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REUBEN F. RILEY, merchant tailor, has been a resident of Washington since 1854, or for a third of century. He was born in Jefferson County, Va., May 8, 1835. His father, Zachariah Riley, was of Scotch-Irish parentage, and was born on the ocean, when his parents were emigrating to America. His mother, Clarinda Gaines, was a native of France. Both parents were reared in Virginia and were there married. Soon after the birth of Reuben they moved to Morgan County, Ohio, where they died many years ago. They were both earnest Christians, and each tried to live up to the teachings of the Master, and were greatly respected by all who knew them.
The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm and received but a very limited education. When ten and a half years of age he was apprenticed to learn the tailor's trade, and worked for three and a half years for board, clothing and six months' schooling. In 1853, when but eighteen years of age, he came West and for one year worked at his trade in Keokuk. He then came to Washington, where he has since continued to reside. In 1855 he was united in marriage with Miss Rachel A. McElroy, a daughter of Robert W. McElroy, one of the early setters of the county. By this union there have been four children—Lillie M., Clyde W., Ione M. and Roy W.
Notwithstanding that he was born in a Southern State, when the war for the Union commenced Mr. Riley was on the Union side, and, as a patriot, in 1863, enlisted in Co. K, 13th Iowa Vol. Inf., and served till the close of the war. He was mustered in at Davenport, and, after spending a short time in Camp McClellan, was sent to join the regiment at Vicksburg. The 13th Regiment formed part of the 17th Army corps. commanded by Gen. McPherson, and at his death, Gen. Blair. Its record is a glorious one, none better. In May, 1864, Mr. Riley was detailed as one of Gen. McPherson's orderlies, and served in that capacity till July 22, when he rejoined his regiment, and was with it at the capture of Atlanta. In the celebrated march to the sea the 13th was a part of the grand army, and was in the battle of Bentonville, N.C., and at Durham's Station, where Johnston surrendered to Sherman. It was then sent on to Washington, D.C., and participated in the grand review in that city. Soon after this it was sent to Louisville, Ky., where it was mustered out.
On his discharge, Mr. Riley returned to his home in Washington and resumed his trade, in which he has since continuously been engaged. Since his return he has never been in good health, having contracted disease in the service, on account of which he is now receiving a pension from the Government. In politics, he was orginally a Republican, but now casts his votes with the Democratic party.
ENOCH WINTER is one of the most prominent farmers and stock-raisers in Washington County. He resides upon a fine farm on section 20, Washington Township, consisting of 435 acres of land, which is under a high state of cultivation, and which has upon the premises the best improvements, including a fine dwelling house, large barn, and other out-buildings. In addition to the home farm, he owns 806 acres of land in Franklin Township, and 300 acres of land in Texas. He is a native of Alleghany County, Md., born May 29, 1837. His parents were both natives of Maryland, the father, John Winter, being born in 1798, and the mother, Hester (Trimble) Winter, in 1800. They were the parents of nine children, eight of whom are living: George, in Alleghany County,
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Md.; Anna M., widow of George Humberson, of Maryland; Elizabeth, wife of Edward O'Donald, of Alleghany County, Md.; Hester, wife of Nelson Stewart, of Benton County, Iowa; John, of Washington County; Susan, of Alleghany County, Md., widow of James Shearer, and Joseph H., of Barton County, Mo. Mr. Winter died about 1870, while Mrs. Winter is still living, at the age of eighty-seven.
The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and received but a limited education. He remained at home on his father's farm until twenty-six years of age, when he was employed by the Astor Coal Mining Company, remaining with that company until the fall of 1863, when he came west and located at Washington. Here he embarked in stock shipping, as the junior member of the firm of Stewart & Winter. This business he continued for three years, when he returned East and remained until 1882. In 1878 he purchased the farm adjoining the city limits on the south.
On the 17th of February, 1885, Mr. Winter was united in marriage with Miss Ada Hollingsworth, a daughter of D. Hollingsworth, of Washington. She was born in Washington County, March 22, 1857. They have one son, Charles. Mr. Winter was one of the leading business men of Washington County. Few men are more energetic and none make a more beneficial use of their means, while none are better known or more highly respected.
