USA > Iowa > Mills County > A biographical history of Fremont and Mills Counties, Iowa > Part 71
USA > Iowa > Fremont County > A biographical history of Fremont and Mills Counties, Iowa > Part 71
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
Our subject was educated in the district schools of Andrew county. Missouri, leav- ing school at the age of thirteen years, al- though he continued at study for three years
longer under the supervision of his brother Milton. Mr. Estes considers time well spent that increases knowledge, and is one of the men who will study, in some line, all his life. Until he was twenty years old he remained at his home in Estes Park, coming from Colorado to Fremont county, Iowa, in the spring of 1866.
Mr. Estes was married August 30, 1866, to Miss Mary C. Hiatt, who was born in Peoria county, Illinois, a daughter of Reuben and Nancy (Spence) Hiatt, all of Illinois, the father being a farmer who had come to this county in 1851. Here he en- . tered one hundred and sixty acres of land and subsequently owned four hundred acres. Mrs. Hiatt died at an early age and Mr. Hiatt married again. The two children of the first marriage were Page, who is a resi- dent of Boise City, Idaho, and Mrs. Estes, of this sketch.
Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Estes began their domestic life on a tract of land consisting of forty acres, for which Mr. Estes had paid five hundred dollars. In 1870 a new house took the place of the old one, and save for the change in the residences the family lives in the same place which sheltered the newly wedded pair, so many years ago. Mr. Estes has ac- cumulated large tracts of land, at one time owning twelve hundred acres in this county and nine hundred acres in Nebraska. His children have profited by his generosity, as he has given each one a good farm, and still 'retains four hundred and twenty acres in the home farm. The farming and stock- feeding done by our subject have been suc- cessfully carried on, and he has had no difficulty in feeding as many as fifteen car loads of cattle per year and two car loads of
55I
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
hogs. Formerly he has grown as much as fifteen thousand bushels of corn annually, but for the past seven years has turned his attention principally to horticulture, his apple orchards comprising ninety acres.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Estes are as follows: Robert L., who is a farmer and stock-dealer near Sidney, wedded Mary Kauble, of Furnas county, Nebraska ; AAnna is the wife of Edward Baldwin, of Scott township: Joel S., a graduate of the Thurman high school, is now a hardware merchant of that place: Reuben M. is a pupil of the lowa State University, is a natural orator, and is desirous of attend- ing Harvard College; Charles F., twin brother of Reuben, is a farmer and stock- man residing near Sidney; Giles is a student in the State Normal School, at Cedar Falls, Iowa; and four others died in infancy.
An active member of the Democratic party, Mr. Estes has long been regarded as a leader in his part of the state. He well represented his district in the state legis- lature for the terms of the twenty-second and twenty-third general assembly and as- sisted in framing the excellent laws for the maintenance of the normal schools. He was also the author of the Australian system of voting adopted in the twenty-third general assembly. For twelve years he was a justice of the peace, and so popular was he with couples wanting a marriage ceremony per- formed that he was styled the marrying jus- tice, having been called upon to perform the ceremony sixty-five times during his years of service. Mr. Estes has been president of the school board of Sidney township. which has twenty schools under its juris- diction, and has held all of the local offices. Socially he has been for many years connect-
ed with the Masonic order, and he has long been a consistent member of the Primitive Baptist church. Mr. Estes is a man who has had the prosperity of his country, his state, his county and home, much at heart and has always worked with this interest in view.
JOHN TAYLOR.
Among the industrious, practical and enterprising farmers of Madison township, Fremont county, is he whose name intro- (luces this review. He is numbered among the well-to-do agriculturists of the com- munity and he has a wide acquaintance among the best people of this portion of the state, where his entire life has been passed. His birth occurred July 21, 1857. on the farm which he yet owns, his father being Isaac Taylor, one of the pioneers who came to the county in 1853, making an early settlement here at a period when the work of progress and advancement lay largely in the future. He was born in Indiana and was reared in that state, and in Douglas county, Illinois, his childhood was passed upon a farm where he early became famil- iar with the labors necessary to its cultiva- tion and improvement. Ile was married February 25, 1852. to Miss Virenda Eliza- beth Utterback, who was born in Ohio, but was reared in Douglas county, Illinois. After their marriage they emigrated west- ward with team and wagon and a small amount of household goods. They first settled near MeKissick's Grove, and in 1854 removed to the farm upon which he resided. Their first home was a log cabin, but it was afterward replaced by a good frame resi- dence, equipped with all the conveniences
552
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
of the times. The father performed the arduous task of reclaiming the wild land and transforming it into richly cultivated fields, but as the years passed his farm be- came one of the best in the county. In poli- tics he was a Republican, and both he and his wife were members of the Wesleyan church. His death occurred in April, 1883, and his wife, who was born June 20, 1836, died in May, 1900, at the age of sixty-four. She was a woman widely loved for her goodness of heart and mind, her kindness and her hospitality. In business Mr. Taylor sustained an unassailable reputation for in- tegrity and fair dealing, and enjoyed the esteem of all who knew him. They had but two children. The daughter, Sarah Ann, who was the eldest, became the wife of E. V. Conkly. She died at the age of thirty- seven years, leaving three children.
