USA > Iowa > Keokuk County > A genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa > Part 12
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Steady Run township. He is a man who is well and favorably know !! all over the county as one of the most substantial of the farming ele- ment. He can always be depended upon to aid in any enterprise that has for its purpose the advancement and progress of society in his ini- mediate community. His many noble qualities of citizenship attract to him the kind offices of a large number of friends.
ALLEN HAWK.
This gentleman is the youngest child of David and Elizabeth Hawk, as referred to above. He is the present efficient trustee of Steady Run township and is a man of influence in the affairs of the county. In con- nection with his farming, which is conducted upon the Hawk home- stead, where the father lived a long time and died, he is also interested in the financial institutions of the town of Hedrick, being stockholder in ! vo of the banks of that city. Mr. Hawk was born on the 2d of Janti- ary, 1855, on the old home farm where his brother now resides. He received his education in the little old log schoolhouse of the home district and was reared with the rest of the children to the severe labor of a pioneer farm. He remained at home until his marriage, which occurred on the 24th of October, 1877. The lady he married was Miss Sara Bottorff, a native also of Steady Run township, the daughter of J. L. and Mary M. (Heninger) Bottorff. Her father was a pioneer of the county, who emigrated to the west from the Hoosier state. The parents of Mrs. Hawk were married in this county and remained here until their deaths. After his marriage Mr. Hawk immediately began housekeeping on the old homestead, where he has since continued to reside, engaged in farming and stock raising. They have two children, Roy and Lulu.
a. .. Utterback
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The farm which Mr. Hawk cultivates consists of two hundred and forty acres at the home place, which body of land is regarded as one of the best and most highly improved farm properties in Keokuk county. He also operates a tract of one hundred and twenty acres on section 29.
As stated in the first part of this article, Mr. Hawk is also inter- ested in the banking business, being a stockholder in the First National Bank and also in the Savings Bank of the neighboring city of Hedrick. He supports the party of Lincoln and Garfield and is at present serving his fourth year as trustee of Steady Run township. Mr. Hawk is very actively interested in the Masonic fraternity, having his Blue lodge membership in Martinsburg, a member of the chapter at Sigourney, and a member of the commandery at Oskaloosa. In these different branches of the order he has served frequently in the different chairs. He was master of his lodge for a continuous period of twelve years, senior warden for four years, and is now master of the lodge at Mar- tinsburg. He is a man who has passed his entire lifetime within the bounds of his native county, is a public-spirited and progressive citizen, and his prominent identification with the business interests of the county all go to make him universally recognized and honored. The authors of this volume are glad to give representation to this family in the pages of a work which is devoted to the honorable families of Keokuk county.
HON. A. M. UTTERBACK.
Among the well and favorably known citizens of Keokuk county is
Mr. Utterback was reared on the farm and given a common school education. He remained at the parental home until he was married, in 1879, Miss Julia E. Hayes becoming his wife. Her parents, J. W. 20
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and Esther ( Brolliar) Hayes, were among the earliest settlers of Keo- numbered A. M. Utterback, of Hedrick. He is a native of this county. His birth occurred in Lancaster township, April 9, 1860. Of Josiah Utterback, his father, a biographical sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.
kuk county. For the three years succeeding his marriage, Mr. Utter- back was engaged in farming, and then for one year was in the lumber business at Delta, Iowa. He then removed to Martinsburg, where he was engaged in the same business for a very brief period. For several years thereafter, Mr. Utterback followed agricultural pursuits together with stock raising and dealing, in Steady Run township. He left the farm in 1892, and removed to the town of Hedrick, which has since beca his place of residence. In company with others he became interested in the Hedrick race course, of which he later became sole proprietor. · Under his ownership and management for four years this race course became famous and yielded him good revenue, contributing at the same time materially to the up-building of Hedrick, which also became well advertised by reason of the excellent and well attended races. This business interest he sold after conducting it alone for four years. In 1902, in association with others, he was an organizer of the Hedrick State Bank, of which he has been president since its organization. For many years Mr. Utterback has extensively dealt in stock,-in cattle mostly, and is reckoned among the leading stockmen of the county.
