USA > Iowa > Keokuk County > A genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa > Part 10
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CAP E. MILLER.
The welfare of any community depends on the number of strong young men it can muster. Old men for wisdom; but it takes the elastic energy and fire of youth to carry great projects through. Old men think ; young men act. And, though it be true that young men may act without sufficient thought, yet even failure, with strength and a will to do again, discounts the conservative halting of old age. Keokuk county has a goodly stock of these young men, alert, active, awake to the prob- abilities and possibilities of life, and keeping the car of progress in the van of the procession. Many of these are worthy sons of well-to-do sires, equipped at their expense for the battle of life, while others have fought their way to success by their own unaided personal effort. Of this latter class is the subject of this article. At an age when most young men are just beginning to take life seriously, he is superintendent of schools of Keokuk county.
Cap Miller was born and reared to man's estate on a farm in En- glish River township, one of a family of nine children. The education he received in the country school served but to whet the boy's appetite for something broader and deeper. The parents, though willing to sacrifice much for their son's advancement, were able to help but little and do justice to the other members of their large family, and he was thus thrown upon his own resources. Such a state of affairs, however, did not dampen the ardor of the youth; indeed, it but challenged the spirit of self-help which had been lying dormant, and led him to resolve that lie would secure the object of his desires, come what may. The way opened for him, as it had for others of like mind before, through the arduous work of the schoolroom. Teaching one season and attending
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the next constituted his life for several years. After two years at Hed- rick Normal, he matriculated in the lowa State Normal, from which excellent institution he graduated in 1901. Even before graduating from the State Normal Mr. Miller had won an enviable reputation as an educator. Here his worth was immediately recognized by President Seerley, and he was frequently sent to take temporary charge of schools throughout the state in the absence of superintendents and principals, an honor which came to no one not fully deserving, as the reputation of the State Normal was at stake.
Prior to graduating from the State Normal, Professor Miller took charge of the Millersburg schools, and the two years of his incumbency were marked by thorough organization and effective class work. Upon graduation he was offered the principalship of the DeSoto schools, and accepting, he taught until the holidays, when he resigned to enter upoil the duties of his present office, to which he had been elected on the Demo- cratic ticket, over a strong man on the Republican ticket, and this in a Republican county. Since that time this office has felt the rejuvenating effect of his master hand, the school system of Keokuk county never having been on a better basis than at the present day.
The family of which Mr. Miller is a member still resides in South English. The parents, David Wesley and Margaret (McWilliams) Miller, are natives of the Buckeye state, having come to lowa in early life. They belong to the substantial farming element and are regarded as among the best citizens of the county.
JOSIAH UTTERBACK.
Josiah Utterback has lived in Sigourney since 1892. He was born on a farm in Johnson county, Indiana, May 15, 1834. His parents were
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Corbin and Sarah ( Hanks) Utterback, bothi natives of Kentucky and early settlers of Johnson county. Indiana. In 1850 they came to Keokuk county, Iowa, settling on a farm about three miles southeast of Sigour- ney. They lived there until their death; the mother passing away at the age of seventy-one and the father when nearly ninety-four years old. Of their twelve children nine are living, of which number Josiah is the eldest. Corbin Utterback was a successful farmer and extensive stock raiser. He belonged to the Democratic party.
Josiah received only a comnion school education and most of his life has been devoted to farming and stock raising. In 1853 he married Frances Dyer, a native of Johnson county, Indiana, and by this union they became the parents of eight children. At the time of his marriage Mr. Utterback moved to a farm in Lancaster township, this county, and liere he made his home until 1892. He was one of the organizers of the Sigourney Savings Bank and became its first president. Through a period of ten years he has directed the bank's affairs with the utmost care and success, and he has been retained at its head to the present time. Mr. Utterback is still interested in farming and still engages in the buying and selling of stock. Some time along in the eighties he was made treasurer of Keokuk county. He has also taken an interest in public affairs and found the Democratic principles such as he could best accept.
ELLIOTT UTTERBACK.
