USA > Iowa > Mills County > A biographical history of Fremont and Mills Counties, Iowa > Part 58
USA > Iowa > Fremont County > A biographical history of Fremont and Mills Counties, Iowa > Part 58
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JAMES S. CRISWELL.
Among the prominent citizens and influ- ential men of Mills county, Iowa, is James S. Criswell, the subject of this sketch, who is also an honored veteran of the Civil war. Mr. Criswell was born in York county, Pennsylvania, in 1837, a son of Robert and Mary (Wise) Criswell, the former of whom
passed his whole life in York county, but the latter died in Columbia, Pennsylvania. They reared the following children : Henry, who was a soldier in the Civil war, and is now deceased: Robert F., who lives at Wheeling, West Virginia ; William P., who died in Mills county ; George B., who was a soldier in the Civil war, dying while in the service: Mrs. Mary A. Brooks, who re- sides in Kansas; and Margaret J. Lehman, who resides in Columbia, Pennsylvania.
Our subject and wife were reared and educated in. York county, and were married there December 15, 1864. They came to Mills county, Iowa, in 1871, and moved to their present comfortable home in 1873. Mr. Criswell owns a fine farm of two hun- dred and forty acres, in Deer Creek town- ship, which he has improved and cultivated until it is one of the most attractive and productive in the whole neighborhood. He has displayed judgment and ability in the management of it, with the result that now he has a competency and can enjoy a life of ease.
The wife of our subject is a lady of edu- cation and refinement, who bore the maiden name of Mary J. McKinley, and was a daughter of Stephen and Jennie (Arm- strong) McKinley, who were born and died in York county, Pennsylvania. The mater- nal grandparents of Mrs. Criswell were born in the north of Ireland. The paternal grand- father was William McKinley, the great+ grandfather was David McKinley, who was also the great-grandfather of William Mc- Kinley, the president of the United States. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Crist well are Jennie C., Mrs. Abbie L. Bellwood, Robert W., Stephen, Mrs Mattie Eacrett, S. Agnes, Mae L. and Charles P.
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In 1861 Mr. Criswell enlisted for army service from York county, Pennsylvania. in Company HI, Seventy-sixth Regiment, Keystone Zouaves, under Captain Hamil- ton and Colonel John MY Powers. The regiment was stationed at Camp Cameron, near Harrisburg, and from there was sent to Baltimore and thence to Fortress Mon- roe. The next removal was by transport to Port Royal, South Carolina, in Decem- ber, 1861, and from that time until his dis- charge, in 1863. on account of disabilities, our subject saw severe and constant service among the islands along the coast of North and South Carolina, taking part in a num- ber of fights and skrmishes.
The discharge of Mr. Criswell was given him at Botney Bay island, South Carolina. from which place he was sent for a time to an army hospital. finally reaching his home, which was near that part of the state of Pennsylvania invaded by General Lee's army. While the battle of Gettysburg was in progress the sound of the artillery was plainly heard at his place. Some time after his return Mr. Criswell was sent for to join a military band doing duty for the Veteran Reserve Corps, stationed then at Washing- ton. Ile is a musician of ability, and while performing this part of a soldier's duty he had the pleasure of attending the ball at the second inauguration of President Lin- coln, this being followed by the sad duty of assisting in the funeral dirge at the bur- ial of the martyred president. His band was the one selected for the second post of honor in the procession from the White House to the Capitol.
Mr. Criswell is an ardent Republican and particularly active and useful in his party. He has efficiently filled the position
of township trustee for several terms, ren- dering satisfaction to all concerned. Both he and his estimable wife are consistent members of the Methodist church at Stra- han, in which he takes a deep interest. com. tributing liberally to its support. Our sube ject is socially connected with the Milton Summers Post, G. A. R., at Malvern. Mr. Criswell engages in general farming. but does not pursue this to the exclusion of the enjoyments of travel and other avenues of culture and education. He has seen many changes since his location in Mills county, and has borne his part in its development, being an intelligent and liberal-minde I citizen.
JOHN T. O'NEAL.
