Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa, Part 12

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 12
USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 12


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).


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William C. Stickney was reared upon his father's farm in Canada, and at the usual age entered the district schools, acquiring a fair En- glish education. His training at farm work was not meager, and he continued to assist his father in the development and improvement of the home place until twenty-three years of age. After spending one year in New York he came to the west and for a year resided in Illi- nois. In 1870 he arrived in Iowa, settling in Butler county, where for two years he was engaged in farming, and during that time he was married. He then returned to Canada and spent six years on the old home, devoting his energies to agricultural pursuits. On the expiration of that period he again came to Iowa, settling in Franklin county, of which he was a resident for six years. He followed merchandising at Hampton with a fair degree of success, and in 1885 he turned his attention to the banking business at Sheffield, accepting the position of assistant cashier. In 1887 he came to Moulton, where he was first cashier of the Moulton Bank and later cashier in Bradley's Bank. Upon the organization of the First National Bank in 1900, he was chosen its cashier, and has since occupied the position. His compre-


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hensive knowledge of the banking business, his close application, his unfailing courtesy and his popularity have contributed in a very ma- terial degree to the success of the institution.


' In 1870 Mr. Stickney was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Coble, who was born in Wisconsin, and they now have four children: Edwin L., who is assistant cashier in the First National Bank; Russell, who is in Los Angeles, California; Walter, a student of the State University of Colorado: and Edna, at home. Mr. Stickney is a stalwart Re- publican, and socially is a Master Mason, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. He has made an untarnished record and an unspotted reputation as a busi- ness man, and in all places and under all circumstances he is loyal to truth, honor and right, justly valuing his own self-respect as infinitely more desirable than wealth, fame and position. In those finer traits of character which combine to form that which we term friendship, which endear and attach man to man in bonds which nothing but the stain of dishonor can sever, which triumph and shine brighter in the hour of adversity-in those qualities he is richly endowed.


DAVID J. MARTIN.


One of the ablest and most prosperous men of Monroe county to-day is D. J. Martin, who resides two and three-quarters miles north- west of Melrose, on the place known as the Walnut Grove farm, where he is extensively engaged in breeding thoroughbred shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. He started in life without any particular ad- vantages which would of themselves boost him to the top round of the ladder of success, but he has by the wise use of the talents that


MR. AND MFS LAVIT J MARTIN


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BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY. 179


were vouchsafed to him and by the exercise of the determination and energy that were in him risen to a place where he may be called one of the leaders in the business and social life of his community.


M. D. Martin, his father, was born in Ohio and came to Illinois when quite a young man, and from there went to Iowa, where he located in Wayne county, and a few years later located in Wayne town- ship, Monroe county. His wife, Elizabeth S. Prather, was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana, in 1828, and there passed her early life. She came to Iowa in 1848 and located in Van Buren county, but in the same year her father, D. J. Prather, settled in Monroe county, and she remained at home there until her marriage. The marriage occurred in 1853, and one child was born, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Martin married a Miss Sackett for his second wife, and they became the parents of three children. Mr. Martin died in South Dakota in 1891 and was buried near Rochester, Minnesota, where his second wife now lives. The mother of our subject lived on the home farm until 1884, when she went to Eugene, Oregon, where her death occurred January 30, 1901.


D. J. Martin is a native son of Monroe county, his birth having occurred August 8, 1854. He received his preliminary education in the town of Melrose, and at the age of seventeen entered Howes Acad- emy at Mount Pleasant, where he was a student for two years, and he then spent one year at the Iowa Wesleyan University. For the next seven years he devoted himself to teaching school in the winter and to farming in the summer seasons. On March 5, 1885, he was mar- ried to Miss Sarah Brandon, who was born in Monroe county, and whose father we shall mention further on in this article. She attended the common schools of her native county until her seventeenth year,


