USA > Iowa > Monroe County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 16
USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 16
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the painter's trade, which he followed throughout his entire life, and his success was, no doubt, due in a large measure to his faithful ad- herence to the work in which as a young tradesman he embarked. After leaving his home in Ohio he went to Indiana, where he met and married Miss Martha Jane Smith, the wedding taking place in 1852. 1 The lady was a daughter of Peter and Ruth Smith. Her mother died during the infancy of the daughter and the father's death occurred in 1851. In the family were nine children, four of whom are still living, and Mrs. Sholly was the fourth in order of birth.
The young couple began their domestic life in Indiana, where they remained until 1856, when they removed to Kirksville, Missouri, which was their place of residence for five years. Early in the year 1861 Mr. and Mrs. Sholly removed to Monroe county, Iowa, becoming early residents of Albia, which was then a mere hamlet, containing a few log houses. Here he began work at the painter's trade, which he followed through a long period, and the excellence of his work se- cured him a good patronage. He always lived faithfully up to the terms of a contract and because of his desire to please his patrons and his straightforward dealings he was accorded a constantly growing trade.
To Mr. and Mrs. Sholly were born five children: William F., Marion, George, John and Edward, but the only one now living is William F., the eldest. They also had an adopted daughter, Blanche Ijams, who is now married and resides in Albia, while a granddaughter, Gertrude Sholly, is now living with her grandmother, Mrs. Martha J. Sholly.
Fraternally Mr. Sholly was connected with the Odd Fellow's so- ciety for a number of years and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of
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his brethren of the order. He held membership with the Christian church and in his life exemplified his belief, doing everything in his power to promote the growth and extend the influence of the church, while with his fellow men he was ever honest and considerate. He passed away on the 6th of June, 1901, at the age of seventy years, leav- ing behind the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. Mrs. Sholly still survives her husband and makes her home in Albia, where she has many friends. She, too, is a member of the Christian church and has lived in harmony with its teachings.
ALEXANDER BAIN.
Nature certainly intended that man should rest in his declining years. His whole history proves this. In youth he is strong, vigorous and ambitious, and in mature years he has learned to so direct his la- bors that as a result of his sound judgment, experience and industry, he may acquire a good competence. As the evening of life draws on, his physical powers are somewhat diminished and it is just that the long years of business activity should be followed by a period in which. to enjoy the fruits of his former toil. This has been vouchsafed to Mr. Bain, who is now living retired in Albia, but for many years car- ried on agricultural pursuits in Monroe county.
A native of North Carolina, his birth occurred on the 26th of Jan- uary, 1820. His parents were Robert and Mary (Irwin) Bain, and the former was a native of Scotland, while the mother was of Dutch extraction. In early life Robert Bain came to the United States and for some time resided in North Carolina, but the latter part of 1820 witnessed his emigration to what was then the wild west-Jefferson
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county, Indiana, where he spent his remaining days. The family ex- perienced all the hardships and trials of pioneer life there, but as the years passed the fruits of the father's labor brought to them a comfort- able living. In addition to agricultural pursuits he engaged in work as a teamster. His study of the political questions led him at first to give his support to the Jacksonian Democracy, and his religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church. His life was upright and honorable and to his children he furnished an example well worthy of emulation. He passed away April 12, 1845, at his home in Jefferson county, In- diana, and his wife died in the same locality on the 15th of July, 1849. Their children were: Samuel, William. Robert, James, Sarah, John, Jane. Mary, Margaret, Alexander, Thomas, Nancy, and one daughter that died in infancy, and all are now deceased with the exception of Alexander and his sister Margaret. The parents were laid to rest in the cemetery of the United Brethren church in Jefferson county, In- diana.
Before he had reached his first birthday Alexander Bain was taken by his parents to Jefferson county and resided there continuously until October. 1855, when he came to Monroe county, Iowa, where he has since lived. His educational privileges were limited because of the primitive character of the frontier schools. Throughout his entire life he has carried on farming and though he has met with some difficul- ties and obstacles in his path he has steadily persevered and has event- ually become a well-to-do citizen. In early life he suffered heavy losses, but with strong resolution and determined purpose he started again, working hard and living economically and in six years had made fifty- five hundred dollars.