John Taylor, whose name introduces this record, was born on the home farm and it became his play-ground in youth and the scene of his manhood labors. During the winter seasons he attended the public schools of the township and in the summer months worked in the fields. On the 12th of November, 1876, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Sallie Florence Greenamyer, a lady of intelligence who has indeed proved to him a faithful wife and companion. She was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, March 3, 1860, a daughter of Jehu and Mary Josephine (Conkle) Greenamyer. The father was born in Crawford county, Ohio, and was of German-Holland lineage. He removed to Defiance, that state, and in 1869 came to Fremont county, Iowa, locat- ing in Madison township. In 1889 he be- came a resident of Sloan, Woodbury coun- ty, this state. He had ten children, five
sons and five daughters, namely : Arthur; Sallie Florence: Hattie; Denver; Nona Vesta; Frank, who died, leaving a widow and one child, and she resides at McKis- sick's island; Park; Kate Wilkerson; and Richard and Bessie, at home. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been born two chil- dren, Eva Taylor and Ora Joseph, the lat- ter a lad of ten summers.
In his political views Mr. Taylor was a Republican. He holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America, Camp No. 1999, of Riverton. His time and attention, however, are largely given to the farm, which comprises two hundred and fifty acres of valuable land and is a highly im- proved property, provided with all modern accessories and conveniences, including sub- stantial buildings, rich pastures and well- developed fields. In connection with gen- eral farming he carries on stock-raising and is numbered among the prosperous and en- terprising agriculturists of his community. Both he and his wife enjoy the high regard of all who know them and well deserve mention in this volume.
WILLIAM ANGUS.
The American citizenship has drawn its strength from many sources. All of the civilized countries of the globe have sent their representatives to the new world, and the strong characteristics of each people have formed an element in shaping the des- tiny of the nation as it has progressed along intellectual, material, moral and so- cial lines. No country, however, has fur- nished more desirable citizens than the land of the hills and heather, whose sons have ever been noted for their loyalty to
553
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
duty, their perseverance in the pursuit of an honest purpose, their reliability and their industry.
Mr. Angus, the subject of this sketch, was born in Campsie parish, Stirlingshire, Scotland, May 14, 1828. The older branch of the Campsie Anguses have lived at the old home and on the farm lands of Carlston for upward of three hundred years, first rent- ing, then buying the feu lands from Duke of Montrose, some two hundred and sey- enty years ago. David Angus, the grand- father of the subject of this present sketch, was one of the four sons of William Angus, of Carlston, namely, William, David, John and James. David Angus held a ninety- nine year lease of a farm called Balgrochen or Sandyhole, where the father of Mr. An- gus, of Malvern, was born. He married Miss Margaret Douns, a daughter of James and Janet Douns, of Dalbeth. Mrs. Angus died in Scotland in 1836. Mr. and Mrs. David AAngus, Jr., had eleven children, only four of whom are living.
In 1839, when eleven years of age. Will- iam Angus accompanied his father and the family to the new world, taking passage on the sailing vessel George Cabot. Anchor was weighed in the harbor of Liverpool. England, and six weeks had passed ere they landed in New York city. The family first located in Yates county, New York, where they remained until 1853, when he and his father removed to Lake county, Illinois. In 1856 they went to Houston county, Min- nesot, where the latter died in 1869, at the age of eighty-three years.
Mr. Angus, of this review, did not come to Mills county until 1874, and then did not make a permanent location. Return- ing in 1875. he established his home here,
and has since been a valued resident of the community. He was married in 1879 to Miss Johanna Holm, a native of Odeslog. Ostergotland, Sweden, a daughter of Hans and Maria C. Swanson. Three children have been born unto them, of whom two are living : William A. and Walter H. By her first marriage Mrs. Angus had a daugh- ter named Hannah.
