USA > Iowa > Mills County > A biographical history of Fremont and Mills Counties, Iowa > Part 46
USA > Iowa > Fremont County > A biographical history of Fremont and Mills Counties, Iowa > Part 46
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79
361
BIOGRAPHIC.IL HISTORY.
is a Democrat and a stanch advocate of its principles, Leing a particular admirer of Will- iam J. Bryan. For six years he was one of the three composing the board of super- visors of Mills county, and was called upon numerous times to exercise his excellent business judgment in county affairs of great magnitude, including lawsuits where thou- sands of dollars were involved. He is a man of much prominence in his community and is very popular and influential.
CHARLES P. KINNEY.
Charles P. Kinney, who, February I, 1901, retired from the office of county au- ditor with a most creditable record as a trust- worthy official and is living in Glenwood, was born near Yellow Springs, in Greene county, Ohio, on the 27th of December, 1856. His paternal grandfather was John Kinney and he married Betsy Shaner, who died in 1823. After her demise he was again married, in the year 1825, his second union being with Margaret Brown. Both he and his second wife died in the year 1864. He was a farmer by occupation and was of German lineage. His son, Aaron Kinney, the father of our subject, was born March 2, 1821, in the state of Ohio, and throughout his entire business life carried on agricultural pursuits. He was identified with farming interests until 1889, when he retired to the town of Emerson, Jowa, where he spent his remaining days in quiet, passing away on the 25th of November, 1899. He was a very industrious man, honest and upright, and was held in the highest respect by all who knew him. His nature was quiet and unassuming and he preferred that others rather than himself should occupy positions
of public prominence. He married Sarah Jane Foresman, who was born March 2, 1826, in Greene county, Ohio, a daughter of Hugh and Mary (Quinn) Foresman. Her parents resided at a point on the Sus- quehanna river in Pennsylvania in their early married life, but later removed to Greene county, Ohio, where they died at a good old age. The marriage of Aaron Kinney and Sarah J. Foresman occurred on the 28th of March, 1849, and they became the parents of nine sons, seven of whom are yet living. The mother also survives her husband and resides in Emerson, Iowa. She possesses a strong Christian character, holding mem- bership in the Presbyterian church, and has taken an active part in those matters which have had for their object the good of the community in which she has lived. She is of Irish lineage.
Charles Phillip Kinney, whose name in- troduces this record, attended the country schools until thirteen years of age and from that time until the age of sixteen pursued his studies only through the winter season. He was afterward a student in the private school under the supervision of Samuel Howe, in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and during the winter of 1871-2 and for a short time in the year 1877 he was a student at Tabor (Jowa) College. To his training in the last two schools he owes much of what he has accomplished in life. for the discipline which he there received was such as to fit him for practical duties in the business world.
He remained on the home farm and as- sisted his father in its operation until twen- ty-three years of age, when he engaged in buying and shipping grain at Imogene, with the firm of J. M. Strahan & Company. dur- ing the fall, winter and spring of 1879-80.
362
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
He was afterward with the firm of Burr & Randolph at Strahan, Mills county, Iowa, in the same line of business from the fall of 1880 until the spring of 1882. when he entered into partnership with E. C. Kayton, at Strahan. They became dealers in grain, coal and farm implements and also con- ducted a grocery store, their business rela- tions being maintained from the autumn of 1882 until the spring of 1885. Mr. Kinney then resumed agricultural pursuits, con- tinuing the operation of his farm until the fall of 1894. when he was elected the auditor of Mills county. He entered upon the duties of the office on the Ist of January, 1895, and continued to serve in that capacity until the Ist of February, 1901, when he retired, having the commendation of all concerned by reason of his unquestioned fidelity to duty.
On the 20th of March, 1884, Mr. Kin- ney was united in marriage to Miss May Augusta Shay, a daughter of Richard H. Shay, of Strahan, Iowa. Her great-grand- father. David Shay, of New Jersey, was a soldier in the war of 1812 and her paternal grandparents had nine sons and six daugh- ters, of whom three of the sons served in the Civil war. The marriage of Mr. and ยท Mrs. Kinney has been blessed with four children : Everett C., Adina G., Clara M. . and Harry Paul.
