USA > Iowa > Keokuk County > A genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa > Part 29
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
ANTHONY STOUGHT.
From early pioneer times down to the present Anthony Stought has been a resident of Keokuk county. He has seen its wild land trans- formed into good farms dotted here and there with splendid homes. He has seen towns and villages spring up and all of the industrial and commercial interests known to the east introduced here. With the work of improvement and progress he has been identified as a promoter of agricultural interests and he is still carrying on his farming pursuits, making his home in Warren township.
Mr. Stought was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, on the 8th of July, 1837. His father, Thomas Stought, was a native of Ohio, born in Miami county, November 19. 1812. There he spent his childhood days and acquired his education. In Indiana he was married on the 24th of March, 1833, to Miss Elizabeth Williams, who was born in that state on the rith day of June, 1816. They became the parents of eleven children, five sons and six daughters: Hannah, born February 23, 1834: William A., born August 1, 1835; Anthony, born July 8, 1837; Ruth, born September 7, 1839: Josiah, born October 23, 1840; Amanda, born August 8, 1843; Thomas, born June 8, 1845; Mary M., born September 27, 1847; David W., born March 8, 1850; Barbara R., born December 19, 1852; and Frances E., born August 15, 1855. The father came to lowa in 1839, settling in DesMoines county, where he remained for about seven years, after which he returned to Illinois, taking up his abode in Logan county. There he remained until the fall of 1853, when he once more came to Iowa and this time settled in Keo- kuk county. He entered a farm of forty acres of raw land, which he soon afterward sold, and then removed to Ringgold county, lowa, where
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his wife died on the 28th of June, 1857. At that time he returned to Illinois, where he remained until his death, which occurred on the 6th of December, 1862.
Anthony Stought was only two years of age when he first came to fowa. He remained with his parents, accompanying them on their various removals until he was about twenty years of age, when he started out in life to make his own living. He was employed in various capaci- ties and at length, when his labors had brought him sufficient capital, he invested in land and began farming on his own account. He was married in Springfield, Keokuk county, on the 27th of October, 1859. to Miss Louisa Hlasty, a native of Morgan county, Indiana, and a daughter of John Hasty, who was born in Morgan county, Indiana, and became one of the pioneer settlers of Keokuk county. lowa. Mrs. Stout spent her girlhood days at her father's home in this county, remaining with her parents until she gave her hand in marriage to our subject. This union was blessed with two children, but one died in infancy. The other son, AAlvin E., born August 27, 1862, is living on his father's farm. His birth occurred near Delta, and he was married on the 15th of December, 1886, to Emma Lister, by whom he has three children, one son and two daughters, who add life and light to the old home place.
Mr. Stought and his son are to-day the owners of one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land, all under a high state of cultivation. He has resided upon this farm since 1872, covering a period of thirty years. Ilis marked energy and enterprise soon wrought great changes here. He erected good buildings, planted his fields and in course of time had rich harvests as a result of the progressive methods employed. Everything about his place is kept in a neat and thrifty condition and a
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glance indicates to the passer-by that the owner is a progressive and practical agriculturist. Mr. Stought has always been a stanch advocate of the Republican party and interested in the welfare of his county. state and nation.
GODFREY SAYLER.
Godfrey Sayler is a retired farmer and an honored pioneer settler of Keokuk county, where he has made his home for more than a half century. He was born in Blount county. Tennessee, March 20, 1821. His father. William Sayler, was a native of Virginia, and came to Pennsylvania in an early day. In 1849 he removed to Iowa, being accompanied by his son Godfrey. They located in Warren township, Keokuk county, and there purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres of government land. This was raw and unimproved, not a fur- row having been turned on the prairie land, but with characteristic energy the father and sons cleared away the timber. broke the prairie land and prepared it for the planting of crops, which in time yielded to them a good return for their labors. The father was married in Ten- nessee to Catherine Keller, and they became the parents of eight chil- dren. three sons and five daughters, but with the exception of the sub- ject of this review all are deceased. The family record is as follows : Sallie, Jacob, Rebecca. Mary. Godfrey, Elizabeth, Selina, and a baby that died in infancy. William Sayler, the father of this family, spent his remaining days upon the old homestead in Warren township. Throughout his life he had carried on agricultural pursuits and he was an honored and respected citizen of the community in which he lived. where he bore his share in the improvement and development which was
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taking place in those early days and which laid the foundation to the great future prosperity of the state of Iowa. His death occurred about 1861.
