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John Wesley Prizer
Washington County
A native of Dauphin County, Pa., born Oct. 8, 1825. His father, Henry J. Prizer, was born in Chester County, Pa., in 1792, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He married Miss Rebecca Jackson, born in Dauphin County, Pa., in 1797. John Prizer was reared in Perry County, Pa. When six years of age his father died, and at nine he was put out on a farm to earn his own living, consequently, his early education was sadly neglected. In the schools he obtained but little knowledge, and that which he has attained has been by subsequent reading and contact with the brainy men of the nation. In 1849, he left his native State with a view of going to California, but his step met with such determined opposition from his mother, that he abandoned the idea and came to Washington County, Iowa, and located in Brighton. Still he could not give up his cherished desire to visit the new Eldorado, so in the spring of 1850, in company with twelve others he started with teams, and made the long and tedious journey overland. On arriving in California, he engaged in mining and trading, and there remained four years, enduring all the hardship of that early day. In 1854, he returned to Brighton, but that year there was a rush on Kansas, and in June he went there, but remained only a short time, returning again to Brighton, where he has since continued to reside. On his return, he at once embarked in the mercantile business in company with D. W. Cauffman, under the firm of Cauffman & Prizer, in which business he continued until 1872, when, in company with others, he organized the Brighton National Bank, and was elected Cashier of the same. He then resigned the position and embarked in the boot and shoe trade, though not severing his connection with the bank altogether, for he was elected its Vice President. Mr. Prizer was married, Sept. 6, 1855, to Miss Charlotte Moore, a daughter of Anson Moore, of Brighton, and one of the early settlers of the county. In politics Mr. Prizer is one of the stanch Republicans of the State of Iowa, and was interested in the party in this State. He has held several local offices, and in 1879, was elected to the State Senate from the district comprising the counties of Washington and Louisa. While he was a member of the Assembly, the question of the submission of the Prohibition Amendment was asked for by many persons in the State, and Mr. Prizer was among the number of those favorable to granting the request, and as a Senator voted for it. When the question was submitted to a vote of the people, he favored an adoption of the amendment, believing it to be right. Mr. Prizer always a friend of education did much to advance the interests of the public schools. In every good work calculated to build up Brighton or Washington County, he has ever been in the front.
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