Mr. and Mrs. Kinney hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a valued representative of several fra- ternal organizations, including the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica. Although reared in the Democratic faith. he has always been a Republican and is recognized as a most stalwart advocate of its principles and one of the leaders of the
party in his community. Public-spirited and progressive, he withholds his support from no movement or measure that has for its object the general good. Through all life's relations he has commanded the uniform re- gard and confidence of his fellow men, and as one of the representative citizens of Mills county he well deserves honorable mention in this volume.
I. C. DELASHMUTT.
This gentleman, who follows farming near Glenwood in Mills county, is numbered among Iowa's native sons, for his birth oc- curred in Mahaska county, on the 3d of March, 1844, his parents being Peter Lind- say and Esther (Hunt) DeLashmutt, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Illinois. The father was a farmer by occu- pation and in 1838 he emigrated westward, taking up his abode in Burlington, Iowa, where he married Miss Hunt. They after- ward removed to Jefferson county, this state, and about two years later went to Ma- haska county, taking up their abode there in 1842. In 1849 Mr. De Lashmutt went to California and in 1859 to Colorado, but dur- ing the greater part of the period between 1842 and 1860 he was a resident of Ma- haska county. In the latter year he came to Mills county, where he died on the 11th of March, 1897, at the age of eighty-one years.
With one exception W. C. DeLashmutt is the eldest of the family of nine children, eight of whom are now living. He started out in life upon his own account in 1864, going to Montana, where he remained for almost a year, buying and selling cattle. He afterward engaged in freighting and between the years 1865 and 1867 visited Denver and
MR. AND MRS. W. C. DE LASHMUTT
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOF ANZI AND TILDEN MUITONE
363
BIOGRAPHIICAL HISTORY.
other points in the west. In 1868 he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Gilli- land, who died in September, 1885, at the age of thirty-five years. By this marriage there were five children, of whom four are living, viz. : Lulu M., now Mrs. C. E. Dean, living in Glenwood, Iowa; Jessie L., now the wife of Clarence Stone; William Lynn; and Er- nest W. Ola is the name of the one who is deceased. In January, 1892, Mr. De Lash- mutt was united in marriage with Mrs. Nan- nie B. Hess, who had had one daughter by her former marriage, namely, Mildred, now Mrs. W. M. Estes.
Since his marriage Mr. De Lashmutt has carried on farming and stock-raising in Mills county, with the exception of the periods of his service in public office. In 1887 he was elected the sheriff of the county and served in that capacity for four years. In 1894 he was elected a member of the board of county commissioners and was made its chairman. Having been county commissioner for six years, he retired from office in January, 1901. His public duties have been discharged with marked fidelity and promptness. He to-day owns seven hun- dred and twenty acres of rich farming land in Mills county, and in connection with its cultivation he has been a very successful stock-raiser and feeder. Few men in Mills county have as many warm friends as the subject of this review. They are limited only by the circle of his acquaintance. Mr. De- Lashmutt is a man of splendid character. If to love one's neighbor as one's self is the es- sence of all true religion, then he comes very near the fulfillment of the law in perfect measure. He is not only just but is also kind and considerate, and his example is in- deed worthy to be followed.
JAMES F. MARTIN.
Occupying a prominent position in com- mercial circles in Hastings is James F. Mar- tin, the well known and popular proprietor of a dry-goods store at that place. He was born in New York, in 1845, and is a son of Fred and Naoma ( Dunster ) Martin. The father was a native of England and engaged in the cultivation of flowers as a life pur- snit and died in Oneida county, New York, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife, who also was born in England, in which country they were married, has likewise de- parted this life. In their family were two daughters, Mrs. Jane Harmon and Mrs. Esther Smith, both of whom are residents of Utica, New York.
