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J. C. LEASURE, of the firm of Scheib & Leasure, dealers in general merchandise, at Wellman, Iowa, was born in Frederickstown, Knox Co., Ohio, Oct. 5, 1850, and is the son of J. H. and R. A. (Upson) Leasure, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Ohio. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Hattie A., deceased; J. C., the subject of this sketch; H. E., a jeweler in Wiliamsburg, Iowa Co., Iowa; J. W., deceased; A. C., a farmer in Iowa County, Iowa; G. H., a resident of Williamsburg, Iowa; Harry, deceased. The family removed from Ohio to Illinois in 1864, where they remained until March 1, 1865, they moved to Iowa County, Iowa, where Mr. J. H. Leasure engaged in farming. He is yet living in Iowa County, but is at present engaged in fire and tornado insurance. The father and mother are both members of the Baptist Church, and active in all Church work, the former being a very liberal and charitable man.
The subject of this sketch attended the common schools of his native town until twelve years of age. He then commenced work upon his father's farm, and continued with him until twenty-one years of age. On the 11th of July, 1872, he was united in marriage with Miss Emily A. Moore, a daughter of John P. and Cynthia (Huffman) Moore, both of whom were natives of Ohio. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Leasure remained on the farm until Jan. 1, 1881, when he embarked in the mercantile business in Iowa County, and continued in trade for one year, then sold out and engaged as a clerk with R. J. McCleary, a dealer in general merchandise at Wellman, Iowa. He continued with Mr. Mccleary one year, when the latter sold his stock to E. C. McCleary. Mr. Leasure remaining with the latter as manager of the business. In February, 1882, he purchased the stock and continued in trade until the spring of 1883, when he sold out and made a trip through Nebraska and Dakota. Returning to Wellman from that trip, during the summer of 1883, he engaged in driving a huckster's wagon, and in the winter of 1883-84, was engaged as an auctioneer.
In the spring of 1884, Mr. Leasure bought a carload of horses, which he shipped to Ellendale, Dak., and after disposing of the same, he again returned to Wellman, and Aug. 26, 1884, engaged with a firm in Burlington, Iowa, to close out a stock of merchandise in Martinsburg, Iowa. He remained in Martinsburg until Nov. 1, 1886, when he returned to Wellman, and formed a partnership with H. C. Scheib, on the 24th day of November, purchasing the stock of merchandise formerly belonging to William Voss, deceased. The stock consisted in part of dry-goods, notions, hats and caps, boots and shoes, groceries and queensware. The firm is now enjoying a fine trade, and does not fear opposition. They carry a stock of $8,000. Mr. Leasure is a member of the I.O.O.F. As an auctioneer he
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has been quite successful, and yet occasionally gives his attention to public sales.
Mr. and Mrs. Leasure have had four children: Harry M., born Sept. 12,1873; Aruthur J., born May 13, 1876; died Aug. 2, 1878; Olive H., born Dec. 7, 1879; Metta L., Jan. 14, 1883. As a citizen Mr. Leisure is public-spirited, and is always willing to do his part in any matter of public interest.
 W. W. WELLS farmer and stock-raiser on section 14, Dutch Creek Township, and a lithographic portrait of whom is shown on the opposite page, is a pioneer of 1843. He was born in Wethersfield Township, Conn., Oct. 26, 1820, and is a son of Curtis and Wealthy (Warner) Wells, who were also natives of Connecticut. His mother died when he was but two or three weeks old, and about 1824 his father married Harriet Russell, also a native of Connecticut, by whom he had nine children—Curtis, Franklin, Russell, Jared, Donnell, Harriet, Wealthy, Henry and Maria.
In 1826 our subject accompanied his father to Ohio, and there remained until 1839, engaged in working at the carpenter's trade in connection with farming. In the spring of 1839, he came to Iowa, landing in Mt. Pleasant, Henry County, with but $9 in his possession. A more homesick lad was never seen, and had he been possessed of enough money to pay his expenses he would have at once returned to his home in Ohio. It was probably fortunate for him that he could not return, judging from the results of his life's work. Securing employment, he worked for Dr. Payne of that place for five months, at $15 per month. He then engaged in a hotel as "man of all work," where he remained about two years, when the proprietor was broken up financially, and he lost the results of the two years labor. He then hired out to David Brown, who lived near Farifield, Jefferson County, and worked with him at blacksmithing and farming for one year. He then rented a mill on the south fork of Skunk River, and ran that for one year, investing his earnings in horses and cattle, only receiving $5 in money, and the balance in trade in horses and cattle. In 1843 he came to Washington County, Iowa, and entered forty acres of land near Paris, Dutch Creek Township, where he began to make for himself a home. From this time on prosperity attended him, and to his original purchase he added subsequent purchases, until now he is the owner of 2,450 acres of as fine land as can be found in the State of Iowa.
