USA > Iowa > Keokuk County > A genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa > Part 27
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farin into fields of convenient size by building good fences, and he also erected a substantial residence and good barns. He is the owner of six hundred and eighty-eight acres of valuable land here, which he now rents, giving his attention to other business affairs, although he still main- tains liis residence upon the farm. He is the president of the Kinross Savings Bank, which was organized in 1899, and to his present office he was chosen at that time.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Dill has been blessed with four children who are yet living and they also have lost three, Emma E., Effie May, and George W. The two sons and two daughters who still survive are as follows : Allen, who married Halley Westfall and resides in Lafayette township; Albert, a twin brother of Allen, married Carrie Palmer, and is also living in Lafayette township; Ottie A., who is the wife of Amos Weaver, a pioneer farmer of Liberty township; and Lulu Belle, the wife of Perry Palmer, of Keota. Mr .. and Mrs. Dill are now at home alone, their living children all having married and gone to homes of their own. With the Democratic party Mr. Dill voted for many years, but is now a Republican, and he is known as one of the representative men of Keokuk county. He has been a hard worker, not waiting for fortunate circumstances or influential friends to aid him, but advancing steadily through his own energy; guided by resistless will power, sound busi- ness judgment and unquestioned integrity, he has gained success and high standing in the business world.
DAVID ELBRIDGE ALLEN.
D. E. Allen, a prominent citizen of Keswick, now living a retired life, was born on the 10th of December, 1838, in Mount Vernon, Knox county, Ohio. His parents were Alva and Martha (Carry ) Allen. His
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father was born in Lake county, Ohio, February 23, 1816, and the mother was born in New Jersey, May 6, 1816. The parents came to Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1852 and in 1855 came to Keokuk county and settled active business life and in that undertaking has met with good success. When the country became involved in civil war he laid aside all personal interests and enlisted in 1861 in Company F, Eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, entering the service at Sigourney as a private. He remained at the front for three years, taking part in all of the engagements in which his regiment participated, including the battles of Shiloh and Corinth as well as the Red River expedition and many minor engagements. For nine months he was unable to engage in active duty, being confined dur- ing that time in the hospitals at Vicksburg, Washington and Memphis. When his term of service expired he was honorably discharged at Daven- port, Iowa, in 1864, and returned to his home in Adams township, this county.
in Adams township. The father is still living, but the mother died July 4, 1900. They were the parents of five children, of whom our sub- ject is the eldest.
David Allen was fourteen years of age when he came with the fam- ily to Iowa, and upon the home farm in Adams township. Keokuk coun- ty, he grew to manhood. He has followed farming throughout his
On the 3d of December, 1865, Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Wyant, a daughter of Abram and Catherine ( Barringer) Wyant, and nine children were born to them, who are still living, name- ly: Nellie, the wife of Fred Buxton ; Eva May, the wife of Gilbert Grib- bon : Elmer H., a farmer of this county : Lorena Estella the wife of .Al- bert Fry: Alva, a hardware merchant of Keswick, residing at home; Catharine Ethel. David A., Albert T., and Martha Permelia, also at home.
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After his marriage Mr. Allen located in English River township, where he spent two years, and then removed to Adams township, where he purchased land and engaged in general farming with marked suc- cess until in 1902 he rented his land and retired from active labor. He is still the owner of two hundred acres of well improved property in Adams township and has twenty-two and a quarter acres in Keswick, whither he removed in 1902. Upon this place he has erected an elegant modern residence, thoroughly up-to-date and supplied with all modern conveniences, including bath and furnace. This home was all planned . by his son Alva, who likewise put in the furnace and did all the plumbing, being a young man of exceptional ability.
