GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 281 public weal of his community. He was married in Keokuk county to Adeline Bottger, who came from Germany to this county in 1854. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wonderlich, of whom our subject is the oldest. In order of birth they are: Charles C, John, Philip (deceased), Sarah A., Anna A., Abram L., Aaron A. J., George and Ollie; these children were all reared in Keokuk county. The birth of Charles C. Wonderlich occurred in Jackson township, Keokuk county, on the 6th of Septeipiber, 1856. Until he was twenty-six years old he spent his time on his father's farm, going to school and assisting in the duties of the farm; in 1882, however, he began farming on his own account on an adjoining place. He now has ninety acres of excellent and well improved land. On the 14th of December, 1881, Rosa I. Wheeler became his wife; she is a native of the same county and her father was Calvin Wheeler, who was an old settler and died while in the army during the Civil war. Miss Wheeler's mother was Sarah M. (Baker) Wheeler. Mr. and Mrs. Wonderlich have two children, boy and girl : Dora A., who was bom on the farm September 10, 1882, and Frank H., born August 26, 1888. Mr.' Wonderlich was road supervisor in his district and takes an active interest in the Republican party. His has been a varied and busy life, which may well serve as a model for those who follow him. ROBERT McDowell, sr. Tales of heroism have been the theme of song and story throughout the ages. The soldier has figured prominently in all writings, yet there is another kind of heroism which is as worthy of mention, and
282 GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. that is such as is done by the pioneer settlers who meet the difficult conditions of life upon the frontier when cut off from the comforts of the older east. They establish homes in a wild country, perform the arduous task of developing new land with few of the conveniences and comforts which they have previously known. The struggle is often a stern and hard one, but it has been met by men of strong courage and unfaltering purpose. Such a one is Robert McDowell. These men deserve all praise and honor and the splendid states of the west will ever stand as monuments to their memory. Mr. McDowell is now living a retired life in Kinross, Iowa. He was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, on the 14th of January, 1818, and comes of Scotch ancestry. His paternal grandfather, Sutfon Mc- Dowell, was a Revolutionary soldier under General Washington and had his leg shot off in the battle of Billet. He was an officer and after losing his leg he obtained a cork leg and remained in command of his company until the close of the war, proving a valiant soldier. He lived to be about one hundred years of age. General McDowell, who fought in the first battle at Bull Run, was a second cousin of the subject of this review. Samuel McDowell, the father of our subject, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and by occupation was a farmer and weaver. He married Rebecca Hallowell, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her father lived to be about eighty years of age, while her mother reached the very advanced age of one hundred and three years. Leaving the Keystone state the parents of our subject removed westward and both died when sixty years of age, Samuel McDowell passing away in White Pigeon, Michigan. His wife came of English ancestry, who were Quakers in religious faith. Eight children ivjre born unto this worthy couple, of whom Robert McDowell is the oldest.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 283 He was reared in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, from the age of five years. His father moved across the mountains at that time, by wagon, settling near Fort Washington. In early life Mr. McDowell was for some time a captain of a boat which sailed on the Susquehanna, Delaware and other rivers, and also made coasting trips. He was thus engaged for about twelve years. In 1839 he was first married. Miss Catherine Herr becoming his wife, and unto them were born twelve children, ten of whom reached years of maturity. The mother passed away in Keokuk county, Iowa, about 1893. After their marriage the young couple took up their abode in Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Rock Island county, Illinois, and in 1852 became residents of Keokuk county, Iowa, locating in Liberty township, among its first settlers. Mr. McDowell secured government land on the prairie, built a log house and, after cutting away some timber, began the development of a farm which bordered on the English river. There he improved his land successfully, carrying on general agricultural pursuits until about 1885, when he rented his land to his sons and took up his abode in Kinross, where he has since lived. He was a progressive agriculturist, wide-awake and enterprising, and his work was successfully carried on. He accumulated a large tract of land, at one time becoming the owner of sixteen hundred acres. He was also for many years engaged in the stock business, buying and shipping, and his annual sales brought to him an excellent income in the line of work which he undertook. possessed sound business judgment and enterprise and his efforts proved very efficient in winning success. Mr. and Mrs. McDowell traveled life's journey together as man and wife for fifty-six years. Theirs was a happy married life, in which He their confidence and love increased as the years went by. Their children
: 284 GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. were as follows : David, who now resides in Keokuk county ; Catherine, deceased; Martin, a resident of Keota; Lovina, the wife of William Kent, of Nebraska; Ellen, the wife of George Dillen, of Keota; Elizabeth, the wife of John La Fever, of Washington county, Iowa ; Sarah, the wife of Theodore Green of Washington county ; Mrs. Hattie Winter, deceased; Robert, who resides upon the old home farm in Liberty township; Nancy, the deceased wife of John Lawler; and William and Johnie, who have passed away. In 1898 Mr. McDowell was again married, his second union being with Mrs. M. E. (Crosby) Oldaker, who was born in L,icking county, Ohio, a daughter of Edwin and Dianna (Green) Crosby. The mother was a descendant of the well known Green family and the father was born in Rhode Island and came of an old New England family, his ancestors having crossed the Atlantic in the Mayflower. Mrs. McDowell was their sixth child and was reared in Licking county, Ohio, until she was about twelve years of age, when she became a resident of Iowa City, Johnson county, Iowa. On the ist of January, 1860, she gave her hand in marriage to H. J. Oldaker, and became the mother of six children, five of whom are living, namely H. E. ; A. J., deceased ; William G. ; H. W. ; Beulah, the wife of Robert Thomas; and Lola, the wife of Ivan E. Coffey. A. J. Oldaker served as county recorded of Iowa county for four years and was a prominent and influential resident there, while H. E. Oldaker served as deputy county clerk of the county for eight years. In his political affiliations Mr. McDowell has been a life-long Democrat and in early manhood cast his ballot for James K. Polk. His fellow-townsmen had honored him with a number of local offices and he has taken an active part in the upbuilding of schoolhouses and churches and has been the friend of every movement for the promotion
, GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORy. 285 of the general good and for the development of the county in which he has lived for so long. He was reared in the faith of the Society o f Friends and with that denomination has always been identified, exemplifying in his life his Christian faith. In 1876 he made a trip to Philadelphia, where all his relatives were living, he being the only one of the family who resides in Keokuk county. He is now enjoying a wellearned rest from labor. By carefully watching and improving his business opportunities and laboring untiringly for the achievement of a competence, he gained an honorable place among the substantial residents of this portion of the state. JAMES J. TERRELL. One of the honored citizens and distinctively representative business men of the thriving village of Ollie, which is located in Jackson township, Keokuk county, is Mr. Terrell, and his progressive and public spirited attitude has greatly benefited this section of the county, in whose industrial and civic advancement he has ever shown marked interest. James J. Terrell was born in Fayette county, Ohio, on the 6th of June, 1848, being a son of Samuel C. Terrell, who was born in Virginia, in February, 1802. The latter's father, Samuel Terrell, was likewise a native of Virginia and was a member of the Society of Friends. By reason of his great repugnance to the institution of slaver^ which so greatly obtained in his native state, he emigrated thence to Ohio in an early day, his son Samuel C. being at the time a mere child, and he was numbered among the pioneers of Highland county, having located on the site of the present village of Leesburg. He there reclaimed and developed an excellent farm, and it may be noted that