USA > Iowa > Mills County > A biographical history of Fremont and Mills Counties, Iowa > Part 56
USA > Iowa > Fremont County > A biographical history of Fremont and Mills Counties, Iowa > Part 56
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Mr. Estes was born at his present abode. on the Ist of February, 1870. His paternal grandfather. Littleton Estes, was a native of Virginia, and by trade was a ship car- penter and builder. For many years he was a resident of Kentucky and lived to an ad- vanced age. In his family were four sons and two daughters who reached mature years. Among the number was Richard C. Estes, the father of our subject, who was born on the 14th of February. 1811. at Cross Plains, Kentucky, about eight miles from Lexington. When he had reached years of maturity he was married. and after the death of the first wife he wedded Miss Elizabeth Harrison, who was born in Indi ana. She was at one time a student under
a teacher who had been an instructor of Abraham Lincoln.
Mr. and Mrs. Estes were married in In- diana, on the 22d of February, 1848. and about 1850 they emigrated westward from Missouri, by way of the Ohio and Missis- sippi rivers. They drove across the coun . try to Mills county, Iowa, where the father secured a claim of three hundred acres of land. As the years passed he added to his property until he was at one time the owner of twelve hundred acres of valuable land. His success was certainly very creditable. for he started out in life as a poor fisherman and woodchopper in Kentucky, and for some years he followed those pursuits. Finally. however, he gained some capital, and mak- ing judicious investments of this in land throughout the period of his career as an agriculturist, he continually added to his property until he became a man of wealth His death occurred in 1887, when he was seventy-six years of age, and his wife passed away in 1891, at the age of sixty-four years. He had twelve children. of whom three died in infancy, and of the nine who reached mature years all are yet living with the exception of William, the half brother of our subject. The others are Pamelia. the wife of H. Delavan, of Rawles town- ship. Mills county: Margaret. the wife ot H. H. Delavan: Mrs. Nancy Browning, of Harrison county, Iowa ; Mrs. Martha Ro- land. of Arkansas: G. W., who is living near Glenwood, Iowa : Mrs. Virginia Seeger. of Mills county: Mrs. Anna Seeger. of Rawles township: Mrs. Julia McClure, of the same township: and Edward C.
John Estes, who was the eldest brother of Richard C. Estes, served in the war of 1812. enlisting at Lexington, Kentucky.
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He was in the battle with Richard M. Johnson, his cousin, when the Indian chief. Tecumseh, was killed .- shot by Johnson, who was foremost in the charge. When the Indians rallied he met the chief in a hand- to-hand contest. John Estes was engaged in taking flatboats on the Mississippi river to New Orleans, whence he would return on foot to his Kentucky home. Those were the days when Kentucky was called the dark and bloody ground on account of the atrocious cruelty and deeds of violence com- mitted by the Indians. Mr. Estes, of this review, has often heard his father relate the story concerning the finding of a corpse of an Indian which had been placed in a rough box that was by chains fastened in the crotch of a tree, where it was left for several years. The place was one and a half miles from the Estes farm. The Indian was undoubtedly a chief, thus elevated so that he could see the game as it passed over the happy hunting-ground.
Edward C. Estes, whose name intro- duces this record, acquiring his education in the district schools. He was the youngest of his father's family and was reared to farm life. He has always resided in Mills county and is well known among its people. In the year 1891 he was united in marriage to Miss Jennie McClure, who was born in Scott township, Fremont county, Iowa, and is a daughter of J. B. McClure. Their union has been blessed with four children : Lucy L. and Gilbert, who are aged re- spectively nine and six years and are now attending school: Goldie, who is four years old : and Edward M., the baby, born in No- vember, 1900.
