Fayette County, Iowa, Biography - Erastus Williams Appelman was born at Mystic River, Connecticut, March 27, 1854, came to Iowa an infant, and was educated in the Fayette county schools and Ames Agricultural College. He taught school for sixteen years, part of the time in normal work, making a specialty of mathematics. The Horace E. Horton Bridge and Iron Company then engaged him as field engineer, and he filled this position for eight years, during which time the firm had under construction the High bridge at Dubuque, Iowa and the steel arch bridge from Hennepin to Central avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the world-renowned High bridge of St. Paul, one of the highest in the world. In their employ he traveled over the entire middle West. In 1888, he accepted a position under the government in the railway mail service. Because of his familiarity with the workings of the system, he was appointed to represent this service at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis, his duty being to explain the details of the service to visitors from all parts of the world, especially those from foreign nations. Here he met representatives of every government in the world. His performance of the duties of this position were very satisfactory to all and won him much commendation. At present he is assigned to the service on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway from Dubuque, Iowa, to Sanborn, Iowa. On August 7, 1877, Mr. Appelman was united in marriage to Helen Almira Van Buren, a cousin of President Van Buren born in Osceola, Polk County, Wisconsin, August 7, 1858, the daughter of Martin and Margaret (Bell) Van Buren. Eight children, all living, are the fruits of this union; Roger Williams, Dudley Ralph, Frederick Adolphus, Augusta Larrabee, Anna Margaret, Helen Joy, Marion Prudence and Van Buren. Mr. Appelman is a Republican and he and his wife are members of the Episcopal church, in which he is an earnest worker, now being one fo the trustees having in charge the welfare of the "church of our Saviour." Mr. Appelman is well known about Clermont and liked wherever known, for he has qualities about him which win liking and respect. As a teacher, as an engineer and in his present position he has performed his duties in such a way as to reflect credit on himself and to please those who employed him. He is a man of more than ordinary intellectual claibre and acquitions, having accumulated a store of knowledge and wisdom in his varied experience in life.