result has been to give him broad ideas of life and its responsibilities and to fit him for good citizenship. This he no doubt has fully appreciated and has sought to be a worthy representative of an honored old family in all walks of life and has therefore won and retained the good will and respect of all with whom he has come into contact.

Ira Zwank, farmer, of Elk Creek Township, Jasper County, was born in Marion County, Iowa, on January 1, 1872. He is the son of Jacob and Anna (DeBruyn) Zwank, the father born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1847, and the mother in Marion County, Iowa, in 1852, their home being now in Newton, Iowa. The father came to Marion County when a boy and there he and Anna DeBruyn grew up, attended the common schools of their neighborhood and were married. They were both of Hollander descent and the sturdy stock of their progenitors has outcropped in them, enabling them to make a good living and establish a comfortable home. They moved to Jasper County soon after their marriage and bought forty acres of land in Elk Creek Township. This they later sold and purchased eighty acres and at the time of the elder Zwank's death he owned a well-improved farm of one hundred and eighty acres.

Jacob Zwank endeavored to enlist for service in the Union Army during the Civil War, but was too young. However, he ran away from home and started to the front, but was brought back. Politically, he was a Democrat and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His death occurred on August 19, 1897. The mother subsequently re-married, her last husband being Henry Efnor. They have a comfortable home in Newton.

Ira Zwank, of this sketch, had two brothers and five sisters, named as follows: Mrs. Anna Carpenter, Ira was the second in order of birth, Peter, Mrs. Kate Efnor, Harmon, Mrs. Bessie Landmesser, Mrs. Lilly Cary, Ollie, deceased.

The subject attended the Rose Hill district school and when but a boy he had to assist with the general work about the home place, he being the eldest of the family. He began plowing when but nine years of age and made a hand in the fields when most boys are spending their time fishing with a pin hook and making flutter mills; but this early experience was good for him in the long run. When a young man he began farming for himself, renting land of the neighbors and staying at home. In 1901 he bought eighty acres, which he sold a year later and then bought one hundred acres and he has since added forty acres more where he now resides, making one of the choice farms of the community, which he has kept well improved and well cultivated. He keeps good livestock and has a pleasant home.

Mr. Zwank is a Democrat politically, having followed in the footsteps of his father and he has always taken a good citizen's interest in the affairs of his community. He has served as township trustee.

Mr. Zwank was married on March 18, 1900, to Edna Winters, who was born in Elk Creek Township, Jasper County, June 30, 1880, and here she grew to womanhood and received her education in the local schools. She was the daughter of John Winters, a farmer of Elk Creek Township, who was born on April 23, 1849, Ohio and who died on June 5, 1905. He married Phoebe Jane Shroyer, who was born on February 10, 1852, and who is now living at Galesburg, Iowa. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Zwank has been without issue. Personally, Mr. Zwank is a man of fine physique, pleasant mannered and industrious. p. 721.