JOSEPH REINER, farmer and stock-raiser, section 7, Jackson Township, was born in Austria, in the year 1842. He is a son of Joseph A. and Anna May (Arker) Reiner. They had nine children born in Austria, before coming to America: Catherine; George, deceased; Joseph, Albert, Margaret, George, Antoine, William, and an infant which died and was buried in the Atlantic, when they were coming to America in 1852. The location of this family was made near Richmond, this county, the same year. Joseph A. Reiner was a poor man, and after the purchase of forty acres of land, found himself without money.
Our subject was the oldest living son. The father grubbed out a few acres, and for two years it was cultivated with a hoe. Two of the older daughters worked out, and our subject, Joseph Reiner, worked for Mr. Oliver for five years, carefully saving his money. Mr. Oliver gave him a colt which was reared, and from her Joseph secured a team of horses, and with the descendants of that mare he yet tills his broad acres, which have all been earned by hard labor since he was a lad. He aided his father till the war began, when he enlisted in Co. K, 30th Iowa Vol. Inf., serving three years, and was in many of the important battles in which the regiment participated. In an engagement at Cherokee, Ala., while on the march to the sea, he was wounded, a rebel bullet passing through his thigh, breaking it, and still remaining in his other leg. The fracture still occasions him much pain, and every time brings to the mind of this brave soldier, who fought to preserve the Union, visions of the day when he lay wounded and bleeding on the roadside. He was taken first to Memphis, and later to St. Louis, where he remained until he fortunately recovered; but he would not leave the service, although offered a discharge, and was therefore put in the veteran corps. He never left his post until the end of the war.
After the war our subject returned to his father's house, and worked with him until he was married, Miss Mary A. Matron becoming his wife, April 21, 1867. They lived upon the farm of his father until 1882, making improvements, and adding lands. There his eldest children were born, two of whom are deceased—Charles and Emma. Elizabeth, Sylvester, Rozellia, Anthony, Antoinette, Alfred, Margaret and Bertha. The death of the aged parents occurred on the old farm, in 1882, and our subject, who had purchased the interests of the other heirs, sold the old homestead and purchased the Stedman farm of 160 acres, all of which he has paid for, and is now one of the honored residents of Jackson Township; honored, not only for being a good soldier and a good citizen, but because he is a worker and full of enterprise. Although from a foreign country, he is in every was connected with the interests of the State and county. Joseph's wife says that she could see the material he was made of, and although not having money to buy a
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wedding suit, she was willing to take him for better or worse, and perhaps her guiding hand has helped to form the future of the young man, for surely, if he has not risen from the bottom almost to the top of the ladder, no man has in Washington County.
WILLIAM K. WOOLEY resides upon section 26, Crawford Township. He is a native of Washington County, born in Crawford Township, Sept. 22, 1848, and is a son of William and Mary (Strain) Wooley, who were married in this county in 1842. They were the parents of seven children: James, deceased; William K., John F., Carrie A. and Mare E.; two died in infancy. All were born in Crawford County.
William Wooley, Sr., came from Hanover, Ind., and settled in Washington County, in October, 1839. His land was entered later, and he erected the first house on the west half of the northwest quarter of section 25, Crawford Township. He was born in Lancaster County, Ky., and his parents, James and Martha (Ramsey) Wooley, emigrated from that state to Indiana at an early day, remaining during their lifetime. David, another of their sons, came to Iowa in 1840, entered land in Louisa County, and enlisted during the progress of the war, serving as wagonmaster of the 10th Iowa Infantry. After the war he remained for several years in Mt. Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa, but is now a resident of Creston, Iowa, and yet remains a bachelor. Harvey, his brother, also came to the State in 1846, but subsequently went to California, and there died. William Wooley was married, in 1843, to Mary, third daughter of William and Margaret (Kingan) Strain, whose history will be found elsewhere. William Strain was a native of County Down, Ireland, and was a lad of sixteen years when he landed, in 1805, in America, and his sketch will be read with interest.