John Thomas O'Neal, now deceased, was numbered among the respected and well-known farmers of Madison township, Fremont county, where he died on the 20th of September, 1899. In his death the com- munity lost one of its valued citizens, his neighbors a faithful friend and his family a loving husband and father. He was born January 27. 1850. in this township. on the farm of his father, now the James Utterback place. Before coming to Fremont county the parents of our subject lived for a time in Buchanan county, Missouri. His father was a native of Virginia. became one of the first settlers of this part of Fremont county, and died at the ripe old age of ser- enty-eight years, loved by all who knew him for his many good qualities and kind- ness of heart. He married Delilah Ann Morgan, who was a sister of T. O. Morgan, a prominent citizen of Illinois, and she passed away at the age of sixty-eight years.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
She was an earnest Christian woman, hold. ing membership in the Baptist church, and was beloved by all. Both parents died in the year 1891, and were buried in one grave. They had two children: Mrs. Catherine Wing and John Thomas.
The son was reared upon the old home- stead farm and was early taught the value of industry and honesty in the affairs of life. The public schools afforded him his mental training and he remained with his parents until his marriage, which occurred 01 the 23d of March, 1879, the lady of his choice being Lucinda Copeland, whose intel- ligence and culture made her a most com- panionable and estimable wife. She was born in southern Illinois, April 7, 1858, a daughter of Richard Copeland, a native of Tennessee and a son of Mark Copeland, who also was born in that state. After ar- riving at years of maturity Richard Copes land married Sarah Poston, who was born in Tennessee. At the time of the Civil war he joined the Union army and died in the service at Vicksburg, leaving a widow and six children to mourn his loss. The record of his sons and daughters is as follows: Mark, who is living in Hamburg, Iowa; Tennessee, the wife of S. Beason, of Nebraska City, Nebraska: Henry, who is living in New York City; Harriet, who was the wife of Jefferson Watterson and died in Hamburg, Iowa, at the age of thirty-seven; Mrs. J. T. O'Neal; and John, of Omaha, Nebraska. The mother and children came to Iowa in 1865, locating in Montgomery county, where she had a brother, Newton Poston. She took up her abode there that he might advise and assist her with her family. After two years, however, she went to Clarinda, Iowa, where she obtained a situation as weaver in
a woolen factory and thus supported her children . Subsequently she became the wife of Eli Hiatt and removed to Hamburg, where she died at the age of sixty-seven years. She was a member of the Baptist church and lived a consistent Christian life. She experienced many troubles and trials and saw much sorrow, but she performed the part of a noble mother toward her children, and her kindness of heart won her the re- spect of all who knew her.
Her daughter, Mrs. Lucinda O'Neal, was reared in Illinois and Iowa, and acquired het education in the latter state. At the age of nineteen years she gave her hand in mar- riage to Jolin T. O'Neal, and for two years thereafter they resided on the old homestead, and then came to the farm on which Mrs. O'Neal still lives. He was a very indus- trious and energetic man and was an excel- lent judge of stock, and by his farming and stock-raising interests he made considerable money. He became well-to-do and left a valuable property of three hundred and forty acres, on which are a modern residence, that
was erected at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars, good barns, sheds and cribs; and everything about the place is kept in excel- lent shape, the fields being highly cultivated and yielding a good return for the labors of the owner. The home of Mr. and Mrs. O'Neal was blessed with four children : John Carleton, Ralph Ivan, Nellie C., and Ruth Irene, aged respectively twenty-one. four- teen, eleven and seven years. They lost their second child, Elliot H., who died at the age of five years.
In his political views Mr. O'Neal was a Democrat. but never sought or desired office, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business affairs, in which he met with
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gratifying success. His personal appearance was pleasing. He was five feet, ten inches in height and weighed one hundred and ser- enty-five pounds. His manners were cor- cial and genial and he was a popular man. well known for his many excellent qualities and for his free hospitality. Hle died in September, 1899. at the age of forty-nine years, leaving many friends as well as his family to mourn his loss. Mrs. O'Neal is still living on the home place, where she is surrounded with all of the comforts of life. She is a member of the Baptist church and is doing the utmost in her power to fill both the mother's and father's places in her house- hold. Her excellent qualities and strong characteristics are many and her life is wor- thy of emulation.
RICHARD F. BADA.
