USA > Iowa > Keokuk County > A genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa > Part 6
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to which he was reared, he has here put his forces to good service, and has had some to spare for the discharge of public duties.
Mr. Swearingen comes of a family of agriculturists. His great- grandfather, Charles Swearingen, followed that occupation for the most part of his life, first in Ohio, and later in Montgomery county, Indiana ; he was a German by descent. John Swearingen, grandfather of James M., was also a farmer. Born in Ohio, he was reared there, and upon reaching manhood followed agriculture for some years. Later he moved with his family to Indiana, where he spent his last days, dying there.
William A. Swearingen, father of James M., likewise took a hand in the development of the agricultural resources of the middle west. Born in Butler county, Ohio, he was but eight years old when his parents moved to the growing state of Indiana. Here in Montgomery county he received his rearing and his education, which was that of the ordinary farmer's boy of his time and place. As a young man he spent some years upon an Indiana farm, where, conducting a flourishing industry, he made in time considerable money. Impressed with the vast re- sources of the further west, in 1868 he moved to Keokuk county, Iowa, and there settled upon the farm where James M. now resides. The place entirely fulfilled his highest anticipations, and here he remained and worked for some time. He spent his last days with a son in Hedrick, dying there in his seventy-ninth year. Mr. Swearingen married Mar- garet E. Hall, who was born in Newberry, South Carolina, and when nine years old moved with her father, Thomas Hall, to Indiana. Mr. Hall, a man of Irish descent, was a farmer by occupation. He had two brothers who served seven years in the Revolutionary war under General, George Washington. Mrs. Swearingen's mother was a native of Ire-
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land and died in South Carolina before she and her father moved to Indiana. Mrs. Swearingen was a wise and faithful helpmate for many years. She died in her sixty-third year. To her and her husband were born nine children, seven of whom are now living. Of these James M. is the oldest. M. Swearingen was a man of pronounced political views ; in the early days he was a Whig, but later affiliated with the Democrats.
James M. Swearingen was born in Montgomery county, Indiana. and there grew to manhood. In the common schools of his neighbor- hood, which he attended for a few months each year, he received a good fundamental education, which he has in later years supplemented by ex- tensive reading and the practical work of life. In 1868 lie moved to Keokuk county with his parents, and there taking up the manly duties of life, he assisted his father in purchasing the farm, which has since come into his possession; in fact, with the exception of nine hundred dollars contributed by his father, he paid for the property himself. For two years after coming to lowa he clerked in a drug store in Ollie, ac- quiring a practical knowledge of business and an aptness for the work which would certainly have proved a stepping stone to something higher in that line had he chosen to continue the work. The large homestead. however, requiring his attention, he decided to give his undivided efforts to it, and returning home he has since remained there. Here he car- ries on general farming, and also engages in stock raising, being suc- cessful in both lines. He has made many improvements upon the place, clearing and breaking new lands. The property now embraces one hundred and thirty-two acres of some of the most productive land in the vicinity. Mr. Swearingen has made his land pay well. and as fast as he has earned money he has made investments in local industries. He now owns a large amount of stock in the Ollie Savings Bank.
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November 29, 1900, Mr. Swearingen married Lillia Wilkins, of Chicago, who was born in Ohio, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Brant) Wilkins, who were both born in Ohio and are still living there at Leb- anon; he follows farming and the trade of a carpenter. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins have been born eight children, one son and seven daugh- ters, Mrs. Swearingen being the oldest of the daughters. Coming to Iowa some years ago she remained in Fairfield for a while, but later went to Chicago, where she resided for thirteen years, until her marriage.
Mr. Swearingen is one of the most active men in public affairs in his township, and as a man of marked ability has served as constable for fifteen years, and as secretary of the school board, of which he is still a member, for ten years. He stands high with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Ioka Lodge No. 173, having filled all the chairs of the order. As a member of the Mission Baptist church he is also influential. He is well known all over the county, where he has many warm friends. When the rural delivery route was established some time ago his energy and popularity helped him to secure it and he has since had it in charge.
