USA > Iowa > Monroe County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 15
USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 15
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In 1864 Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Miriam Siler, a native of Illinois, and she became the mother of two children, Henrietta, who died in 1900, and a son, John B., who is now in the drug business in Centerville. Mr. Taylor has been an active member of the Democratic party, and he and his family are devoted members of
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the Christian church, in which he holds an official position. He has gained a highly respectable position in society and is esteemed for his many excellent qualities of heart and mind.
H. H. PHILLIPS.
H. H. Phillips is the proprietor of the Sunny Slope stock farm, situated on section 4. Douglass township. Appanoose county. He has spent his entire life in this locality and represents one of the pioneer families that was founded at a primitive period in the history of the state. His birth occurred in Walnut township, Appanoose county, August 16, 1862, his parents being Jacob and Sarah (Frisby ) Phillips. The father was born in Clayton county, Ohio, in 1829, and his ancestors were people of genuine worth, active in business and honorable in all transactions. He was reared in the state of his nativity and continued his education there until the removal of the family to McLean county, Illinois, the home being established near Bloomington. In that locality Mr. Phillips was maried to Sarah Frisby, who was born in Ohio and spent her girlhood days in that state and Illinois, largely pursuing her education in the latter state. Attracted by the opportunities offered by Iowa, they loaded some of their household goods into a wagon which was drawn by a team of horses, and thus about 1850 they made their advent into Appanoose county. Mr. Phillips had but small means, but was industrious and possessed excellent business qualifications, and through his unremitting diligence and perseverance he became one of the wealthy men of his locality. He had firm faith in the future of Iowa, made investments in land and also became the owner of large numbers of cattle and horses. As the years passed he prospered in his
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undertakings and at his death left an estate valued at forty thousand dollars. In the family were nine children, five sons and four daughters, and those who are still living are Clara, on the old homestead; Lewis F., a prominent cattleman of White Lake, South Dakota; Howard H .; Charles C., of Walnut township, Appanoose county; and Perry M., who lives upon the home farm with his mother and sister and operates the fields. The children of the family who have passed away are James W., Emma, Mary and Ellen, all of whom died in early life. The father departed this life in February, 1900, at the age of seventy-one years. He voted with the Republican party, but was never an aspirant for office, giving his aid. however, to all measures which he believed would prove of public good, and his integrity stood as an unques- tioned fact in his career. In religious faith he and all of his family were Methodists.
Howard H. Phillips was reared upon the old homestead farm and early in life was trained to the work incident to the cultivation of the fields and the care of stock. His early educational privileges were sup- plemented by study in the college at Quincy, Illinois, and when eighteen years of age he began teaching, which profession he followed for some time in Appanoose county. His services were always in demand be- cause he was an excellent disciplinarian and also had the ability to im- part readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he had acquired. He lived upon the home farm until his marriage, which occurred when he was twenty-four years of age, the lady of his choice being Marinda Whistler, who had also successfully taught school prior to her mar- riage. Her father, Samuel Whistler, now deceased, was born in Vir . ginia and his father was born near Hayestown, Virginia. Samuel Whistler was a loyal member of the German Baptist church and died at
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the age of forty-seven years. To him and his wife were born eleven children : William H., Martha E., John H., Mary J., Columbus E., Amanda A., Lewis C., Anna C., Sarah A., Mrs. Phillips and S. Walter.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips has been blessed with seven children : Carl E., Anna May, Luella, Walter H., Edith Esther, Wen- dell D. and Martha Etta. The parents are well known people of this locality and have a large circle of warm friends. Their home is pleas- antly located on section 4, Douglass township, and is appropriately named the Sunny Slope farm. It comprises three hundred acres of rich land and in addition to this Mr. Phillips also owns another tract of two hun- dren and sixty-five acres in this county and six hundred and forty acres in Aurora county, South Dakota, near White Lake, it being well stocked with cattle and horses.