James F. Martin, their only son, was reared and educated in the Empire state. When nineteen years of age he responded to his country's call, enlisting in June, 1864, as a member of Company I, of the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh New York In- fantry, at Waterville. He was mustered in at Utica under Captain Briggs and Colonel Brown. He joined his regiment at Balti- more, from which place the troops proceeded to Fort Pulaski, there spending the winter in guarding Rebel officers. Just before Charleston was captured they were ordered to that point and were on their way there when the city fell. On the next day they were placed in transports and taken to Georgetown, and after spending a month or two there proceeded to Florence, South Carolina. In the meantime Mr. Martin par- ticipated in the battles of Sumterville, Bow- ington Mills, Cedar Creek and several minor engagements, and suffered innumerable hard- ships, even wading waist deep through
. 22
364
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
tangled swamps. Humorous incidents, how- ever, sometimes occurred to relieve the strain and to vary the monotony. When the war was ended and the country no longed needed his services he received an honorable dis- charge, being mustered out at Syracuse, New York, in July, 1865.
Returning to the Empire state Mr. Mar- tin there continued to reside until 1873, when he came to Iowa and purchased land in Indian Creek township, Mills county. Here he turned his attention to farming and dur- ing the winter months he was employed in stores in Glendale and Hastings, but with the return of spring he again assumed his agricultural labors. During this time he was employed by Mr. Heinsheimer, an ex- tensive merchant of Glenwood. In 1876 he accepted a position in Hastings in a general store owned by E. P. Bosbyshell & Com- pany, the store occupying the location near where our subject now carries on business. Later Mr. Bosbyshell sold the store, Mr. Martin continuing with the successor for a year, and in 1893 he began business on his own account. He is now the proprietor of the largest and best equipped dry-goods establishment in the eastern half of Mills county, carrying an extensive stock suited to the demands of both town and country. By diligence, enterprise, honorable dealing and an earnest desire to please his customers he has secured a large patronage, which is con- stantly increasing and which brings to him a very gratifying income. He is also the owner of his original farm, to which he has added until he now owns two hundred and forty acres of rich land well improved. It is pleasantly situated a little to the north of east of Hastings and thereon are found substantial buildings and good grades Of stock.
Mr. Martin has been twice married. In the Empire state in 1877 he was joined in wedlock to Miss Hattie W. Springer. His present wife bore the maiden name of Hattie Birdsall. Their marriage was celebrated in 1895, in Mills county, and Mrs. Martin is a representative of one of the prominent families in this locality. Our subject now has two children,-Fred J. and Mabel. He and his wife hold membership in the Meth- odist church in Hastings and take an active interest in its work and growth. In poli- tics he has always been a Republican and has been honored with a number of local offices. He has served on the school board for several years and has been a member of the city council, being re-elected to that po- sition in the spring of 1900. Fraternally he is identified with the Odd Fellows society. He is a man of quiet disposition and modest demeanor who is enterprising and public- spirited. At the early age of nine years he started out in life on his own account, and his history illustrates in an excellent man- ner what it is possible to accomplish when perseverance and determination form the keynote to a man's life. His record is one of which he may be justly proud. Success is not measured by the heights which one may chance to occupy, but by the distance between the starting point and the altitude he has reached ; therefore Mr. Martin has gained a most brilliant success,-a just re- ward of meritorious, honorable effort which commands the respect and admiration of all.
HARVEY W. SUMMERS.
Harvey W. Summers is one of the most extensive landowners and successful farm- ers of Mills county, and has justly earned the distinction of being what the public calls
365
BIOGR.IPHIC.IL HISTORY.
a self-made man. He was born in Tazewell The grandmother of Mrs. Summers, Agnes Missouri. county, Illinois, on the 4th of July, 1826, Mansfield, was born in Virginia and died in his parents being John and Emily ( Wood- row ) Summers. The father was a native of North Carolina and with his three broth- ers and their mother went to Ohio at a very early day, the father of our subject having day, the father of our subject having died died in North Carolina. The family is an old and prominent one of the south. After re- siding in the Buckeye state for some time the Summers family removed to Illinois and there the mother of our subject died. After arriving at years of maturity John Sum- mers married Emily Woodrow, a daughter of Richard Woodrow, who was of Irish lineage, the name being originally spelled Withrow. John Summers followed farm- ing in Tazewell county, Illinois, and died in that state at the age of seventy-two years. His wife's death also occurred there. They were the parents of five children, of whom two are yet living, the brother of our sub- ject being William G., who follows farm- ing near Malvern, Iowa.
