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Biographies of Keokuk, Iowa
Henry Clay Adams Born August 7 1843, Washington County Iowa, and brought to Keokuk county by his parents the same year. He was raised a farmer, he enlisted in the Thirteenth Infantry Iowa, during the late war, he was in Company D, and after serving three years re-enlisted as a veteran. He was present at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, siege of Corinth, Vicksburg, and in the Atlanta campaign, and with Sherman in his march to the sea, and participated in the grand review at Washington. He was mustered out as orderly sergeant of Company D., after returning to his home he worked at the trade of blacksmith, and in 1877 was elected sheriff, of Keokuk County, Iowa, and again in 1879, re-elected to the same office. On the 1880 Keokuk County, Iowa Census showed him Sheriff and Jailer. He married Miss Sophronia Minteer before July 18 1870, she was the daughter of Joseph P. Minteer and Julia A. Daymode. She was born in Ohio. Of this union there was five children born, Sophronia died February 21 1897, and Henry Clay Adams Sr. died November 15 1893. Submitted by Debbie Goosinow EZEKIEL S. SAMPSON was born in Huron County, Ohio, on the6th of December, 1831. When a small boy his father removed to Illinoisand in 1843 located on a farm in Keokuk County, Iowa. The son workedon his father's farm until he was nineteen years of age, attending thedistrict school winters. He then learned to set type and earned moneyas a printer to pay his way in the higher schools until he secured a goodeducation. In 1854 he went to Oskaloosa and began the study of law withEnoch W. Eastman and Samuel A. Rice and in the following year wasadmitted to the bar. He began to practice at Sigourney and in 1850 waselected Prosecuting Attorney. Early in 1861 he helped to raise a company for the Union army and was appointed captain of Company F,which was assigned to the Fifth Infantry. In May, 1862, he was promoted to major of the regiment, serving in that position until 1864, whenit was mustered out. In 1865 he was elected to the State Senate andafter serving one session was chosen District Judge and remained on thebench by reelection until 1874 when he was elected to Congress. Mr.Sampson served four years in the House of Representatives from theSixth District, retiring in 1879 and resuming the practice of law. Hedied at his home in Sigourney on the 7th of October, 1892. Source: History of Iowa: From The Earliest Times To The Beginning of The Twentieth Century. Vol. IV - 1903 Charley J. Scharnhorst Without peradventure there are within the borders of Latah county some of the finest farmers that can be found anywhere, which demonstrates both the excellency of the country and the ability of these individuals, and among this worthy class must be mentioned prominently the subject of this article. Although a young man, still there is no doubt in the mind of any one who will look over his fine estate that Mr. Scharnhorst is one of the most thrifty, careful, judicious and enterprising agriculturists and stockmen that are to be found. Charley J. was born in, Keokuk county, Iowa, on October 13, 1871, being the son of Christian and Frederica (Neighbour) Scharnhorst, natives of Germany, who came to this country in 1862, locating in Iowa, whence ten years later they went to Kansas, where one year was spent, and then another move was made to Oregon, 'and settlement made in Eugene, whence they came to Latah county, where they reside on a fine farm now. Our subject received his schooling from the districts of Latah county and the wise training of a sagacious father in the art of agriculture and thrift. He remained with his father for twenty three years, and then was presented by the generous parent with a fine large farm, which he added to until it is of the broad proportions of four hundred and ten acres, and lies five and one-half miles west from Genesee. The estate is provided with an elegant residence, commodious barns and all needed out buildings, and is most carefully attended and skillfully handled. A fine orchard also beautifies the premises and provides fruit for use. Plenty of stock for use are at hand, the fields all fenced and cross-fenced, and all presents one beautiful picture of prosperity and thrift and happiness. In 1895 occurred the marriage of Mr. Scharnhorst and Miss Mary G., daughter of John and Margaret (Brandt) Bottjer, and a native of Germany. The parents of Mrs. Scharnhorst were also natives of Germany, and the father was a sailor. Eight children were born to them: Mary C. Louise, William J., Henry G., Johanna J., Margaret C. Henriette A., and Johan H. Mr. Scharnhorst is an active participant in the realm of politics and there as everywhere he is characterized by display of the same sagacity, keenness of perception, wealth of resource, and thoroughness in execution that have brought him his unbounded success. