Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa, Part 10

Author: Lewis, S. Thompson, comp; Lewis Publishing Company. pbl
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Lewis publishing co.
Number of Pages: 638


USA > Iowa > Monroe County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 10
USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 10


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40


WILLIAM M. PEATMAN.


Starting in life without capital and working his way to the top, having engaged successfully in many enterprises, a public-spirited citi- zen and the holder of offices of trust-such is the epitome of the career of William M. Peatman, and such a man deserves a place in a volume containing the lives of Appanoose county's prominent citizens. His father, John J. Peatman, was born in England, in Lincolnshire, and came to America when a young man of eighteen years. He was mar- ried in Ohio to Mary Peach, a native of Muskingum county, and soon after he moved to Peoria, Illinois, but four or five years later went to Iowa and settled in the lower edge of Monroe county in 1854; he remained there and engaged in farming until 1890. when he took up his residence in Centerville.


William M. Peatman claims Illinois as his native state, where he was born May 8, 1853, in Peoria; his boyhood was passed in the invig- orating life of the farm, and his education was received in the country schools. He was a good student and at the age of sixteen years began teaching, which he continued for seven years. He learned the trade of blacksmithing and wagon and carriage-making, which he followed for about three years. Having taken up his residence in Moravia, Iowa, he turned his attention to the lumber and grain business for two years. At that time he was elected county recorder and in 1883 moved to


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Centerville to carry on the duties of that position for one term. When his official services were ended Mr. Peatman opened up a real estate and abstract office and two years later formed a partnership with W. G. Clark, the firm being since known as Clark & Peatman, real estate, abstracts, insurance and loans. With Mr. Clark he started the Centerville Brick and Tile Company, which has grown to be one of the leading industries of the city. Besides real estate he does quite an extensive contracting business, and is now erecting the new Appanoose county court house. He is a careful, energetic and capable business man, and his success has been well deserved because of these qualities.


The Republican party expresses his political convictions, and as its candidate he was elected to the office of recorder; he also served for four years as mayor of Moravia during his residence there. He is a Knight Templar Mason and a Mystic Shriner. In 1879 he became the husband of Miss Ellen Knox, and two children have blessed the union, a son and a daughter. Besides being successful in his own af- fairs Mr. Peatman has been very zealous toward advancing the inter- ests of his city. Among other things he was a promoter of the city electric light plant, the street railroad and the water works.


JERRY TONES.


Jerry Jones is an intelligent, practical and progressive farmer residing in Union township, Monroe county, not far from Lovilia, where he owns and operates one hundred and forty-two acres of land. He is one of the native sons of the county, his birth having occurred within its borders May 17, 1847. His parents were Lewis and Sarah Ann (Hughes) Jones, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter


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of Ohio. In early life, however, they became residents of Lee county, Iowa, and were there married. In 1844 they came to Monroe county, when it was opened up for settlement by the white race, and took up their abode upon a farm near that upon which our subject now resides. All around them for miles stretched the unbroken prairie, and wild animals were freqently killed in the district. Hardships and trials in- cident to frontier life were to be borne, but the father persevered in the work of developing a farm, and eventually his land became quite valu- able, owing to the care and cultivation he had bestowed upon it. He voted with the Democracy and both he and his wife were members of the Christian church. In their family were seven children: John and Henry, both deceased; Jerry; Martha, who has also passed away ; Martin, deceased ; and Levi and Mary, who complete the family. The father died in 1894, at the age of seventy-two years; and the mother died in 1900, at the age of seventy-four. Both were interred in the Osborn cemetery.


Jerry Jones, the eldest of the living children, was reared in his native county and at the usual age entered the public schools, thereby acquiring the education which fitted him for the duties of a business career. He early worked upon the home farm, and when a young man he began farming on his own account and has since followed this pursuit. He won Miss Nancy J. Chance as a companion and helpmeet for life's journey, the marriage taking place in 1867. Her parents were John and Lettie Chance, natives of Illinois and Tennessee re- spectively. They became early settlers of Monroe county, where they remained for many years, and in 1883 removed to Oregon, where they are still living. In the same year our subject took his family to the Sunset state with the intention of locating there, but at the end of


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fourteen months they decided that they preferred Iowa as a place of residence and came to their present farm, which has now been their home for twenty years, and the neat and thrifty appearance of the farm indi- cates the careful supervision of Mr. Jones, who keeps in touch with the progress continually being made along agricultural lines and uses the knowledge which he gains concerning agricultural methods for the betterment of his place. In 1901 Mr. and Mrs. Jones made a visit to Oregon, spending two months with relatives there.


