The Wolgamot Family of Buchanan County, Iowa

CLINTON WILSON WOLGAMOT.

Clinton Wilson Wolgamot recently sold his drawing business in Fairbank, in which line he had been engaged since 1913, although previous to that time he was a stock buyer. He was born in Fairbank township, this county, October 18, 1859, a son of Joseph and Atha T. (Buckmaster) Wolgamot. The former was born in Maryland in February, 1829, and while still an infant of less than a year was taken by his parents to Holmes county, Ohio. He enlisted as a private from that county for service in the Mexican war and was in the army for about three years. His wife was born in Holmes county, Ohio, march 3, 1822, and passed away in Fairbank, Iowa, September 16, 1898. He died in Fairbank on the 27th of August, 1911. To their union were born eight children, six of whom survive: Dr. A. R., whose birth occurred on the loth of January, 1852, and who passed away in Stockville, Nebraska, in 1909; Andrew, who was born June 23, 1853; Mrs. Nancy McGranahan, of Ocheyedan, Iowa, who was born May 8, 1855; Jasper, who was born August 16, 1857, and is now a resident of Portland, Oregon; Clinton W., of this review; John W., who was born April 30, 1862, and now resides in Fairbank; D. Sheridan, who was born January 10, 1 865, and is a resident of Fairbank township; and Mrs. Eva Higbee, who was born February 23, 1868, and resides at Vermidji, Minnesota. The two eldest children were born in Holmes county, Ohio, and the six younger in Buchanan county.

All were reared here and received their education here, all but two being graduated from the local high school.

After Clinton W. AVolgamot had completed his schooling he gave his attention to farming in his home community for many years. For eight years, however, he cultivated land in 0 'Brien county, Iowa. He was engaged in buying stock at Fairbank for twelve years and as he is an excellent judge of cattle and hogs he found that business profitable. In 1913, however, he abandoned that and bought the dray line in Fairbank which he has recently sold, after running it for about a year. He was well equipped for the transfer business and was not only careful, thus avoiding damage to the goods intrusted to him, but was also rea.sonable in his charges.

Mr. Wolgamot was married at Littleton, Iowa, October 29, 1883, to Miss Martha Hitchens, who was born in the state of New York on the 3d of August, 1858, a daughter of John and Gertrude Hitchens. Her father passed away at Hazleton, Iowa, and her mother at Fairbank. There were four children in their family, two of whom survive: Mrs. Nettie Thomas, of Linn county, this state; and Mrs. Wolgamot. By her marriage the latter has become the mother of four children, a.s follows: Mrs. Flossie Smalley, who was born in O'Brien county, Iowa, and is now residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Earl, who is a professional baseball player and is at present employed by West Union as catcher; and Atha and Wesley, both residing with their parents. The three younger children were all born in Fairbank and all were reared here and acquired their education in the local schools.

Mrs. Wolgamot is a member of the methodist Episcopal church of Fairbank, and Mrs. Wolgamot belongs to the local camp of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a democrat in his political belief and is stalwart in his support of that party at the polls. He owns a comfortable home in Fairbank, and his many admirable qualities of character have won him the esteem of many friends.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN W. WOLGAMOT.

John W. Wolgamot, of Fairbank, is one of the leading auctioneers of this part of the state and cries many sales annually. He was born in Fairbank township, Buchanan county, April 30, 1862, a son of Joseph and Athae T. (Buckmaster) Wolgamot, natives of Maryland and Holmes county, Ohio, respectively. The father was taken by his parents to Holmes county, Ohio, when but an infant. He was a soldier in the Mexican war, serving for three years, and at the close of the war returned to Oliio. In the early fifties he brought his family to Buchanan county, where he lived until his death, which occurred at Fairbank in 1911. His wife died in 1898. They were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this review is the sixth in order of birth. A fuller account of the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wolgamot will be found in the sketch of Clinton W. Wolgamot, which appears elsewhere in this work.

John W. Wolgamot grew to manhood in this county and received his education in the common.schools. He followed agricultural pursuits until 1882, when he engaged in the butchering business and in the buying and selling of live stock in Fairbank. He continued in those occupations for some time but is now an auctioneer and his services are often required in other counties, as he has a a reputation for efficient work that extends throughout this section of Iowa. He understands his business thoroughly and is almost always al)le to secure a good price for the articles offered at auction. He is not only largely in demand for the sales of household goods, but cries most of the sales of live stock and farm iraple-

Vol. 11—13 ments held in this county and many held in adjoining counties. He understands a crowd thoroughly and this knowledge enables him to present the merits of the article which is for sale in such a way as to get a good price for it.