FINLEY M. SMOCK.
From the time of the establishment of the town of Keota, Mr. Smock has been deeply interested in its welfare and active in its ad- vancement and promotion. Therefore no history of the place would be complete without mention of his life. He was born in Johnson county, Indiana, February 18, 1844. The ancestry can be traced back throughi four generations to Holland. His father, Rev. David V. Smock, was born near Madison, Indiana, and for many years was an active minister of the Presbyterian church. In 1853 he came to Iowa,
АЛЬ. Воск.
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settling in Birmingham, Van Buren county. He afterward located in Sigourney, and became the first pastor of the Presbyterian church of that place in 1858. During the war he removed to the vicinity of Keota, in which town he died. His life span covered three-score years and ten, and surely the world is better for his having lived. He was a man of marked influence and his efforts for the elevation of his fellow men were of no restricted order. He married Margaret A. Brown, a native of Virginia, in which state she was also reared. She was of French and Scotch lineage, and died when forty-four years of age. In their family were four children, of whom Mr. Smock of this review was the third in order of birth.
When nine years of age F. M. Smock accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa, and at the age of fourteen he came to Keokul: county. He attended the public schools, acquiring a good education, and at the age of fourteen began learning the wagon-maker's trade. He was seventeen years of age when, in 1861, in response to his coun- try's call for troops, he joined the army, enlisting as a member of Company F, Fifth Iowa Infantry. This was the first company raised in Keokuk county and he served for four years and one month, having in the meantime re-enlisted as a veteran of the same company and regiment. He was afterward transferred to Company G of the Fifth Iowa Cavalry and took part in many of the principal battles of the war. He was with Fremont's command in Missouri and par- ticipated in the engagement at Madrid. He was also in the siege of Corinth, the battle of Inka, the second battle of Corinth, the siege of Vicksburg, and took part in the engagements at Champion Hills, Mis- sionary Ridge, the Atlanta campaign, Franklin, the siege of Nashville, and was at the front all the way with Wilson's cavalry in the raid
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made in the spring of 1865. Other engagements of lesser import- ance were participated in by Mr. Smock. He was wounded at Cham- pion Hills through both legs by a minie ball, and was in the hospital for most of the time for eight months. As soon as he had sufficiently recovered, however, he rejoined his command in active field service and was a brave and loyal soldier, his valor equaling that of many a man of twice his years. He received an honorable discharge in August, 1865, and with a most creditable military record he returned to his home in' Keokuk county, Iowa.
From 1866 until 1871 Mr. Smock was engaged in business in Sigourney and then came to what is now Keota, locating upon a farm known as Sunnyside. It was on a part of this farm which was owned by his brother that the town of Keota was built. There was no idea of this at the time and the foundation of the present thriving village had not then been laid. However, it was established in 1872, and Mr. Smock engaged in the manufacture of wagons and buggies, carrying on business with a fair degree of success here for about twelve years. He then turned his attention to the farm implement business, which he conducted for three years, and he spent the years of 1880 and 1881 in western Kansas and Colorado. On returning to Keota he served as deputy postmaster under J. F. Wilson for about four years and through the succeeding four years he was engaged in the insurance busi- ness. He was then appointed postmaster, acting in that capacity for four years, and on the expiration of that period he resumed his opera- tions in insurance and real estate. In 1894 he was elected a clerk of the district court for a term of four years, upon the Republican ticket, and at the close of that time he retired from office as he had enteredl it-with the confidence and good will of all concerned. He then re-
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turned to Keota and was again engaged in the real estate business for two years. In 1900 he formed a business connection as secretary with the firm of Singmaster & Sons, importers of fine horses, and this rela- tion has since been maintained.
In 1867 Mr. Smock was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Stran- ahan, and they have six children : Gertie A., the wife of John C. Richardson, one of the editors of the Keota Eagle; Winnie M .. the wife of S. A. Dougherty, of Muscatine, Iowa; A. Cleave, who mar- ried Nellie Randolph, daughter of John Randolph, and is now living in O'Brien county, Iowa; Mattie B., at home: William S., who is clerk- ing in a store at Keota ; and Bessie L., who is also at home.