Mr. and Mrs. Angus began their do- mestic life upon a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land in White Cloud town- ship, where their house was a building six- teen by twenty-four feet, one story and a half in height. They afterward remodeled their house and built a barn on the farm, and resided there until August, 1899, when they purchased a residence in Malvern, and are now living there in retirement.
Mr. Angus gives his political support to the men and measures of the Republican party, and is in hearty sympathy with its policy. He cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont, for the spirit of lib- erty is strong within the Scotch people, and that candidate stood for the principles of liberty as did no other presidential candidate. In religious belief Mr. and Mrs. Angus are Baptists, having held membership in that de- nomination for thirty years. They are peo- ple of high respectability, enjoying the warm regard of many friends, and as rep- resentative citizens of Mills county they well deserve mention in this volume.
JAMES L. MARTIN.
The farms of Fremont county, Iowa, are noted for their fertility, and the fortu- nate owner of a productive tract of two hundred acres is the subject of this sketch.
1
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
554
James L. Martin was born in Madison coun- ty, Iowa, in 1856, and was a son of Henry and Martha ( Hodge) Martin, the former a native of Indiana. born in 1839, the lat- ter a native of the same state, who died thirty-four years ago. She is survived by a brother, J. T. Hodge, of Sidney, Iowa.
The paternal grandparents of our sub- ject were Henry and Cynthia (McRoberts) Martin, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania, served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and spent his last days in Indiana. The latter was born in Kentucky and died in Fremont county, Iowa. Henry Martin removed from Indiana to Madison county, Iowa, in 1855. the next year com- ing to Fremont county, where he located.
Our subject was reared on a farm and attended the district schools. When he left the parental roof to engage in business for himself he applied the principles of farm- ing, which he had learned during youth, and has succeeded so well that at the pres- ent time he is the owner of one of the most productive farms in Fremont county.
Mr. Martin married Miss Amanda Ruse, a daughter of David and Polly Ruse, an old and prominent Fremont county family. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin: Mrs. Nellie Myers; Stella, a teacher; Flossie and Jessie, the two older ladies, having graduated at the Sidney high school.
Politically our subject is a Democrat, being active in support of its principles. He has efficiently served as school director, and is socially connected with the Modern Woodmen. The estimable wife of our sub- ject is a valued member of the United Brethren church, where she is known for
her kind and charitable spirit. The family is thoroughly respected throughout Fre- mont county.
MICHAEL A. STEPHENSON.
One of the prominent and prosperous farmers of Scott township, Fremont coun- ty, Iowa, now living a retired life in the pleasant town of Thurman, is Michael A. Stephenson, the subject of this sketch. He was born in Parke county, Indiana, March 4, 1835, a son of William and Margaret (Troutman) Stephenson, the former born in Kentucky about 1790, who died in Hope county, Missouri, in 1840, aged fifty years; the latter, also a native of Kentucky, died in December, 1866, in Fremont county, aged sixty-six. A family of fifteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. William Ste- phenson, fourteen of whom grew to matur- ity ; six sons and as many daughters married and reared families of their own, but at the present time the following are the only sur- vivors : Michael A., who is our subject; Sarah, who is the wife of James Hutton, of Kansas; and Rachel Price, who is a widow living in Atchison county, Missouri.
The early education of our subject was limited, on account of want of opportunity, and he grew up accustomed to the labor of the farm, as have many of the most promi- nent and influential men of the country. Seldom do we read of any man who has reached a high position in public life who has not had at one time upon his hands the stain of the soil. Mr. Stephenson mar- ried at the age of twenty-two, and settled upon a farm in northwestern Missouri, where he owned two hundred acres of land
555
BIOGRAPIIICAL HISTORY.
which he had bought in several different purchases. Seven years later he sold this place and engaged in teaming and freight- ing across the mountains, this proving a remunerative business for two years.
In 1862 Mr. Stephenson made a trip to lowa, and, noting the desirable land in Scott township, removed here in 1864, where he has six hundred acres of valuable land and also owns property in Thurman. In 1900 he erected his fine house, which he uses as a residence, and also built a new barn, with other improvements.
