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CHARLES FRANKLIN DRESHER

 

Charles Franklin Dresher, living retired in Bedford after a long, close and successful connection with farming interests in Polk township, Taylor county, where he still owns a large tract of valuable land, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, July 26, 1833.  He is a son of Stephen and Louisa (Sneaybarger) Dresher, the father also a native of Berks county, and of German descent.  The mother was born in Switzerland.  Samuel Dresher, the grandfather of Charles F. Dresher, was a native of Pennsylvania and followed farming as his life work.  He was survived by his wife for about twenty years, her death occurring when she had reached quite old age.  Their family consisted of two sons and five daughters.  The mother of our subject accompanied her father, mother and brother on their emigration from Switzerland to the United States, being but two years of age at the time.  Stephen Dresher was also a farmer and a soldier of the Civil war.  He died in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, when seventy-seven years of age, after which his wife removed to Page county, Iowa, where she passed away at the age of seventy-five years.  Both were consistent members of the German Lutheran church.  In their family were twelve children, namely: Charles Franklin; James Jefferson; Mary Matilda, the wife of John Stroup of Max, Nebraska; Hannah, of Red Bluff, California; William, who was killed in the battle of Gettysburg during the Civil war; Samuel and John, both deceased; Lydia, the deceased wife of James Border; Catharine Lucretia, deceased; Stephen Albert, of Denver; George Howard, of Omaha; and Christian, who has also passed away.

 

Charles F. Dresher, whose name introduces this sketch, was reared on his father's farm in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and there acquired his education.  Seven years were spent in the German schools of his district, and at the age of fourteen he began his study of the English tongue, in this way becoming familiar with both languages, being able to translate from one to the other with ease.  After completing his education he remained on the home farm until twenty-two years of age, when he removed to Indiana, accepting a position as clerk at Worthington.  On the expiration of one year, however, he went to Owen county, that state, and in 1858 came to Taylor county, Iowa, settling on a farm of eighty acres in Polk township.  He directed his efforts to the cultivation of this farm, the soil responding readily to the care bestowed upon it and yielding gratifying returns, so that he was able, year by year, to add to his original purchase until his holdings amounted to two hundred and seventy acres.  Close application, unfaltering energy and unwearying perseverance were factors in his success -- a success which eventually permitted him to retire from active labor, and in 1900 he removed to Bedford.  Here he purchased a nice home and is now enjoying in honorable retirement the fruits of his former labor.

 

On the 24th of June, 1858, Mr. Dresher was united in marriage to Miss Nancy J. Morris, a daughter of Jesse and Polly (Morris) Morris, and unto them were born five children: Mary Louisa, the wife of Frank Hamilton residing in Polk township; Charles Oscar, who wedded Jennie Aiten by whom he has two sons, William and Aiten; Jesse, who married Sarah Shearbeck and has two children, Helen and Charles; Anna, who is residing at home; and Arminta, the wife of W. E. Myers, of Conway, Iowa, a mail carrier, by whom she has one daughter, Josephine Jane.  Mrs. Dresher was born in Indiana, while her parents were both natives of Kentucky.  She was the fourth in order of birth in a family of twelve children, the others being: James W.; Morris; James G.; William; Amanda, the wife of Solomon Newmeyer; Martha Ann, deceased; Mary Elizabeth, the wife of Kellar Thompson of Hopkins, Missouri; Hamilton; Benjamin; Marion; and Monroe.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Dresher attend the Methodist church, of which they have been members for over fifty years.  Mr. Dresher votes with the republican party, and that his fellow-citizens recognize and appreciate his sterling worth and public-spirited citizenship is indicated in the fact that they have, during his residence in this county, called him to offices of honor and trust, the various positions held by him being those of constable, justice of the peace, assessor, supervisor, township clerk, school director and in fact all of the township offices except that of township trustee, while his services as justice of the peace extended over many years.  He has made an efficient and faithful officer, discharging the duties of the various positions which he has held with promptness and fairness, while his personal integrity and devotion to the public good have at all times remained unquestioned.  In private life he has gained many warm friends who hold him in the utmost confidence and esteem.