The Sunny Slope farm is one of the best in Appanoose county, supplied with all modern equipments and all of the accessories of a model farm, on which he is engaged in the raising of high-grade horses and cattle. An earnest Republican in politics, he is unfaltering in his advocacy of the right principles and has held a number of township offices. In 1895 he was also elected a member of the board of county commissioners and served three years, making a creditable record by his faithful service and his practical aid given to measures for the upbuild- ing of the locality. In manner he is genial and courteous, and his kindly disposition and many excellent traits of character have made him a popular citizen of Appanoose county.
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JOHN W. MOSS.
John W. Moss was born December 17, 1830, in Putnam county, Indiana, his parents being Francis and Mary ( Webster) Moss, both of whom were natives of Virginia. The father died in Putnam county, Indiana, at the age of sixty-eight years, and the mother afterward came to Iowa, spending her last days in Pleasant township, Monroe county, where she died at the very advanced age of ninety-one years. In the family of this worthy couple were nine children, eight of whom reached years of maturity.
In taking up the history of John W. Moss we present to our read- ers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in this portion of Iowa. He remained upon the home farm in the Hoosier state until twenty-one years of age and his boyhood's training was such as to make him familiar with farm work in its various depart- ments. The mental discipline which he had was that afforded by the common schools and on attaining his majority he left Indiana, believ- ing that he might have better business opportunities in a district further west. Accordingly he came to this state in the year 1853. After a year, however, he returned east and in 1855 he again came to Iowa, settling in Monroe county, where he has since made his home. In 1860 he purchased one hundred and fifteen acres of land, but of this he has since sold a portion and he now owns one hundred acres. Mr. Moss has made the place what it is to-day, a valuable and well improved farm, but this statement but faintly indicates the years of earnest labor which have been devoted to the farm. After taking up his abode here he worked early and late in order to place his fields under cultivation, practicing the rotation of crops in order to keep the land productive and
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following progressive methods that have become known to the farmer as time has advanced. He had no special educational privileges to aid him, in fact, he pursued his studies while seated upon a slab bench in a log schoolhouse. In him, however, was the strength of character that caused him to brook no obstacles that could be overcome by persistent and determined energy and his labor has been the ladder upon which he has risen to the plane of affluence. There is now evidence that his farm is underlaid with one of the richest coal veins in the county or state, and in the development of this there lies in store for Mr. Moss a handsome competence, of which he is certainly deserving as a reward for his career of industry.
On the 15th of November, 1860, occurred the marriage of our subject and Mary Miller, the widow of Abraham Kingery. She was born in Ohio and by this union has become the mother of two sons, the elder being Perry E., who is married and has two children; and Riley E., who is married and had four children, three of whom are yet living. Both Mr. and Mrs. Moss are faithful members of the Baptist church and take an active interest in its work, doing all they can for the extension of its influence. In political circles Mr. Moss is also prominent and influential and is identified with the Democratic party. In 1878-9 he served as county auditor of Monroe county and from 1884 until 1887 was the county treasurer, discharging his duties in a most prompt and capable manner. He has also filled township offices and was at one time the candidate of his party for the legislature, but could not overcome the strong Republican majority of his district. His first presidential vote was cast for General Winfield Scott. the candidate of the Whig party in 1852, and in 1856 he voted for James Buchanan, the Democratic nominee for the presidency, since which time he has
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never wavered in his allegiance to the Democracy. Both he and his wife possess sterling traits of character, which have gained for them high esteem through the community, and the life record of Mr. Moss proves conclusively that success is not a matter of genius but is the outcome of clear judgment and experience and that it may be won by diligence and persistency of purpose.
