John W. Wolgamot

As printed in 1914

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 History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.