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and afterward received a complete business training at the Bloomfield and Shenandoah business colleges. After returning from school she opened the first set of books in her father's newly established bank at Melrose, and for four years preceding her marriage acted as cashier in this bank, she having been among the first, or perhaps the first lady bank cashier in the state of Iowa. Her sister then accepted the position and served in that capacity until her marriage, at which time Mr. and Mrs. Martin took charge of the bank, Mr. Mar- tin being cashier and his wife assistant. This arrangement was continued for about seven years, and during the last four years Mr. Martin was the owner of a one-third interest in the bank. After re- tiring from the bank he returned to his farm, where he now lives. He has about four hundred acres of excellent land, and his place shows the evidences of good management and thrift, which are largely respon- sible for his success. He also owns land in Oregon, while his wife has eighty acres in this county and one hundred and sixty acres in Texas.


In political belief Mr. Martin adheres to the Republican party and is chairman of the central committee of Wayne township. In religious affairs both he and his wife have been reared in the faith of the Methodist church and are active workers in the cause. They are well known and highly respected in all circles. Mr. and Mrs. Martin became the parents of six children, five sons and one daughter: Ran- dall, who died in infancy; Elbert C., Sterling B., Thomas, David B .. Mildred L .; all are natives of Monroe county.


Thomas Brandon, the father of Mrs. Martin, is a pioneer settler of Monroe county. He was born in Crouchtown, Tennessee. August 27. 1826, and remained there until sixteen years of age. He came to Iowa in 1845 and took up a homestead claim in Franklin township,


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Monroe county. He has since bought a great deal of land in this county and at one time owned about fourteen hundred acres, a large part of which he has since given to his children. He was the founder of the first bank in Melrose, and perhaps has done more to develop the material resources of the county than any other one man. Forty- one years ago he nearly suffered the loss of his eyesight, and his daughter, Mrs. Martin, assisted him in organizing his bank at Melrose, and to her he owes much of his success. He is now seventy-six years old and spends his winters on a large plantation in Texas and San Diego, California. Mr. Brandon is well known over the entire county and is everywhere shown the honor due to an old age following a life of useful and successful effort.


THOMAS HICKENLOOPER.


Monroe county, Iowa, would seem to be a good place for young men ambitious of official honors, as will be attested by an examination of the biographies in this volume. The present treasurer was elected about the completion of his thirty-seventh year, the auditor was first chosen before he was twenty-five years old and Mr. Hickenlooper found himself clerk of the district court when scarce twenty-four years of age and but one year from his legal studies. While this makes a very creditable showing for the rising generation in Monroe, it also gives pleasant testimony to the willingness of the older element to help forward deserving young men by a generous support of their worthy ambitions. The young gentleman who was taken from his law books to be made clerk of courts at Albia is genealogically speaking a mixture of German and Irish. His grandfather, after marrying and


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rearing a family in the east, came to Iowa in the same year that state- hood was conferred upon this new western commonwealth. Thomas Hickenlooper settled in Monroe township, Monroe county, and en- gaged in farming, which he pursued with success until 1881, when he died, about eighty-eight years old. His children were: William, now dead; George, Charles, Theophilas, deceased; Cyrus, Simon, Caroline, deceased; Rebecca. Harrison and Thomas. Theophilas Hickenlooper, who was born in 1829, near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, after his arrival in Monroe county married Margaret Gray of Indiana, settled with his bride on a farm and spent his life in agricultural pursuits. He died in 1887, and his widow is at present a resident of Albia. Their five children were Mary, Frank, Harry, Ella, deceased, and Thomas.