In his political affiliations Mr. Smock has always been a staunch Republican and has been honored with various official positions. He served as mayor of Keota for a number of terms, was also justice of the peace and has filled other local positions. He was one of the incorporators of the town and has been deeply interested in everything pertaining to its progress and improvement. He belongs to Ed Carris Post No. 333, Grand Army of the Republic, in which he has filled all of the offices. He has also served on the staff of Commander Bailey, of the Iowa department, and has represented his state at the national encampment of the order at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1899. He takes a very active and helpful interest in the work of the Grand Army of the Republic and is widely known among the honored veterans of the Civil war. He also has a wide acquaintance in Keokuk county, where he is known as an enterprising and progressive citizen, and in Keota the circle of his friends is very extensive. 10
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CRISLEY TERRELL.
Crisley Terrell, a prosperous agriculturist of Lancaster township. also engaged in the deep well business, possesses those sterling traits of character, a large capacity for work, sound judgment, and a willing- ness to make the most of what life offers him, which in themselves insures success to a man at every step in life. Like many of the farmers of the vicinity, he came here in the early days, and has taken a keen interest in the growth of the community and all the civilizing in- fluences brought to bear upon it.
Mr. Terrell comes of good stock and is the son of Robert R. Terrell, who was born in Virginia, and who, in the early days, about 1810, set- tled in Ohio. Here as a bricklayer he carried on a lucrative business for many years. Later he engaged in building, and many residences of Cincinnati were the results of his industry and supervision. Mr. Ter- rell was married to Barbara Miller, who was born in Ohio, and they became the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters, all of whom grew to maturity, and of whom Crisley was the youngest. Mr. Terrell died in 1846, and his wife's death occurred in Indiana many years later.
Crisley Terrell was born in Fayette county, Ohio, April 28, 1846, and at the early age of five months, by the death of his father, was de- prived of that parent's fostering care. He remained at home with his mother, however, until he was twenty-one years old, and received a good common school education, and was disciplined to habits of industry and attention, which had not a little to do with his future success in life. With little, if anything, but his own hands to depend upon, he came to Keokuk county in 1868 and hired out as a farm laborer. At-
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tending strictly to business, he found no difficulty in holding positions, and continued this line of work for two years, receiving his wages by the month. Ambitious for something better, at the end of this period lie rented a farm and settled down to work for himself. In 1869 he married Lucretia Reed, who was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, and in 1855, when nine years old, came with her parents, Park and Lorana Reed, to Keokuk county, where the family afterward resided. To Mr. and Mrs. Terrell have been born nine children, five of whom have been married, as follows: Park, in business with his father, and a resident of Sigourney, married to Elva Fair; Mattie, married to Charles WV. Arganbright, and they reside in the city of What Cheer; Gusta, a resi- dent of Primghar, Iowa, married to C. W. Martin; Annis, married to C. L. Beall, a farmer of Lancaster township; Mary has taught school since she was seventeen years old without missing one term, and re- cently married Dr. Floyd G. Bott, of Iowa City. The other children are : Lottie; Edna Fern, who is now deceased; Georgia; and Avery, who is in business with his father.
Mr. Terrell met with most excellent results as a farm tenant and continued on the rented place until 1899. Then, having saved con- siderable money, he invested in his present farm, a splendid eighty-acre tract of well improved land in Lancaster township. This place, which he has come into possession of by his own thrift and industry, is one of the most productive in the vicinity, and here he is still carrying on a flourishing industry. Besides attending to his farming he has for some time been engaged in the deep well business. The industry has proved a profitable one and he has taken in as partners his sons, Park and Avery. The firm, known as Terrell & Sons, has an excellent reputation throughout the county, where it is doing a large business. Mr. Ter-
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rell has for thirty-four years been a resident of the county, and during that time has always evinced a keen interest in public affairs. He is es- pecially interested in the establishment of good schools, and the further- ing of higher education. He is liberal in local politics, but in national affairs always votes the Democratic ticket. Fraternally he affiliates with the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
JOHN HOLLIN McCORMICK.