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church, and they are generous supporters of the faith and lead an exemplary life in all their walk, being highly esteemed and respected. [An Illustrated History Of North Idaho Embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai, Shoshone Counties, State Of Idaho, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903, submitted by Barb Z.] Christian Scharnhorst This worthy and venerable pioneer and substantial citizen of Latah county is eminently fitted, both because of his real worth as a man and because of the excellent work that he has done here for the development and up-building of the county, to be prominently represented in the volume that has to do with its history and we accord him space for the events of an interesting and well spent career, assured that no more worthy citizen can be portrayed in this work since his labors speak out his worth. Christian was born in Germany on September 26, 1834, being the son of Christian and Dorothy (Krager) Scharnhorst. They came to this country in 1844 and settled in Keokuk county, Iowa, where they tilled the soil until the time of their death, both being buried in the Methodist cemetery in Harper, Iowa. Our subject was educated in the schools of Germany and in Iowa, and remained with his father until he had attained his twenty-third year, then rented a farm there until 1872, when he went across the plains with mule teams to Oregon, intending, however, to go to California, but being turned toward the Willamette valley by favorable reports on the road. The train of sixteen wagons was five months on the road, and then he rented a farm for two years in Oregon, after which he came to Latah county and homesteaded and pre-empted a half section, broke it all up and then took eighty acres as a timber culture claim. He added an adjoining half section to his fine body of land by purchase then and later enough more to make seven hundred and eighty acres in all. When his boys came of age he gave them one-half section each, as stated elsewhere in this work, retaining only eighty acres for himself, which the boys farm. In 1856 Mr. Scharnhorst married Miss Frederika, daughter of Carl and Charlotta (Krouse) Neubauer, natives of Germany, but migrating to America in 1856 and locating in Iowa where they rest at the present time in the Lutheran cemetery near Sigourney. To our worthy subject and his estimable wife there have been born the following children,—Dora F., married to Herman Nablsick and living in Genesee: Louise, married to Mathias Carbuhn, living close to Uniontown, Washington; Dedrick J., married to Minnie Oldah and living in Genesee; Tenie F., married to Frank Sclator and living in Spokane county, Washington: Caroline L., married to Jake Scley, living close to Uniontown, Washington; Mary D., married to Henry Herman, residing in Latah county : Frederick, married to Rosa Haire, living in Latah county; Charles J., married to Mary Rurchett, living in Latah county. Mr. Scharnhorst is a member of the Lutheran church as is his wife also. His brother is soon coming from Germany and they are representatives of a good family that has manifested great zeal and energy in labors for the good of their fellows and in building up and progress. Mr. Scharnhorst is one of the substantial men of Latah county and he is justly deserving of the honor that is due the true pioneer, the capable citizen, and the good man, and it is with pleasure that we have been enabled to give this epitome of a useful and interesting life. [An Illustrated History Of North Idaho Embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai, Shoshone Counties, State Of Idaho, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903, submitted by Barb Z.] Fred Scharnhorst The subject of this article is practically a product of Latah county, having spent the major portion of his life here and he is today one of the substantial and progressive men of this section, having a fine holding of one half section of fertile land, and being one of the men who make the real strength of the community, while he has displayed both wisdom and integrity in all his ways, thus demonstrating him a leader and one to be represented in the volume that has to do with his county's history. Our subject was born in Keokuk county, Iowa, on March 15, 1869, being the son of Christian and Frederica (Neighbor) Scharnhorst, natives of Germany, but immigrants to America while young. They located in Iowa and thence they went to Kansas and in 1872 came to Oregon and two years later to the territory now embraced in Latah county. Our subject received a good common school education in the county and remained with his father until twenty two years had rolled by. At that time the father generously gave him a half section of fine land six miles west from Genesee, where the family home is at present. Our subject manifested his proper appreciation of this handsome legacy by handling it in a first class manner, producing as high as ten thousand bushels of wheat in one year. He has fine buildings, a good orchard, and plenty of stock to handle the farm, and everything about the premises manifests that scrutinizing care, thrift, industry and wisdom that characterize Mr. Scharnhorst in all of his ways. In politics he is with the class of citizens who are always laboring for real progress and advancement. The school interests have profited by his wisdom for a number of years, he being director. In 1891 occurred