USA > Iowa > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 1
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MVI, L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01081 0940
HISTORY OF ·
DECATUR COUNTY, IOWA
AND ITS PEOPLE
Prof. Q. M. Howell & Hemen ( Smith
ILLUSTRATED
977. 701 D 35h VOLUME II V.2
CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1915
1193836
1
V. R. MCGINNIS
BIOGRAPHICAL
V. R. MCGINNIS.
V. R. McGinnis, of Leon, whose ability as a lawyer has raised him to the first rank at the bar of southern Iowa, is also known throughout the state for his political activity, as he is one of the recognized leaders of the democratic party. His birth occurred on the 24th of May, 1861, in Muskingum county, Ohio, and he is a son of Daniel and Hannah (Miller) McGinnis. His paternal grand- parents, Samuel and Mary (Lemert) McGinnis, were born respect- ively in Pennsylvania and in Ohio, and they became the parents of ten children, Daniel, Joshua, William, Lyman, Samuel, Mary, Han- nah, Susan, Rebecca and Alvira. The demise of the grandfather occurred in 1875 and that of the grandmother in 1884. Daniel McGinnis farmed for some time but later turned his attention to merchandising in Frazeysburg, Ohio. He gained gratifying success in business and was well known and highly esteemed. For several years he was the mayor of that town and for twenty-one years he
was justice of the peace, his long continuance in the office being the best proof of the acceptability of his services. He passed away on the 19th of January, 1909, when seventy-eight years of age, having survived his wife for many years, her demise occurring in May, 1881. They were the parents of the following children: Mary, Oliver P., Harmon K., Clara, Balton, Ashley, V. R., Bethann, Chauncey, Samuel, Metta, Don O., D. S. and Z. S.
V. R. McGinnis entered the public schools at the usual age and in due time became a pupil in the high school at Frazeysburg, where he continued his studies. He was also for a year and a half a student in the State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts at Ames, Iowa. For sixteen years he taught school but not wishing to devote his entire life to that profession, he utilized his spare time in study- ing law. His reading was under the supervision of two or three well known attorneys, among them E. W. Curry, of Leon, Iowa. In 1894 he was admitted to the bar and the same year began the prac- tice of his profession in partnership with his former preceptor, E. W.
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
Curry. Two years later Mr. Curry passed away and since that time Mr. McGinnis has practiced alone. From the start his clientage has been large and important and he is justly regarded as one of the most prominent and successful attorneys of southern Iowa. His thorough knowledge of the principles of the law and his convincing argument in presenting a case before the court have been important factors in his continued success and his strict adherence to the ethics of the pro- fession has also had much to do with his advancement as it has gained him the confidence of the public and of the bar. He has been a mov- ing force in the furtherance of many worthy community activities, for twelve years has been president of the school board and since its organization has been the executive head of the Carnegie library of Leon. The impress of his individuality has also been felt in political circles, not only in his county and district, but throughout the state of Iowa. In 1900 he was the democratic candidate for congress, in 1910 a candidate for judge of the district court and in 1914 a candi- date for governor. He is a strong and effective campaigner and scarcely an election passes that he does not make many speeches in behalf of his party's candidates for state and national offices. Not only is his clear and forceful reasoning as a public speaker a large factor in winning success for his party in Iowa but in its inner coun- cils his advice is listened to with respect. His ability as an orator is recognized in other connections and he has often addressed reunions of old settlers and old soldiers.
On the 26th of December, 1888, occurred the marriage of Mr. McGinnis and Miss Emma C. Jennings, a daughter of S. C. and Martha Jennings. Mr. and Mrs. McGinnis are the parents of two children. Ralph A., an alumnus of the State University of Iowa, was in his college days captain of the varsity football team and made a wide reputation as an athlete. He is now an instructor in the Iowa City high school. The second son, Donald, is attending school at Leon.