C. MILTON FORREST.
C. Milton Forrest is widely known in Monroe county. For many years he was connected with agricultural pursuits and is now a repre- sentative of the Consolidated Coal Company, making his home in Lovilia, and the qualities of an upright manhood have long been mani- fested in his career, and few men enjoy in a higher degree the respect and confidence of those with whom they are associated. Mr. Forrest is further entitled to mention as one of the native sons of the county and a representative of one of its pioneer families. He was born in Bluff Creek township, February 1, 1847, his parents being Thomas E. and Susan (Harris) Forrest, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. During his boyhood days Thomas E. Forrest accompanied his parents to Licking county, Indiana, where he remained for a number of years, and in 1844 he left the Hoosier state for Iowa, settling in Monroe county. A farmer by occupation. he followed that pursuit throughout his entire life, his agricultural labors being ended in death in 1862. He was at that time residing in Albia. His capability and worth were widely recognized by his fellow men, who frequently intrusted him with positions of responsibility. He served as justice of the peace and was one of the early commissioners of Monroe county who located the
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county seat. While acting as justice his decisions were always strictly fair and impartial, and he was also called upon to perform many mar- riage ceremonies. His political support was given to the Republican party, for he strongly endorsed its principles and joined the party upon its organization. He was also a devout member of the Christian church, to which his wife belonged, and they not only contributed liber- ally to its support but also took an active and helpful part in its work. The mother died on the old home farm in Bluff Creek township in 1888, when sixty-eight years of age. In the family of this worthy and respected couple were ten children: John W., who came home from the army in 1863, but died soon afterward; Millie C., who has also passed away; Washington and Richard, both deceased; Thomas J., who was in the army and has departed this life; C. Milton, of this re- view; Matilda Jane, who was the latter's twin sister and is deceased ; Laura, deceased; Marion; and Mary, who has also been called to her final rest. The family was certainly well represented in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion. John W. enlisted in 1861 and Thomas J. in 1862, and both were loyal and gallant soldiers.
C. Milton Forrest was reared in Monroe county and is indebted to the common school system for the educational privileges which he en- joyed. When not engaged with the duties of the schoolroom he as- sisted his father in the work of field and meadow, and after completing his education devoted his entire time and attention to farming, which has been his principal occupation since. . Is a companion and help- meet for life's journey he chose Miss Jane C. Cousins, their wedding taking place in 1867. The lady is a daughter of Moses and Nancy Cousins, who were natives of Vermont and came to Iowa at an early day, settling on a farm on which a part of Albia now stands. Mrs.
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Forrest was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1849, and with her parents came to Iowa in 1853. In the family were the following children : Moses and Nancy, both deceased; Washington B .; Verness, who has also passed away; Emma, and Mrs. Forrest. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cous- ins died in 1888, the father at the age of eighty-four and the mother at the age of eighty years. Mrs. Forrest's eldest brother was a ser- geant in the Thirty-sixth Iowa Regiment and her brother, Washing- ton B., is now a practicing physician of Akron, Ohio. Mrs. Forrest secured a good education and is a lady of more than average intelli- gence and culture. By her marriage she has become the mother of eight children: Alice, Clara Agnes, Mrs. Annie Laurie McAlister, Mrs. Elsie Verness Carhart, Charles E., Minnie G., who is teaching school in Lovilia; Nora M., and Nellie I. Mr. and Mrs. Forrest have also ten grandchildren.
Previous to the time of his marriage Mr. Forrest had manifested his loyalty to the government by enlisting for service in the Union army at Albia in 1864. He was assigned to the company under com- mand of Captain N. B. Humphreys, organized at Albia, while the regi- ment was under command of Colonel Stone. Mr. Forrest was with General Sheridan in the Virginia campaign and at the close of the war was mustered out at Savannah, Georgia, and received his final pay as a soldier in Davenport, Iowa. He has a warm place in his heart for the boys who wore the old blue uniforms, and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and at the present time is serving as presi- dent of the Veterans' Association of Bluff Creek township.
