Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ...citizen and at all times he has commanded uniform confidence and respect by his loyalty to public duty and his liberality in all life's this farm that he was born, October 22, t852.. His father, B. V. Gehman was a native of Pennsylvania. while the grandfather, Benjamin Gehman. was born in Hanover, Germany, where he spent the days of his boyhood and youth. coming to America when a young man. He then located near Reading, Pennsylvania, where he followed the occupation of farming. He lived to the advanced age of ninety-two years, while his wife reached the extreme old age of ninety-three. Among their children was B. V. Gehman, who was reared in the Keystone state and in 1837 journeyed on horseback from Pennsylvania to Iowa. In the latter state he purchased the tract of land upon which the city of Des Moines now stands, buying it from the Indians. He then returned by the same method of travel to Pennsylvania and was there married. It was his intention to take up his abode upon his Iowa land and with his bride he started for the Mississippi valley. but on reaching Champaign county his wife became ill. They resolved to spend the winter there and during that period Ir. Gehman was persuaded to buy the old 'alker homestead, the place upon which our subject now resides. Accordingly he gave up his anticipated western trip and the land eventually returned to the Indians or to the government. Throughout his remaining days the father resided upon the farm which is now the home of our subject and there lived until called to his final rest at the age of sixty-three. He was a prominent;'Iethodi-st and served as a local preacher, taking an active part in religious work in many ways. His life was so upright and honorable that his exaniple was well...