Mr. McGinnis is a member of the Presbyterian Church and is serving as a trustee therein. He is characterized by energy and determination and in representing a client brings to his support every authority that will sustain his position, but in his professional zeal never forgets the supreme allegiance which every member of the bar owes to the law and to justice. Moreover, he is courteous to the opposing counsel, winning his cases by careful preparation and resourcefulness, and when confronted by some unexpected turn in a case he does not resort to petty personalities or ridicule his opponent but relies rather upon logical reasoning and the effective presenta-
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
tion of his argument. He has become a power in political circles because of his ability to see things as they are and his faculty of gaining the loyalty and securing the cooperation of others, qualities which insure their possessor of leadership in whatever field of activity he may engage. He has many friends and admirers as his character- istics are those that together constitute a high type of manhood.
ELBA SHEWMAKER.
Elba Shewmaker, who since January 1, 1915, has capably served as county treasurer of Decatur county, is a native son of Iowa, his birth having occurred on a farm in Grand River township, Decatur county, December 2, 1875, his parents being George and Emma (Bard) Shewmaker. The father was born in Jackson county, In- diana, and from that place came to Decatur county in 1869, after he had reached years of maturity. It was in the same year that Mrs. Shewmaker arrived in Decatur county with her parents, they having removed to this section of the state from Indiana. Her birth occurred in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1850. It was in this county that the young couple met and a year after their arrival they were united in marriage. They then located upon a farm in Grand River township, where the father was identified with agricultural pursuits throughout his remaining years. Prior to his removal to this state he had enlisted for service in the Civil war as a member of the Twenty-second Indiana Volunteers. He was very successful in business and took an active part in local affairs, having served from 1875 until 1878 as a mem- ber of the board of supervisors. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and died in that faith on the 16th of February, 1892, at the comparatively early age of forty-nine years. His widow also belongs to the Methodist church and now makes her home in Leon. To Mr. and Mrs. George Shewmaker were born three sons: Rolla, who is engaged in farming at Knowlton, Montana; Thomas E., who resides in California, where he also follows farming; and Elba, of this review.
The last named was reared on the home farm and assisted his father in the work of the fields during the spring and summer seasons, while during the winter months he pursued his education in the schools near his home, subsequently attending the high school at Grand River. He was a youth of about fifteen years at the time of his father's de- mise and since then has ably managed the farming interests in Grand
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
River township, the family still having in their possession the home- stead comprising two hundred and forty acres. With the exception of two years spent in the inspecting department of Hillman's mercan- tile establishment in Chicago, he has always lived in Decatur county.
It was in the fall of 1914 that Mr. Shewmaker was elected on the republican ticket to the office of county treasurer of Decatur county and, taking charge of the office on the 1st of January, 1915, he is now capably serving in that position. In his fraternal relations he is identified with the lodge of Odd Fellows at Leon. Having spent his entire life in Decatur county he is well known and his election to the position which he is now filling is indicative of his popularity in this section of the state. He has a social, genial nature, which gains for him the warm regard and friendship of all with whom he comes in contact.
JAMES R. SMITH.
For more than three decades James R. Smith was prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Decatur county but is now practically living retired in a comfortable home in Lamoni. He was born in Lewis county, New York, April 3, 1841, a son of Peter and Emmeline Smith, who were both natives of Germany but, emigrating to the new world in an early day, were identified with the farming interests of Lewis county for a long period. Both spent their remain- ing days in the Empire state and passed away there. In their family were three sons, one of whom is living in the east.