In his political views Mr. Forrest has been an earnest Republican since casting his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln, and he has been honored with a number of offices, because the people recog-
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nize his loyalty in citizenship and his capability in the discharge of his duties. In 1885 he was nominated for sheriff of the county, but was defeated by L. T. Richmond. Two years later, however, both men were again candidates for the office and he defeated Mr. Richmond. When he had served for two years he was again nominated and this time defeated W. T. Gardner, so that he filled the office for four con- secutive years, and by his promptness and fidelity won high commenda- tion. Throughout the greater part of his life he has carried on agri- cultural pursuits, owning and operating a farm in Bluff Creek township, but in September, 1902, he abandoned the plow and removed to Lovilia. where he is at present employed by the Consolidated Coal Company.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Forrest are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their interest in this work is manifested by the active co-operation which they give. They are especially well known in connection with the social functions and work of the Veterans' Asso- ciation of Bluff Creek township and at the meeting held on the 22d of May, 1896, when a flag was presented by the ladies of the township to the association, she delivered the chief address, which we gladly give. It is as follows :
"The ladies of Bluff Creek have kindly chosen that I, in their name, should have the pleasant task to present to the Veterans' Associa- tion this flag as a memento of our love and esteem. This day, the anniversary of the assault on Vicksburg-May 22, 1863-is one long remembered by all soldiers and their families.
"Many thoughts come to me as I look upon this flag. It recalls to memory the pale cheeks of women and the flushed faces of men as they parted from loved ones and marched away to the boisterous sound of drums and the silver tones of bugles to take part in that great strug-
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gle to do and to die for 'the eternal right,' and we bade you goodbye with breaking hearts, praying God to be with you while 'His truth was marching on.'
"Many never returned. They are at rest in the land they helped to make free; under the flag they made stainless; they sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of storm and sunshine, each in the windowless palace of rest.
"Soldiers of the Republic! You were not seekers after vain glory. nor were you animated with hopes of plunder or love of conquest, but you fought to preserve the blessings of liberty, that your children might have peace, and to finish what the soldiers of the Revolution com- menced; to keep our country on the map of the world and our flag re- corded in heaven.
"Grander than the Greeks and nobler than the Romans the sol- diers of the Republic battled for the rights of others; the nobility of labor, that mothers might own their own babes and that our nation might be sovereign, great and free. Blood was as water, money as leaves and life as common as air until our flag floated over the re- public without a slave or a master.
"Now, as we look upon our flag, it is to us something more than a piece of bunting, a patch-work of colors; it is to us a remembrance of deeds of loyalty, of patriotism, of suffering and of duties nobly done, whether upon the battlefield, in prison pen, upon the lonely picket, or against the treacherous foe on the great plains of the far west.
" 'Nothing but a flag, it is bathed in tears, It tells of triumphs, hopes and fears; It tells of hosts of loyal men, Who've marched beneath in days gone by,
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It tells of prayers of mothers, wives. The heart must pray though lips be dumb, Silent it speaks, and thoughts will come.'
"The red, the symbol of love and fervency, is a remembrance of the love you have for our country and her flag, and the fervency with which you responded when the first mutterings of the distant storm of rebellion were heard, and the lightning flash and thunderous roar of the guns as they fired upon Fort Sumter. And when the call for troops was made you so bravely responded, 'We are coming, Father Abraham, three hundred thousand more.'
"It was a mighty gathering from farms, mines, work-shops, schools, colleges, from the bar and pulpit, all over our fair north, still echoing that response, until over two million fathers and sons were in arms to protect our Union. Many boys there were-no older than those upon this platform-worthy descendants of the signers of the Declaration of Independence ; so down through the ages shall the chil- dren of the republic sing how well you maintained the constitution, preserved the union of states established by our fathers, kept the flag unsullied and giving the nation a new birth of freedom.
"The white, the symbol of purity, is a remembrance of your purity of purpose, not for personal gain or mere idle pastime, but to preserve our nation as one, that the shackles should be dropped from four mil- lion men, women and children; that no longer should be heard the blood-hounds upon the footsteps of some poor human being seeking for freedom, and that no longer should husband be sold from wife, mother from her children, but freedom should be for everyone.
"The blue, the symbol of truth and fidelity, is a remembrance of this love you have for our country, and when you followed our loved
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flag, through all those long weary marches through winters' snows and springtime slush and mud, through cities and towns, over prairies and on to the field of battle, where the furrows of the old field were as ravines filled with blood, and where you left so many of your comrades pierced with bullets, torn with shell, their life ebbing away among the withered leaves, then did you, with features stern and nerves of steel, resolve that not a star by traitorous hands should be removed from that field of blue.