Socially Mr. Allen is a member of the Grand Army post and the Odd Fellows Lodge at Sigourney, and at one time was also connected with the Masonic fraternity. He has taken quite an active and promi- nent part in the work of the Odd Fellows lodge, having filled all the offices in the order. At one time he was a member of the lodge at South English, but later became a charter member of the Keswick lodge, and took an active part in organizing the lodges at Whatcheer, Delta, Kes- wick, Wellman and North English. In his political views he is a stal- wart Republican, unwavering in his support of that party since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. He voted for the martyr president again in 1864 and has never failed to support the Republican ticket. For three years he acceptably served as trustee of Adams township and has also filled the office of road supervisor and has served on the grand jury. Being a man of good business and executive ability, sound judgment and strict integrity, he has met with success in life and is to-day the owner of one of the best improved farms in the county. His life has been an exemplary one in many respects, for he
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has always been upright and honorable, strictly temperate, and has never used tobacco in any form. He is, in fact, one of the representative and honored citizens, as well as one of the worthy pioneers of Keokuk county, where he has now made his home for over forty-seven years.
WILLIAM SNAKENBERG.
William Snakenberg, one of the prominent and highly respected farmers of German township, Keokuk county, Iowa, was born in Washi- ington county, Iowa, November 5, 1843, and is the third child and third son of Detrich and Mary A. (Seaba) Snakenberg. He was about one year old when he was brought to Keokuk county, and he was reared and educated in German township. He occupied himself in farm work until the time of his enlistment for Civil war service in 1864. when he became a member of Company E, Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, remaining until the close of the war, although sickness compelled him to remain the greater part of the time in the hospital. After his honor- able discharge, he returned to his home and resumed farming. In 1892 he built the comfortable residence in which he resides on the farm of eiglity-five acres, and has increased the value of his property by judicious and careful methods of cultivation.
In 1893 Mr. Snakenberg was married to Miss Emma Boss, who was born in Lafayette township, Keokuk county. One son, Iren Vernon Paul, has been born to this union. Both our subject and wife are valued members of the German Methodist church and are highly respected resi- dents of German township.
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WESLEY W. WILSON.
Prominent among the energetic, far-seeing and successful business men of Keokuk county is the subject of this sketch. His life history most happily illustrates what may be attained by faithful and continued effort in carrying out an honest purpose. Integrity, activity and energy have been the crowning points of his success, and his connection with various business enterprises and industries has been of decided advan- tage to this section of the state, promoting its material welfare in 110 uncertain manner.
Mr. Wilson was born in Frederick county, Maryland, January 10, 1838. His father, William Wilson, was a native of Pennsylvania, in which state he was reared, but it was in Maryland that he was united in marriage to Miss Aceneith R. Spurrier, a native of New York. They located on a farm in Frederick county, Maryland, where the father engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died at the age of seventy-eight years, and his wife at the age of seventy-five. They were the parents of fourteen children, two of whom died in infancy, but the other-five sons and seven daughters-reached years of maturity.
Our subject, who is the youngest of the family, was reared in the county of his nativity and there served an apprenticeship to the black- smith's trade, which he followed until coming west in 1858. He first lo- cated in Dayton township. lowa county, Iowa, where he worked by the month on a farm during the summer months, while through the winter season he continued to follow his trade for some time.
In 1861 Mr. Wilson married Miss Sarah Smith, a native of Calhoun county, Michigan, and a daughter of John S. and Margery (Van Gor- der ) Smith, who were from New York, where they were married. Her ""ther was born in the Empire state, November 2, 1802, and had ten child-
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ren, of whom Mrs. Wilson was the seventh in order of birth. She died in 1872, and two of her four children are also deceased. Those living are Elsie, the wife of W. B. Robison, a business man of Seattle, Washing- ton; and Charles W., a commission merchant of Chicago. After the death of his first wife Mr. Wilson married her sister, Miss Harriet Smith, who was also born in Michigan. Six children blessed this union, but one is now deceased. Henry M., the oldest of those living, was born Octo- ber 31, 1878, and was educated at Drake University and a business col- lege of Des Moines, graduating at the latter institution in 1897, after which he returned home and was elected assistant cashier of the Kes- wick Savings Bank. Later he was made cashier and is now hold- ing that position. This bank was organized in 1892 and has a capital stock of twenty thousand dollars. Its first officers were Wesley W. Wilson, president, and T. E. Jolins, cashier, but two years later Mr. Wil- son was succeeded by Warren Higgins and in 1900 T. E. Johns was made president and Henry M. Wilson cashier. Fossie L., a daughter of our subject, is now the wife of Guy Hallett, of Lane county, Kansas, while Alma, Orpha and Walter are all at home.