Thomas Hickenlooper, youngest of this family, was born on his father's farm in Monroe county, Iowa, July 23, 1876, and supplemented his common school education by taking a commercial course. When twenty-one years old he left the farm to study law, and after two years spent in mastering the principles of this profession was admitted to the bar in October, 1889. He entered immediately into practice, but had been so engaged only a year when elected clerk of the district court in the fall of 1900. In 1902 he was renominated on the Re- publican ticket, and at the fall election in that year was re-elected for a second term, which furnishes ample proof of the efficiency with which he had discharged his duties. In 1901 Mr. Hickenlooper was united in marriage with Miss Nora Floyd of Kirksville, Missouri, and is at present residing in Albia. Mr. Hickenlooper is regarded as one of the rising young Republicans, whose popularity and ability place him in line for promotion to higher honors. He is active in the social and fraternal life of the city, holding membership in the Modern Wood-


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men of America, the Foresters and the Brotherhood of American Yeo- men.


BERTRAND P. CASTNER.


Considering his age, which is slightly past thirty-two years at this writing, the young man above mentioned has had an unusually active and varied career, culminating in success which seldom comes even to the most fortunate so early in life. At present he is serving his second term as auditor of Monroe county, and had been elected to that responsible position before the completion of the twenty-fifth year of his age. Aside from this, however, he has been connected with various branches of business, including lumber, realty and loans, hard- ware and banking, which would indicate enterprise and energy as well as ability in different lines. The family was of Pennsylvania origin, from which state his father, James M., came to Iowa and settled on a farm in Appanoose county.


Bertrand P. Castner was born in Bluff Creek township, Monroe county, November 24, 1870, and, his mother having died three years later, the child was sent to the home of the paternal grandmother in Pennsylvania. When eight years old he returned to his father's home at that time in Lovilia, where he was engaged in the lumber business, and received his education as he grew up at that place. When his seventeenth year had been completed he entered the lumber yard as an employe, later became a partner and remained with the firm until the fall of 1895, when he was elected auditor of Monroe county. He entered upon his duties on the first of the following January, served satisfactorily four years, and was elected for a second term, which will expire January 1, 1903. For five years Mr. Castner was connected


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with the Ramsay Realty, Loans and Abstract Company, and joined his brother in the purchase of a hardware business. Disposing of his interest in the Ramsay Realty Company he became cashier of the People's Savings Bank, after the opening of that institution in the fall of 1901, and also erected the building in which this bank conducts its business.


In 1895 Mr. Castner was united in marriage with Miss Grace Esshom of Lovilia, and since his election to the auditorship has made his home in Albia. He is regarded as one of the most popular of the young class of Republican leaders in Monroe county, and no one of his age has a brighter promise of future honors. His religious affilia- tions are with the Presbyterian church, and his fraternal connections with the Masons.


THOMAS S. BROCKUS.


Thomas S. Brockus owns and operates two hundred and thirteen acres of rich and arable land in Washington township, Appanoose county, and is known as a successful farmer and stock-raiser. His birth occurred in Carroll county, Indiana, on the 18th of December, 1847, and his parents, Thomas C. and Jane M. (Scott) Brockus, were also natives of the same state, the subject of this review being their only child. The father died in November, 1847, before the birth of Thomas, and the mother afterward married again, becoming the wife of John Brinegar. With her second husband she came to Iowa in 1856, set- tling in Bremer county, where they resided for ten years, and in 1866 they came to Appanoose county, taking up their abode in Washington township, where they both spent their remaining days. Mr. Brinegar passing away in 1880. His widow survived him for many years and


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died in 1902 at the age of seventy-eight years. She bore her husband eight children.


During the period of his boyhood and youth Thomas S. Brockus remained with his mother, and was therefore reared on a farm and pursued his education in the common schools. The occupation with which he became familiar in youth has always been his life work. He left the parental roof when twenty-one years of age and about the time he was married settled upon his present farm. He was then a poor man with no capital, but he possessed energy and determination, and these are the best foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of success. He worked early and late, and his life has always been an industrious and honorable one. As time passed his methods were re- warded. The financial return that enabled him to extend the bounda- ries of his farm was judiciously invested, and he now has two hundred and thirteen acres of valuable land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation.