Godfrey Sayler is the second son and fifth child of his father's fam- ily. The early days of his childhood were passed in Tennessee. With his parents he came to Indiana when about seven years of age, and remained there with his parents until his marriage. In Montgomery county, that state, he was united in marriage to Miss Prudence Taylor. a native of Indiana, where she remained until her marriage. She was a daughter of Abner Taylor, a pioneer settler of Indiana and later a pioneer settler also of Mahaska county, Iowa, where he removed in 1848 and spent the remainder of his life. As has been stated, the subject of this review removed to Keokuk county in 1849, and here has been en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, as was his father before him. He has witnessed much of the progress and improvement which has taken place in county and state since he became a resident therein, and has con- tributed in a large measure toward the up-building of the community and the development of the wonderful natural resources of the state. The rich fields of grain in harvesting time indicate the careful cultiva- tion which has been bestowed upon the land of which he is the owner, and they yield to him a good return for his labor. When Mr. Say- ler came to Keokuk county there were few white settlers but many Indians. He now owns about two hundred acres of the original pur- chase made by his father and himself, and he and his wife reside upon the old homestead.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sayler were born seven children, two sons and five daughters, as follows : Mary Elizabeth, Nancy, and Thomas, all de- ceased : Annie, living in Nebraska ; Ella and Charlie, also deceased ; and 50
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Levada. The children were all born in Keokuk county with the excep- tion of the eldest, who was born in Indiana. Mr. Sayler has now reached the eighty-first milestone on life's journey, while his wife, who has been his faithful companion through many years, has reached the age of seventy-three. They are living in peaceful enjoyment of a well- earned rest from the active labors of life, and Mr. Sayler rents his land. A Democrat in his political views, he is strong in his adherence to the principles of the party, although always content to live the life of a private citizen, never seeking office. No man in Keokuk county is more honored and respected than he, and well may he be classed among the representative citizens of his community.
DR. ALLEN HEALD.
With a long line of prominent ancestors and with a life record of his own that is most commendable, Dr. Allen Heald is well worthy of a place in this work which purposes to give the history of the foremost men of Keokuk county. On the paternal side the earliest record is of the great-great-grandfather, whose name was William Heald; he was a native of England and came to America with the famous colony of William Penn, thus becoming one of the original founders of the com- monwealth of Pennsylvania. The next one in order is Nathan Heald, who was born in Pennsylvania, but afterward moved to Virginia. Grandfather William Heald was a native of Loudon county. Virginia, and was one of the earliest pioneers of the rich country in Columbiana county, Ohio; he surveyed some of that and other counties; for thirty years he was the government surveyor of that region. He held to the Quaker faith of his forefathers and was one of the prominent men of
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the country. He was chosen several times to represent the Whig party in the state legislature ; he was also able to say that he had cast a vote for the first President of the United States. He lived to the great age of one hundred and two years, and it is recorded that the whole family are noted for their longevity.
Israel Heald, the father of Doctor Heald, was born in Columbiana county. Ohio, and was there reared. His wife was Lydia Allen, a na- tive of the same county and of the Quaker faith ; her father, Isaac Alien, was born in Pennsylvania and was an early settler of Columbiana county. In 1868 Mr. Heald came to Iowa and located in Cedar county, where he died in the eighty-second year of his life; throughout his life he was a strict adherent of the religious belief of his fathers.