To this worthy couple have been born five children: James E., John L., Charles E., William Burton, Willis Vernon. They have also reared Anna L. Jones, a daughter of Mr. Jones's brother Levi; her mother died when she was an infant. Mr. Jones keeps well informed on the political issues of the day and gives his political support to the Democracy, but has never been an office seeker, preferring to give his time and energies to his business affairs. He served, however, as school director in his township for twelve years, and the cause of education found in him a warm friend, who labored effectively for the best in- terests of the schools of his locality. He possesses the progressive spirit of the west, the spirit that has led to the rapid development of this section of the country, and whatever concerns the welfare of Monroe county elicits his interests and gains his co-operation.


JOSEPH D. BALL.


When one reflects that the remarkable strides of modern civiliza- tion began with the birth of the printing press in the middle of the fifteenth century, and that in the present century the press is the greatest disseminator of knowledge, and, above all other influences, wields the greatest power in politics, business, public opinion, and, in


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fact, in all departments of life, then it is that we may rightly appreciate the modern newspaper and the place it occupies in every city and village and country place in the wide domain of the United States. And not only as the head of one of these important enterprises, but as a man of character and worth in himself, is it fitting that mention should be made in this volume of Joseph D. Ball, the editor of the Mystic Letter and the postmaster of the town of Mystic, Iowa.


Our subject is the son of Samuel K. and Sarah G. (Needham) Ball, the former born near Louisville, Kentucky, in 1830, and the latter born in Jennings county, Indiana, in 1834. The latter married John Buckles in Indiana and with her husband started with a mule team to drive to Iowa; while traveling through eastern Iowa her hus- band died, and with that indomitable will so characteristic of the early settlers she drove to this country with the corpse of her hus- band in the wagon and with her small child in her arms; she made her home with a brother in Johns township until her marriage to Mr. Ball. Samuel K. Ball left his native state of Kentucky when young and went to Bartholomew county, Indiana, and at the age of sixteen went to Mississippi, where, under the eye of his uncle, who owned a newspaper, he learned the printer's trade. He later returned to In- diana and learned the carpenter's trade. He came to Centerville, Iowa, in 1856, and worked in a printing establishment two years. He then moved to Johns township, following farming, blacksmithing and car- pentering until 1879, when he bought a half interest in a printing estab- lishment in Centerville and edited a paper in the interests of the Green- back party, known as the Centerville Blade. In April, 1881, he lo- cated at Seymour, Iowa, and established the Seymour Enterprise and was its editor until his death in August, 1881.


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Joseph D. Ball was born in Johns township, Appanoose county, Iowa, October 20, 1865, and spent the earlier years of his life on the farm. In 1879 he first became acquainted with the printer's trade. After the death of his father he returned with his mother to Johns township, farming and working in the mines until 1892, when he moved to Mystic and for six months was employed as foreman of the Mystic Letter. In September, 1892, he purchased the Mystic Letter of Dr. W. C. Griffith and in February, 1893, disposed of it to W. S. Scott. In July, 1893, he again bought the plant, and has been conducting it very successfully ever since. He has always endeavored to make the paper an organ for the advancement of the public interests and he has shown much tact in the handling of the varied matters with which the editor has to deal.


Mr. Ball is a staunch Republican, and on September 16, 1901, he was appointed postmaster of Mystic, which office he now fills; since he has been its incumbent, the office has changed from one of the fourth class to a third class office, and its business is conducted in a manner pleasing to all patrons. In connection with A. J. Richardson he is manager of the Mystic Opera House. Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias. In 1893 Mr. Ball was married to Miss Tillie Skillen, a na- tive of Pennsylvania. Her father died in Pennsylvania, while her mother lives on a farm northwest of Mystic. One child was born of this marriage. May 1, 1897, whose name is Carlos Stanton Ball.


ASA BAIRD.