In 1868 Mr. Brockus was united to Miss E. Jane Hays, who was born in Indiana, and their marriage has been blessed with the fol- lowing children: Sallie, Thomas J., Lulu M., Mattie and Lavina L. Mattie died at the age of four years. Of the living all are now mar- ried with the exception of the youngest. The family have long re- sided in Washington township and Mr. Brockus has been called upon to serve in positions of public trust. He has filled the office of school director for fifteen years, was trustee for one term and then some time later was again elected to the same office, and is now serving as one of the trustees of his township. He is found to be a faithful officer, prompt and capable in the discharge of his duties and ever alive to the best interests of his community. In his political affiliations he is


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a staunch Republican and is a member of the Church of Christ. His life has been quietly passed and he has always been free from ostenta- tion and display, but those who know him estimate his character as most commendable and that he is well worthy of the respect and con- fidence of those with whom he is associated.


WILLIAM L. DOWNING, M. D.


The last century, which is justly regarded as the greatest in the history of mankind, is not only remarkable for its wonderful inven- tions in the things that go to make up material progress and increase the luxuries of living until the poor man is now the peer of the prince of several centuries back, but along with the wonderful advance in science have come discoveries which tend to revolutionize the science of medicine and surgery and raise the profession to one of the grandest pursuits that can occupy the attention of man. And a man who earnestly strives to keep in touch with the progress of science and has won an enviable reputation as a physician and surgeon of no mean ability, is William L. Downing of Moulton, Appanoose county, Iowa. His paternal grandfather was a native of Ireland and of pure Irish stock. His father, Samuel B. Downing, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and came to Davis county, Iowa, where he married Miss Telitha Stark, a native of Indiana; they still reside in Davis county, where he carries on farming pursuits.


William is one of ten children and was born in Fox River town- ship, Davis county, Iowa, March 11, 1862. After a youth spent on the farm and in the country school he devoted himself to teaching, which he followed for four years; he received his normal instruction


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in the Southern Iowa Normal and Commercial Institute of Bloomfield, Iowa. He began his study of medicine at Unionville, Iowa, under the Doctors Sawyers and then entered Rush Medical College at Chicago, where he graduated in February, 1886. For a time he engaged in practice at Unionville, Putnam county, Missouri, but in 1890 came to Moulton, Iowa. He has a fine practice and is especially noted for his skill in surgery. He has been a self-made man and his success is the reward of his own efforts. To show that he follows the most pro- gressive methods we have only to mention that in 1896 he took a post- graduate course in the Post-Graduate school of New York city and in 1901 took a similar course in the Chicago Polyclinic.


Dr. Downing holds membership in the American Medical Asso- ciation, the Iowa State Medical Society, the Tri-State (Iowa, Illi- nois, Missouri) Medical Society, the Western Association of Sur- geons and Gynecologists, the Northeastern Missouri Medical Society, the Appanoose and Wayne Counties Medical Society, and the Des Moines Valley Medical Society; he is also the local surgeon of the Wabash and the Burlington railroads. He is a Master Mason. In 1887 the Doctor married Miss Martha A. Coons of Davis county, Iowa, and they have had three children: Inez, born June 13, 1889; Helen, died aged eight years; and Wendell, born on the 28th of July, 1894. They are members of the Christian church and hold a highly respected place in the social circles of the city.


WILLIAM DANIELS.


William Daniels is a self-made man who without any family or pecuniary advantages to aid him at the outset of his career has battled energetically and earnestly and has achieved both character and com-


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petence. He is now classed among the progressive agriculturists of Appanoose county, where he owns a valuable tract of land. He has passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey, his birth having oc- curred on the 9th of May, 1822, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. His parents were Abraham and Rebecca (Rawley) Daniels. The father was born in Germany and the mother was born in Pennsylvania of English parentage. They were married in the Keystone state and re- moved westward to Ohio. They settled in Columbiana county. The father was a millwright by trade and in connection with working at that pursuit carried on agricultural pursuits, thus providing for his family. He died when the subject of this review was about ten or twelve years of age, but the mother, long surviving him, passed away in Gallia county, Ohio, at the age of seventy-six years. In their family were eight children, namely: Joseph, John, David, Abraham, Wil- liam, Nancy, Mary Ann, and Sophia. Of this number all are now deceased with the exception of the subject of this review.