In Columbiana county, Ohio, on the ist of July, 1829, was born Allen Heald: he was the oldest of the two sons by his father's first marriage, his brother Isaac being a resident of West Liberty. Musca- tine county, Iowa. He was educated in a Quaker school of his native county and later in a boarding school at Mount Pleasant. Ohio. Hay- ing made up his mind to the study of medicine he began his preparation under Dr. Kay of East Fairfield and remained with him about three years. He then went to Dupont, Jefferson county, Indiana, and formed a partnership with Dr. B. F. Richards, his brother-in-law. This was continued for about three years; in 1856 he came to Keokuk county, Iowa, and located in South English, where he engaged in active prac- tice up to 1898, when he retired from the field where he had won such deserved success. He still holds membership in the County Medical So- ciety.
On October 24, 1849. Dr. Allen Heald took as his wife Rebecca Neill, who was born within a few miles of her future husband's birth-
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place, the second of eight children born to Samuel and Mary (Cope) Neill: she passed away in April, 1898, leaving three children: Alice is the wife of Chester Mendenhall; William is single and at home; Dr. Clarence L. is one of the leading physicians at South English. Doctor Heald was a Whig and when the Republican party was organized be- came one of its loyal members and has ever since cast his vote that way. He has never deserted the Quaker faith of his original American ances- tor, and fraternally he was a charter member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of South English.
DR. IRA F. CAMERON.
The subject of this sketch is one of the old and prominent physi- cians and an old settler of Keokuk county and as such deserves mention in this volume. His father. Allen Cameron, was a native of Montgom- ery county, New York, and remained there until twenty years of age. He then removed to Hamilton county, Ohio, and there taught school for a number of years. During one of his vacations he was married near Cincinnati and then came west to Iowa, in 1857; he had bought land in Adams township, Keokuk county, in 1852. He engaged in farming for a number of years and in 1880 embarked in the drug and stationery business, which he continued till his retirement in 1884. He passed from the scenes of earth in 1894. He had engaged in several occupa- tions in life, and always with success. As a member of the Democratic party he held the office of justice of the peace, was a member of the school board, and for three times was the candidate of his party for state representative. Always active in public affairs, his life was one of great usefulness to the county and state. He married Mariah Broad-
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well, who was born, reared and educated in Hamilton county, Ohio; she died in 1889 and was the mother of four children, one of whom died in infancy.
One of these children was Ira F. Cameron, who records his birth as occurring in Hamilton county, Ohio, June 20, 1847, and he was thus but ten years of age when his parents brought him to Iowa. After re- ceiving his preliminary education in the district school, when about seventeen years of age he entered the Iowa State University and con- tinued in attendance for three years, teaching school a portion of the time. After his marriage he attended the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati and graduated in 1876. Then locating in Keswick, Iowa, he has made that place his home ever since and is now one of the oldest practitioners in the county, having constantly devoted himself to the alleviation of the sufferings of humanity for twenty-six years. He is also engaged in the drug business.
In 1870 Dr. Cameron was united in marriage to Miss Martha Con- nelly, a native of Delaware county, Ohio, where she was reared and educated. They are the parents of two children : Mable is a graduate in the department of pharmacy at the Iowa State University; and Elmer is attending high school. The Doctor is a member of the Keo- kuk County Medical Association and is ex-president of the same; he is also a member of the Iowa Association of Railway Surgeons. Until 1896 he was a Democrat, but in that year he decided to take a position of independence in the matter of politics; he has been the candidate of that party for the state legislature, but failed of election because he was on the unpopular side. He has served as member of the school board for several years and always takes a deep interest in affairs of a public
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nature. Mr. Cameron has one of the finest residences in the city: it was built in 1892 at a cost of three thousand and five hundred dollars and is equipped with all modern conveniences.
THOMAS SINGMASTER.