the marriage of Mr. Scharnhorst and Miss Rosa, daughter of Mike and Barbara (Schlee) Hoyer, natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, where the father died in August, 1889, and the mother came later to America and is now living in Uniontown, Washington. To this union there have been born six children: Louisa V., Barbara F., Carry C., Christ F., George F., Fredrick. Mr. Scharnhorst and his family are allied with the Lutheran church, and he is one of the substantial and prominent men of the country, being accorded this position because of his worth and his capabilities that have wrought so well in our midst. [An Illustrated History Of North Idaho Embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai, Shoshone Counties, State Of Idaho, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903, submitted by Barb Z.] Virgil Randall It is exceedingly pleasant to be able to chronicle the points of the interesting career of the estimable and enterprising gentleman, whose name appears above, having come of a noted family and having fully sustained the reputation of his ancestors for skill and talent, both by his capable efforts in his labors and in working out the bright success that is now crowning his pathway. Mr. Randall is one of the large farmers of Latah county, owns five hundred and forty acres five miles southeast from Palouse, upon which stands the first frame and painted building in northern Idaho. He has at present a new and commodious structure as the family home. His farm is well tilled, produces abundance of the grasses and cereals while also he raises considerable stock. The original quarter section of the farm was taken as a homestead by Mrs. Randall, who rode through a hostile Indian country forty miles on horseback to Lewiston to make the filing. The marriage of this worthy couple occurred on the farm adjoining the homestead, which also they now own, the date of the happy event being April 14, 1878, and to bless the union there have been born to them the following children, Dora and Cora, twins, Cora being a graduate of the Moscow high school and now attending the normal at Lewiston; Fannie, teaching; Grover, at home. Turning more particularly to the early personal history of Mr. Randall, we note that he was one of a family of eight children, his brothers and sisters being, Michael A., Elizabeth, Euler, Raphael, Euclid, Mary, and Emily. Our subject was born on July 13, 1843, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg, at Anchor Tavern, a noted tavern of that country and run by his father. His parents were Reuben W. and Katherine Randall. The father was a man of great erudition, but possessed of becoming modesty that always precluded ostentatious effort for personal preferment in public, although he was offered the chair of mathematics in a number of institutions of higher learning. Such men as McCreary, Belknap, Story and others of Grant's cabinet were warm personal friends of Mr. Randall. Commodore Foote, a noted mathematician, frequently wrote to Mr. Randall for assistance in various problems, and the subject of this article has at the present time these letters which came to his father. Our subject came from a family of poets. His father published mathematical works and his grandfather was the author of several books of poems. Our subject came with his parents to St. Louis when three years of age and in 1847 the family went to Keokuk. Iowa. Twenty years they lived there, the father being engaged in mercantile pursuits. Virgil was educated in the common schools and in 1864 made a trip to Virginia City, Montana. He drove four yokes of oxen and from the train one or two men were killed by the Indians. Later he returned to Iowa and ran on a steamer from Keokuk to St. Louis and in 1867 went to New York and took steamer via Panama to California. From San Francisco, he went to San Joaquin and six years later went to Butte county, being engaged in farming in both places. After that he came to the territory now embraced in Latah county, stopping first with a brother whose farm adjoins that of our subject, then later taking the farm as above mentioned. Mrs. Randall was formerly Miss Dora F. Walker, being the daughter of Harvey S. and Lavisa (Morse) Walker, the mother being a distant relative of the great electrician Morse. The father and mother were natives of New York, and came from their farm in that state to California in an early day. Mrs. Randall was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, and went with her parents to California. She has one sister, Susan, who is now deceased. Mr. Randall is a member of the A. O. U. W., joining in 1892. His wife is a member of the Christian church. He ran for the office of county commissioner and by only seventeen votes did his opponent win the day. His farm is one of the best and finest in the county, has fine buildings, twenty acres of orchard, forty of meadow, and produces abundant returns. [An Illustrated History Of North Idaho Embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai, Shoshone Counties, State Of Idaho, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903, submitted by Barb Z.]
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