Mr. Estes owns a farm of three hundred and eighty-five acres, which was originally
a part of the old homestead. He makes a specialty of raising stock and fruit. His apple orchard comprises eighty acres and the fine fruits there produced find a ready sale upon the market and command the best prices. In his pastures may be seen one hundred head of good cattle and he an- nually sells from one hundred to one hun- dred and twenty-five Poland China hogs. His farm is well arranged for the conduct of his business and everything is carried on along progressive lines. The neat, thrifty appearance of the place indicates his care- ful and energetic spirit. In his political views he is a Democrat and he has held the office of justice of the peace, but has never sought or desired the rewards of office. He and his wife hold membership in the Christian church, contributing liberally to its support and taking an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community. Mr. Estes is a splendid type of the stalwart Kentuckian, standing six feet and four inches in height, while his weight is one hundred and eighty pounds. He is built on the broad-gauge plan, phys- ically, mentally, morally and socially. He keeps thoroughly informed concerning the questions of general interest, both politically and otherwise, and is a splendid example of an enterprising agriculturist, widely known for his sterling worth and upright character, as well as for his success in business af- fairs. Mrs. Estes is a most estimable lady and they both have the warm regard of a large circle of friends.
J. J. SWAIN.
J. J. Swain, the well known and pop- ular secretary of the Mills County Fair As- sociation, was born in Dane county, Wis-
REV. ELISHA R. SWAIN
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
consin, on the 8th of March, 1849, and is a son of Rev. E. R. and E. S. ( Cady ) Swain. the former a native of Vermont, the latter of New York. The Rev. Elisha R. Swain was born in Reading, Windsor county, Vermont, February 16, 1801. His mother bore the maiden name of Hannah Ransom, and it was for her father, Elisha Ransom, a Baptist minister, that the Rev. E. R. Swain was named. His maternal grand- mother bore the name of Hannah Grow, and the name of Hannah seems to have been a favorite one as it was borne by the grandmother, the mother, the sister and one of the daughters of the Rev. Swain. The brothers and sisters of the Rev. Swain were as follows: Hannah, born at Woodstock, Vermont, August 30, 1802; Aaron, born - February 19, 1804; Sally, born in Plym- outh, Chenango county, New York, No- vember 5, 1805; a son who was born on the 24th of May, 1807, and died on the 26th of the same month; Oliver, born Au- gust 31, 1808; and John F., born May 6. 1810. The father of this family, John F. Swain, died May 3, 1811. The mother attempted to keep the family together, but found this impossible and soon the chil- dren were scattered. She afterward mar- ried Elisha Morton, but the children still remained separated and were not brought together again until this was made possi- ble through the efforts of Elisha R. Swain, the eldest of the family.
After his father's death he went to live with his grandfather and uncle, both of whom bore the name of Elisha Ransom. Ile was not kindly treated there, however, and this largely caused him to lose ambi- tion and energy, but later these were again aroused and he entered upon a work whose
influence was far-reaching. He remained with his maternal grandfather until he was fourteen years of age, when he went to it place about eighteen miles from his home, to learn the trade of chair-making and house painting. But after two years thus passed his employer failed, so that the Rev. Swain. being thrown out of employment, entered the employ of his uncle James, and with him the next year went to Homer, Cort- land county, New York, where he remained for one year. In his nineteenth year he took up his abode upon the place which had been left by his father, and gathered all the children of the family there, with the exception of the youngest brother, John, who lived with his uncle, Elisha Swain, about a mile and a half away. They ex- perienced some rather hard times in at- tempting to gain a living, but were happy in being once more united.
When about twenty or twenty-one years of age Elisha R. Swain was married to Laura Mead, the wedding being cele- brated December 27, 1821. The lady was born December 27, 1803, and was there- fore married on the eighteenth anniversary of her birth. They lived happily together for about sixteen years, when Mrs. Swain was called to her final rest, leaving to her husband the care of four daughters and a son, the last named being only about six months old. He only survived his mother fifteen days. The children were: Mary, who was born in Plymouth; Eliza, who died from scalding when about two years of age: Clarissa and Helen Eliza, both of whom were natives of Plymouth, Chenan- go county ; and Ransom, who died only fifteen days after his mother, on the 17th of November, 1837. The eldest daughter,
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Mary, also passed away on the last day of December of the same year.
In the meantime, while residing in North Norwich, New York, Elisha R. Swain had been converted and joined the North Norwich Baptist church in 1829. For some time he felt that he was called to the ministry before he finally decided to devote his life to the work, but at length he was ordained at Clymer church, Har- mony Association, of New York, in 1833. In 1840 he removed to Busti, Chautauqua county, New York, and became pastor of the church there, remaining for six years. A publication which appeared in 1878 said that "his pastorate was the longest in the church and the most splendid record in its history." In the six years one hundred and thirty persons were baptized and the men- bership increased from eighty-four to two hundred and twenty-three. In 1842, dur- ing the pastorate of Rev. Swain, a revival meeting was held and the church recorded seventy-nine baptisms. Temperance and virtue pervaded the community and the in- fluence of the church became marked on all classes. Soon after the Rev. Swain moved to that place the church built a parsonage and its work prospered in every depart- ment. He was much beloved for his fer- vent piety, social qualities and entertaining preaching, and long afterward the church invited him to become their pastor again.