On the 20th of October, 1844, Mr. Wells was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Jackson, a daughter of Samuel Jackson. To them were born eight children: Franklin died in infancy; Maria is now the wife of Wesley Smith, a farmer and blacksmith in Franklin Township; Curtis R. is a farmer residing in Dutch Creek Township; Edwin died, and was buried in the New Haven Churchyard; William P. is a farmer residing in Dutch Creek Township; Inez A. is the wife of Seymour Martin, and resides at Kendall, Ind. Two others died in infancy. Mrs. Wells died in 1864. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a sincere Christian woman—one who delighted in good works.
Mr. Wells is one of the leading farmers of Washington County, and, as already stated, is the possessor of 2,450 acres of land, 840 of which is included in the home farm. In addition to his land he is the possessor of a large amount of personal property, and is without doubt the wealthiest man in Washington County. With a capital of but $9 when he landed in the State of Iowa, and never afterward having inherited a dollar, all that he has is the result of his own labor. He has been economical, though never niggardly; and industrious, though never doing more than his physical strength would permit. In obtaining the large amount of land that he possesses, with but one or two exceptions he never went in debt a dollar for the same. As may be inferred he is an excellent business man, and a good manager in every respect. He has been a stockholder in the Washington National Bank ever since its organization, and for the past five years has been Vice President of the same. By his associates in the bank he is regarded as a most save counselor. While at all times careful of his own interest, he yet has assisted many persons in the hour of their need, and by the timely help granted has saved them from great loss. A plain,
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outspoken man, brusque in his manner, he yet has a kind heart, and has probably as many friends as any other man in Washington County. In politics Mr. Wells is a Democrat, and fraternally he is a member of the A.F. & A.M.
CAPT. J. A. BAUGHMAN, Washington, is a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, born June 5, 1845, and is the son of Andrew and Maria C. (Smith) Baughman, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of New Jersey. They settled in Muskingum County, Ohio, abut 1816, and were numbered among its pioneers. They had a family of sixteen children, thirteen of whom lived to maturity. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native State and received a liberal education. In 1863, he enlisted in C0. I, 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery, and served till the close of the war, being mustered out of service at Knoxville, Tenn., July 25 1865. The regiment rendezvoused at Covington, Ky., from which place it was sent to Lexington in the same State. Its record is an honorable one, participating in the following engagements and raids: Richmond and Crab Orchard, Ky., Cumberland Gap to Bull's Gap, Knoxville, Beam's Station, Strawberry Plains, Atlanta campaign, Gilman's Raid, Stoneman's raid through Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina. At Salisbury, N.C., they released the Union prisoners that had been confined there by the rebels. For some time before the arrival of the Union troops the rebels had been feeding them on beeves' heads. A more sorry looking lot of men than were the prisoners could not be imagined, say Capt. Baughman, but they were made truly happy by their release. From Salisbury the regiment was sent back to Tennessee to forage for Sherman's army, but did not go with it on the march to the sea. In April, 1865, it received orders to join Sherman, but the war being ended, only got as far as Greenville, Tenn., when the order was countermanded, and the regiment sent to Knoxville, Tenn., where it was mustered out.
On receiving his discharge, Capt. Baughman returned to his home in Ohio, where he married Sue M. McCoy, also a native of Muskingum County. In March, 1868, they came to Iowa and located at Oskaloosa, where they remained till April, 1875, when they removed to Otoe County, Neb., lived there one year, and then went to Wilton Junction, Iowa, where they resided three years. In 1879 they came to Washington, where the Captain has since been in the employ of the C., R.E. & P.R.R. Co., as an engineer.
While in the service Capt. Baughman was three times wounded. In an engagement near Warrensburg, E. Tenn., he received a gunshot wound in the left leg, and soon after received a bayonet stab in the leg and a gunshot wound in the shoulder. In addition to these wounds he received a heavy blow on the back of the head, making a wound which is yet plainly visible. In this engagement there were sixteen men of his company killed and wounded lying around the guns. Capt. Baughman in a member of the G.A.R., L. of H. and V.A.S. fraternity. He is the Captain of the Washington Independent Battery.
WILLIAM H. ANDERSON, farmer and stock-raiser, resides on section 14, Oregon Township, where he is the owner of a fine farm of eighty acres, which is well improved in every respect. He was born in West Virginia in 1852, and is the son of Samuel T. and Margaret E. (Crow) Anderson, the former a native of Ohio, and of Scotch-Irish descent, and the latter a native of the same State and of German descent. They came to this county in 1878, where they still reside.