Asa Baird, the owner of the Elm Park Farm, on section 3, Ur- bana township, Monroe county, was born on the old homestead, Sep- tember 5, 1859. His father, Asa S. Baird, was a prominent and in-


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fluential early settler of the county, who located in Urbana, later mov- ing to Mantua township. He married Sarah Tharp and they became the parents of nine children, of whom the subject of this review is the fifth. Upon his father's farm Asa Baird spent the days of his child- hood and youth, and as his age and strength increased he became more and more actively engaged in the work of the fields. His education was obtained in the district schools, and throughout his entire life he has followed farming, finding it a profitable source of income because of the methods he has followed and the thrift and enterprise which char- acterize his work.


In 1892, in Troy township, Monroe county, Mr. Baird was united in marriage to Miss Eva Barnhill, a lady of intelligence and good fam- ily, who has been a faithful companion and helpmeet to her husband during the ten years of their married life. She was born, reared and educated in this county, a daughter of William Harvey Barnhill, who died June 26, 1899, his wife having preceded him on the 4th of April, 1889. About fifteen years ago they became residents of Iowa. Both were natives of Kentucky and the father was a gallant soldier of the Civil war, serving in Company C. Thirtieth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry. During an engagement he was wounded in the left hand. In politics he was an earnest Republican and both he and his wife en- joyed the warm regard of many friends. In their family were nine children: Mary Alice, Josephine, Virginia, Anna, William, Rosa, Charles W., Ralph and Mrs. Baird. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Baird has been blessed with four children : Charles Edgar, Harvey S., Clara Grace and Frank Orville.


The Elm Park Farm comprises two hundred and thirty-three acres of valuable land, rich and productive. In addition to waving fields


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of grain there are rich meadow lands of bluegrass, large barns and feed lots, and an orchard of fine fruits. The house is a pleasant one, and neatness and thrift characterize the place and indicate to the passer-by the enterprising and progressive spirit of the owner. Mr. Baird gives his political allegiance to the Republican party, believing firmly in its principles and doing all in his power to secure its success and the election of his friends who become candidates for office. He has frequently served as a delegate to county conventions. His wife is a member of the Christian church, and he contributes to its sup- port, for he is found as a friend of temperance, morality and education, and he believes in progress along all lines that will add to the wel- fare of the county.


WILLIAM HUSTON.


William Huston is now living a retired life in Avery, and for many years has been a respected and worthy citizen of the county, using his influence and giving his aid for the promotion of measures and movements for the general good and the county's upbuilding. He came to the county in 1865. His birth occurred in Monongahela, Washington county, Pennsylvania, September 22, 1817, and his father, John Huston, was also a native of the Keystone state. The grand- father, Daniel Huston, was born in the north of Ireland and was a Protestant, belonging to a Scotch-Irish family of Presbyterian faith. He was reared in the place of his nativity until twenty years of age, when he boarded a sailing vessel bound for the new world, and when the Revolutionary war broke out he joined the continental army and fought under General Washington. His death occurred in Pennsyl-


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vania when he had attained to a good old age. John Huston was reared upon the home farm in the Keystone state and there married Mrs. Nancy (Barr) Gibson, a widow, who had two children, John and Betsy Gibson. She was born on the ocean while her parents were coming to the United States, as members of a colony composed of the Burrs, Crawfords, Harpers and other families, who located in Penn- sylvania. All were of Protestant faith. To John and Nancy Huston were born the following named : Mary, now deceased ; Nancy ; William; and Daniel, who was drowned when a boy. The father died at the age of eighty-two years and the mother passed away at the age of seventy-four. For many years he was an elder in the Presbyterian church and was an earnest Christian gentleman, a faithful friend and a devoted husband and father, and his excellent qualities won for him the trust and confidence of all with whom he came in contact.


William Huston was reared in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and when quite young was instructed concerning the value of honesty and industry in the active affairs of life. The schools of the county afforded him opportunity for mental discipline, and when twenty-six years of age he made preparation for having a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Sarah Louderbeck, a native of Pennsylvania and a representative of one of the old Dutch families of the state. Her father, Thomas Louderbeck, was born there and married Jemima Berry- man, also a native of that state, where both lived until called to the home beyond. Mr. and Mrs. Huston began their domestic life in the east, remaining in the state of their nativity until 1865, when, at- tracted by the business possibilities of the west, they came to Iowa, where Mr. Huston purchased the Gossage farm of one hundred and twenty acres, adding thereto till he now has one hundred and seventy-five


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acres. The years have seen added improvements made, barns have been built, and there are now rich pastures of bluegrass and highly cultivated fields, while an orchard yields choice varieties of apples and other fruit. This farm is a very valuable one and its value is enhanced because it is underlaid with coal. Mr. Huston has a fine brick residence on his farm, and this is situated in the village of Avery, where he has lived since coming to Iowa.