James R. Smith was reared in the Empire state to the age of six- teen years and during that time he acquired but a limited education. At that early age he heard and heeded the call of the west and accord- ingly, in 1857, made his way to Illinois, and found employment at farm work near Mendota, in La Salle county. He was married in Jo Daviess county, that state, in 1864 and in the fall of 1866 con- tinued his journey westward to Decatur county, Iowa. In the fol- lowing year, 1867, he located upon a farm southeast of Lamoni, which continued his home throughout a long period. When Mr. Smith came to Iowa he had three horses and a wagon and but a few hundred dollars in money. This money he invested in land, which was then in a wild state, for at that time this county was but sparsely settled and wild game was numerous. Mr. Smith went to work and in course of time had the raw land in a good state of cultivation. As he pros-
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
pered he added to his holdings from time to time until he became the owner of a large amount of land, being at the present time the pos- sessor of eight hundred and forty-five acres. He not only raised the cereals best adapted to soil and climate but also engaged extensively in raising stock, making a specialty of high grade cattle, and this returned to him a good income. It was some twenty years ago that he removed to Lamoni and embarked in the grain business, becoming one of the largest buyers of grain in this section of the state. He also assisted in the organization of the Farmers State Bank at La- moni and is still serving as its vice president. Eventually, however, he disposed of his business interests and for the past fourteen years has lived retired, giving his attention to his invested interests but leaving the active work of his farm to younger hands. He has been a successful man and his success is based largely upon the fact that he was thrown upon his own resources early in his career, which de- veloped in him a spirit of self-reliance and determination to make for himself a place in the middle west.
As previously stated Mr. Smith was married in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, in November, 1864, to Miss Eliza A. Graham, and in 1914, after a happy married life covering five decades, they celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of that event. Mrs. Smith was born in Stephen- son county, Illinois, a daughter of Theodore and Lena (Tucker) Graham, natives of Ohio and Missouri, respectively. They were mar- ried, however, in Illinois. In 1866, the same year of the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Smith in Iowa, they, too, journeyed to Decatur county and Mr. Graham purchased a farm located south of Davis City and west of Pleasanton, in Hamilton township. There he was busily engaged for many years with the improvement and cultivation of his place but both he and his wife departed this life many years ago. He was suc- cessful in his undertakings and was a stanch supporter of the repub- lican party. Of their family two sons and four daughters survive: Mrs. Viola Landphair, of Pleasanton, Iowa; Mrs. Warren Little, of Missouri; Mrs. Lydia M. Olds, of Jo Daviess county, Illinois; Mrs. Smith; William H., who is living retired in Lamoni, Iowa; and Ben- jamin F., who makes his home in Harrison county, Iowa.
To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born eight children, of whom six survive and all but one were born in Iowa. Clarence F., a farmer and stockman of Lamoni, is married and has one daughter. Theo- dore J., who also follows farming and stock-raising near Lamoni, is likewise married and has a family. Minnie B. is the wife of D. F. Kaller, a traveling salesman, who makes his home in Lamoni. Gertie is the wife of Bert Teale, of Mount Ayr, Iowa. Louie is the wife of
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
A. Otis White, who is engaged in the undertaking business in Lamoni. Arthur H. is married and has one child. He is now operating the home farm near Lamoni.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Smith has given stalwart support to the republican party and has served as a member of the board of supervisors, while for the past thirty years he has acted as school treasurer-a fact indicative of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. In matters of religion he and his family affiliate with the Methodist church, and fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge at Lamoni. The position he has attained and the success he has won is the outcome of energy and perseverance intelligently applied in his early manhood. To few is accorded the privilege of traveling the journey of life together for a period of more than fifty years as Mr. Smith and his estimable wife have done and to few is accorded the high regard and esteem that this venerable couple enjoy from all with whom they are brought in contact.
HON. MELBERN F. THOMPSON.
Hon. Melbern F. Thompson, of Van Wert, is representing his . district in the state legislature and is proving farsighted and courageous in his loyalty to the best interests of the people. A native of Clinton county, Ohio, he was born in October, 1860, a son of W. J. and E. J. (Stephenson) Thompson, who removed to Decatur county, Iowa, in 1880. The father continued to follow agricultural pursuits until his demise, which occurred at Van Wert in 1905, when he was seventy-two years of age. He served in a number of town- ship offices and was an active member of the Christian church. His wife, a native of Ohio, is still living and resides with the subject of this review.
