USA > Iowa > Keokuk County > A genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa > Part 21
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Alexander Jones continued on the rented farm in Tennessee until he was twenty-seven years old, when he moved his family to Indiana, where he settled on a farm of his own. Here he put forth his strong manly efforts in the opening up of the new country, and made his farni
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one of the most productive in his section. After eight years, however, he decided to cast his lot with the new settlers of Iowa, and moved with his wife and children to Jefferson county in 1841. Here he rented a farm upon which he remained until 1845. In the meantime he found in Keokuk county a hundred and twenty acre tract of new land which struck him as an excellent place for a permanent settlement, located as it was in the fertile district of Steady Run. Coming into possession of this in 1845, he moved here and spent the rest of his active life in clearing up and improving it. He had in time a very attractive place, and became one of the well-to-do farmers of this region. Besides at- tending to the active duties of his estate he was employed by farmers far and near as a veterinary surgeon. This profession he had learned from his forefathers, many of whom had practiced it for generations. Being very successful in this line he materially increased his income by his practice. He lived to the age of seventy-eight, and died December 3. 1884. His last days were spent in retirement. As one of the intel- ligent early settlers of the county Mr. Jones always had a great deal to do with public affairs. For a number of years he served as trustee of his town, and managed affairs with a wisdom and fidelity, which reflected great credit upon his integrity, and his remarkable business ability. He was one of the substantial members of the Methodist Episcopal denomi- nation of his place, and assisted materially in the building of the church.
John P. Jones has spent the greater part of his life in Keokuk county. Coming here with his father when but one year old, he received his education in the schools of his neighborhood, which he attended at irregular periods until he was twenty-three years old. During this period of his life especially during the later years he assisted his father
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in clearing up the farmn, and also in his professional duties, becoming an adept in the last. At the age of twenty-three he assumed the entire management of the farm, which he has since continued. On September 1. 1867, he married Martha J. Stubbs, who was born in Tennessee, November 1, 1837, and there grew to womanhood. In 1865 she moved with her parents, C. N. and Mary E. Stubbs, to a farm in Keokuk county, where she resided until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have had seven children : Henry L., born June 7, 1868; Mary A., Octo- ber 24, 1869: Sarah E., September 4, 1871 ; John W., August 26, 1873; Julia A., October 10, 1875; Lucie C., January 11, 1878; and Alexander J .. June 22, 1880. All were born and reared on the family homestead.
Mr. Jones has proved himself quite as able an agriculturist as his father was, and he has a farm of which he may well be proud. As a farmer, he is progressive and thoroughly up-to-date, and at the same time is extremely practical. Aside from his agricultural work, he has an extensive practice as a veterinary surgeon and horse dentist, at which he is very successful. He has made well out of his different lines of business, and is considered one of the well-to-do farmers of his county. As was his father, Mr. Jones is an ardent Democrat in politics and takes an active interest in public affairs. Reared in the Methodist faith, he is an earnest member of that church, of which he has held several offices and is now acting as trustee, performing his duties with fidelity and marked ability. He is well and favorably known and has hosts of friends throughout his county.
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JAMES A. GREENLEE.
James A. Greenlee, of Richland, has for years been one of the promi- nent stock dealers of his section, and is still carrying on an extensive trade in this line. He not only speculates in cattle, but raises and breeds some of the finest in his state. Having invested a large amount of the proceeds of his business in real estate he is also a large landowner ; in fact he is one of the largest in the county. Mr. Greenlee comes of a family of pioneer settlers. His grandfather came from Pennsylvania in the early days and settled in Kentucky. His father, John Greenlee, was an energetic man, who assisted in the opening of this county to settlers. Born in Kentucky, in 1807, he spent his early days in that state. In IS41 he moved to Miami county, Ohio, where he remained for about four years. Later, in 1845. he decided to cast his lot with the men who were gaining possession of the rich lands of Iowa. Coming to Keokuk county, he purchased land of George Cook, of Sigourney, a fine tract three-fourths of a mile from Blackhawk Mills in the township of Clear Creek. Here he spent many years in clearing and improving his land, and became one of the most successful farmers in the region. He spent the last seven years of his life in Richland township, four miles north of Richland, and died at the age of sixty-seven. During his young manhood he married Nancy Bleyn, who was born in Kentucky in 18c7. She died in the same year as her husband, 1874. By this marriage there were seven children, two sons and five daughters, James A. being the third child and the oldest son.