Elliott Utterback has long been a resident of Lancaster township, Keokuk county, Iowa, and was born in Johnson county, Indiana, April 14, 1842, son of Corbin and Sarah (Hanks) Utterback. His father's
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history is recorded in the personal sketch of Josiah Utterback, elsewhere in this work. Mr. Utterback was the seventh child and fourth son and was about eight years old at his coming to Keokuk county. He was educated in the district school of Lancaster township and assisted his father on the farm. In 1859, when in his eighteenth year he lost a leg, but notwithstanding he has had a successful career. He owns a fine, well improved farm of two hundred acres.
On December 14, 1869, he married Olive Beall, who was born in Holmes county, Ohio, March 15, 1847. Her father was Brooklyn Beall, a native of Maryland, and an early settler in Holmes county, Ohio, where he died at the age of forty-three. Her mother was Mary Ann Siga- foos ; she as born in Pennsylvania, came when a small girl to Ohio and later, in 1865, came to Keokuk county, where she died in her seventy- eighth year. She was the mother of eleven children, of whom Mrs. U'tterback was the eighth. The latter was seventeen years old when she came to Keokuk county. Mr. and Mrs. Utterback located at the west end of Lancaster township. They were the parents of five sons: Lester C., married Julia Pennington, of Lancaster; Vernon D., the huis- band of Maud Jacobs, of Lancaster; S. Curtis, who married Florence Gladfelter and resides in Lancaster; Chelley C., married Artie Long and lives in Lancaster; and Elver C., at home, assisting on his father's home.
Mr. Utterback holds membership in the Christian church at Lan- caster and is one of its trustees. In politics he is a Democrat. He is one of the substantial old settlers of the county and has been actively interested in all the affairs pertaining to the advancement of the com- munity.
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HARMON HENKLE.
The fitting reward of a well spent life is retirement from labor and a period of rest in which to enjoy the fruits of former toil. This has been vouchsafed to Mr. Henkle, who is now living in Keota-a town in which he has been a very important factor as a promoter of many lines of progress and improvement contributing to the general good. He was born in Fayette county, Ohio, April 7, 1832, and is a son of George W. Henkle. The grandfather also bore the name of George Henkle. The former, a native of Virginia, was a farmer by occupa- tion and came westward to Iowa in 1840. settled in Washington county. where he entered land from the government and improved a farm, mak- ing his home thereon for many years. He died, however, in Keokuk county, Iowa, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. His political support was given to the Whig party until its dissolution, when he joined the ranks of the Republican party, which was then formed, and marched under its banners throughout his remaining days. He was honored by his fellow townsmen with a number of local offices and was a consistent member of the Episcopal church. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Polly Bush, died in Washington county, Iowa, when the subject of this review was about sixteen years of age.
Harmon Henkle was the second child in his father's family and was eight years of age when he came with them to Iowa. He was reared and educated in Washington county, pursuing his studies in a log schoolhouse there such as was common at that time. After arriv- ing at the age of maturity he was married in Washington county in 1854 to Lydia J. Wartenbee, a native of Ohio, who came in early girl- hood to Iowa. To this marriage were born five children : three of whom
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are living : Ella, now the wife of E. M. Richey, of Keota ; Watson D., who married Emma Hunter and is a farmer of Van Buren county ; and Clara, the wife of E. E. Bowers, a general merchant of Keota, carrying on business as a member of the firm of Bowers & Sanders.