The first marriage of Mr. Stephenson was on October 5, 1857, to Miss Matilda Ramsey, a native of Indiana, who came to Missouri when young, and five children were born of this union : Mary, who is the wife of William Shear, resides in Scott township; Margaret, who resides in Sidney township, is the wife of J. V. Thornton; Oscar, who is a farmer in this township; Porter, who is also a farmer in Scott town- ship; and Omer, who carries on farming in this township. The death of Mrs. Ste- phenson took place on January 22, 1897. The second marriage of our subject was to Mrs. Flora McElroy, the daughter of William and Isabella ( Pike) Mann and the widow of James McElroy, who was a vol- unteer soldier of Company A, Fourth Iowa Regiment, and was wounded at the battle of Pea Ridge. For disability he was pen- sioned, and he died January 21, 1893, at the age of fifty-four, leaving four children : Minnie, who is the wife of Charles R. Paul, of Thurman; Gilbert A., who went to .Aus- tralia in the fall of 1899; Effie, who is the wife of Wallace Hall, of this place: and Frank J., who is a youth in school. One sister of Mrs. Stephenson is Ellen, who is 34
the wife of William Calnon, of Burt coun- ty, Nebraska.
Mr. Stephenson has been prominently identified with the Democratic party all his life. Ile has served in almost all the local offices, has been a member of the board of supervisors of this county for three years, and has frequently filled the positions of trustee and school director. Socially he is connected with the Masonic fraternity. He is one of the most highly respected citizens of the town of Thurman.
In 1896 Mrs. Stephenson was appointed postmistress of this place, commencing her duties January 1, 1897, and she conducted the office with ability, having as assistant her daughter, Mrs. Effie Hall, until she re- signed, January 1, 1901.
JESSE OTTE.
One of the progressive and energetic young farmers of Fremont county, Iowa, located near Sidney, is Jesse Otte, who is the subject of this sketch. This is his na- tive state, county and township, for he was born here in 1872 and grew to manhood amid these surroundings. For him every road, hill and tree has tender associations which endear the locality to him. He is a son of George Otte, who was of German birth and ancestry and who came to America in 1848, settling in Fremont county, Iowa, in 1850, becoming there a large land-owner and a very influential citizen. The mother of our subject was Joanna ( Klinger) Otte, also a German by birth.
Our subject was reared on his father's farm and received his education in the dis- trict schools. His natural inclination was toward farming; hence he has been unusu-
556
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
ally successful, having adopted modern methods, studied the latest inventions in machinery and the experiments of others, besides instituting many experiments him- self. In fact. Mr. Otte is an up-to-date farmer of this "end of the century," and promises to be one of the most successful in the county. His farm, consisting of one hundred and eighty acres, has been brought to a high state of productiveness.
The family of Mr. Otte consists of his wife, who was Miss Maud Wilson, a daugh- ter of S. and Amelia (Doty) Wilson, na- tives of Illinois, now living in Fremont county, and one son, Harold W. They possess the esteem of a large circle of friends and Mr. Otte's example is being followed by many of his neighboring farmer ac- quaintances.
JAMES SMITH.
A prominent citizen and successful farmer of Indian Creek township, Mills county, Iowa, is James Smith, the subject of this sketch. He was born in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, in 1850, a son of James and Harriet ( Pringle) Smith, both of whom were natives of Scotland, and both died in Canada. Immediately after marriage they emigrated to America. Mr. Smith being a Presbyterian minister, was stationed in Can- ada by his church, his last charge being lo- cated at Guelph. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Smith were: Mrs. Mary Taylor, of Michigan ; Jessie, deceased : John, a farmer in Canada; Mrs. Maggie Colvin, in Canada ; and Mrs. Jemima McClain, the widow of a Presbyterian minister.
Our subject was reared on the farm in Canada and there obtained his education.
His chosen occupation was that of agricul- ture. His advent into Mills county, Iowa, dates back twenty-four years; and if they have been principally years of toil he feels a measure of reward as he views his fine farm of two hundred and forty acres of land under a fine state of cultivation. His cattle range over the hills and pastures, and he has every reason to feel satisfied with his choice of location.
The marriage of Mr. Smith took place in Mills county, to Miss Harriet Sandiland, a sister of David Sandiland, a prominent citizen. The eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Virgil by name, a fine young man, was taken from them by death at the age of seventeen. The surviving children are : Marion, Arthur and Ray. The family are intelligent and interesting people, and en- joy all the comforts of life in their 'sub- stantial home.
Mr. Smith being conscientiously op- posed to the liquor traffic, votes for the Prohibition ticket in national and state elections; but in local affairs casts his vote mainly for the Republican ticket. He is now one of the efficient school directors of Mills county. Both he and his excellent wife are valued members of the Presby- terian church, and well represent the best element of citizens of this part of Iowa.