Melbern F. Thompson entered Hedding College in Illinois after completing his public-school education and there prepared more fully for meeting the responsibilities of later life. He continued to reside upon the farm with his parents until he was eighteen years of age and then engaged in railroad service as telegraph operator and agent for nine years. He accompanied his parents to Iowa in 1880 and in 1892 took up his residence at Van Wert, Decatur county, where he has since resided. For ten years he engaged in the grain and lumber business but for the last eight years he has given his attention to farm-
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
ing and to dealing in real estate. All of his business ventures have proved successful and he has gained more than a competence. In 1912 he was chosen as state representative on the democratic ticket and is still serving in that capacity, his record being one of which he has every reason to be proud. He has also held other offices, as he was for eight years township clerk and has also served as town clerk. as councilman and as·mayor. He is the acknowledged leader of the democratic party in his part of the state and his advice carries weight in party councils. He adheres to the Christian church, in whose teachings are found the guiding principles of his life, and his genuine worth of character has won him the respect of those who are associated with him.
J. O. CHERRY.
J. O. Cherry, who for the past four years has lived retired at Le Roy, has resided in Decatur county since 1869, and for many years devoted his time to agricultural pursuits. He was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, August 19, 1841, of the marriage of Matthew and Mary (Offiter) Cherry, who removed to Ohio from the Keystone state in 1828. The father was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and was there reared to manhood. His first wife, who was in her maidenhood a Miss Reed, passed away in that state, and his second wife, the mother of our subject, died in Mus- kingum county, Ohio, when about forty-five years of age. He was subsequently married a third time and had in all seven children, but only two are living, our subject and a brother. The father died in Muskingum county, Ohio, when seventy-seven years of age.
J. O. Cherry remained a resident of the Buckeye state until he was twenty-two years of age, and then removed to Jackson county, Iowa, where his father owned two hundred and forty acres of land. He remained there until his marriage, after which he took up his residence in Henry county, Iowa, where he resided a few years before removing to this county. In 1869 he became a resident of Decatur county, locating on section 4, Garden Grove township, where he still owns two hundred and forty acres of fine land. He also holds title to eighty acres in Clarke county and during his active life success- fully engaged in farming and stock-raising, specializing in breeding shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. He made all of the improvements upon his place and the farm is excellently developed
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
and well equipped. For a few years he has rented his land and has lived retired in Le Roy.
On the 4th of July, 1865, occurred the marriage of Mr. Cherry and Miss Mary Cline. She was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1843, a daughter of Tobias and Mary Cline, who in 1851 removed to Iowa by way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. They located in Jackson county, where they passed away. To. their union were born a large family of children, but only three survive, those besides Mrs. Cherry being Susan and Caroline. Mr. and Mrs. Cherry have had six children, namely: Harry, who died in early manhood; John, a resident of California, who married Miss Dudley; Ida, the wife of George Seay, also living in California; Emma, who married a Mr. Bingman, a resident of California; Ora, who gave her hand in marriage to Nelson Breckenridge and is living in the Golden State; and Josephine, the wife of William Heaton. Mr. and Mrs. Cherry also have thirteen grandchildren, some of whom are married.
The democratic party finds in Mr. Cherry a loyal supporter and he has served as a member of the town council of Le Roy. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian church, of which he is an elder, and all movements looking toward moral progress profit by his cooperation. The leisure which he is now enjoying is the merited reward of former toil and none begrudges him his pros- perity.
HENRY W. SPARLING.
Henry W. Sparling has resided in Garden Grove township since the fall of 1852 and is now living in the town of Garden Grove, hav- ing retired from the active work of the farm. His birth occurred in Lawrence county, Ohio, in 1838 and he is a son of Henry and Annie (Hepler) Sparling. The father, who was born in Pennsylvania, removed as a boy with his parents to Belmont county, Ohio, and later to Lawrence county, that state. His father served under General Brown in the War of 1812 and was highly esteemed in his com- munity, his demise, which occurred in Ohio, being deeply regretted by many. The religious faith of his wife was that of the Presby- terian church and she took an active part in its work. In 1850 Henry Sparling settled in Van Buren county, Iowa, subsequently removed to Davis county and in 1852 located in Garden Grove township, Decatur county. He entered land, to the cultivation of which he
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
devoted his energies until his demise, which occurred on the 18th of July, 1874, when he was about seventy-two years of age. He was one of the pioneers of the county, as when he arrived here much of the land was unbroken and there was but one store at Garden Grove. His wife was born in Lawrence county, Ohio, and they were mar- ried in that state. Her parents subsequently removed to Audrain county, Missouri, where both passed away. She died in this county at the advanced age of eighty-six years. Our subject is the fifth in order of birth in a family of nine children. One died in infancy. Alexander went to Oregon in 1853, but returned to Decatur county a few years ago and was residing at Le Roy when called to his reward. Silas, who served in the Civil war as a member of Company A, Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, died at Helena, Arkan- sas. John passed away in 1853. Emma, who became the wife of E. J. Wiseman, is also deceased. Harriett married Dr. Elihu Dar- nielle and has passed away. Barbara, who became the wife of Isaac Helmick, is also deceased. George, who completes the family, has passed to his reward.