James A. Greenlee was born in Lewis county. Kentucky, March 4. 1838, and was but seven years old when the parents came to Iowa. It was therefore in the new township of Clear Creek that he received his
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rearing and the training for his lifework. Here in a little log school- house he obtained his education, acquiring habits of self-reliance and alertness, which were of value to him in later years. After leaving school he remained at home for some time, assisting in the manage- ment of his father's farm. While living here he married Sarah John, and among their children was a son named John, who is now in business with his father. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Greenlee settled upon a farm in the township of Richland, five miles north of the city of that name. Here he engaged in general farming and gradually worked into the stock-raising business. Investing in thoroughbreds he made a spe- cialty of breeding them, and in time began shipping them to eastern markets. Fairfield in Jefferson county is one of the shipping points in his vicinity, and from this place hie annually shipped large droves of cattle. As his stock has been among the best put on the market it has always commanded for him a high price. His general farming he has by no means neglected, and his erops have been large and among the best in the county. He has from time to time purchased new land and now owns about five hundred acres of rich land, which is well im- proved and largely under cultivation. For twenty-four years he has been a resident of Richland and now owns one of the handsomest resi- dences in the vicinity.
Mr. Greenlee is a public spirited man, who has all his life helped to further both by word and deed the up-building of all beneficial indus- tries in his section. He is popular in his county and has filled local offices with eminent ability. He has pronounced political convictions and affiliates with the Gold Democrats. Fraternally he has belonged to the Free and Accepted Masons for thirty-six years, and for eighteen years has served as treasurer of his lodge, exercising both wisdom and 36
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marked fidelity in the discharge of his duties. There are probably but few better known or more highly esteemed men in the county than Mr. Greenlee.
PERTILLER WHITSON.
The great and prosperous commonwealth of Iowa had as sterling and heroic a band of pioneers as can be claimed by any other state in the Union, and those who aided in laying broad and deep the founda- tions upon which has been reared the magnificent superstructure of material prosperity and enlightened and worthy citizenship well merit a place on the pages of history, in order that a perpetual record may be left concerning their labors and personalities. The distinction of being one of the honored pioneers of Keokuk county belongs to the gentle- man whose name initiates this paragraph, and it was his to contribute his quota to the development of the resources of this section and to attain a definite success through his efforts in connection with the great basic industry of agriculture. He has passed the psalmist's span of three score years and ten, and while retaining exceptional mental and physical vigor, has practically retired from the more onerous duties and cares of active business, enjoying the dignified repose which is the just reward of his years of ceaseless toil and endeavor. He has a pleasant home in the village of Ioka, where he has the confidence and esteemed of all who know him, while his memory forms a connecting link between the early pioneer days of the state and those of the present, as the glorious twen- tieth century rolls into the cycle of the ages.
Pertiller Whitson was born in White county, Tennessee, on the 18th of July, 1828, being a son of Reuben Whitson, who likewise was born in that state. The latter was there reared to manhood and
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followed the vocation of farming until 1841, when he became numbered among the pioneer settlers of Iowa, locating on a tract of government land in Keokuk county, and here he and his sons gave themselves to the task of reclaiming the land and placing it under cultivation. In 1843 he disposed of his farm, which was located in Jackson township, and thereupon effected the purchase of a tract of two hundred acres lying one-half mile west of his original place. This farm also was placed under effective cultivation and good improvements of a permanent nature were made on the same. He later passed one year on another farm in this township and on May 1, 1854, he died in the village of Fairfield, where he had made his home less than one year. In the state of Kentucky Reuben Whitson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Bray, a native of that state, and of this union ten children were born, namely: Nancy, James, Richard and Jerry, who are deceased : Pertiller, the subject of this sketch ; Andrew ; Elizabeth ; Reuben, Jr., is dead ; William; and John Calvin, who is deceased. All except the three youngest of the children were born in Tennessee, the latter having been born after the removal of the parents to lowa. The father of our subject was a Whig in his political proclivities and both he and his wife were members of the Separatist Baptist church, and the former assisted in the erection of the first church of that denomination in Keokuk county. The mother of our subject died in 1878.