Politically he has always affiliated with the Democratic party, and as the Democratic candidate, he was elected in 1901 to the lower house of the lowa legislature as representative from the Twenty-fourth dis- trict. He has also served one term as a member of the county board of supervisors. As a citizen Mr. Utterback's course in life has been
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that of public-spirited man. His business career has been characterized by enterprise and success. His genial disposition and pleasing manners have gained for him innumerable friends. Five children have been born into his home. Their names are Hubert, Blanche, Alta, Fred and Ruth. The family is numbered among the leaders of social circles in Hedrick, where they are held in highest esteem.
JOHN M. ELLIS.
Iowa owes her development, prominence and prosperity largely to her agriculturists and in turn she has been kind to them. Many of those who came here at an early day and took part in the development of the wild land have found that it was rich in resources and that as the years have passed their success has increased until their labors have brought to them comfortable competences. Such has been the case with Mr. Ellis, who is now a retired farmer of Warren township. He was born in Allen county, Ohio, February 2, 1838, a son of John and Han- nalı ( Brainard) Ellis. The father was born in New York and re- mained in that state during the period of his early youth, after which ne removed to Ohio, where he followed the occupation of farming. In the year 1841 he came to Iowa, locating first in Henry county, where he remained for about two years. On the expiration of that period he moved to Keokuk county, locating in Washington township, and there he remained upon a farm until 1859. In that year he removed to a farm near Delta, which continued to be his place of residence until his life's labors were ended in death. He passed away in February, 1882, at the ripe old age of eighty-six years. He was married in Ohio to Miss Han- nah Brainard, a native of that state, and they were people of the high-
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est respectability. They became the parents of ten children, three sons and seven daughters, all of whom were born in Ohio. In early life the father gave his political support to the Whig party and upon its dissolu- tion joined the ranks of the Republican party and continued to follow its banners until his demise. Both he and his wife were consistent and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
John M. Ellis was only about three years of age when brought by his parents to łowa and has since been a resident of this state, so that his entire life practically has been passed here. He has therefore been a witness of much of the growth and development of Iowa and feels just pride in what has been accomplished, for the state has made rapid strides in progress, improvement and up-building. He remained at home with his parents until his marriage, and in fact, lived with them until they were called to their final rest. . He has always followed the occupation of farming and he still owns a small tract of land near Delta. At the time of the Civil war he manifested his loyalty to the government by offering his services in 1861 and joining Company D of the Thirteenth lowa Infantry. He was mustered in at Davenport and served for three years and one month, during which time he was twice wounded, once in the head and again in the hip. He took part in a number of important engagements, including the skirmish at Pittsburg Landing and the en- tire siege of Vicksburg. He was also in the battle of Kenesaw Moun- tain, where he received his first wound, and this so incapacitated him that he was never again with his regiment in active field service. He received an honorable discharge in November, 1864, and was mustered out at Chickamauga, Tennessee.
On the 18th of February, 1866, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Ellis and Miss Nancy Casey, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Ben-
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
jamin Casey, one of the pioneer settlers of Keokuk county, who arrived here in 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis now have five children, namely : James W .; Lillie Adel, the wife of E. Greely ; Emma Luella, the wife of E. ... Garrett; Henry Walter; and Charles, deceased. The children were all born in Warren township and the sons still live in that township, but the daughters are both residents of Oklahoma. Mr. Ellis has ever been known as a loyal and public spirited citizen, interested in the welfare of his community and its promotion. He has always been identified with the Republican party since he became a voter and believes firmly in its principles, although he has never sought or desired office. He holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and throughout the com- munity where he has so long resided he is widely and favorably known. In matters of friendship he is faithful, is true to all the ties of the home. in business is reliable and as a citizen is as true and loyal to his country and her welfare as when he followed the stars and stripes on the battle- fields of the south.
WADE KIRKPATRICK.