William H. Anderson, the subject of this sketch, was born Jan. 30, 1952, and was reared upon a farm, and has followed that vocation thus far through life. He came to this county in 1874, and settled where he now resides. He was married in Louisa County, Iowa, in 1879, to Rosella S. daughter of Oliver S. and Charity S. (Hayden) Sweet, who yet reside in Louisa County. She was born in that county May 7, 1857. They have three children: D. Wiley, born March 26, 1881; Marion E., Nov. 18, 1882, and Nellie M., Oct. 20, 1886. Before her marriage Mrs. Anderson taught eight
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terms of school in Louisa County. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically he is a Republican.
A patriotic streak ran through the blood of Mrs. Anderson's family, both her grandfathers serving in the war with Mexico; the same can be said of the family of Mr. Anderson, his father serving in the late war and both grandfathers in the war with Mexico. The poor of one generation in this country are generally wealthy ones in the next. While not yet possessed of great wealth Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are comfortably provided for, and that which they possess was acquired by their own exertions, together with good management in the conduct of their business affairs. In their home contentment reigns, and all try to make it the happiest place on earth.
WILLIAM J. LEWIS, a retired farmer of Washington, Iowa, is numbered among the settlers of 1853, and has therefore been a resident of the county for thirty-four years, or a little more than a third of a century. He was born in Ross County, Ohio, Jan. 10, 1812. His parents, Jesse and Anna (Little) Lewis, were natives of Maryland, who emigrated to Ohio about one year before the birth of William, and were therefore among the pioneers of Ross County. About 1820 the family moved to Pickaway County, the same State, where they remained until 1838, when they moved to Clay County, Ill., remaining two years, then moved to Vermillion County, Ind. Jesse Lewis was twice married, his first wife being the mother of our subject, who is the only one living of seven children. She died in Ross County, Ohio, in 1820, and Mr. Lewis subsequently married Miss Elizabeth Smith, by whom he had seven children. Of that number only one is now living—Jesse, residing in Douglas County, Ill. Mr. Jesse Lewis died in Vermillion County. In politics he was a Whig.
William J. Lewis war reared upon a farm and received but a meager education in the pioneer log school-houses of his day, having to go two miles through the heavy timber for that purpose. He was married in Pickaway County, Ohio, July 5, 1831, to Miss Sarah Poulson, a daughter of John and Sarah Poulson. She was a native of Virginia, born in 1808. by this union there are five living children: Sarah, the wife of Calvin Little, of this city; John P., of Brighton, Iowa; Catherine, the wife of B. Loveless, of Muscatine, Iowa; William J., of Riverside, Iowa; Martha, the wife of Henry Waters, of Washington County.
In October, 1836, Mr. Lewis with his family left Ohio for the West, stopping in Vermillion County, Ind., two years, where he engaged in farming. He then moved to Vermilion County, Ill., where he remained four years. In 1842 he went to Knox County, Ill., where he followed farming until 1853, and then came to Washington County. Arriving here he purchased 120 acres of Government land in Jackson Township, and immediately set about the improvement of a farm. He rented a house in which the family lived during the following winter. In the meantime he built upon his land what was then one of the best frame houses in the county, and by the 1st of June had 100 acres of the land surrounded by a board fence, and had planted sixty acres of sod corn. In 1859 he sold his farm and bought another, to which he moved and on which he lived until 1876, when he moved into Washington, and has since been living a retired life.
One year after coming to the city Mrs. Lewis died, and March 17, 1878, Mr. Lewis took for his second wife Mrs. Mary J. McKain, widow of Samuel McKain. Her maiden name was Roat, and she was the daughter of John and Rachel (Lyons) Roat, natives of Pennsylvania. Jane was their only child. Her father died in 1817, and her mother subsequently married Job Reeder, and with him moved to Logan County, Ohio, in 1836, and to Washington County, Iowa, in 1853. Both have since died. Samuel McKain came to this county in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. McKain were the parents of seven children, six living: James M. resides in Kansas; Job R. is in Washington County; Augusta, the wife of William Dillon, resides in Clay Township; Charles M. is in Kansas; Alfred M. resides in Colorado; Martha L. is the wife of Henry H. Jones, of Clay Township. Mr. McKain was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died in 1867,
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and Mrs. McKain married Mr. Lewis, as already stated. Mrs. Lewis is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics our subject is a Democrat. He has now passed his threescore years and ten of life, and as he looks back for a period of three-quarters of a century and compares the state of the country, the arts and sciences than and now, it seems almost impossible to realize the improvements that have been made; and he can but wonder if the same ratio of improvements are made in the future as in the past, what will the end be. Who can tell?
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