CHARLES E. LOFLAND, b. 15Jan1859

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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906

Charles E. Lofland, cashier of the Oskaloosa National Bank, is a heading representative of financial interests in Mahaska county, for he has made a close and discriminating study of the banking business and his labors have contributed in substantial degree to the success of the institution which he represents. He was born January 15, 1859, in Oskaloosa, a son of Colonel John and Sarah J. (Bartlett) Lofland, natives of Ohio. Following their marriage they came to Oskaloosa in 1854, finding here a small village, with the interests of which they became closely and helpfully identified. Charles E. Lofland pursued a public-school education and also attended the Oskaloosa College. He afterward joined a surveying corps in southern Iowa and Missouri, continuing in that work for two years, when he came to the Oskaloosa National Bank as bookkeeper. He acted in that capacity from 1880 until 1885, was then made assistant cashier and in 1886 was chosen cashier, since which time he has served in this capacity and has been instrumental in building up a strong banking institudon in the county. He is also interested in coal mining to some extent, but the bank claims the greater part of his time and attention, and he has made a close study of each department of the business and believes in and practices a safe conservative system which awakens uniform confidence. On the 28th of December, 1881, Mr. Lofland was married to Miss Mary E. Little, a daughter of Henry I. Little, of Oskaloosa. Their children are John H., Helen and Charles E. The elder son has been a member of the United States navy since 1899. Colonel John Lofland, deceased, was among the early citizens of Mahaska county and was a prominent and valued factor during the formative period of its growth and development. The extent of his labors and influence cannot be measured, but all who know aught of the history of the county recognize the worth of his labors in behalf of public progress. A native of Belmont county, Ohio, Colonel Lofland was born on the 10th of January, 1830. His father, Joseph Lofland, was a native of Maryland, while the mother, Mrs. Elizabeth (Lippincott) Lofland, was a native of Pennsylvania. Both became residents of Ohio in pioneer times when the wilderness had been brought under the influence of civilization to hardly any extent. In that state they were married and reared a family of three sons and one daughter. The father passeth away in 1857, at the age of sixty- eight years. while his wife died in 1878, at the age of eighty-eight years. Colonel Lofland was reared upon a farm, where he remained until sixteen years of age, assisting his father in the cultivation of the fields and in other arduous tasks incident to the development of a new tract of land. As opportunity offered he attended the common schools of the neighborhood and at the age of sixteen he entered upon a four years' apprenticeship to learn the trade of a watchmaker and jeweler in Cambridge, Ohio. When the term of his indenture was ended he went to Cadiz, Ohio, where he purchased a jewelry store and began his mercantile career. being then twenty-one years of age. About a year afterward, on the 4th of December, 1851 Colonel Lofland was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Bartlett, a native of Harrison county, Ohio, born in April, 1830, and a daughter of George and Ursula (Wycoff) Barlett, both now deceased. Four children were born of this marriage, of whom a daughter died in infancy. Of the others, George, born January 28, 1854, died January 28, 1874, on the twentieth anniversary of his birth. Frank C., born in 1856, of the Siebel Company. Charles E. is cashier of the Oskaloosa National Bank. In 1854 Colonel Lofland sold his interests in Ohio and came to Oskaloosa, where for three years he was engaged in the marble business. He then purchased a watchmaking and jewelry establishment from S. H. Chapman, who removed to Newton, Jasper county, Iowa, and suhsequently entered the army. Early in 1861 John W. Irwin, another jeweler of Oskaloosa, also desirous of joining the army, sold his business to Colonel Lofland, who united the three stores. The war now being in active progress and call after call being made for troops, Colonel Lofland could no longer resist the appeal, and as the service had proved too hard for Mr. Chapman, he was discharged and in the sum- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - den, Jenkin's Ferry, Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely lowed the battles of Helena, Little Rock, Cam Colonel Lofland, the former becoming owner was soon effected between Mr. Chapman and and Mobile, together with numerous smaller mer of 1862 returned to Oskaloosa. The trade of the latter's stock of goods. < I edited the page by putting these into places that made sense-MDS> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - mer of 1862 returned to Oskaloosa. The trade was soon effected between Mr. Chapman and Colonel Lofland, the former becoming owner of the latter's stock of goods. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Thus being freed from all business engagement, Colonel Lofland proceeded to raise a company for the service and in August, 1862, this was mustered in as Company D, Thirty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with Mr. Lofland as captain. The regiment was soon ordered to the field and its record is well known to those at all familiar with Iowa's part in the great Civil war. The history of its movements is certainly a commendable one and no regiment of Iowa was more often in active duty. The first important service in which the Thirty-third Iowa participated was Yazoo Pass expedition in the rear of Vicksburg, during which time the attack on Fort Sumter was made. Then followed the battles of Helena, Little Rock, Camden, Jenkin's Ferry, Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely and Mobile, together with numerous smaller engagements and raids. In August, 1863, Captain Lofland was promoted over the major and three captains, who were his seniors in rank, to the position of lieutenant colonel of the regiment and from the time of his promotion until the final muster out at Davenport, Iowa, in August, 1865, he was almost continually in command of the Thirty-third. As an officer he displayed unflinching courage, though he was never foolhardy nor sacrificed his men when he could save then, yet he never faltered in the performance of any duty and his own valor often inspired his men to deeds of heroism. He had the entire confidence of his regiment and none refused to follow his lead. Though a strict disciplinarian his men all respected and loved him. On retiring from the service he removed to a farm, whereon he remained for three years and in August, 1869, he entered the international revenue service as assistant assessor with headquarters at Oskaloosa, where he continued until 1873, when he was appointed deputy collector of internal revenue, discharging the duties of the office until August, 1882, when, having been duly approved, he was appointed internal revenue agent, which position he held for several years, making an enviable record therein. He was sent on difficult missions to almost every section of the country and his multitudinous delicate duties were always faithfully and capably performed. All liquor interests came under his inspection and to Colonel Lofland is given the credit of discovering frauds practiced by Cincinnati manufacturers by the use of false staves in the barrel, by which the government was defrauded out of large sums of money. He was for years continu- ously in the revenue department of the general government, and on his retirement from the office was one of the oldest in that branch of the service. He had been most faithful to the public trust, working without fear or favor, and he won the high encomiums of all in the government service who had occasion to know of his effective and earnest work. Colonel Lofland in early life gave his political allegiance to the whig party, and later became a stanch republican, never swerving in his allegiance to the latter organization. He was what is known as "an intense republican, though not offensively partisan." As an officer in the government service he knew no politics, never letting personal preference or prejudice swerve him from the faithful discharge of his duties, but as a citizen he did not hestitate to advocate upon all proper occasions the views in which he believed, and supported the principles that he thought contained the best elements of good government. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and socially he had the respect and good will of all by whom he was known, and his acquaintance was a wide one. In his death Mahaska county mourned the loss of a valued citizen, for during the period of his residence here he was a prominent factor in its early growth and development. Unfaltering honor was one of his salient characteristics, and he also drew many to him in strong ties of friendship.

Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa

Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy

Iowa Genealogy

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