Mr. Summers of this review was reared in the old family homestead in Tazewell county, Illinois, where he remained until twenty-nine years of age. He began his education in the old-time log schoolhouse. the school being conducted on the subscrip- tion plan. At the age of twenty-four he left the old homestead and began life for himself. He was married on the 24th of February, 1850, to Miss Hannah F. Jen- nings, who was born in Harvey county, Vir- ginia, on the ed of June, 1832, a daughter of William and Eliza ( Dray) Jennings. Her father was a native of Ireland. Ilis wife was born in Virginia and died in Illinois, whither the family removed at an early day.
In September, 1854, Harvey W. Sum- mers, accompanied by his brothers, James and Milton, came to Mills county, lowa, and entered a large tract of land from the gov- ernment, Mr. Summers of this review tak- ing up his abode on section 4 in White Cloud township. Here he has resided for forty- five years. His first home was only sixteen by twenty-two feet, but he afterward made additions to it and the family resided therein until 1862, when he erected his present fine residence which now adjoins his farm. On the 24th of September, 1855, the family came with him to his new home. As the years passed he added to his property and now owns two thousand acres of the rich lands of lowa and is numbered among the wealthy and enterprising agriculturists of this por- tion of the state. About 1868 he began shipping stock and has since made it a part of his business, carrying on that enterprise quite extensively. He has raised, bought and sold large amounts of stock and has thus added materially to his income. He follows very progressive methods of farming, keeps his land in good condition through the rota- tion of crops and has upon his place the latest improved machinery. Everything upon the farm is neat and thrifty in appear- ance and indicates his careful supervision.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Summers have been born five children, of whom three are yet living : Willard Leslie, who is married and has three children: Laura A., who is mar- ried and has two children ; and Edward L .. who also is married and has two children : John died at the age of twenty-two years, being injured in the accident of the railroad
366
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
bridge at St. Charles, Missouri, going down under a stock train. He was rescued and lived only a few days; William C., the other member of the family, died when only eleven months old.
In his political views Harvey W. Sum- mers is a stanch Republican. He cast his first presidential vote for Zachary Taylor in 1848, and on the organization of the Republican party he joined its ranks and has since been one of its stalwart advocates. He holds membership in the Baptist church and has lived an upright, honorable life. For forty-six years he has been a resident of Mills county and is therefore numbered among its honored pioneers. He and his wife saw the first interment made in the cemetery at Malvern and his brother's wife was the second person to be laid at rest in that city of the dead.
Great changes have occurred since the family came to Iowa, and in the work of progress and development Mr. Summers has ever borne his part, doing whatever he could to promote the material, educational and moral interests and welfare of the com- munity. He has ever lived so as to win the respect and confidence of his fellow men, and all who know him esteem him for his sterling traits of character.
B. P. REEVES.
One of the intelligent, enterprising and progressive farmers of Washington town- ship, Fremont county, is B. P. Reeves, who has made his home in this locality since 1872. He was born in Howard county, Mis- souri, near Fayette, October 8, 1857, and is a son of Colonel Benjamin Reeves, a leading and influential citizen of Fremont
county, who has been actively identified with the interests here for twenty-eight years. He married Martha Patton, a lady of intelli- gence and culture, whose people were long residents of Howard county, Missouri.
B. P. Reeves is the eldest son of their family of five children. He was reared in Howard county, Missouri, until fifteen years of age, when he came with his parents to Fremont county, where he has since re- mained. His youthful labors were practical, for he early became familiar with the work of field and meadow and was taught the value of industry and honesty in the affairs of life. He pursued his education both in Missouri and in this state. As a companion and helpmeet on life's journey he chose Miss Cora Hatten, a daughter of J. R. Hatten, one of the well-known pioneer settlers of Fremont county, now living in Hamburg. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Reeves have been born two sons : Bruce H., who was born in June, 1887, and Myron, whose birth occurred in June, 1889.