Coming from stanch old Scottish ancestry, than which there is none more true, manly and capable, John Hollin McCormick in the early days of the settlement of Iowa came to join the adventurous ones who were seeking homes in the untrammeled west. He was born on the 22d day of February, 1838, in Portage county, Ohio. His father, James McCormick, was a native of Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, and lived there from the time of his birth on February 1I, 1796, until the year 1837, when he removed to Portage county, Ohio, where the subject of this narrative was born. In 1853 he changed his place of residence, again moving to Keokuk, Iowa, where he died on April 30, 1869. His political persuasion was that of a Whig, and he rendered valuable services to that party, holding local offices at various times. He was also an active member of the Presbyterian church. His paternal grandfather, John McCormick, was born in Scotland and came to Amer- ica before the Revolution, locating in Pennsylvania.
His mother, Sarah Barber, was born in Pennsylvania on July 25. 1812, and there passed hier childhood days. After her marriage to James McCormick they removed first to Ohio and later to Keokuk, Iowa, where she died on April 14, 1894. Her father was a native of
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Ireland. She was second wife of James McCormick, whose first wife was a Miss Hall. Ten children were born of the first marriage, of whom nine grew to maturity; of the second union eleven children were born, of whom nine reached the age of adults, and of both families ten are now living.
John Hollin McCormick was the third child and eldest son of the second marriage. He was reared in Summit county, Ohio. In 1857 he went to Van Buren county, Iowa, and eventually settled in 1859 in Lancaster township, Keokuk county. At the age of fifteen years he began working at the blacksmith trade, which he continued in Summit county, Ohio, for some three years, when he removed to Iowa and re- sided for a period of one year, and again removing to Ohio, spent one year in that state, from whence he ultimately came to Lancaster town- ship, where he formed a partnership in the blacksmithing business. In the fall of 1861 he removed to Sigourney and was there till 1866, when he located on the farm where he now resides, since which time he has been engaged both in the business of farming and blacksmithing.
On April 17, 1861, he was married to Hulda Stone, who had re- moved to Iowa from the Hoosier state, where she was born on October 21, 1833. Her father, Martin Stone, was born in Genesee county, New York, but came to Indiana when he was about eighteen years old. He was twice married, his second wife being Mary G. Lindsay. Charles L. Stone, her half-brother, lives at Brighton, Washington county, Iowa. One other child of this second marriage died in infancy. The mother of Mrs. McCormick, Caroline Cole, was born in Bennington county, Vermont, but came to Indiana at the same time that her husband made the trip. Mrs. McCormick was the fifth child of a family of six daughters and four sons, and came to Keokuk county with her parents
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in 1854, locating in Lancaster township, where she pursued lier edu- cation in the common schools and afterward taught in the schools of Keokuk county. Four children were born to them, Donald, who died in infancy; Fred A., who is now living at home with them; Cora V .. wife of Harry Harlan, of What Cheer, Iowa; Lottie A., wife of How- ard Richardson, of Ottumwa, Iowa, who is a telegraph operator at that place.
Mr. McCormick has a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which his home is situated, and sixty-eight acres east of his home place, and has long been in the business of general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of fine blooded trotting horses, many of which have made splendid track records. Among these are Rinaldo, record 2:II I-2; J. H. McCormick, record 2:29; and Major Lacy, record 2:29. Of late years he has made a specialty of raising short-born cattle, in which he has been exceedingly successful.
In his somewhat varied career Mr. McCormick has encountered many difficulties, none of which, however, were sufficient to daunt him. He has steadily overcome all obstacles and has himself alone to credit for his many successes, since he has accomplished all unaided. He has long been one of the enterprising and leading citizens of the county, is a Republican in principle and action, a member of the order of Masons at Sigourney, where he holds high rank in the esteem and respect of his brothers, and generally has been pronounced one of the ablest and most successful men of his day.
JAMES LINDER.