Pertiller Whitson, the immediate subject of this review, was a youth of about sixteen years at the time when the family came to Iowa, and thus he has passed the major portion of his life in this state, his early educational discipline having been completed in the district schools of Keokuk county, while he continued to assist his father in his farming operations until he had attained his legal majority, when he gave incep-
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tion to his independent career by locating upon a farmi of forty acres in Jackson township, clearing and improving the place and showing marked discrimination and energy in his labors, through which he bought his farm under an excellent state of productivity. He there continued to maintain his home for a period of five years, at the expir- ation of which he took up his residence in Fairfield, where he was engaged in the teaming business for the ensuing two years. He then went to Lucas county, where he remained for a time, after which he settled in Jefferson county, where he was successfully engaged in farm- ing for an interval of twelve years. Mr. Whitson then disposed of his interests in that locality and returned to Keokuk county and purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Jackson township. This he developed into one of the valuable places of the county, making ex- cellent improvements and bringing the land under a fine state of cultiva- tion. He continued to give his attention to diversified farming until 1891, when he retired, taking up his residence in Ioka, where he has a pleasant home.
In the year 1849 was solenmized the marriage of Mr. Whitson to Miss Arida Bussell, who was born and reared in Tennessee, being a daughter of George Bussell. Of this union three daughters were born: Elizabeth S., Glathie E. (deceased) and Mary Jane. Mrs. Whitson was summoned to eternal rest in 1854, and in 1858 our subject was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Brown, who was born in Ohio, and was there reared and educated. Her father, Thomas Brown, removed thence to lowa in the early days and became one of the pioneer settlers of Keokuk county, where he passed the remainder of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Whitson are the parents of three children : Sarah A., Elizabeth A. and Nancy A.
U.S. Cover
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In politics Mr. Whitson accords allegiance to the Democratic party, and his religious faith is that of the Missionary Baptist church, of which he and his wife are both zealous and consistent members. He aided materially in the erection of the church edifice in Joka and is in- cumbent of the office of deacon, taking an active part in the advancement of the spiritual and temporal work of the church. He has ever shown a deep interest in all that makes for the well-being of the community and has been known as a progressive and public spirited citizen of the county where so many years of his life have been passed and where he is known and honored for his sterling worth of character. Such are the men who have been the founders and builders of this great commonwealth, and Mr. Whitson is eminently entitled to representa- tion in this compilation.
ULYSSES GRANT COVER.
Prominent among the business men of Keswick is one who for several years has been identified with the financial interests of the vil- lage, U. G. Cover, the present cashier of the Cover Banking Company of that place. He is a native of Iowa, born in Millersburg, Iowa county, January, 12, 1865, and is a son of Aaron Cover, one of the prominent old settlers of the county and the president of the Cover bank. The father was born in Maryland and in 1855 came to Iowa, afterward settling in Iowa county. He began life in this state as a blacksmith at Millersburg and was then in limited circumstances, but through his own energy and well directed efforts he became quite well-to-do and is to-day one of the substantial citizens of Iowa. He married Mahala J. Huff, a native of Ohio, born near Fostoria. She died at the age of fifty-
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seven years. There were six children born of that union, four sons and two daughters, and of these our subject is the second in order of birth and the second son.