Thomas Singmaster is one of the prominent and representative men of Keokuk county, Iowa, living on section 36, Clear Creek town- ship, on the old family homestead. He is widely known beyond the confines of this county because of his extensive dealing as an importer of fine horses, and in the locality where he has so long resided he is cherished as a faithful man, a worthy citizen and an upright business man. He was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania. February 16, 1840. and is the fourth child of Samuel and Mary Singmaster, who are repre- sented on another page of this work. He was nearly four years of age when brought by his parents to Keokuk county, Iowa, where he has lived continuously since. He was reared upon the old family homestead and during his boyhood he pursued his studies in a log schoolhouse during the winter months, mastering the branches of learning therein taught. During the summer season he assisted in the work of the home farm and as he grew in years he was entrusted with more and more of the responsibility of carrying on the farm and conducting the stock dealing operations. As the sons reached their majority they were taken into partnership by the father and the business was conducted jointly by the family until 1891. Thomas Singmaster, however, always remained with his father and after the latter's death took charge of the large estate. Many years ago he began breeding fine horses and dealing in the same. He has also made large investments in real estate and to-day
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he is one of the extensive land holders of Keokuk county, his posses- sions aggregating over three thousand acres, the most of which is in Keokuk and Washington counties. Ile also has two hundred and forty acres in Nebraska. He handles about four hundred head of cattle each year, having now about three hundred head, and about two hundred head of horses, also five hundred hogs. His stock dealing operations are extensive and profitable because of his excellent judgment concerning stock. Mr. Singmaster is interested in three banks, First National Bank of Richland, the State Bank of Keota, and State Bank of Harper.
After his father's death Mr. Singmaster was married to Miss Kate Kaufman, a daughter of John and Mary (Ludwig) Kaufman, and they now have an interesting little daughter, Mary Eva. Mr. Singmaster has been a life-long Republican, unswerving in his advocacy of the party, yet he has never sought or desired office, preferring to give his entire attention to his business affairs. He is one of the men who have gained for the state its place among the leading agricultural commonwealths of this great nation. For almost sixty years he has resided in Keokuk county, and from pioneer times down to the present lie has been inter- ested in everything pertaining to the general good and has contributed in a large measure to public improvement. The splendid reputation made by the father in business circles has been sustained by the son. Through his large operations in land and stock he has acquired excellent success, which classes him among the wealthy residents of Keokuk county.
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JAMES POLK RANDALL.
A list of the leading citizens of Keokuk county would certainly embrace the name of J. P. Randall for one of the representative and and honored residents of Delta. He is one to whom has been entrusted important public service and over whose record there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. His unbending integrity of character, his fearlessness in the discharge of his duties, and his appreciation of thie responsibilities that have rested upon him, have been such as to make his a most acceptable incumbent in office and his worth is and has been widely acknowledged. He is now serving as mayor of Delta and is a recognized leader in Democratic circles.
A native of Keokuk county, Mr. Randall was born in Warren town- ship, February 26, 1847, and is a son of Maxon and Drusilla (Green- field) Randall, natives of New York and Pennsylvania, respectively. His paternal grandfather, William Randall, is supposed to have been born in the east and to have been of English descent. During his boy- hood the father removed with his parents to the Keystone state and was reared and educated in Erie county. About 1839 he became a resi- dent of Kendall county, Illinois, and in 1844 came to Keokuk county, lowa. After taking up a claim in Warren township and building there- on a cabin, he returned to Illinois and the following year brought his family to the home that he had prepared for them here. They were among the first settlers of Warren township and bore an active part in the early development and progress of the township and county. The father improved a farm, which he continued to cultivate until 1878, when he sold the place and removed to Sigourney, where he died at the age of seventy-two years, honored and respected by all who knew
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him. In politics he was a Jacksonian Democrat, and as one of the most prominent and influential citizens of his community he was often called upon to fill local offices, being a member of the county board of super- visors for a number of years. His estimable wife, who survived him many years, passed away in 1895 at the age of seventy-six years. They were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom reached man and womanhood.