William Daniels was reared upon his father's farm, and his edu- cational privileges were extremely limited. He had the opportunity of attending school for only a few days, but he learned to read and write, and throughout his entire life has been a student, so that he has constantly added to his knowledge by reading, experience and observation and has become a well informed man. At an early age he started out to earn his own living, and whatever success he has achieved is due entirely to his own efforts. After living for a short time in Pennsylvania with an uncle, he left his native state to rejoin his mother in Ohio. He then remained at home working upon a farm until he was able to do for himself. He then entered the employ of a man in Wellsville, Ohio, the owner of a wholesale grocery and com-


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mission house. So capably did he serve the interests of his employer and so faithful was he to his duty, that he was retained in that service for seven years, and was promoted from time to time with a propor- tionate increase in salary. On the expiration of that period Mr. Dan- iels left his old employer and went to California, where he spent four years in hunting and mining. On the expiration of that period he again started for Ohio and after reaching his destination, having made the trip by way of New York city, he returned to his old home in the Buckeye state.


In 1853 Mr. Daniels was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Reid, a daughter of William and Maria (Depew) Reid. His wife was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, October 7, 1833, and the young couple began their domestic life upon a farm in Jackson county, Ohio, where for twenty-seven years Mr. Daniels continued the work of till- ing the soil. He then resolved to seek a home in Iowa, and in 1881 came to this state. He located in Appanoose county upon his present farm, which comprises four hundred and eighty acres of valuable land in Wells township, and everything about his place is neat and thrifty in appearance, the Daniels farm being one of the attractive features of the landscape. The home of our subject and his wife has been blessed with the following children: James Franklin, who is married and is a farmer of Appanoose county; Warren Taylor, who is married and follows farming in this county; Albert Reid, an agriculturist; Maria, the wife of Fred Hartwick; Rebecca; William Sherman, who is married and lives in this county, served in the Spanish-American war; Charles E., who is married and at home, enlisted also for the Spanish-American war, but his regiment was never called into active service; George Newman; and Vance Neal, deceased.


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Mr. Daniels has also experienced military service for one year. He was with the American army in the Mexican war, having enlisted in the Second Ohio Regiment. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, having from the organization of the party been an unfaltering advocate of its principles. His wife and children hold membership in the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Mr. Daniels has now reached the evening of life and has reason to be congratulated upon what he has accom- plished. Thrown upon his own resources in early childhood, he has overthrown the difficulties and obstacles in his path and with deter- mined purpose has steadily advanced until he has reached a creditable and gratifying position upon the plane of affluence.


WILLIAM J. TAYLOR.


For forty years William Joseph Taylor has resided upon the farm which is now his home, in Washington township, Appanoose county. He was born in Hart county, Kentucky, January 25, 1836, and was a youth of thirteen years when with his parents he came to Iowa, since which time he has lived in this state, and the work of the home farm early received his attention and energy. To the public schools of the neighborhood he is indebted for the educational privileges he enjoyed. After arriving at years of maturity he chose as a companion and helpmeet on life's journey Miss Mary E. Rucker, their wedding being celebrated October 25, 1860. The lady is a daughter of Milton and Margaret ( Asby) Rucker, natives of Clark county, Kentucky, whence they came to Iowa. Mrs. Taylor was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, on the 18th of November, 1839, and for twelve years she proved a devoted companion to her husband, but on the 28th of Octo-


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ber, 1872, was called to her final rest. There were three children born of this marriage: Emma Lourenna, now the wife of Frank Hughes, a farmer living in Washington township; Mildred, the wife of John S. Linden, who carries on agricultural pursuits in Washington town- ship: and Lillian V., the wife of Irvin Richardson, who makes his home in Missouri.




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