Eight children have been born to him and his wife: Joseph, who for a number of years was a successful teacher, is now living in Atchi- son county, Missouri; he married Miss Martha Elder and has seven sons and seven daughters. Agnes is the wife of D. Nichol, of Albia, Iowa. John, formerly a farmer living in the village of Avery, is now a traveling salesman with his home in Albia. Oliver C. is an agricul- turist. Mrs. Elizabeth Love makes her home in Seattle. Mrs. Mary McMillan died in Monroe county. Daniel, who was a well known and capable physician of Wayne county, Iowa, died leaving a widow. William died at the age of fourteen years. The children have been well educated and are honored and respected wherever they are known. Mr. Huston's farm is operated by his sons, who are successful and pro- gressive agriculturists and stock-raisers.


In 1871 Mr. Huston returned to his old home in Pennsylvania upon a visit, and he has also visited Seattle, Washington, and other points on the Pacific coast. A member of the Reformed Presbyterian church, he served as one of its elders for many years, and his Christian faith has been manifest in his upright life, for he has so lived as to command the respect and good will of his fellow men. He has now reached the eighty-fifth milestone on life's journey and has therefore been a witness of much of the growth and development of the country


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through the nineteenth century, while in Monroe county he has borne his share in planting an advanced civilization here. He is now a venerable man who in the evening of life can look back over the past without regret, for honor and integrity have been the guiding elements in his conduct.


A. J. G. BAILEY.


A. J. G. Bailey, proprietor of the Lookout farm in Mantua town- ship, is one of the most successful and skillful farmers of the locality and has been an important factor in the moral, intellectual and material welfare of Monroe county since 1864. He was born in Lewis county, Virginia, January 25, 1842, which was also the birthplace of his father, James R. Bailey, and his grandfather, Carr Bailey, was born in the same state, of English parents, who were early settlers of the Old Dominion. The family had its representatives in both the Revolutionary war and the war of 1812.


On reaching manhood James R. Bailey married Miss Christie Ann Tharp, a daughter of Hezekiah Tharp. Thoroughout life Mr. Bailey followed farming and by his ballot supported the men and measures of the Democratic party. For many years he was a deacon in the Bap- tist church, and died in that faith at the ripe old age of eighty-seven years. His wife was seventy-eight years of age at the time of her death. They were the parents of thirteen children: A. J. G., H. D., C. B., J. W. and John E., who are still living; Mrs. Minnie Reed, who died in Virginia; Cynthia Ann, who died at the age of twenty years; Elzire Bird, who died in Virginia; Nancy, who died in Baltimore, Maryland; Paschal B., deceased; and three who died young.


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During his boyhood and youth A. J. G. Bailey pursued his educa- tion in the schools of his native county, and having acquired a good education he successfully engaged in teaching for three terms. On the 18th of October, 1863, he was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Ann Woofter, who was also born, reared and educated in Lewis county, Virginia, of which state her parents, Amos and Catherine (Shannan) Woofter, were life-long residents, being of German descent. Her father died at the age of eighty and the mother at the age of sixty years. Their children were Marion; Albert, deceased, who was a soldier of the Civil war and was confined in Libby prison for a time; Matilda Ann, wife of our subject; Mrs. Sarah Williams; Mrs. Mary A. Moneypenny, deceased; Norval, of Virginia; Mrs. Amelia Hindman, deceased ; and Lydia, deceased. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the father was a Republican in poli- tics.


The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bailey are as follows: Mrs. Sarah Morgan, now deceased; Mrs. Amanda C. Monroe, a resident of Albia. Iowa; Thomas, of Mantua township; A. Grant, of Troy town- ship; Amos, who died at the age of twenty-four years, a most promis- ing young man, honored and respected by all who knew him; Lizzie, at home; Charles, a resident of Appanoose county ; Eva Iona and Lulu, both at home; Eve and Noah died in infancy. The family is one of prominence in the community where they reside.