U. G. Cover spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Millers- burg and to its public schools he is indebted for his early educational privileges, though he later pursued a commercial course at the Iowa City Business College. He began his business career as manager and part owner of a store at Keswick, which was continued under the firm name of Cover & Baird. He was only eighteen years of age when he became connected with that establishment as clerk and three years later lie became a member of the firm. He continued to engage in mercantile business until 1900, when the Cover Bank was organized and he was made its cashier, a position which he has since successfully filled. This bank has a capital stock of thirty thousand dollars and is one of the leading institutions of the county, its success being certainly due in a large measure to the efficiency of our subject, who is one of the prin- cipal stockholders and manager of the same. Although still compara- tively a young man, Mr. Cover has been in business in Keswick for twenty years, and his ability, enterprise and upright methods have established for him an enviable reputation. He is well known through- out the county as one of the most progressive and reliable business men within its borders. On the 31st of October, 1900, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Cover and Miss Cora A. Butcher, a daughter of George Butcher, and a native of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Cover occupy quite a prominent position in the social circles of Keswick.
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WILLIAM H. BRAGG.
More than half a century has fallen into the abyss of time since was witnessed the arrival in Keokuk county of the family of which the subject of this review is an honored representative, and within all the intervening years the name has been consecutively and intimately asso- ciated with the industrial development and material and civic advance- ment of this favored section of the Hawkeye state. It is thus need- less to enter into any series of statements as showing how clearly is Mir. Bragg entitled to specific mention in a compilation of this character, and he stands to-day as one of the successful and representative farmers of Jackson township, while his is the distinction of being a native son of the county where he has practically passed his entire life.
William H. Bragg was born in Jackson township on the 3d ot August. 1847. being a son of Marshall E. Bragg, who was born in the state of Kentucky in 1812 and was there reared to the age of eighteen years when he removed to Illinois. He located on a farm near Spring- field, in Sangamon county, and there devoted his attention to agri- cultural pursuits for a period of fifteen years, also finding no little demand for his services as a wagonmaker, a trade which he had ac- quired in his early youth. In 1845 he disposed of his interests in Illinois and came to Keokuk county, Iowa, settling on a farm of forty acres in the immediate vicinity of the present thriving town of Ollie. The land had never been turned by the plowshare, but Mr. Bragg at once turned his attention to its development and cultivation, thus continuing until the spring of 1852, when he disposed of the property and secured another tract of raw land, two miles west of his former place, also clearing and improving this tract, which comprised fifty acres. In 1858
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his health became so greatly impaired that he disposed of his farm, his intention being to return to Kentucky, but his strength was not suffi- cient to justify him in attemping the trip, and in the same year he purchased forty acres of the present home farm of our subject, which continued to be his home until his death, which occurred in 1861, as the result of paralysis. He was a man of the highest integrity in all the relations of life and was honored by all who knew him, while through his efforts he did effective service in forwarding the develop- ment of this section of the county. In politics he was a stanch Demo- crat, and he held the office of township trustee and was shown divers other evidences of public confidence and esteem. His religious faith was that of the Baptist church, and he was one of the prominent mem- bers of the church organization in the county, having assisted in the erection of the first church edifice built by this denomination in Keokuk county, while both he and his devoted wife were zealous and faithful workers in the church.
In the state of Illinois Marshall E. Bragg was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Antle, who was born in Kentucky in the year 1811 and removed thence with her parents to Illinois in 1830. She died in Jackson township, this county, in 1889, and her memory is held dear by those who came within the sphere of her gracious and kindly influence. Her children were eleven in number, the subject of this sketch having been the ninth in order of birth, while five of the children died in infancy. Of the others : Mary Ann, Elizabeth, and John C., are deceased; Martha J., is the wife of L. W. Smithart; William H., is the subject of this sketch ; and Susan is the wife of Melvin Widner.