James Linder has lived for fifty-five years in Keokuk county and is
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one of the very well known and honored citizens who have placed their impress on the development of the country. His father, Robert Linder. was a native of Kentucky, but early came to Keokuk county, at a time when there were only six families in the county. In 1850 he went to California and died at the age of seventy-six in Montana ; by occupation he was a harness maker, carrying on this trade in Sigourney; he also. owned a farm. Our subject's mother was Sarah Barnett, a native of Illinois, and she still resides in Sigourney at the age of eighty-two. They were the parents of six children, four daughters and two sons; only two yet survive, James and Robert, the latter residing in Nebraska.
James Linder is the fifth child and oldest son, born in Sigourney January 17, 1846. There he was reared and educated in the public schools ; in 1872 he located on a farni east of Lancaster, in Lancaster township, and engaged in farming for twenty-six years. In 1898 he sold this farm and bought the farm of one hundred and thirty-six acres on section 8, Lancaster township, where he now resides, surrounded by all the comforts of country life.
In 1870 Mr. Linder became the husband of Cordelia Strong, a native of Sullivan county, Missouri, who came to Keokuk county with her parents when only two years old and was there educated. Mr. and Mrs. Linder became the parents of seven children; the eldest died in infancy: Edward married in Missouri and is now living in Lancaster township; Ted is now in Seattle, Washington; Fred; Zelpha; Izette and Berton. Mr. Linder has always held an independent position in politics. In his long life in this county he has ably performed all the cluties devolving upon him as a citizen and no stain may be found on his reputation.
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JACOB CONNER.
Another enterprising son of Daniel Conner, the pioneer whose life- work and achievements are recounted elsewhere in this work, was Jacob Conner, a brother of Samuel Conner, whose biography also appears hierein. Jacob Conner was born on March 25, 1857, in Lancaster town- ship, Keokuk county, and has ever since made his home in this fruitful section of the Hawkeye state. His father twice married, his second wife being the mother of the subject of this record. Her name was Elizabeth Wyant and she was born in the Blue Grass state, moving, however, when of tender years to Indiana. She was twice married, her first husband being a Mr. Pennington. By her first marriage she had three children, and six more were added to the flock in her union with Daniel Conner. Of these five are now living, Jacob Conner being the first born, and receiving an excellent education in the schools of Lan- caster township.
He worked for his father until he reached the age of twenty-seven years, when he married Zanette Bucher, the daughter of Aaron and Martha (Chastain) Bucher, a history of whom is also given in this volume. Mrs. Conner was also born in Lancaster township, Keokuk county, Iowa, on the 16th day of June, 1865, and has spent all of her life there. She received a very fine education in the common schools of the township, and from independent reading and study of her own selec- tion.
After living on the old homestead about one year after his mar- riage, Mr. Conner and his wife located where they now live, and by his industry and good management improved and built up his farm until in its appearance, efficiency and vahie it ranks with the best in the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
township. In the year 1900 he built the handsome residence now there and put into it all the modern impovements and many conveniences dictated by the taste of himself and his wife. He has also built a finely appointed barn thirty-six by sixty feet in dimensions and has con- structed many other good buildings upon the farm, which consists of one hundred and sixty acres as well as some timber land.
One child. a daughter, was born to them, whom they named Mattie Elizabeth; she is still unmarried and at home, and is a very accomplished and attractive young lady. In their beautiful home Mr. Conner and his family keep abreast of the times and fully informed upon all matters. They are liberal in their views upon political and religious questions and present good examples of the progressive, pros- perous and leading people of the county. Mr. Conner is in politics a Democrat; is widely known throughout his section of the state, actively participating in matters of public interest. He has been a member of the school board for several years, during which time he has contributed innich to the success of the educational methods employed, and has as- sumed many other responsibilities in behalf of the county.
WILLIAM R. KELLEY.
William R. Kelley, a prominent agriculturist of Lancaster township, stands as a type of man who has achieved success by constant and un- flinching adherence to one line of business in life. Reared to farm work, he has for the most part followed this occupation. Only once has he swerved from his pupose, and then it was for the landable cause of serving his country in its struggle for the preservation of the Union.
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