The city of Hedrick is one of the latest additions to the galaxy of municipal stars in Keokuk county, but in the short period of its exist- ence has shown such vigorous growth as to bid fair to outstrip its older competitors. Its phenomenal increase in population and the metropol- itan character that it has rapidly taken on has been due to the stirring up-to-date class of citizens which have been in control of its municipal organization. We are privileged here to present the name of one of the gentlemen who has had much to do with the development of this sturdy little city, and who is ready at all times to sacrifice time and money in its
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progress. He is at the present time justice of the peace and mayor of Hedrick, and is a man of sterling worth and character in the community.
Mr. Kirkpatrick is a native of the state of Ohio, having been born in Madison county, November 9, 1846. He is the son of Minor and Hannah (Godfrey) Kirkpatrick. The Kirkpatricks are originally from Virginia, the father having been born there, and at age of fifteen years removed to Madison county, Ohio. He was by occupation a farmer, and in the great wave of emigration that came into Iowa about the close of the Mexican war, he came to the state, the date being 1848. In 1850 he returned to Ohio and brought his family to Wapello county, locating at a point four miles south of the present city of Hedrick. Here he lived until 1885, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died in the city of Ottumwa in 1894, at the age of seventy-eight years. Grandfather Thomas Kirkpatrick was also a native of the Old Domin- ion state, and was an early settler in Madison county, Ohio, the date of his removal there being about 1830. The Kirkpatricks are of Scotch- Irish extraction, our subject's great-grandfather, Hugh Kirkpatrick, having been the original ancestor, who came to America about the time of the Revolutionary war, in which as a young man he participated. It is also noted of the grandfather, Thomas Kirkpatrick, that he took a cred- itable part in the war of 1812. On the maternal side of the family. the Godfreys were also from the Old Dominion state, moving into Ohio at about the same time with the Kirkpatricks. Our subject's maternal grandfather was Lewis Godfrey. The marriage of our subject's par- ents took place about the year 1840, and they became the parents of seven children, of which family our subject is the third child.
He was but four years old when he came to Wapello county, and is therefore entitled to be considered almost a native of Iowa. He was
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reared and educated on the farm, receiving a fair common school edu- cation, and being taught at home habits of economy and industry. He was but a lad when the war cloud burst with its destructive effect over the country, and he chafed restlessly under the restraint of home influ- ences during the early period of that sanguinary struggle, for the patri- 'otism of the boy was such that he longed to be at the front defending Old Glory. His opportunity came, however, and in 1864 he enlisted as a private soldier in Company K, of the Second Iowa Volunteer In- fantry, and was immediately sent to the front, arriving in time to partic- ipate in the Atlanta campaign. Here Mr. Kirkpatrick had the misfor- tune to receive a severe wound in the left leg, which caused amputation of the same and incapacitated him for further service. He received his honorable discharge in March, 1865, after which time he returned home. After the war he entered a harness shop, and learned that trade, which le worked at for the following seven years, chiefly in the city of Ot- tumwa. In 1872 he was elected county recorder of Wapello county, which office he held for a period of eight years and administered with entire satisfaction to his constituency, having received re-election three different times. Upon retiring from this office, from the period of 1881 to 1888 he engaged in agriculture on a farm three miles south of Hedrick. In the latter year he gave up his farming pursuits and moved into the city of Hedrick, where he has since resided. Here, as before stated, he has been very intimately connected with the public life of the community, and has manifested a most commendable degree of activ- ity in its interests. Mr. Kirkpatrick is of a social, jovial disposition, and enters into the fraternal life of the community with zest. He is a member of the Masonic order, and is prominently identified with the
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Grand Army of the Republic, being past commander of J. M. Hedrick Post, No. 424. In political faith, Mr. Kirkpatrick is a Republican.
Our subject was married in 1875 to Lydia J. Spilman, and to this marriage were born three children, two of whom died in infancy. The other, Wade Thomas Kirkpatrick, now nineteen years of age, is a stu- (lent in the Iowa State College at Ames, Iowa. Mrs. Kirkpatrick died in 1887. Mr. Kirkpatrick was again married, to a Miss Lucinda V. Neff, who died in 1893. In 1896 Mr. Kirkpatrick was married to Miss Anna B. Hill, a native of Wapello county, lowa, and daughter of N. C. and Mary ( Blake) Hill, a prominent pioneer family of Wapello county. Mrs. Kirkpatrick was born in 1853 and was reared and educated in the county above stated, where she was for many years a popular and successful school teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Kirkpatrick are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church of Hedrick, lowa.