Henry W. Sparling received a common-school education and during his boyhood and youth also became thoroughly familiar with the methods of practical agriculture. It was but natural that when he reached man's estate he should continue in the occupation to which he had been reared and he proved very successful as a farmer and stock-raiser. His energy and wise management of his affairs enabled him to accumulate a competence and he has now sold his farm and purchased twenty acres of land at Garden Grove, where he resides. He has a fine residence and is enjoying the comforts and some of the luxuries of life, thus reaping the fruits of his former toil.
Mr. Sparling was married in 1870 to Miss Joanna Trullinger, who was born in 1847 in Davis county, Iowa, in the vicinity of Drakesville. Her mother was born in Preble county, Ohio, and her father was a native of Ross county, that state. To Mr. and Mrs. Sparling have been born the following children: Millie and Eva, who are successfully engaged in the poultry business under the name of Sparling Sisters; Joseph and Clara, both at home; an infant, who died unnamed; and Almira and Elbert, both deceased.
The family attend the Christian church but Mr. Sparling is lib- eral in his religious views. He was reared in the faith of the Baptist church. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, and he has at all times sought to advance the interests of his community. Both he and his wife are still enjoying excellent health and are rich in the honor and esteem which should accompany old age.
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
The Sparling Sisters, who are rated in Dun and Bradstreet, began business as poultry fanciers in 1911 and in the intervening four years have become widely known in the middle west. They breed Rose Comb Rhode Island Red, Rose Comb White Orpington and Royal Blue Orpington chickens, White Muscovy and Buff Orping- ton ducks and Embden geese, and in building up their strains have laid great emphasis upon egg production. They have exhibited their ducks at a number of shows and have won the following prizes:
Weldon, Iowa, December 11-13, 1913: White Muscovy ducks- First, old drake; first, young drake; first-second, young ducks.
Iowa State show, Des Moines, Iowa, January 1-7, 1914: White Muscovy ducks-First-second, young drakes.
Kansas City Poultry show, January 11-16, 1915: White Mus- covy ducks-First, old drake; first, young drake. Buff ducks- First, old drake; first, young duck.
They sell both stock and eggs and have built up a large business not only in this country but in Canada, as their honesty and integ- rity are unquestioned and as their poultry is of high grade. They also handle grains, prepared poultry feed and remedies for diseases that affect poultry and these sidelines have likewise proved profit- able.
ANDREW C. BROWN.
Andrew C. Brown owns and operates an excellent farm compris- ing one hundred and twenty-seven acres in Hamilton township and is well and favorably known in his locality. His birth occurred in Indiana, March 13, 1859, and he is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Staley) Brown. The father was born in Kentucky and the mother in South Carolina, but when fourteen years of age the former removed with his parents to the Hoosier state, where the family was numbered among the pioneer settlers. When he reached mature years he purchased land in Indiana and during his entire business career followed agricultural pursuits. He passed away in March, 1904, and his wife died in 1899.
Andrew C. Brown entered the public schools of his native state at the usual age and received a good common-school education. On putting aside his textbooks he concentrated his energies upon assist- ing his father with the farm work until he was twenty-five years old, when he started out on his own account, removing to Decatur county,
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