On the 8th of May, 1839, Elisha R. Swain was again married, his second union being with Betsy R. Kinne, who had been a friend and schoolmate of his first wife. On the 28th of April they removed to Busti, Chautauqua county, New York, and there on the 23d of May, 1841, Mr. Swain was again bereft by the death of his wife, who
left a son. Dwight Kinne, then only six- teen days old, who died on the 22d of June, 1842. On the 8th of November, of the same year, Mr. Swain wedded Emma Sophronia Winn. She was a widow at the time and her maiden name was Emma S. Cady. Her father, Sylvester Cady, was born in the northwest part of New York, March 25, 1777, and married Abigail Ad- ams, who was also a native of the Empire state, born May 27, 1782. They were married January 6, 1805, and Mrs. Swain was their second child, her birth occurring January 26, 1808. Her mother was famil- iarly known as Nabby and was named for the wife of John Adams, to whose family she belonged, although the exact relation- ship with her and the two presidents, John Adams and John Quincy Adams, has never been traced. By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Swain the following children were born : James Ransom, born in Busti, New York, May 25, 1843; John Bunyan, born in Busti, September 27, 1844; Delia Ma- ria, born in Windsor, Dane county, Wis- consin, January 9, 1847, the first white child born in the township; Ira Joy, born March 8, 1849; and Aaron Cady, born Oc- tober 2, 1851. In 1846, on account of failing health, Mr. Swain removed to Wis- consin, then a territory. He left his New York home on the 30th of June, and on the 25th of September took up his abode in what afterward became Windsor, Dane county. He there gathered together the few scattered Baptists on the frontier and organized the Windsor Baptist church, which at first had but eight members. He also organized a church in the adjoining town of Bristol and to these churches and to those of several other localities he
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
preached the gospel of Christ unt'l 1867. While in Wisconsin the people of his pas- torate raised money enough, within a few dollars, for him to purchase forty acres of land and that constituted his first home in the west. Previous to this he had en- tered eighty acres and finally purchased forty acres additional so that he was the owner of a tract of one hundred and sixty acres, which was located twelve miles northeast of Madison, Wisconsin.
On reaching lowa Rev. Swain gath- ered together a number of Baptists and organized a church near Osage. in Floyd county. In August, 1867, he settled in what is now Peoples township. in Boone county, where he remained until he was called to the home prepared for the right- eous. In 1868 he organized the Spring Valley Baptist church in Dallas county, and was largely instrumental in the or- ganization of the Peoples Baptist church, of which he was a member at the time of his death. He passed away April 7, 1886, at the age of eighty-five years, one month and twenty-one days. Although he lost several children, he reared and educated a noble family of four sons and one daugh- ter, all of whom are faithful adherents of the Baptist church. The day of his de- mise, while working in the garden, he fell suddenly to the ground, prostrated with heart disease, and death came to him with- in ten minutes. He closely followed the teachings of the beloved apostle, being em- phatically a peace-maker. The whole com- munity in which he lived for so many years joined in cherishing his memory as one who was a true and faithful preacher of the gos- pel of Jesus Christ, and who lived as he preached.
Of his wife, Emma S. Swain, it may be said, as the Psalmist wrote of old : "Her children rise up and call her blessed." No better estimate of character can be given than the child's of the mother, and one of Mrs. Swain's daughters said of her: "I can not write anything nicer than what you wrote in your letter about our mother, her gentle disposition, her sweet, confiding na- ture, her high intellectual development and the Christian graces that shone through all her life, making her memory sacred to her loving children, and blessed by the commu- nities where she dwelt, and led her gently and peacefully into the Light and Life be- yond. In a few words, nothing could be better to say: it would take a whole volume to say all that might be told of her beauti- ful life,-her patience under grievous trials and disappointments, her cheerful accept- ance of whatever her lot in life might be, and her devotion to the interests of the church. Her last written words were a prayer that 'everything might be removed that hindered her from communion with God. Alas for us! the prayer was quick- ly answered, and the 'tabernacle of clay' that held the sweet spirit was taken away, and she was free from earth."