Mr. Wolgamot was married, in Waterloo, Iowa, on New Year's day, 1896, to Miss Ida Hoffman, who was born in Dixon, Illinois, January 3, 1866. In 1872 she accompanied her parents to Iowa, the family locating near Dunkerton on a farm. Her father, William Henry Harrison Hoffman, was born in Pennsylvania and died in Fairbank, Iowa, 1897. Her mother, who was in her maidenhood Miss Rebecca Hersel, was also a native of the Keystone state and likewise died at Fairbank. To their union were born seven children, of whom four are living. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Wolgamot were: Mary Luetta, who died in Pennsylvania when a child of two years; Reuben, residing in Bondurant, Iowa; John Aaron, whose home is near Butterfield, Minnesota; Charles Luther, of Staples, Minnesota; Alice May, who died when nine years of age; and Mrs. Rosetta jMatilda Busby, Avho died in Fayette county, Iowa. The eldest child was a native of the Keystone state, the four next in order of birth were born in Illinois and the two youngest in Black Hawk county, Iowa. Mrs. Wolgamot is a member of the Episcopal church and aids in the work of its various organizations.

Mr. Wolgamot is a democrat in his political allegiance and has always taken an active part in public affairs. He served one term as deputy sheriff of Buchanan county and has been a member of the council at Fairbank as well as city marshal and constable. Fraternally he belongs to the Elks at Oelwein. His time has not been entirely taken up by his auctioneering business and he has bought, improved and sold a number of farms in this community. He owns two substantial business houses in Fairbank and also one hundred and sixty acres of good land near Otoka, South Dakota. His wife owns and manager the leading millinery store in Fairbank. They both have marked business ability, which they have developed, and both are successful and prosperous. All of their relations with their fellowmen are guided by high standards of conduct and their friends are many.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

DAVID SHERIDAN WOLGAMOT.

David Sheridan Wolgamot, who is a farmer residing in Fairbank township, is a native of that township, born January 10, 1865. His parents were Joseph and Atha T. (Buckmaster) Wolgamot, natives of Maryland and Holmes county, Ohio, respectively. The father served for three years in the Mexican war arid in the early fifties came with his family to this county, ca.sting in his lot with the pioneer settlers. He died in 1911, having survived his wife since 1898. A more detailed account of their lives is given in the sketch of Clinton W. Wolgamot, found on another page of this work.

David S. Wolgamot was one of the eight children born to his parents and was reared in his native township. His elementary and secondary education was acquired in the public schools of Fairbank, and he later attended the pharmaceutical department of the Iowa State University at Iowa City. He subsequently engaged in the live-stock business at Fairbank for fifteen years and during part of that time conducted a dry goods store there. In 1911 he purchased eighty acres of fine land in Fairbank township, and has since devoted the greater part of his time to the cultivation of the same. As the soil is naturally productive and as he uses practical methods in his farming he harvests annually crops which average a large yield to the acre and he shares in the prosperity which is the usual lot of the Iowa farmer. For the last few years he has also engaged in the buying and selling of land.

David S. AVolgamot was married at Fairbank on the 24th of August, 1899, to Miss Sarah E. Davis-Sanborn, who was born in Monona, Clayton county, on the ist of February, 1872. She came to Buchanan county in 1881, when a child of nine years, and as her parents were both deceased she was adopted by Merrill and Mary E. Sanborn. Her foster father is deceased, but IMrs. Sanborn resides in Fairbank. There were four children in the Davis family: Frank, who lives in Black Hawk county, this state; Mrs. Wolgamot; Warren, of Huron, South Dakota; and Mrs. Minnie Belle Reisner, of Brock, Alberta, Canada. All of these children were born in Clayton county, Iowa. Mrs., Wolgamot is a member of the Baptist church of Fairbank.

Mr. Wolgamot is a man of broad views in politics and has never allied himself with any party, preferring to vote independently. Although he has been elected to several offices in the township he has always refused to qualify. Fraternally he belongs to Fairbank Lodge, No. 148, A. F. & A. M., and to the Elks at Oelwein. His perseverance and industry have secured him a comfortable living, and he enjoys the confidence of those who know him.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.