JAMES A. HAMILTON.
James .A. Hamilton has always resided in the Mississippi valley, and the spirit of progress and improvement which has dominated the west has been exemplified in his life. Industrious and energetic, his work in former years has enabled him to now largely put aside business cares. lle was born in Putnam county, Missouri, March 7, 1848, a son of Wilson C. and Rachel ( Summers ) Hamilton. The father was a native of Virginia, born in Roanoke county, in October, 1814. When a young man he left home and in early life engaged in school teaching. When the country became involved in war with Mexico he joined the American army and fought for the rights of his nation. He married Rachel Summers, a native of Virginia, and they became the parents
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of five sons, of whom four are yet living, as follows: Junius .A., James A., Carrie S., and Wilson B. It was in the year 1863 that the father came to Iowa, settling in Keokuk county. Soon afterward he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, the greater part of which was still in its primitive condition, but with characteristic energy he began to clear and cultivate his land and in course of time it was transformed into rich fields. He carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred on the old family homestead in Warren township, in March, 1899. when he had reached the ripe old age of eighty-four years. His political support as given the Democracy.
James A. Hamilton remained under the parental roof through his boyhood days and at the age of sixteen years came with his parents to Iowa. He assisted in the cultivation and improvement of the home farm until he had attained his majority, when he started out in life for himself. He was united in marriage, July 16, 1869, to Matilda Vert, who was born in Washington county, Iowa, a daughter of Reason Vert, one of the pioneer settlers of Keokuk and of Washington counties. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton has been blessed with nine children, five sons and four daughters, as follows: Rachel, now deceased; Ella, the wife of Vinton Dawson, of Keokuk county; Mary, deceased; Wil- son, James, Cleveland, Jesse, Jennie and Fred. The eldest son, Wil- son, is an attorney of Sigourney, where he is practicing as a member of the firm of Talley & Hamilton, and in the fall of 1902 was elected county attorney.
For about a year after his marriage Mr. Hamilton remained upon the old home farm and then purchased a tract of land in Warren town- ship comprising three hundred acres, which he yet owns. He remained upon that farm until 1890, when he built a home in Delta, where he is 21
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now living, one of the respected retired farmers of the place. He be- longs to Delta Lodge No. 385, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in his life exemplifies the spirit of the fraternity. His political support has ever been given to the Democracy, and as every true American citi- zen should do, he takes a deep interest in the political issues and ques- tions of the day, although he has never been an office seeker. His life has been quietly passed, yet he has always been found true to public and private duties and to the obligations of the home and of friendship. He lias a wide acquaintance in Keokuk county, where he has now long resid- ed, and the large majority of those who know him give him their friend- ship.
DAVID HALFERTY.
In the pioneer epoch in the history of this section of Iowa David Halferty, who was born in county Down, Ireland, was educated for the substantial development and permanent improvement of Keokuk county. He saw he wild lands transformed into fine farms, while industrial and commercial interests have been introduced and thus towns have become thriving cities. In the work of progress he did his share and was par- ticularly active as a representative of the agricultural interests of the community. He was one of the oldest settlers of Richland township at the time of his death, which occurred August 31, 1902.
Mr. Halferty was born on the 9th of November, 1817, in Fairfield township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, of which state his father, John Halferty, was also a native. His paternal grandfather, Edward Halferty, who was born in County Down, Ireland, was educated for the priesthood, came to this country with a brother at an early day and took up his residence in the Keystone state. From Pennsylvania John
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Halferty removed to Ohio, becoming a pioneer of Richland county, where he made his home throughout the remainder of his life, dying at about the age of sixty-five years. By occupation he was a farmer. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Nisbet, was also a native of Pennsylvania and was of Welsh and German descent. She died when about seventy years of age. In the family of this worthy couple were twelve children, eleven sons and one daughter, and with one exception all reached man and womanhood, there never being a death in the family until all were grown. The sons were all stout and quite large. Three of the children are still living, namely: Zepheniah ; Jacob: and Elizabeth, the wife of Allen Armentrout of California.