William Wooley, Sr., taught school for some time after coming to this county, and was one of the early teachers of Crawfordsville. Most of his life was spent on the farm, but the title of Esquire was attached to his name for many years. He entered 100 acres of land, which was nicely improved prior to his death, except a timber tract, and a quarter-section of prairie land is yet in possession of his sons, William K. and Cary A. William Wooley's death occurred June 26, 1885, at which time he was in his sixty-seventh year. He was for many years a member of the United Presbyterian Church at Crawfordsville, and in fact, was one of its first members. Quiet, unassuming, yet firm in his convictions of right, Mr. Wooley had the merited confidence and esteem of the entire community in which he lived. His widow makes her home with Cary, on the old homestead.
Cary wedded Mattie, daughter of James D. and Jennie (Campbell) Moore, both of whom were natives of Tennessee, who came to this county during the progress of the war, and are now residents of Crawfordsville. One daughter, Jennie, has graced their union. James, deceased, wedded Mary F. Riley, to whom three sons, Joseph, Harvey and Cary, were born. The death of James occurred in October, 1882, and his widow is now the wife of Andrew Lesher, Postmaster of Columbus City. John F. Wooley married Annie, daughter of James and Sarah Mulhern. Vane Wooley is their only son, and his father is a resident farmer of Oregon Township. His wife was for ten years a teacher in Washington and adjacent counties.
William K. Wooley, the subject of this sketch, received his primary education in the public schools of Crawford Township, and practically completed his education at Howe's Academy, Mt. Pleasant, which he attended five terms. His first school was taught in White Cloud District No. 8, in this county, during the winter of 1869-70, from which date his professional life extended over a period of ten years, the last six terms of which were in the district where he had lived from boyhood. His marriage to Miss Annie M., daughter of John and Mary A. (Hearshman) Cochran, was celebrated April 10, 1979, at the residence of the bride's parents, Rev. Rowley, of Mt. Pleasant, performing the ceremony. Mrs. Wooley, during her maidenhood, was also engaged in teaching for some years in this county. She was educated at Howe's Academy, her last course being taken in 1876. Her father was of Scotch ancestry, born in Clarion County, Pa., and her mother was of German origin,
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also born in that State. They were married in Pennsylvania, and their two eldest children were born there—Elizabeth, wife of Andrew Brown, of Henry County, and James, deceased. The Cochrans probably located in this county in 1856, on a farm near Crawfordsville. By trade he was a carpenter, and for many years worked at the trade. Later, he purchased a sawmill and some land south of Crawfordsville, and operated the mill for many years. It is now owned by his son, William S. Cochran. Five children were born after the Cochrans became residents of this county: Amanda E., wife of James Skinner; Anna M., wife of our subject; Laura F., wife of Frank Young, who is Superintendent of the county farm in Taylor County, Iowa; William S. and John L. are still single.
Mr. and Mrs. William K. Wooley are the parents of two children, Mary E. and John C., both bright and interesting, who will enjoy superior educational advantages, from the fact of the parents having been educators of note, and in whose advancement they will take special pride. Mr. Wooley has served six years as Assessor of Crawford Township, and is the present incumbent.
HON. JOHN W. PRIZER, of Brighton, is a native of Dauphin County, Pa., born Oct. 8, 1825. His father, Henry J. Prizer, was born in Chester County, Pa., in 1792, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He married Miss Rebecca Jackson, born in Dauphin County, Pa., in 1797. They were of Scotch and Irish descent, and were the parents of eight children, six of whom are living: Oliver H., a practicing physician in Brighton; Sarah, the wife of Edward Scott, of Brighton; Mary, the wife of D. W. Cauffman, residing in Colorado Springs, Col.; John W., the subject of this sketch; Rebecca, the wife of Henry Hopple, of Millerstown, Perry, Co., Pa.; Jane C., now the wife of Rev. T. C. Wortz, a Methodist Episcopal minister, now stationed at Albion, Neb. Mr. Prizer was a stanch supporter of Gen. Jackson in his day; he was a man of more than ordinary ability, and well posted in the affairs of his time. He died in 1831. Mrs. Prizer died in 1859; she was a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was highly respected for her Christian virtues.
