1882 Biographies, beginning with V-W, Allamakee County, Iowa Transcribed by Phyllis Peterson and Roxanne Barth for the USGenWeb Archives. Submitted August 1999 by Roxanne Barth , IAGenWeb Allamakee County Coordinator. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************ History of Winneshiek and Allamaee Counties Iowa 1882 By W. E. Alexander Sioux City, Iowa: Western Publishing Company 1882 Reprinted by Winneshiek County Genealogical Society Decorah, Iowa: The Anundsen Publishing Company V-W James Vile, P.O. Waukon, farmer, sec. 11; born in England in 1825, where he remained till in 1849, when he crossed the ocean, stopping two years in Canada; then went to N.Y., where he remained till 1854, when he came to this county and located on his present farm which now contains 200 acres, and is well improved, being among the best in the township. His wife's maiden name was Alice Roach. She was also born in England. Their children are Sarah A., John L. and Frank C., having lost one son, Walter R.History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa, 1882, p. 542-543. C. C. Waechter, dealer in books and stationary, Lansing; was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1824; came to the U.S. in 1852, stopping first at St. Louis, Mo.; came to Lansing in 1853, engaging in the grocery and feed business. In 1854 he purchased a farm in Center township, residing thereon until 1868. In 1853 he married Catherine Vogler, who died in 1867, leaving one daughter, Anna. History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa, 1882, p. 545. F. W. Wagner, manufacturer and dealer in harness, saddles, whips, etc.; was born in Germany in 1833; came to America in 1855 and settled in Cleveland, Ohio. He came to Lansing soon after, and in 1858 established his present business. He was married to Miss Margaret Weber, also a native of Germany; they have eight children, F.W., Lisette, Theo. H., Mary, Amelia, Bertha, Katie and Cornelia. History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa, 1882, p. 543-544. John Wallace, sec. 12, P.O. Waukon; veterinary surgeon and farmer; makes a specialty in the treatment of all diseases of horses. Mr. W. was born in Scotland in Oct., 1827; commenced the study and practice of veterinary surgery when quite young, paying particular attention to that all his life. He emigrated to the United States in 1850, stopping first near Elgin, Illinois, where he remained till in 1853, when he came to this county, stopping first in Union Prairie tp., and from there to this township in 1865, where he has a farm of 110 acres. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Ruff; of Scotland, in 1847. She died in March, 1882, leaving him and seven children to mourn her loss. The children are Anna, William, Ella, Agnes, Margaret, Charles and George. Mr. W. is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, also A.F. & A.M. and A.O.U.W. History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa, 1882, p. 544. John Ward, Deputy P.M. of Hanover postoffice, and farmer; son of James and Catherine Sweeney Ward; was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, Aug. 15, 1820; received a liberal education in his native country, and with his parents came to the U.S. in 1842, they locating at Somerville, near Boston, Mass. In 1846 he enlisted in Co. I., 2d U. S. artillery, serving in. Gen. Wool's division during the Mexican war, participating in several battles, including the capture of the City of Mexico. In 1852 he enlisted on board the U.S. sloop of war, Marion, engaged in the prevention of the slave traffic from Africa to the U.S., their cruise being mostly on the western coast of Africa, serving a portion of the time as ship's clerk. In 1855 they returned to Norfolk, Va., he coming on to Washington, where he was discharged and then came home. In 1856 he came to Iowa, stopping in Glenwood tp., Winneshiek Co., until 1858, when he came to Hanover tp., where he now owns a farm of 360 acres, valued at $20 per acre. Mr. Ward was married to Miss Bridget Ward in Ireland, in 1839. She died in the spring of 1849, and the following fall he was married to Miss Mary Ward, a cousin of his first wife. His children by his first wife are Wm. F., John and Alice, and by the second marriage, William, Ellen, Thomas, Mary, Patrick, Catherine and Anna. He has lost by death one son, James. Mr. Ward is at present justice of the peace of his tp., which office he has filled for twenty-two years. He has also served as clerk for eighteen years, and is the present deputy postmaster of Hanover postoffice. History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa, 1882, p. 545- 546. J. W. Ward, of the firm of Ward & Meyer, dealers in general merchandise, Postville; born in Ky. in 1852. His father was a native of Maine and his mother of