Probably there has seldom been so sure and complete a return made for honest toil and persevering endeavor, as that given the subject of the present sketch, who has en- countered and overcome almost insurmount- able difficulties in his pursuit of a compet- ence for his declining years. Richard F. Bada was born in Prussia, January 5. 1849. and, lost his father when but two years of age. His mother was left with the care of six children, one a son, being by the first marriage of his father. Some time later Mrs. Bada married a Mr. Shultz, a Prussian, who died in that country, leaving one son. Mrs. Shultz then married her present hus. band. August Waemka, a blacksmith by trade who served an apprenticeship .in his own country and found plenty of work when he first came to Anderson and Silver Creek townships, for proficient workmen in
that line were not numerous. The family of which Mr. Waemka became the father by marriage, came to America in 1856, on a sailing vessel to New York, passing seven long weeks on the ocean. The children were: Amelia, who later contracted two) marriages but died in 1879. leaving four children ; Richard, the subject of this sketch ; Paulina, the wife of Henry Wise, of this county, now the mother of five children ; and Adolph Shultz, now a Nebraska farmer and the father of four children. Being in hum- ble circumstances in a strange land and un- derstanding nothing of the language of the people, no doubt life often presented to the family grave puzzles to be solved: but a forty-acre homestead was secured. economy was practiced, charcoal was burned for fuel, and the time ultimately came when Mr. Waemka had a farm of one hundred and twenty acres which he traded for two hun- dred and forty acres west of Oakland, which he now owns. For the past fifteen years he and his admirable wife have lived at Oak- land on their income, no necessity for labor continuing.
Mr. Bada's brother. August was a blacksmith, having learned his trade in Ber- lin. He served in the German army and is now a successful farmer in Nebraska. He has a family of seven children. Our sub- ject's step-brother is a prosperous farmer in Marshall county, Illinois, his farm of three hundred and twenty acres being worth over one hundred dollars per acre. There he lives with a worthy wife and family.
Richard Bada had no educational ed- vantages and can scarcely read and write, entering his contest with the world thus han- dicapped. He was reared to the hardest kind of farm labor, and evidently found it
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
sometimes distasteful, for at the age of sev- enteen he left the shelter of the home roof. However, mother love brought him back and he continued until almost of legal age when he set out to see what he could make for himself, ignorant of books, the world's ways and without means. However, Mr. Bada must have possessed strength of char- acter, firmness of will and habits of thrift. capital in themselves. Farm hands were al- ways in demand and thus he soon obtained employment. working by the month or by the year, and by the time he was twenty- three years old he was able to purchase his first eighty acres of land, in Anderson town- ship, paying for this five dollars per acre, one hundred dollars being paid down. This land he broke, fenced fifty-five acres, raised upon it a crop of wheat and then of corn, and two years later sold it to his brother for thirty dollars an acre. This certainly must have been very encouraging, and his next purchase was of two hundred and forty acres of wild prairie land for which he paid six- teen dollars per acre, but he was obliged to contract a debt for all of it except one thou- sand dollars, which he paid. This land is a part of his twenty-two hundred and six acres of farm land which he now owns in this county and which he has divided into twelve farms. In Kansas, Mr. Bada owns three thousand and forty acres, all being wild ex- cept three hundred acres which he has had broken. This land is his latest purchase, made in the spring of 1900.
Mr. Bada was married October 2, 1876, to Miss Emma Ehlers, who was born on the borders of Denmark, October 1. 1859. She was brought to America when but eight years old by her mother and step-father, Fred Hammer, and well remembers the long
trip of five weeks on the sailing vessel. Mr. and Mrs. Hammer are living in Mineola, Iowa. Mrs. Bada's step-brothers and step- sisters are: John; Lewis, deceased; and Adelia, the wife of Joseph Trall, of Mine- ola, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Bada are justly proud of their own bright and intelligent children, who can look with pride also upon the suc- cessful career of their parents.
In the family are seven children: Ar- timus R., born June 29, 1879; Albert W., born September 4, 1880; George H., born October 25, 1881 ; Clara A., born October 16, 1884; Anna A., born October 30, 1886; Mary J., who was born April 27, 1889, and died April 11, 1896; and Lena M., born No- vember 11. 1893. The sons are intelligent young men and the second named is now in charge of the Kansas ranch. He is a graduate of the high school at Silver City and is his father's bookkeeper. The daugh- ters, Clara and Anna, are both in school.