ARCHIBALD MANN.
A prominent and prosperous farmer of Scott township, Fremont county, Iowa, is Archibald Mann, the subject of this sketch. He was born in Monroe county, Virginia, in 1828, and was the third in order of birth in the family of ten children born to Asahel and Elizabeth (Greenlee) Mann, both of
557
BIOGRAPIIIC.IL IIISTORY.
whom were natives of Virginia. The for- mer was born in 1802, the latter in 1803, and they were married December 1. 1825, removed to Lawrence county, Ohio, in 1830, and two years later to Hendricks county, Indiana. In the fall of 1850 they removed to Wapello county, lowa, and in 1851 they came to Fremont county, Iowa, where Mr. Mann entered a quarter section six miles northwest of Hamburg. There they passed the remainder of their lives, and when they died left a farm of the value of ten thousand dollars.
The large family of Mr. and Mrs. Mann grew to maturity, their names being Will- iam, who lived to be seventy-five years of age; Granville; Archibald; Mary Jane, who became the wife of S. C. Alsworth, died in this county in 1867; Hiram, deceased; John, who was killed in the Civil war, dy- ing in the battle of Vicksburg, where he lies buried; James, who is a reliable and an old established druggist in Hamburg, Iowa; Abner, who resides in Colorado, a justice of the peace; Asahel, a farmer in Wash- ington township, this county; and Susan, who is the wife of C. H. Bishop and re- sides in Oklahoma. The aged parents have both passed away, the mother in 1891, the father in 1895, and both rest in the old church-yard in Sidney. Mr. Mann had been a very successful farmer and stock-raiser, and also was a good carpenter. He labored hard all his life. doing his full duty to God and man, and died, as he lived, a consistent member of the Methodist church.
Archibald Mann, who is our subject. re- ceived an excellent primary education and enjoyed a two-year course at the Asbury University, now DePauw, at Greencastle. Indiana, and taught school for a few terms
very successfully, remaining in his old home until he had reached his majority.
Our subject was married December 8, 1855. to Miss D. A. Williamson, who was born in Lynchburg. Virginia, February 29, 1836. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Mann settled upon their present farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres, bought of the govern- ment for one dollar and a quarter an acre. Two years before this Mr. Mann had com- menced improvements upon the land, and with the assistance of his wife he soon was able to make it a very comfortable home. He now owns five hundred acres, upon which he farms and raises stock, pasturing from seventy-five to one hundred head of cattle, preferring short-horn to any other breed. His stock of hogs brings good prices in the market, it being mostly of the Poland China variety.
Mr. and Mrs. Mann have had nine chil - dren, seven of whom are living: Alonzo G., who lives at Grand Junction, Colorado; Charles W .; Henry; Mary E., who is the wife of E. R. Alexander, of Colorado; John B., who lives at Grand Junction, Col- orado; Nellie: Asahel; Louisa; and War- ren, who also resides in Colorado. Levi B. Williamson, a brother of Mrs. Mann, was a soldier in the Fourth lowa Cavalry, and was wounded three times, while Will . iam and .Asahel Mann, brothers of our sub- ject, went through the war, one as a veter- inary surgeon, the other attaining the rank of lieutenant, and both came home without injury.
Mr. Mann is connected with the Ma- sonic order, and in his political opinions ho is a stanch Republican, although he has never accepted any office in the gift of the party. Both he and his excellent wife are
558
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
valued members of the Methodist church, in which he is a steward. The family is much respected in the community where they have so long resided. In 1878 Mr. Mann erect- ed his present comfortable dwelling, and considers it a delightful privilege to extend hospitality to his friends, making them wel- come, for both he and Mrs. Mann are well preserved in mind and body, and are repre, sentative citizens of Scott township.
MRS. MARTHA M. MANN.
One of the old and prominent families of Scott township, Fremont county, Iowa, is well represented by Mrs. Martha M. Mann, the subject of this sketch. She is the widow of the late Granville Mann, whose death occurred here May 15, 1886. He was born in Virginia on September 10, 1826, a son of Asahel Mann, who traced his ancestry to Scotland. Granville Mann and his father removed from Virginia to Indiana, then to Illinois, where they located in Knox county, and prior to 1842 moved to Jefferson county, Iowa, where they found the country still in the possession of the Indians. When they came to Scott town- ship, in 1851, the Manns and the Rectors were the first settlers.
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.