The surviving children of the Rev. Swain are as follows: James R., who was married May 18, 1867. to Mary Almira Lewis, at Booneboro, lowa: John Bunyan, who was married in Windsor. Dane coun- ty. Wisconsin, in 1866, to Miss Frances Julia Wheaton; Delia Maria, who on the 9th of June, 1870, became the wife of Will- iam Ringland, in Peoples township. Boone county: I. J., of this review: and Aaron Cady, who married Effie Benson, near Union, Hardin county, lowa.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
The first twelve years of his life I. J. Swain spent upon a farm, and then attend- ed school at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, for six years, at the end of which period he came with his parents to Iowa. On the 3d of May, 1870, he took up his residence in the village of Malvern, Mills county, where he was engaged in the lumber busi- ness for five years, and then located on the farm in White Cloud township where he now resides, it being the homestead of his father-in-law. The same year he purchased a hardware store at Malvern, which he con- ducted eighteen months, but since that time has devoted his energies to agricultural pur- suits and has met with marked success in his undertakings.
On the 23d of December, 1875, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Swain and Miss Hannah A. Summers, who was born on the farm where they now live, and was the only child of Milton Summers, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Mil- ton Summers Post, G. A. R., of Malvern, was named in his honor. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Swain have been born six children, as follows: Clarence E., Dwight M., Alton J., Milton S., E. Ransom and James N. All are receiving the best educational ad- vantages that the schools of this section afford. The family is one of culture and refinement, and is quite prominent in the best social circles of the community. They hold membership in the Baptist church.
Mr. Swain is one of the most active members of the Mills County Fair Associa- tion, of which he has been secretary for twelve years or more. By his ballot he supports the men and measures of the Re- publican party and cast his first presidential vote for Gen. U. S. Grant in 1872. He has
creditably filled many local offices of honor and trust, such as township trustee, clerk and member of the school board, and is one of the most public-spirited and progressive men of his community. He is a whole- souled, genial gentleman who makes many friends and is quite popular socially. Fra- ternally he is an honored member of the Masonic lodge of Malvern.
STEPHEN D. DAVIS.
While "the race is not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong," the in- variable law of destiny accords to tireless energy, industry and ability a successful ca- reer. The truth of this assertion is abund- antly verified in the life of Mr. Davis. In financial circles he has worked his way up- ward from an humble position to one of affluence and is to-day numbered among the prosperous stockmen and farmers of Mills county, his labors having brought to him a splendid return.
Stephen D. Davis was born October 25, 1820, in Jackson county, Ohio, a son of Levi and Mary ( Rudyard) Davis. The pa- ternal grandparents of our subject were Robert and Nancy Davis. Robert Davis was a native of North Carolina and spent his entire life in that state, by occupation being a gunsmith. The maternal grandfa- ther of our subject was Isaiah Rudyard, an old sea captain. Levi Davis, the father of Stephen D. Davis, was a native of North Carolina and was a farmer by occupation. In early life he was a member of the stand- ing army for a time. At a period in the pioneer development of Ohio he came with his wife and children to the Buckeye state, the year of their emigration being about
THE NEW LINE PUR! ! HIERARY
... IAND ILCOUPEINVITIONS
S. D. Davis.
MRS. STEPHEN D. DAVIS
THE ANY PUBLI .1
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ASTOP LISTA AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONE X L
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
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1806. His last days were spent in Jackson county, Ohio. His wife, who also was a native of North Carolina, was again mar- ried, after her husband's death, and re- moved to Mills county, lowa, a few years before her son Stephen became a resident of the county. Her remaining days were spent at her home here. Levi and Mary Davis were the parents of nine children, three sons and six daughters. Most of them were farming people, were married and have chil- dren and grandchildren.