In the spring of 1882 Mr. Wilson removed to Keswick and em- barked in general mercantile business as a member of the firm of Cover, Baird & Wilson, but at the end of two years he sold his interest in that concern and formed a partnership with Messrs. Johns and Davis, under the firm name of Johns, Wilson & Davis. This company not only con- ducted a general store but also operated a creamery and was extensively engaged in buying and shipping stock. On his withdrawal from that firm in 1889 Mr. Wilson assisted in organizing a private bank, which was afterward merged into the Keswick Savings Bank, pre- viously referred to, he becoming its first president. He is still one of the
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stockholders, a director and the auditor of that bank, but at present gives the greater part of his attention to his real estate and stock business, being still engaged in buying and shipping stock. He also handles a large amount of real estate and is meeting with good success in all lines of his business.
In politics Mr. Wilson is now a Democrat, though he was formerly identified with the Greenback party. For about fifteen years he efficient- ly served as a member of the school board and has ever given his sup- port to those enterprises calculated to promote the moral, intellectual, so- cial and material welfare of his town and county. Fraternafly he is a member of the Odd Fellow's Lodge at Millersburg, Iowa, and is a Royal Arch Mason, belonging to chapter No. 72 at Marengo, Iowa. His son, Henry M. Wilson, is one of the prominent Masons of this state, holding membership in De Paynes Commandery at Oskaloosa, and Kaaba Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Davenport. The record of our subject is that of a man who by his own unaided efforts has worked his way upward to a position of affluence. His life has been one of industry and perseverance, and the systematic and honorable business methods that he lias followed have gained for him the confidence and high regard of those with whom he has been brought in contact. Without the aid of influence or wealth he has risen to a prominent position among the lead- ing men of Keokuk county.
JONATHAN F. WHITE.
For over forty-five years this gentleman has been prominently identified with the business interests of Keckuk county and is to-day at the head of the private banking h use of J. F. White & Sons at South
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English, being the senior member of the firm, which is now doing a large and profitable banking business. He was born on the 3d of June, 1835, in Boone county, Indiana, and being left an orphan at an early age was thrown upon his own resources for a livelihood and through his own unaided efforts has risen to a position of prominence in the business world.
His father, James White, a son of Smith White, was a native of Maryland, born January 29, 1802, was taken to Kentucky during boy- hood and there remained until after his marriage, his time being devoted to agricultural pursuits. In October, 1829, he removed to Indiana and settled in Boone county, where he made his home until his death, which occurred September 10, 1844. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Margaret Marsh, was born December 27, 1802, in Kentucky, where she was reared ; she died in Indiana, August 8, 1849, having survived her hus- band only five years. She was a daughter of Jonathan Marsh, a native of Kentucky, of Welsh lineage. The White family, paternally, is of English origin. Unto James and Margaret (Marsh) White were born the fol- lowing children: Ann Eliza, who married Charles Utterback; Mary, who married W. J. Pock; William W .; Martha, who married John S. Peters ; Jonathan F. ; Smith M .; and James S.
Jonathan F. White is the fifth child and second son in this family of seven children, all of whom reached years of maturity and three of the number are still living, those besides our subject being James S. White, of Sigourney, Iowa, and Mrs. Martha Peters of Indiana. Mr. White was only nine years old when his father died and five years later he was left an orphan by the death of his mother. Previous to this time he had attended the common schools during the winter months and for a time was a student in the seminary at Lebanon, Indiana. At the age of fifteen he started out in life for himself, working as a farm hand for six dollars 47
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per month. The fall after he was fifteen years of age Mr. White began teaching in the district schools of Boone county, and continued to follow that profession for three years. . At the age of seventeen he went to north- western Missouri and taught school in Nodaway county and later in Holt county, that state. Subsequently he began farming in the latter county, where he purchased land and improved a farm.