After his marriage Mr. Henkle located in Richmond, Washington county, where he followed carpentering until about 1859, when he re- moved to Iowa county. There he engaged in farming for two years and in the spring of 1861 took up his abode at a place which has since been called Henkletown, trading his farm property for a saw-mill there. He was then engaged in the manufacture of lumber until the close of the war and in the meantime he also turned his attention to general merchandising, which he followed successfully until his removal to Keota. In 1872 this town was laid out and Mr. Henkle became one of its first merchants, erecting the second or third building of the place. He and his partner removed their stock of goods from Henkletown and conducted a general store in Keota until 1886, and in addition carried on an extensive lumber business under the firm name of Henkle, Littler & Company. This partnership was maintained for several years. About 1886 our subject purchased a third interest in a steam grist-mill at Keota and carried on general merchandising in connection with his milling interests, his enterprise contributing materially to the upbuilding and substantial improvement of the town. In August, 1891, he removed his mill to Weiser, Washington county, Idaho, where he conducted business until July, 1899, when he sold his interest in the mill and returned to Keokuk county, Iowa. Mr. Henkle has also been a factor in agricultural interests here, owning and operating a farm in Lafayette township, adjoining Keota. He became interested in bank- ing affairs here as one of the stockholders of the Keota Bank, which in 17
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1899 was merged into the State Bank. Of this institution he has been the vice-president for many years and its successful conduct is due in no small degree to his efforts. He has valuable property in the town and in all his business affairs has met with creditable success. His prosperity is due entirely to his own efforts and as the architect of his fortunes he has builded wisely and well.
Mr. Henkle is known as a prominent and exemplary Mason, be- longing to Adelphi Lodge No. 333, Free and Accepted Masons. His connection with the fraternity dates from 1863. He was treasurer of the lodge in Greene township, Iowa county, and in his life shows forth the helpful and benevolent spirit of the craft. He is also member and one of the trustees of the Baptist church. Since the days of the Civil war he has been a staunch Republican in his political views and has held a number of local offices in his township. No man has taken a more active or helpful interest in Keota than has the subject of this review, who has wrought along the lines of the greatest good to the greatest number. His business affairs have been not only a source of revenue to himself, but have also contributed to the general prosperity, and in many other ways he has aided in the progress and improvement of this section of the state. Patriotism may well be termed one of the keynotes of his character and among Keokuk county's valued citizens he deserves honorable mention.
A. J. ULIN.
A. J. Ulin, one of the enterprising farmers and early settlers of Keokuk county, is a native of the Buckeye state, his birth having oc- curred in Hardin county, Ohio, on the 27th of December, 1843. His
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father, A. J. Ulin, was a native of Ohio, and in the year 1849 came to Iowa, settling in Keokuk county, where he engaged in the milling busi- ness, following that pursuit for about twelve years prior to his death. He was married in his native state to Miss Elizabeth Obenour, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, and they became the parents of sixteen children, twelve sons and four daughters, of whom three sons and one daughter are yet living, namely: A. J., of this review; William W .. of Seattle, Washington; John C., of Warren township; and Sarah, the wife of Jerome Shadwick. The mother of these children is still living at the advanced age of eighty-four years and now makes her home with her son Jolin. The father was at one time a member of the Masonic fraternity and in his life exemplified its beneficent and helpful spirit. His political support was always given to the Democracy and he was a devoted and faithful member of the Christian church.
Mr. Ulin, of this review, spent his early childhood days in his native state and with his parents came to Iowa when about seven years of age. He lived at home until he had attained the age of twenty-three and early became familiar with the work of the fields. From the time that he could handle the plow he assisted in the cultivation of the crops. He was married in May, 1864, to Samaria J. Wilcox, who was born in Indiana, but was reared in Iowa, her father, Ephariam Wilcox, hav- ing been one of the early pioneer settlers of Keokuk county. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Ulin has been blessed with ten sons and two daughters, namely : Mary E., who is deceased; Andrew E .; John T .; Alfred, deceased; Elmer; James W .; George R., deceased; Jesse L .; Cora, the wife of Nason Lisk, of Warren township; Clyde; Walter, deceased ; and Arthur. All of the children were born in Keokuk county.
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They were provided with good educational privileges and have been a credit to their parents.
Soon after his marriage Mr. Ulin purchased the farm upon which he now resides, and it has since been his home. It comprises two hundred and forty acres of land under a high state of cultivation. He raises the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate, and annually the products of his fields return to him a good income. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and formerly he was identi- fied with Keota lodge, but at the present time his membership is in Chicago Lodge No. 385, of Delta. He indorses the political views which are embodied in the platform of the Democratic party and he is a member of the Christian church. His life has ever been an honor- able and upright one, and though quietly passed, his example is well worthy of emulation because he has always been found loyal to the truth and to the right.
GEORGE OLDENBURG.