In 1898 Mr. Reeves purchased his pres- ent farm in Washington township, compris- ing one hundred and twenty acres of very productive land, and the fields yield to hint a golden return for the care and labor he bestows upon them. His home is a pleasant one, and the outbuildings upon the place include a substantial barn, good sheds and cribs : the rich pasture lands provide ex- cellent feeding places for the stock through the summer and the fields give promise of abundant harvests, while the orchard yields its fruits in the season. Mr. Reeves carries on farming quite extensively, for in addi- tion to his own land he cultivates a portion of the Carpenter farm. His political support is given to the Republican party and of its
367
BIOGR.IPHICAL HISTORY.
principles he is a zealous and earnest ad- vocate. He belongs to Hamburg Lodge, No. 217, K. of P., and to Hamburg Lodge, 187, 1. O. O. F. His manner is genial and cordial and he enjoys the respect of all with whom he is associated.
JOHN D. PADDOCK.
John D. Paddock, who is now occupying the position of postmaster in Malvern, is one whose name is inseparably connected with the history of Mills county. He built the first house in Malvern and has been largely instrumental in promoting the growth, development and progress of the city. His influence in its public affairs can scarcely be estimated, but it has always been on the side of advancement along material, intellectual and moral lines.
Mr. Paddock is a native of Steuben coun- ty, New York, born June 17, 1842, of the marriage of Captain John H. and Nancy (Armstrong) Paddock. The father was also a native of the Empire state and was a farmer by occupation. At the first call for troops to aid in crushing out the Re- bellion in its infancy, he offered his services to the government and was made captain of Company I, of the Fifteenth Illinois In- fantry, in which he served for one year. His father. Philip Paddock, was a na- tive of New York and there spent his entire life; but Captain Paddock left New York for the west in the year 1844. Accom- panied by his family, he journeyed to Mich- igan and for a brief period resided near Adrian, in that state. In 1846 he took up his abode in McHenry county, Illinois, where he was living at the time of the inauguration of hostilities between the north and the south.
Thus it was that he became a member of an Illinois regiment.
When his services at the front were con- cluded he returned to his farm in Mellenry county and throughout the period of his active business career he devoted his en- ergies to agricultural pursuits. He is still living in MeHenry county, one of the ven- erable and respected citizens of the commu- nity. In early manhood he married Miss Nancy AArmstrong, also a native of New York, and a daughter of Andrew Armstrong, who was born on the green isle of Erin. She died in MeHenry county, Illinois, at the age of thirty-four years, leaving four chil- dren, all of whom are yet living.
John D. Paddock, whose name introduces this record, was but four years of age when his family became residents of Illinois. He remained under the parental roof until his fourteenth year, when he started out in life for himself as a teacher, a profession which he followed for three years in Illinois. Aside from the educational advantages afforded by the common schools he had the privilege of continuing his own studies in the Elgin Seminary and in Bryant & Stratton's Com- mercial College in Chicago, being graduated in the last named institution with the class of 1863. While in that school Mr. Paddock responded to his country's call. He was a cripple and twice offered his services to the government when he was not accepted, but in 1863 he joined Company F, of the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ilinois Infan- try, for one-hundred-days' service. The regiment was sent to Tennessee to relieve the regulars and remained at the front for six months, when he was mustered out on account of the expiration of his term of service.
368
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
On his return from the war Mr. Pad- dock located in Chicago, as a bookkeeper, in the employ of the firm of Copples & Marsten, with whom he remained for six years. In August, 1869, he came to Mills county, Iowa, locating in the village of Mil- ton, now known as Malvern. He purchased the lumber and erected the first building in the town. Under General Grant's admin- istration he was made its first postmaster. In the first store erected he and his brother, Charles H. Paddock, opened a stock of gen- eral merchandise and conducted the store together until 1895. When the express com- pany established an office in Malvern Mr. Paddock was appointed its first agent. He became the first postmaster in January, 1870, and was reappointed by General Grant in 1874, serving until 1876, when he resigned. Once more he was appointed to the office, in 1898, by President Mckinley, and is now the incumbent, discharging his duties in a manner highly satisfactory to all concerned. He is prompt, energetic, capable and re- liable, and his business and political records are alike above reproach. Mr. Paddock was married on the Ist of March, 1869, to Miss Helen McRae, a native of Woodstock, Mc- Henry county, Illinois. They have no chil- dren of their own, but have reared an adopted son, Charles S. Roe, who was the son of the Rev. J. W. Roe, a former pastor of the Baptist church in Malvern. Charles S. Roe on arriving at his majority married, but has lost his wife, who died leaving a little daugh- ter. He is now traveling.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.