Mr. Bada's life reads almost like a romance, so successful has he been in carry- ing out his plans, despite discouragements. He is one of the largest land-holders and stock-raisers in Mills county. He breeds horses, cattle and hogs extensively, has over six hundred head of cattle and forty-three horses, and breeds as many as four hundred hogs per year, feeding and shipping two hundred and eighty head of cattle. Mr. Bada rents the most of his farms, and owns his residence in Silver City, also owning five other lots and houses. The farm pre- sents a beautiful appearance fenced with wire and hedge, much of this work being done by himself. His home is still one of industry, although the time for any necessity has long passed. In politics Mr. Bada is one
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of the stanch Republicans who are ready and willing to uphold their principles in the face of all opposition. Justly is he regarded as one of the representative men of Mills county, lowa.
LEROY C. RODMAN.
A native of Illinois. Leroy C. Rodman was born in Henderson county, that state. on the 2d of July, 1842. his parents being William H. and Sarah ( Salter ) Rodman, natives of Franklin county, Kentucky. whence they removed to Peoria county, Illi- nois, in 1833. After two years there passed they went to Henderson county, where the father carried on farming and stock-raising on an extensive scale. His business was profitable, bringing to him a very gratifying income, and he continued his labors there until called to his final rest on the Hith of May, 1860, when he was sixty years of age. His wife survived him for seventeen years, and passed away in 1877. at the age of ser- enty-five. The Rodmans were of German and Irish lineage.
Under the parental roof Leroy C. Rod- man spent the days of his childhood and youth, working in the fields and meadows as the crops were gathered and the hay cut. In the winter months he pursued his edu- cation in the public schools and thus his time was passed until he had attained his majority, when he began farming on his own account. The pursuit to which he was reared he has made his life work. le entered upon his business career with a very limited capital, and the first land which he owned was a tract of forty acres. By in- dustry and good management his capital was increased, and proportionately his land-
ed possessions were extended until he to- day owns a fine farm of two hundred acres in Rawles township. Mills county, supplied with all modern conveniences, the latest im- proved machinery, good outbuildings and a comfortable residence.
On the 14th of November, 1867. Mr. Rodman was joined in wedlock to Miss Martha Mackey, a daughter of James and Eliza ( Beal) Mackey, natives of Indiana. whence they removed to Missouri in an early day. They were also among the first emi- grants from Missouri to Oregon. The father died in Mills county, at the age of fifty-two years, and the mother passed away on the 14th of April, 1897, at the age of seventy- two. Mr. and Mrs. Rodman became the par- ents of seven children, namely : Eliza. Will- iam H., James Luther, Effie, Rosa, Melvina and LeroyT. The family are well known in Mills county, and the members of the house- hold enjoy the warm regard of many friends and occupy an enviable position in social cir- cles of the community. Mr. Rodman is widely recognized as a man of sterling worth, and any one may be glad to claim him as a friend.
ROMULUS S. VESTAL.
One of the prominent residents of Mills county, Iowa, living in Deer Creek township. is Romulus S. Vestal, the subject of this sketch. He was born in Yadkin county. North Carolina, on the Yadkin river, in 1844. a son of Daniel and Nancy ( Davis) Vestal, the former of whom was born and died in North Carolina, and the latter also passed away in that state. The grandfather of our subject was David Vestal, who mar- ried Mary Pickett, both of whom were born
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in America. Their ancestors came from England.
Our subject's family engaged in farming, in North Carolina, and he was reared on a farm, attending the schools of the Yadkin district. When the war broke out between the states the members of our subject's fami- ly were obliged to endure persecution. They were of the religious denomination known as Quakers, who bear testimony against slavery and war and through their peculiar ways of thinking often came into conflict with the opinions of their neighbors ; hence, about 1864 our subject, with about one hun- dred and forty-five others, left the old home and started for Indiana, where there are large bodies of Quakers. Some forty-four of this number, our subject among them, were captured and taken as prisoners to Pe- tersburg, but Mr. Vestal effected his escape and made his way to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he had an uncle, coming to Mills coun- ty, Iowa, in 1870. He settled first in Rawels township, but in 1874 he removed to his present farm. This consists of one hun- dred and sixty acres of cultivated land, and he very successfully conducts a business of farming and stock-raising.
Mr. Vestal married Margaret E. Mackey, a daughter of Simon and Eunice ( Hobson) Mackey, natives of North Carolina, her birth having taken place in Missouri. Mrs. Mackey was of English descent, and her fa- ther of Scotch-Irish blood. Her grandfather was Robert Mackey. Mrs. Vestal's oldest brother, Christopher Mackey, was a soldier in the Civil war, and died in Helena, Ar- kansas, while in the service.