Stephen D. Davis spent the years of his minority in Jackson county, Ohio. His ed- ucational privileges were extremely m'ea- ger. He pursued his studies in an old-time log school-house, with its primitive furnish- ings and greased-paper windows. The methods of teaching also were rather crude and the school was supported by the sub- scription plan. But he made the most of his opportunities through life and by ob- servation and experience gained much val- uable knowledge. In his boyhood he dis- played considerable musical ability and per- formed upon the fife. His father employed a poor old Dutch Revolutionary soldier who played the drum, while young Stephen played upon the fife. He also played the fife at the time when recruits were being solicited for the Mexican war and also for the Civil war.
He first came to Iowa in 1855, making the journey in a spring wagon. He was accompanied by his brother Robert and to- gether they made the trip to the Hawkeye state to see the country and buy some land. In the fall of the year Mr. Davis removed to Iowa. Starting from Portsmouth, Ohio, he proceeded by boat down the Ohio and up the Mississippi river to Keokuk, where
he hired a man to bring him and his family across the country-a distance of eighty miles-to the home of his brother-in-law, David Rickabaugh. Here he purchased a yoke of oxen and with that outfit traveled to his destination. Hle first located a few miles south of the present site of Red Oak, in Montgomery county, but after a few months came to Mills county.
At the time of his marriage he had one hundred and twenty acres of poor land, a horse and a cow, but no money. In thir- teen years from that time he was the owner of five hundred and seventy acres of land, entirely free from indebtedness. On com- ing to Mills county he located in Indian Creek township, near where the town of Emerson now stands, and after residing about one year at that place he took up his abode in Spring Valley, White Cloud town- ship, in March, 1857. Here he purchased a farm of four hundred acres on section 29 and to this he has added until he now has nineteen hundred and sixty acres. His place is known as the Spring Valley Stock Farm on account of the fine spring which has a flow of about thirty gallons per min- ute. He lias constructed a fine fish pond, which is supplied with water from this spring and contains an abundance of fish. He has made ditches one mile in length and has otherwise improved his property until it is most valuable. Mr. Davis is one one of the most extensive farmers and stock men of Mills county. He has ever prose- cuted his work along well-defined lines of labor, has followed progressive methods, and his enterprise and industry have ena- bled him to continually add to his prop- erty. In addition to the home place he has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Council Bluffs, one of one hundred and fifty-seven acres near Whiting, Iowa, and another of three hundred and twenty acres east of Onawa, Iowa. At one time he owned twenty thousand acres of land in Kansas, and he now has eleven hundred and twenty acres in that state, together with thirteen hundred acres in Texas, and six hundred and forty acres in South Dakota. He is at all times just, and probity is num- bered among his chief characteristics.
Mr. Davis is a man of resourceful busi- ness ability, and in addition to the cultiva- tion of his fields he has engaged in the stock business on a large scale. He keeps excellent grades of horses and cattle and these find a ready sale upon the markets. Mr. Davis is also a prominent factor in banking circles. He is interested in the First National Bank of Malvern, of which he is the vice-president. He is also finan- cially interested in the First National Bank of Tabor, of which he was president for a year or two and is still a stockholder in the institution. He is also a stockholder in a bank in Athena, Oregon, and in one at Colton, Washington.
On the 7th of April, 1842, Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Mary Par- ker, a native of Virginia, born September 17. 1821; and a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Parker. Her father died in Jack- son county, Ohio, and her mother died in the home of our subject after living with him for a quarter of a century. . Mr. Davis and his wife traveled life's journey together for fifty-three years, sharing with - each other its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity. Mrs. Davis was a most esti- mable woman. Never throughout the long years of her married life was she known
to speak a cross word, no matter how great her worries or how tired she might be. She possessed a calm and even temperament un- der perfect control, and her devotion to her family was beautiful to see. She was a great Bible student, spending much time and thought over the holy scriptures and thus becoming familiar with the lessons of the Master and His apostle. Her knowl- edge of holy writ thus became extensive and her interpretation of it was seen in her daily life, in her kindliness, her love, her charity and her forbearance. Hers was in- deed a beautiful Christian spirit, so in har- mony with the teachings of the Christ that her influence was very marked among those who knew her. Ten children were born unto our subject and his wife: Marion T., Tacy L., Minerva A., Charles F. and six now deceased. The mother's death occurred August 31, 1895, at the age of seventy- three years, eleven months and fourteen days, and throughout the entire communi- ty her loss was deeply felt. She was a kind neighbor, a faithful friend and enjoyed the respect and confidence of all who knew her.
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