The subject of this sketch was a child of about six years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio, and in Richland county he grew to manhood, his education being obtained in an old time log schoolhouse, Samuel Kirkwood being one of his teachers. On reaching man's estate he was married in Knox county, Ohio. Novem- ber 2. 1843. to Miss Mary Brolliar, who was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, on the 24th of May. 1824, and was but four years old when her family removed to Stark county, Ohio. Two years later they took up their residence in Knox county, where she was reared and edu- cated, attending school near Ankenytown, which place was named in honor of her uncle, Mr. Ankeny, who was a prominent man of that local- ity and represented his district in the Ohio legislature. Mrs. Halferty was also the sixth in order of birth in a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters.
Our subject and his wife began their married life upon the old homestead near Ankenytown in Knox county, Ohio, but in 1845 they decided to try their fortune on the other side of the Mississippi and cams
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to Keokuk county, Iowa, by teams, locating at once in Richland town- ship, where a little log house was built in the midst of the forest. Al- though this primitive dwelling contained but one room, the latch-string was always out and many a guest was made welcome within its hospitable doors. Upon this farm Mr. and Mrs. Halferty had lived for fifty-seven years, when he died, and during this time it has been converted from a wild tract to one of great fruitfulness. Throughout his active busi- ness life our subject followed agricultural pursuits. He took up land from the government and at one time owned three hundred and sixty acres, but disposed of much of this, though at his death he owned one hundred and thirty acres, which is under a high state of cultivation and well improved. Having retired from active labor he rented a few years before his death the farm, and enjoyed a well earned rest.
To Mr. and Mrs. Halferty were born eight children, as follows: Elenora, now the wife of Dr. John Roop, a resident of Nebraska : Jor- dan A., deceased: Columbus D., who married Alwilda Clevenger; Ze- pheniah, who married Venishia Stewart : Leonidas C., who married Hat- tie Powell: Isadora, deceased : Van, who married May Jolly ; and Dora, the wife of S. E. Chacey. The parents of these children celebrated their golden wedding in 1893, having for over half a century traveled life's journey together, sharing its joys and sorrows, its adversity and pros- perity. Their married life covered a period of fifty-seven years, and they had twenty-one grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
After attaining his majority Mr. Halferty supported the Demo- cratic party until 1853, when lie became a Whig, and on the organiza- tion of the Republican party he joined its ranks and thereafter continued a stanch supporter of its principles. From 1857 he was a member of the Baptist church and took an active part in church work. His
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estimable widow, however, holds membership in the Adventist church. She survives him and resides on the old home.
Mr. Halferty was universally respected by all who knew him, and during the fifty-seven years he lived in Richland township he was never sued or ever brought suit in court, and no quarrel or serious trouble ever arose between him and a neighbor. He retained his mental facul- ties in full vigor up to the hour of his death and the data for this sketch of his life was furnished by him a short time before his deatlı.
SAMUEL YULE.
Samuel Yule is a stock farmer of Richland township residing on section 19, where he owns and operates two hundred and ten acres of good land. He was born in Ashland county, Ohio, January 12, 18.44. His father, John Yule, was a native of Scotland. born in Aberdeen- shire, and in his native land was reared and married. In 1836 he crossed the Atlantic to America, locating in Ashland county, Ohio. where he followed his trade of stone cutting and also assisted materially in building many of the foundations that were laid in Ashland county at an early day. His last days were passed upon a farm in Keokuk county, Iowa, where he arrived in 1854, taking up his abode on the farm which is now the home of our subject. There he died on the 7th of February, 1880, in the eighty-sixth year of his age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Jeanette Thompson, was a native of Bauf Shire, Scotland, and reached a very advanced age, namely, ninety-one years. This worthy couple were the parents of eight children, six sons and two daughters. Three of the number were born in Scotland, while the others were born in Ashland county, Ohio. These are: James. de-
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