In the meantime Mr. White come to Keokuk county, lowa, where he was married in 1854 to Miss Maria Thompson, who was also a native of Indiana, in which state she was reared and educated, coming to Iowa with her parents in 1853. By this union were born five children, namely : Virgil E., who is now engaged in the banking business with his father ; Theodore E., who is engaged in general merchandising at South Eng- lish; Amazette, deceased; Willard W., who is also connected with the bank; and Elvina, wife of Dr. C. L. Heald of South English.
After his marriage Mr. White took his bride to the home hie had prepared for her in Holt county, Missouri, where he was engaged in general farming until the fall of 1857, when he removed to Keokuk coun- ty, łowa, and spent the first winter in Van Buren township, but the following spring he removed to English River township, and again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. The new part of South English is now located upon that farm. After farming for one year, he found the country so wet that he decided to embark in some other line of business, and in company with O. P. Whitson bought land in South English, known as the Hugh H. Rodman farm, a part of which they traded for a stock of goods belonging to Hogan, Adams & Com- pany. Under the firm name of White & Whitson they conducted the store for six months, and at the end of that time our subject traded his interest in the land for his partner's share in the store, becoming sole
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owner of the same, which he continued to carry on for many years. As his sons became of age lie gave them an interest in the business, the firm becoming known as White & Sons. In 1890 the second son, Theo- dore E., took the store, while the father and other two sons, V. E. and W. W., organized a private bank, which they still conduct under firm style of J. F. White & Sons, doing a general banking business. This is to-day one of the most solid financial institutions of the county and its trade is constantly increasing, the members of the firm being known as most reliable and successful business men of good executive ability.
In politics Mr. White is a Democrat, and in his social relations is a member of Naphtali Lodge, No. 188, Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- sons of which he is a charter member, and he also belongs to the Royal Arch Chapter at Sigourney and the Odd Fellow's lodge at South English. He is the oldest business man in the latter place and among the oldest in the county, having been identified with the commercial interests of the county for forty-four years. At the age of seventeen years he came west, empty-handed, in company with a boy of his own age. They jour- neved by steamboat to Keokuk, lowa, and from there walked to Keokuk county, where they spent one week in the country, after which they pro- ceeded on foot to Missouri over a country which was then all new, few roads having been laid out at that time. With the growth and develop- ment of. the west he has since been prominently identified. A man of keen perception, of unbounded enterprise, his success in life is due entire- ly to his own efforts, and he deserves prominent mention among the leading and representative business men of his adopted county.
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GEORGE W. ELLIOTT.
This well known and prominent citizen of Washington township, who is now living a retired life, was born in Indiana on the 20th of March, 1832. His father, George Elliott, was a native of North Caro- lina and a farmer by occupation. The days of his boyhood and youth were passed in his native state, but when a young man he went to Indi- ana and settled upon the farm which continued to be his home throughout the remainder of his life. By his ballot he supported the men and meas- ures of the Democratic party and took quite an active interest in public affairs. In the Hoosier state he married Miss Susan Davison, who was born in Kentucky but was reared in Indiana and they became the parents of seven children, three sons and four daughters, namely: George W., Samuel, William, Samaria, Rebecca, Samantha and Mary. All were born in Indiana and the last named is now deceased.
In the state of his nativity George W. Elliott was reared and edu- cated in much the usual manner of farmer boys at that time, nothing im- portant ocurring to vary the routine of farm work during his youth. He continued to give his father the benefit of his labors until he attained his majority and at the age of twenty-two he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Gregson, who was also a native of Indiana and there grew to womanhood, her parents being Eli and Margaret (Thomson) Greg- son. She remained under the parental roof until her marriage, which was celebrated in February, 1854. By this union twelve children were born, five sous and seven daughters, those still living being Nellie, Flor- ence, Susan, Sarah, Ada, Alta, Ina and Willard. The deceased are Jefferson, Walter, Merritt and Eli. They were all born in fowa.