Mr. Bailey remained in Virginia until 1864, when he came to Monroe county, Iowa, and here followed carpentering as well as farm- ing for some time. In 1868 he purchased his present farm in Man- tua township, and today has one of the best improved places of the locality. His house is commodious, well furnished and comfortable,


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his barns and outbuildings are good and substantial; there is a good orchard upon the place, and all the conveniences and accessories of a model farm are here found. His house was erected in 1894 at a cost of eighteen hundred dollars. He keeps a good grade of horses and cattle, and has met with success both as a general farmer and stock- raiser.


Politically Mr. Bailey is identified with the Republican party; has served as a delegate to its conventions, has filled the office of justice of the peace in a most acceptable manner, was assessor in 1871 and is now serving as trustee of his township. He is officially connected with the German Baptist church, and is a man of kindly, genial disposition, who makes friends wherever he goes, and has the entire confidence and respect of those with whom he comes in contact either in business or social life.


C. V. MASON.


The life of the tiller of the soil, while it has many hardships and uncertainties which make it unattractive to many, is after all the basis of the world's industries, and in all the ages of history men have fol- lowed it, not from necessity but because they were drawn to it by the natural desire to make the earth bring forth after its kind and because it afforded the most independent existence among the pursuits of man- kind. But now the old prejudices against farming are being dispelled by the new and scientific methods which tend to remove the former hap-hazard results and place it upon the most substantial basis. And among the young and progressive farmers of Monroe county who take rank with those who will be the leaders of agriculture in the first part of the twentieth century is C. V. Mason.


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His father, J. W. Mason, was a native of the state of Missouri and removed to Jefferson county, Iowa, when quite young, and while yet a young man came to Monroe county, where in 1861 he was married to Martha J. Barnes, a native of Indiana; her father, Jesse Barnes, was a native of Kentucky and was a pioneer settler of Cedar township, Monroe county, and his wife's name was Eliza Ann Hogland; Jesse Barnes died in Monroe county, but his wife is still living. J. W. Mason was a Republican in political sympathies, and he and his wife were members of the United Brethren church. He passed away in 1884 at the age of forty-two, but his wife is still living with the sub- ject of this sketch; there were seven children born to them, three sons and four daughters: John A., Minnie L., Eli A., Carrie, C. V., Esta, and Cora Mae.


C. V. Mason was ushered into the world in Monroe county, Jan- uary 25, 1871, was reared to manhood under the hardy discipline of the home farm in Wayne township and there received his education in the country schools. In November of 1893 he was married to Min- nie M. Davis, who is a native of Hancock county, Illinois, and a daugh- ter of Eugene Davis, a native of Ohio; she spent her childhood in Illi- nois and came to Iowa after she had reached maturity. Mr. and Mrs. Mason have three sons, Clifford J., Paul E. and Dwight D. Mr. Mason casts his vote for the Republican party and he and his wife are faithful members of the United Brethren church. He has made a success of farming and he and his family stand high in the regard of his fellow citizens.


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HARRISON HICKENLOOPER.


After a somewhat stormy life, the gentleman above named is now taking things more quietly at his home in Albia. He is an interesting man to know, and one of those who, when well known, it is impossible not to esteem. A shattered arm bears mute testimony that he was well at the front during the national peril, and that he did not hesitate to bare his breast to the leaden storm that was hurled from the south against the defenders of the Union. Mr. Hickenlooper has many thrill- ing stories to tell of those troubled times, in which he shared his full part of the dangers and bore his portion of the burdens in order, as the great President Lincoln said, "that this nation might live." Like most of the other veterans, Mr. Hickenlooper proved himself as useful in peace as he had been brave in war, and when it was all over took up the threads of life where he had dropped them to enlist, and joined the busy workers at home, who were engaged with the various vocations of a prosperous commonwealth. So far back that "the memory of man runneth not to the contrary," as the law writers say, the Hicken- looper family were established in Pennsylvania, and for many genera- tions identified with its agricultural development. For the purposes of this sketch the genealogy will begin with Thomas Hickenlooper, who was born in western Pennsylvania in 1793, and in early manhood en- gaged in the manufacture of salt. He married Julia A. Hawkins, also of the Keystone state, and in 1846 emigrated with his family to Iowa, where he located on a farm in Monroe county. The father died in 1881, the mother in 1890, and of their ten children all but three are living.




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