"But the gallant deeds of the thousands in the forepart of the bat- tle were eclipsed only by the heroic fortitude of the prisoners in 'Dixie,' in the presence of untold torture, compared to which the whistle of the bullet and the screaming of the shell was as the sweetest music. There is no blacker page in the world's history than that on which is recorded the cruelties practiced upon the Union prisoners of war in Libby, Belle Isle, Salisbury and far-away Tyler, Texas; in Anderson- ville, five times enlarged, ten times intensified, thirty thousand prison- ers on eighteen acres of ground, without shelter, but within sight of timber; without water, yet within sight of pure, bright sparkling water; without food, except each day one-half pint of corn meal, ground cob and all; no fire in winter to protect against the cold winds and rains; no shelter from the hot blistering sun of the southern summer. Suffer- ing, starving semblances of humanity, yielding your liberty by refusing to renounce your allegiance to the flag and country you loved so well. Grander deeds than these have no man done.
"The stars upon the field of blue are a remembrance that the Creator of all things has blessed your efforts, and not a star was lost, and the cries of the afflicted through all the long weary years have been heard, for He said, 'The right shall prevail ;' and through your trials and suf-
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ferings you have bequeathed to your country the legacy of liberty and union, insuring to your children the blessings of free institutions, under which they enjoy greater prosperity, a larger liberty, a higher civilization and a purer Christianity than was ever before en- joyed by a people.
"The yellow, emblem of constancy, is a remembrance that you were constant and true to all duties. As you so proudly marched away under the flying flags, keeping step to the wild, grand music of war, you followed our flag in sunshine and storm, victory or defeat, with as much confidence as did the children of Israel who followed the pil- lar of cloud by day and of fire by night. You laid your lives, your honors, your fortunes, upon the altar of liberty and union, that a 'gov- ernment of the people and by the people should not perish from the earth.' .
"The eagle, a remembrance of the liberty you gained 'with malice toward none and charity for all.'
"The cord, a remembrance of the many ties that bind this united country together, and may the cords of loyal, enthusiastic sentiment grow stronger and stronger while we are permitted to live, and when the last roll is called may we be gathered in that great camp where the bugle sounds neither 'reveille' nor 'lights out.'
"And from the stars and stripes we recall the story of liberty and union as exemplified in the lives of Washington, Lincoln, Grant, and the patriotic sons of the republic, who by their valor and suffering ren- dered the fame of this trio imperishable, and we look upon the Ameri- can flag by 'angels' hands to valor given,' with as much reverence as did the Israelites look upon the Ark of the Covenant.
"This flag, the emblem of this grand nation, is a symbol of the
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noblest strength and purest love; its every wave and fold speaks to us with more thrilling words than orator ever uttered. It recalls to mem- ory when Lincoln bore our country's burden, and Grant led the army to victory, and to a more perfect union, which is to-day the wonder and admiration of the world. This, the nation's standard, as it floats to-day, reminds us that we are free, subjects of no king but Him who rules the universe.
"Mr. Watson, to you as the representative of the veterans, I have tried to express the love and esteem in which we hold the soldiers of the republic. Words are a poor medium and are soon forgotten, but as you and your comrades look upon the flag, may each color bring to your memory our gratitude and love for your protection. I now have the honor to present to you this flag."
JACOB SHOLLY.
Jacob Sholly, who was well known and highly esteemed for his sterling integrity and honor and was long classed among the represent- ative citizens of Monroe county, passed away June 6, 1901. He was born in Germantown, Ohio, May 24, 1831, and was a son of Joseph Sholly, a native of Pennsylvania. The father was a shoemaker by trade, following that pursuit in order to provide for his family. When the son Jacob was but fourteen years of age both the father and mother were stricken with typhoid fever and died within two weeks of each other. Six children survived them, of whom the subject of this re- view was the second in order of birth. His early life was marked by no event of special importance aside from his parents' death, when he was thrown upon his own resources, When a young man he took up
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