William H. Bragg, to whom this sketch is dedicated, was reared under the invigorating disclipine of the farm, early beginning to assist
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in the work pertaining thereto and receiving his early educational train- ing in the pioneer schools, which he was able to attend only in a desultory way. He was but thirteen years of age at the time of his father's deatlı, and from that time forward he was compelled to depend largely on his own resources. That his self-reliant spirit, his industry and his keen business sagacity have proved adequate to meeting all contingencies and emergencies, his position to-day assures. He had on the start a farm of forty acres and to this he has added until he now has a well improved, highly productive and most attractive place of one hundred and ninety acres, while prosperity has crowned his effective and well-directed efforts. He is one of the progressive and public spirited citizens of the county and takes a lively interest in local affairs, being a stalwart supporter of the principles and policies of the Democratic party. He was incum- bent of the office of township trustee for the long period of sixteen years, while he also rendered effective service as justice of the peace, liis fairness and good judgment gaining to him unequivocal confidence. The family take a prominent part in the social life of the community, and their pleasant home is a center of refined hospitality.
In 1870 Mr. Bragg was united in marriage to Miss Mary Curtis, who was born in Indiana and who was a mere child at the time her parents, Henry and Eliza Curtis, removed thence to Iowa, being num- bered among the early settlers in Keokuk county, where they took up their residence in 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Bragg became the parents of six sons and six daughters, and six of the number are deceased. The names of the children are here entered in the order of birth: Nora, deceased; John C .; Andrew and Harry, both deceased; William R., Marshall E., Willard T., Eva and Sadie; and Louraine, who is deceased,' as are also two other children, who died in infancy.
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ANDREW GARRETT.
Among the representatives of the agricultural interests of Keokuk county that Virginia has furnished to this state is Andrew Garrett, who was born in Morgan county of the Old Dominion, on the 22d of March, 1836. His father, Silas Garrett, was also a native of that state, where he spent his early childhood, and then went with his parents to Kentucky, where he remained with his father until his marriage. He wedded Elizabeth Cheatam, a native of Kentucky, and they became the parents of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, as follows: Jeremiah, John and Milton, all deceased; Eliza J., the wife of Caleb Reynolds, of Delta : Robert, deceased : James H .; Mary, the widow of Sam White; Andrew; Laurael, who has departed this life; Eliza; and William. All of the children were born in lowa, with the exception of the first named, who was born in Kentucky. For a time the father resided in Indiana, but leaving that state he came with his family to Iowa, locating in Jefferson county, near Fairfield, making his home on a farm there for nine years. He then came to Keokuk county and settled on a farm in Washington township. Here he purchased two hundred acres of land, but soon afterward sold that tract and bought another farm in the same township. The second farm he subsequently sold and then went to live with his daughter, Mrs. Reynolds, dying at her home at the advanced age of ninety-three years. He was always a stanch Republican from the formation of the party and was at one time a member of the Christian church, but later in life joined the United Brethren church. His life was honorable and upright and he left to his family the priceless heritage of an untarnished name.
Andrew Garrett spent his childhood days in Indiana, remaining
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with his parents until about tenty-two years of age, when, desiring to have a home of his own, he completed his arrangements for this by his marriage to Miss Hester Crocker, a native of Pennsylvania, in which state she spent her early childhood, remaining with her parents until her marriage. Eleven children have been born to them, six sons and five daughters, of whom eight are yet living, namely : Marion; Thomas A .; Elizabeth, the wife of Perry Nelson, of Deep River, Iowa; Samuel E .; Grant; Frances, the wife of Delmar Hewitt; Ida May, the wife of Henry Bell; and Earnest.
After his marriage Mr. Garrett located upon a farm of eighty acres in Washington township and made his home thereon for two years. He then removed to the farm where he now lives and at one time had a large tract of land here and was extensively engaged in general farming, but of recent years he has sold all of the place with the exception of eighty acres, which he has under a high state of improve- ment, equipped with the accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century. His farm work has been the means of bringing to him a com- fortable competence and his career has been a prosperous one, owing to his diligence and capable management. When age gave him the right of franchise he cast his ballot for the men and measures of the Republican party and has since followed its banner. He is a member of the Ken- drick Chapel Methodist Episcopal church and is found as a friend of all measures for the promotion of the county's best interests.
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