On March 20, 1901, there died at his farm residence in German township, a gentleman who was for long years connected with the devel- opment of Keokuk county, and in whose death the county suffered a severe loss. There have been few residents in this portion of Iowa who have enjoyed in a greater degree the esteem and friendship of a larger circle of friends than George Oldenburg. He was a man of sterling worth, of genial disposition and of unfailing courtesy, and these qualities rendered him popular, while his sterling character enabled him to retain friendship when gained.
Mr. Oldenburg was a native of the fatherland, where he was born in
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GEORGE OLDENBURG AND FAMILY.
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Landesbergen, Hanover, May 15, 1843, son of Frederick and Wilhel- mina ( Bakehaus) Oldenburg. His parents lived and died in Germany. They had three children, viz., Henry of Oklahoma ; George and Char- lotte, of Hampton, Iowa, the last two being twins. The mother was the father's second wife, his first wife being a sister of the second. By the first marriage there were the following children : Diedrick, deceased ; Wilhelmina, deceased; Louise, of Sigourney ; Caroline, deceased ; Fred- rick, deceased; Dorethe, of Sigourney; Frederick, of Germany; and Sophie, of Sigourney. He passed his boyhood and youth in the old country, where he received the excellent education which the Ger- man people insist on giving to their children, and on arriving at matur- ity he, in 1864, came to America. He settled immediately in Keokuk coun- ty, where for a period he worked by the month. His habits of thrift and economy were such as to enable him to save a portion of his wages, with which in 1873 he bought the farm where his widow now resides. The farm was of primitive soil, and presented a very different appear- ance from what it does now after years of cultivation under a master land. The original purchase was of eighty acres, to which he added at different times until it was increased to one hundred and seventy-four. All of the improvements on this valuable farm were made by Mr. Olden- birg. In political faith Mr. Oldenburg voted with the Democratic party until 1896, at which time he transferred his allegiance to the Republican party. As stated before, he was a man of sterling integrity, a kind hus- band, and a good father. Mrs. Oldenburg's maiden name was AAnna Bruns. She was the daughter of John H. and Elizabeth ( Harmeling) Bruns and was born in Herzogthum Brunswick, Germany, on the 19th of August, 1853. Mrs. Oldenburg was one of a family of three chil- dren, two daughters and one son. The son and both of the parents died
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in the old country. The sister married Mr. H. F. Duensing, of this county, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Okden- burg is the youngest child of the family and came to America with her sister in 1867. She married Mr. Oldenburg in 1873, and became the mother of eight children: Minnie .A., deceased; George F., who lives in Kansas; Doris L. : Adelheid M. : Louise D .; Augusta A. M. ; Frederick H., deceased; and Charlotte A. Minnie A. died when an infant, and Frederick when nearly ten years old. Since the death of Mr. Olden- burg Mrs. Oldenburg continues the conduct of the farm, and is making a brave fight to educate her children to make them worthy and respectable citizens. She is lady of many fine traits of character, of good business judgment, and merits the highest esteem of a large circle of acquaintances.
BENJAMIN F. CROCKER.
There are few states in the Union more favored than Iowa. She has splendid natural resources that have yielded rich returns for the labor of men of energetic purpose, who realize that work is the key that causes the portals to swing wide open for prosperity. The natural advantages of this section of Iowa attracted at an early day a supe- rior class of settlers, thrifty, industrious and law-abiding, whose influ- ence gave permanent direction to the development of the new locality. They founded homes and established families, whose representatives are now well known among the substantial residents of the commonwealth. Belonging to the latter class is Squire Benjamin F. Crocker, justice of the peace and notary public, residing in the beautiful little city of Martinsburg. Squire Crocker is a native of Indiana, where he was born in Franklin county, October 2, 1821.
