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Kinyon Digital Library

History of Adair
County, Iowa, 1915.

Biographical.  Volume 2.

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Fred S. Cahow.

Fred S. Cahow, an honored veteran of the Civil war, is living retired in Greenfield after being for many years actively identified with the agricultural interests of the county.  A native of Ohio, he was born in Akron, August 16, 1846, of the marriage of Jonathan and Louisa (Merriam) Cahow.  His parents, who were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Connecticut, became early residents of Ohio and there their marriage occurred.  They continued to reside in the Buckeye state until 1855, when they removed to Bureau county, Illinois, which remained their home for three years.  They then went to Henry county, that state, where they resided until 1873, in which year they came to Adair county, Iowa.  Both passed away in this county.  Three of their twelve children are still living.

Fred S. Cahow began his independent career when fifteen years old and when but sixteen enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for service in the Civil war.  He was at the front for about a year and was then mustered out at Chicago, after which he returned to Henry county, Illinois.  In 1869 he became a resident of Stuart, Iowa, and turned his attention to railroading, beginning as a fireman.  He won promotion to the position of engineer and was with the railroad for twelve years.  On the 6th of February, 1880, he came to Adair county and located upon the farm of two hundred and forty acres in Grove township which he still owns.  The place is finely improved and for nineteen years he devoted his energies to its operation, accumulating a competence which now enables him to live retired in Greenfield, where he owns an attractive residence.

Mr. Cahow was married in 1872 to Miss Sarah J. Evers, who was a native of Ohio and a daughter of Robert and Malinda (Fidler) Ewers, both born in Ohio.  They removed to this county in 1855 and here both passed away.  They were the parents of seven children, two of whom survive.  To Mr. and Mrs. Cahow were born four children:  Elmer E., who is farming the homestead;  Nellie, who is a graduate of the Greenfield high school and of the Iowa State Teachers College and who for two years followed the profession of teaching;  Frank R., who is an alumnus of the Iowa State Teachers College and who is now teaching near Coon Rapids;  and Ralph R., who attended the State College at Ames and who is now upon the farm.  The wife and mother passed away on the 30th of January, 1915, and was laid to rest in the Greenfield cemetery.

Mr. Cahow is a republican and has held a number of local offices, having served as school director and trustee, which office he held for fifteen years, and being at present one of the collateral inheritance tax appraisers.  Fraternally he belongs to the subordinate lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has held all of the chairs, and he is likewise a loyal member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic.  The period of leisure which he is now enjoying is well deserved and he is one of the valued residents of Greenfield.

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