Mr. and Mrs. Vestal were married in Andrews county, Missouri, near St. Joseph. and these children have been born to them :
Ida May, who is the wife of Charles W. Salyers; Mrs. Mary I. Criswell; Charles S. Vestal and Wood M. Vestal.
In politics Mr. Vestal is a Republican and at present is one of the three members of the efficient board of supervisors of - Mills county, filling the office with judgment and dignity. Both Mr. and Mrs. Vestal are connected with religious denominations, the latter being a valued member of the Meth- odist church, of Strahan, the former of the Christian church, at Malvern. Socially Mr. Vestal is a Mason, having lately taken some of the degrees. The family is one that com. mands the respect and esteem of the whole community.
OTHA WEARIN.
A prominent farmer of Indian Creek township, Mills county, Iowa, is Otha Wearin, the subject of this sketch. He was born in Harrison county, Virginia, March 22, 1826, and is a son of Michael and Mary (Coe) Wearin, the former of whom was born in 1791, in Virginia, and died in 1887 at the home of his son in Mills county. The mother of our subject was born in Ohio, and died at the age of forty, leaving a family of nine children, four of whom are still surviving. The family removed from Virginia to Athens county, Ohio, thence to La Porte, Indiana, and in 1856 to Mills county, Iowa.
Our subject remained at home with his parents until he was twenty years old, in the fall of that year accompanying his brother Josialı to Indiana. There they worked for their uncle, P. Robbins, for two years, and in the winter seasons attending school at Michigan City. Otha Wearin left Indi-
Otha Wearin 8 7003
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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ana in the fall of 1854 and came to Mills county, walking most of the way, thus showing the determination to overcome ob- stacle, which has marked his after-life.
After reaching Iowa Mr. Wearin took up government land, and the first winter chopped wood and sold it in Glenwood, thus paying his board. In the spring of 1855 he and his brother rented land and later took up three thousand acres. Until 1858 the brothers lived together, but sep- arated at the time of our subject's mar- riage, December 23, 1859, to Miss Martha Workman, who was born in Indiana in 1832. and died here when about thirty years of age. She was the mother of four chil- dren : Charles O., Joseph A., William Hen- ry and Mary V.
After his marriage our subject located upon this place, his first residence being a little box-house, sixteen by eighteen feet in dimensions, and lived there until 1882, when the present comfortable residence was built. At the age of twenty Mr. Wearin owned nothing but a saddle and bridle. He now possesses seven hundred acres of land here, and about two thousand in Ne- braska.
In politics Mr. Wearin has always voted the Democratic ticket, casting his first bal- lot in 1848 for Lewis Cass. However, in local issues he reserves the right to vote for the one he considers the best man for the office. About the time of his wife's (leath he retired from active work, but still looks after his interests in a quiet way. The family is one of the most respected in the neighborhood, and its members are dt- tendants at church and interested in any educational movements in the community. Mr. Wearin is a man who commands the 28
respect and esteem which he receives, on ac- count of his high character and record of honest and dignified living.
RICHARD P. SHEPARD.
For many years Mr. Shepard has been actively identified with agricultural interests. Hle was born in Kentucky in 1840. His grandfather. Henry Shepard, lived and died in that state, which was also the birthplace of James Shepard, the father of our subject. The latter wedded Miss Mary Biven, a na- tive of Kentucky, although her father way born in Maryland, representing one of the old families of that commonwealth. He re- moved, however, to Kentucky, where he spent the residue of his life. By the mar- riage of James Shepard and Mary Biven three sons were born, namely, Richard P'., Henry and James. Henry is now a resident of Center township, Mills county, while James is living in Indiana. James enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining a com- pany which was raised in Mills county. The command joined Sully's expedition and was engaged in fighting the Indians in Dakota and Montana for two years. The father died in Kentucky in early manhood and the mother afterward removed to Indiana, where she remained until called to the home beyond.
Mr. Shepard of this review was but six- ten years of age when he came from his native state to Mills county, Iowa. After- ward, however, he removed to Indiana, where he engaged in farming for twenty- three years, but on the expiration of that period he again came to this state and has since continuously resided in Mills county. His farm is located three miles southwest of Glenwood. His diligence, energy and
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