Benjamin Crocker, his father, was a New Englander by birth,
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where he was reared to manhood and married in the state of Massa- chusetts. About the year 1810 he emigrated to Indiana, and estab- lished himself in Franklin county. In his younger days he was a shoemaker by trade, and he continued this business in connection with the clearing up of his farm in Franklin county. Here he lived out a long life of usefulness and died at the age of seventy-five years. The grandfather of our subject was also Benjamin, he having been the original American ancestor who emigrated from England. On the maternal side Mr. Crocker remembers less concerning his family. his mother, Elizabeth Bourne, having died when he was but three years old. It is known, however, that they were early settlers in Massachusetts. Mr. Crocker's father was twice married. To the first marriage six children were born and to the second there were three children, the Squire being the fourth child of the first marriage.
He was reared in his native county in the Hoosier state and re- ceived a fairly good education in the common schools of his district. He remained at home until he was sixteen, when he was apprenticed to the blacksmith trade. In the severe labor of this trade he was engaged for the apprentice period of three years. In all he was en- gaged in this business twenty-five years of his life, during which time he made the reputation of being one of the best workers in iron in the community. Squire Crocker married in Franklin county, Indiana. February 4, 1840, Miss Elizabeth Cassaday, who was a native of New Jersey. She became the mother of eight children, four of whom are now living: Thomas, the eldest son, lives in Washington state : Harry lives in Martinsburg and is at the present time postmaster of the city: Sumner resides in Kansas; Patricia is the widow of John Behm, now residing in Martinsburg. The mother of this family died
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
May 10. 1870. For a period of isurteen years after establishing himself in business. Mr. Crocker continued in Decatur county, Indiana. engaged also in agriculture in connection with his blacksmithing. In the year 1854 he was carried on the great wave of emigration that se in toward the west to Henry county. Iowa. but after a year settled 1.1 Keokuk county. locating east of Martinsburg. Here he engaged in farming and blacksmithing. carrying on the business until 1861.
He had been an interested participant in the discussion of the ques- tiens which hal threatened war, and his inherent patriotism was such as to cause him to drop al consideration of business and tender his services in sustaining the country in its dark days. He enlisted in Company I. wi the First Iowa Cavalry, as a private soldier, in which organization he served until 1864. having been promoted to the office of quartermaster sergeant in the meantime for meritorious conduct. His military service was largely seen in the west with the guerillas. among whom he had some startling experiences. He served for a period of three year, and three months. Receiving his honorable discharge. Mr. Crocker returned to his home. where he continued in the business oi farming for a period. He then started the first hardware business vlich lad erer been conducted in Martinsburg. and which he continued tor a perrel vi thirteen years, when he disposed of his interest to his son.
For eighteen years Squire Crocker has been the honored justice i the peace and notary public in Martinsburg. and during that time has been. 15 minently identified with the public life of the county. In politiel Cash he - ports the principles of Lincoln and is proud to be known asone of the organizers of that party in the fifties. Fraternally le aflitos with. the Masons and is a charter member of the first lodge started in Martinsburg. For a peri «] of fifty years he has been earnest
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and devoted in his adherence to the principles and faith of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, being at the present time one of its trustees. The career of Squire Crocker has been one of marked activity and use- fulness, and demonstrates the possibilities of labor in America, where opportunity is not hampered by caste or class. His energy has been the foundation of his success, and on it he has erected the superstructure of a comfortable competence. He is a highly esteemed resident of Martinsburg, and as such we gladly give him representation in this volume.
CHARLES F. KENDALL.
From an early epoch in the development of Keokuk county Charles F. Kendall has made his home here and is now well known as a leading and successful farmer of Warren township. He was born in Mon- mouth, Warren county, Illinois, August 4, 1842. His father, Francis G. Kendall, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1811. He spent his early childhood there and acquired his education in the public schools. remaining with his parents until he had attained his majority. When a young man he emigrated westward to Warren county, Ilinois, an I was married in Monmouth to Jane E. Merrifieldl, a native of Ohio, who spent her girlhood days in Cincinnati. They became the parents of seven children, three sons and four daughters, and of this number two daughters and a son are yet living. The family record is as follows : Selurus W., deceased; Louisa Jane; Charles F .; Clark A., deceased ; Sarah Adelaide, deceased: Mary E .; and Emma A., deceased. The last two were twins. It was in the year 1844 that the father of these children came to Iowa, settling first at Grand View, Louisa county, 18
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