Ky. They came to Iowa when he was a small boy and located in Clayton Co. His early life was upon the farm. He was educated at the Hopkinton school in Delaware Co., Iowa, and followed teaching three winters prior to commencing his present business in the fall of 1875. The business of the firm is in a very prosperous condition. Their sales reaching about $50,000 per annum. History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa, 1882, p. 544-545. Henry Webb, P.O. Postville, farmer, owns 155 acres of land valued at $50 per acre; born in Livingstone Co., N.Y., in 1840; his parents immigrated to Washington Co., Wis., in 1846, and he to this county in 1865. He was married the same year to Miss Rozilla Dresser, daughter of Calvin and Sarah Dresser. Their children are Lucy A., Melina A., Ida J., Harmon D., Eva and Bertha. Mr. W. moved to his present farm in 1875. History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa, 1882, p. 545. Wiecking Bros., manufacturers of cigars. H. W. Wiecking was born in Germany in 1850, came to America in 1870, and settled in N.Y.; thence to Indiana; in 1877 came to Lansing and engaged in his present business. He married Hulda Kerndt; and they have three children. H.R. Wiecking is also a native of Germany. He came to America in 1875, and became a partner of his brother. History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa, 1882, p. 545. Thomas B. Wiley, P.O. Rossville, farmer, section 23; son of Ernest and Eleanor Wiley; born in 1829 in Fayette Co., Pennsylvania; learned the blacksmithing trade in early life, at which he worked principally till he came to this county in 1857, having been married the year previous in Pa. to a Miss Rachel F. Miller. In the spring of 1860 he made a tour to Colorado, spending the summer there. Mr. W. enlisted in August, 1862, in Co. I, 27th Io. Inf. The company was soon taken to Tennessee, where from exposure, he was taken sick, and the following February was discharged at Memphis for physical disability; after which he returned home. Mr. W. owns a farm of 80 acres, on section 23 of this township, which is valued at $40 per acre. They have two children, M. and A. Cunningham. Mr. W. is a member of the I.O.O.F. and the Baptist Church. History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa, 1882, p. 544. James F. Wilson, agent C.M. & St. P. R.R. Co., Postville; born in Ayreshire, Scotland, in 1844; his parents emigrated to the United States in 1850, locating at Pittsburg, Pa. While there his father engaged as one of the contractors on the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railroad. From there they moved to Massillion, Ohio, where he remained till in 1862 he enlisted in Co. E, 104th Ohio Inf., serving three years, participating in the battles of Franklin, Tenn., Mill Springs, Ky., and Fort Mitchell. After receiving his discharge in 1865, he came to McGregor, Iowa, and engaged in the railroad office there, remaining till, in 1870, he came to Postville and took charge of the station as agent for tile C. M. & St. P. railroad company, which position he still holds. He was married to Miss Ella Caton in 1874. She is a native of New York, has one daughter, Clara. He is a member of the A.O.U.W. History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa, 1882, p. 544. Edward Winmer, restaurant; born in Germany in 1834; emigrated to the U.S. with his parents in 1848, and soon settled in La Fayette County, Wis. Four years subsequently the family removed to Clayton County, Io. Here he learned the shoemaker's trade and followed the same until 1868; he then went to Chickasaw County, where he was engaged in a brewery until 1877, at which date he came to Allamakee County and carried on a grocery business at New Albion until 1879, since which time he has been at Waukon. He was married in 1858 to Miss Frances Boller, a native of Germany; they have four children, Augusta, Eddie, Louisa and Amelia. History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa, 1882, p. 543. Martin G. Wood, P.O. Waukon, farmer, sec. 14, son of Moses and Eliza Wood; born in Wayne Co., N.Y., in 1835. In early life he learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, although following farming. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Stall, of N.Y., in 1857; they have one daughter, Carrie E.: and have lost one, Della A. Mr. W. enlisted in Co. D, 160th N.Y. Inf., in 1862. His service was principally in skirmishing in the southwest, Louisiana and Texas; was discharged in 1863, and the same fall came to this county and purchased land, the family coming the year following. Mr. W. now owns 180 acres of land, also some village property in Fayette. His father lives with him, his mother having died in June, 1880. History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa, 1882, p. 545.