Our subject is the eighth in order of birth in this family and the fifth son. He was reared amid frontier scenes and during his boyhood pursued his studies in a little log schoolhouse in Warren township. During his minority he gave his father the benefit of his labors in the operation of the home farm, and on leaving the parental roof learned the carpenter's trade. In 1872 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Randall and Miss Mary Hayes, who was born, reared and educated in Wash- ington county, Iowa, and the following children blessed their union : Mary Eliza, who taught for five years in the Delta schools and for one term in Richland, is now the wife of S. H. Neill. a farmer of Washing- ton county. Iva May also taught three terms in the Delta schools and for eight months in the country, and is now the wife of J. R. Samp- son, a furniture dealer of Delta. Nellie is the wife of Estie Wilkin- son, a merchant of Allerton, Iowa; Drusilla, who resides at home, is now a teacher in the Delta schools.
For three years after his marriage Mr. Randall lived in Washing- ton county, Iowa, and in 1876 settled on a farm in Warren township, Keokuk county, where he was successfully engaged in agricultural pur- suits until 1887. when he retired from active labor and removed to Delta, though he is still the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and seventy-two acres which he rents. Besides this property he has another 51
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tract of forty acres, which he has laid off into an addition to Delta, and still another addition of thirteen acres where he now lives.
Since his removal to Delta Mr. Randall has taken a very active and prominent part in municipal affairs and has most acceptably served as mayor since 1893. He has filled all of the township offices with ex- ception of justice of the peace, and was trustee of Warren township for the long period of twelve years. The Democratic party has always found in him a stanch supporter of its principles and he has been largely instrumental in promoting its interests throughout the community in which he resides. He is an honored member of Delta Lodge, No. 385, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has tilled all of the chairs, and his religious belief in that of the Christian church. He takes a deep interest in all that pertains to the public welfare and the good of the community in which he resides. He is genial, courteous, enterprising and progressive, of commendable public spirit and the highest integrity, and reflects credit on the city which has honored him with the highest office.
JACOB JONES.
Jacob Jones, a member of the grocery firm of Jones Brothers of Rich- land, Keokuk county, Iowa, was born in Blount county, Tennessee, March 14, 1848, and is a son of Hezekiah and Jerusha ( Bales) Jones, who were married in Tennessee, and moved to Keokuk county in 1851, locating on a farm two miles north of Richland. Later Mr. Jones was engaged in a grocery business at Pleasantplain, Iowa. for some thirteen years, returning then to his farm, where he now resides at the age of eighty years. The mother of our subject was born and reared in Tennessee
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and was married in Greene county, and is now seventy-nine years of age. Both she and her husband were reared in the Society of Friends, her father, David Bales, being a very prominent member. He lived to the age of one hundred years. The Jones family is of Welsh descent. The family born to the parents of our subject numbered ten children. their names being as follows: Abigail, who died when about fifty-six years old; David H., who is a farmer near Pleasantplain, Iowa : Jacob and Isaac, who were twins, the latter of whom died at the age of twenty- eight years; Rebecca .\., who is the wife of Ezra Hadley, of Jefferson county, Iowa : William W., who reside in Richland township, on the okl homestead; Emma, who was the wife of T. A. Hill, passed away at the age of twenty-five years ; H. Morgan, who is a member of the firm of Jones Brothers ; Lewis E., who is a resident of Pleasantplain: and Joseph John, who died at the age of two years.
Jacob Jones was reared on the farm in Richland township and ob- tained his education in the local schools, supplemented with four terms at Penn College, at Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he took a complete commer- cial course. * After finishing school he engaged in teaching for eight terms, all but one in Keokuk county, and then began in the grocery business in the capacity of a clerk. He remained for three years with Swearingen & Stalker in Richland, and later was with other firms, thus thoroughly mastering every detail of the trade. Thus equipped, in 1884 he formed a partnership with T. A. Hill in the grocery business, but six months later Mr. Hill withdrew and Morgan Jones, a younger brother of our subject, took his interest, and since that time the firm style has been Jones Brothers, and has grown into one of the leading houses in Richland.
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