The subject of this sketch was reared in Perry County, Pa. When six years of age his father died, and at nine he was put out on a farm to earn his own living, consequently, his early education was sadly neglected. In the schools he obtained but little knowledge, and that which he has attained has been by subsequent reading and contact with the brainy men of the nation. In 1849, he left his native State with a view of going to California, but his step met with such determined opposition from his mother, that he abandoned the idea and came to Washington County, Iowa, and located in Brighton. Still he could not give up his cherished desire to visit the new Eldorado, so in the spring of 1850, in company with twelve others he started with teams, and made the long and tedious journey overland. On arriving in California, he engaged in mining and trading, and there remained four years, enduring all the hardship of that early day. In 1854, he returned to Brighton, but that year there was a rush on Kansas, and in June he went there, but remained only a short time, returning again to Brighton, where he has since continued to reside. On his return, he at once embarked in the mercantile business in company with D. W. Cauffman, under the firm of Cauffman & Prizer, in which business he continued until 1872, when, in company with others, he organized the Brighton National Bank, and was elected Cashier of the same, which position he filled for five years. He then resigned the position and embarked in the boot and shoe trade, though not severing his connection with the bank altogether, for he was elected its Vice President.
Mr. Prizer was married, Sept. 6, 1855, to Miss Charlotte Moore, a daughter of Anson Moore, of Brighton, and one of the early settlers of the county. She was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, Aug. 8, 1831. By this union there were four children, two sons and two daughters: Henry A., now engaged in the dry-goods business at Brighton; Ellen J., the wife of N. Roseberger, attorney-at-law, Muscatine, Iowa; Eugene, a member of the firm of J. W. Prizer & Co.; and Hattie E. In politics Mr. Prizer
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is one of the stanch Republicans of the State of Iowa, and was interested in the party in this State. He has held several local offices, and in 1879, was elected to the State Senate from the district comprising the counties of Washington and Louisa. While he was a member of the Assembly, the question of the submission of the Prohibition Amendment was asked for by many persons in the State, and Mr. Prizer was among the number of those favorable to granting the request, and as a Senator voted for it. When the question was submitted to a vote of the people, he favored an adoption of the amendment, believing it to be right.
Mr. Prizer is now leading a retired life, and in his community, and wherever he is known, he is respected for the stability of his character and his true worth as a citizen. No man enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens in a higher degree. Always the friend of education, he has done much to advance the interests of the public schools. In every good work calculated to build up Brighton or Washington County, he has ever been in the front. When he arrived in the county, he was in limited circumstances, but through close attention to his business, and that energy and push that have always characterized him, he has been enabled to lay by sufficient to keep him in his old age. He is living with his family in a very pleasant home in the village of Brighton, surrounded by such comforts as may be acquired by the use of wealth rightly spent, coupled with good taste.
SAMUEL C. PEARSON, who resides on section 24, Oregon Township, engaged in farming and stock-raising, is a native of Washington County, born May 29, 1857. He is the son of Jesse and Mary J. (Frew) Pearson, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. He was reared on his father's farm and received his education in the district schools of Washington County. Bred to the life of a farmer, he has continued in that occupation till the present time, and is now the owner of 212 acres of land which is well-improved in every respect, and which he has brought under a high state of cultivation. His farm is one of the neatest and best in Oregon Township, the improvements on it being first-class.
Samuel C. Pearson and Martha E. Colthurst were united in marriage in this county Jan. 23, 1879. She is also a native of this county, born in 1859, and is a daughter of Thomas and Ann Colthurst, who are numbered among the earliest settlers of this county, a sketch of whom will be found in this work. Three children have been born to them—Florence N., Leslie G. and Lulu F. Mr. Pearson is a member of Orient Lodge No. 365, A.F. & A.M. Politically, he is independent, believing more in voting for the right men than because they may happen to belong to "our party."
While yet a young man, not having reached the prime of life, Mr. Pearson is full of energy, who endeavors to discharge every duty in a faithful manner, is not willing to sit idly by to witness the procession as it passes, but who proposes to join in, and ever go forward. Socially, he is esteemed by all who know him.
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