In September following his marriage Mr. Elliott went to Texas,
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where he was engaged in farming for one season, and then came to Iowa. For twelve years he made his home in Poweshiek county, where he con- tinued to engage in agricultural pursuits, owning and operating one hundred and twenty-seven acres of land in that county, which was par- tially improved by him. On selling out there in 1865 he came to Keokuk county and located on a farm of two hundred acres in Washington town- ship, to the development and cultivation of which he devoted his energies until 1892, when he removed to his present place, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres, and has lived a retired life since 1900. He has divided his property among his children so that he might spend the remainder of his life in ease and quiet, free from the cares and respon- sibilities of business life. For some years he devoted considerable atten- tion to the buying and selling of stock, which he found quite profitable, and in all his undertakings he met with well deserved success. He acquired a handsome competence, so that in his declining years he will be surrounded by all the comforts which make life worth the living.
In religious faith Mr. Elliott is a Baptist. having long held mem- bership with that church, and he is also connected with the Masonic fraternity. Since attaining his majority he has always supported the men and measures of the Democracy and had taken an active part in local politics. He is well known and highly respected by his fellow citizens and justly deserving of prominent mention in the history of his adopted county.
J. M. NELSON.
For almost a half century J. M. Nelson has been a resident of Keokuk county and now resides upon the old family homestead which his father entered from the government upon locating here in 1853. It is locat-
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ed in Washington township and was one of the first farms settled in the locality. The subject of this review was born in Knox county, Illinois, May 5, 1844. His father. Elias Nelson, was a native of Virginia, born in Greenbrier county, May 27, 1822, and when five years of age left the Old Dominion in company with his parents, who removed to Lawrence county, Ohio, where they remained for about eight years, and then took up their abode in Knox county, Illinois, making their home upon a farm there until called to their final rest. Elias Nelson was married in Knox county in 1843 to Miss Emily Brown, a native of Pennsylvania, who with her parents left that state when she was four years of age, locating in Meigs county, Ohio, where she spent her early childhood. At the age of eighteen she went with her parents to Knox county. Illinois, where she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Nelson. She became the mother of eleven children, six sons and five daughters; Jonathan, of this review; John Columbus, who died in the army; William Oregon. de- ceased ; a son who died in infancy; Mary Jane, who has diso passed away ; Virginia E., the wife of Henry King: Perry F .; Julia, the wife of John Axtell, of Poweshiek county, Iowa; Florence, the wife of Alex- ander Zerring: Annie, the wife of John Colbert, of Washington town- ship; and Grant, who completes the family.
It was on the ist of April, 1853, that the parents located on the farm on which our subject now resides, the place comprising one hun- dred and sixty acres of raw prairie land, which the father entered . from the government and improved, making it a good farm, whosc pro- ductive fields returned to him golden harvests. He remained upon the old homestead until his death, which occurred July 24, 1902. when he was eighty years of age. His death was the first in their home in Iowa. From the organization of the Republican party he had been
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one of its stanch supporters, always active in its work. He was a member of the Methodist church and his Christian faith molded his life. His widow still survives him and is yet living on the old home place at the age of seventy-eight years. Like her husband, she has lived an earnest Christian life and is highly respected for her many excellent traits of character.
J. M. Nelson came to the old homestead with his parents when about nine years of age and spent his youth there, working in field and meadow (luring the summer months, while in the winter season he performed the duties of the schoolroom and greatly enjoyed the pleasures of the playground. He was yet but a boy when the Civil war broke out, but at the early age of seventeen years he offered his services to his country, enlisting in September, 1861, as a member of Company F, Eighth Iowa Infantry, joining the regiment at Sigourney, lowa, and being mustered in at Davenport. He served for about seven months and was then dis- charged on account of disability. He then returned to the old homestead and remained with his parents until 1864, when he once more enlisted under the call for men to serve for one hundred days, and remained at the front until the close of the war-a loyal defender of the old flag.
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