In Lakewood county, Indiana, in 1840, Mr. Bain was united in
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marriage to Miss Mary Gulic, a daughter of William Gulic, a miller of that part of the country. Six children were born to our subject and his wife while they were residents of the Hoosier state, these being: James, who was born in 1841; Henry and Sarah, both deceased; Ellen, Hattie, and Annie. After the arrival of the family in this state other children were added to the household, including Robbie and Mary Louisa, the latter now deceased.
Mr. Bain secured a tract of land in Mantua township, Monroe county, and with characteristic energy began its cultivation, making the fields so productive that he annually gathered good harvests and thus materially increased his income. At length, on account of the ill health of his wife, he removed to Albia, where he lived for seven years, and in 1898 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his loved companion, with whom he had traveled life's journey for fifty-eight years. She was called to her final rest on the 12th of October of that year, at the age of eighty-two years, having been born in 1816. Mr. Bain sold his farm to his son-in-law, W. C. Scorck, just prior to his wife's death, and since that time he has lived a retired life. Mrs. Bain was a devoted member of the Presbyterian church, to which Mr. Bain also belongs, having joined the organization when eighteen years of age. For a long period he served as an elder in the church, but later resigned. His interest in the church, however, and in the advancement of the cause of Christianity has never abated, and his influence has ever been cast on the side of right and truth. He has now reached the age of eighty-three years, and his has been a career in which industry, straightforward dealing, loyalty in citizenship and kindliness to his fellow men have been the salient characteristics.
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CLENDENNEN BOGGS.
Clendennen Boggs is now living a retired life in Albia. He has passed the seventy-sixth milestone on life's journey, and his has been an upright and honorable career, worthy of the respect and veneration which are shown him. He was born in Braxton county, West Vir- ginia, June 18, 1826, his parents being L. M. and Nancy Boggs, who were also natives of West Virginia. The father followed farming throughout his entire life, thus providing for his family. With his wife and children he started for the west in the year 1837 and took up his abode in Lee county, Iowa, nine years before the admission of the state into the Union. He secured a tract of land upon which he carried on agricultural pursuits, and in 1843. when the district now comprised within Monroe county was opened for settlement by the white man, he came with his family to this portion of the state and was among the honored pioneers who laid broad and deep the foundation for the pres- ent development and progress of the county. He gave his political sup- port to the Whig party in early life and when the Republican party was organized he joined its ranks. In the early fifties he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died in the faith of the Methodist church, of which she was a devout and earnest member. Mr. Boggs long survived her, reaching the advanced age of ninety-three years, his death occurring in 1899. Their children were Clendennen; Hender- son; Nathan; Mary Jane, deceased; Louisa; Smith; George M., who has also passed away; Martha Ann; Malissa; and Martin.
Clendennen Boggs spent the first thirteen years of his life in the state of his nativity and then became a resident of Iowa, where he has lived continuously since, and the history of the state from early pioneer
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times is familiar to him. His educational privileges were limited, but he made the most of his opportunities and as the years have passed he has prospered, gaining a comfortable competence as the result of his earnest and indefatigable labor. When twenty-three years of age he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Ramsey, a daughter of John Ramsey, their wedding being celebrated in Monroe county, where he had located about three years previous. Previous to his marriage he had entered one hundred and twenty acres of land from the govern- ment, for which he paid the price of one dollar and a quarter per acre. It was as it came from the hands of nature, covered with the native prairie grasses, not a furrow having been turned or an improvement made thereon, but he at once began to break the prairie and in course of time the fields were planted and good harvests followed. Through his energetic efforts and the assistance of his estimable wife he prospered as the years passed by and throughout his active business career con- tinued to engage in farming, but he eventually put aside business cares, and disposing of his land removed to Albia. He there purchased prop- erty and has since made his home in this place.
To Mr. and Mrs. Boggs have been born the following children : Henry Clay; William E., deceased; and Newton E. For almost fifty- seven years the subject of this review has resided in Monroe county and for more than a half century he and his wife have traveled life's journey together. While there have been no exciting chapters in his career, his life history proves how valuable are enterprise and industry in the active affairs of life, for it has been along these lines that Mr. Boggs has acquired the comfortable competence that now enables him to live retired in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil.
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LINCOLN HARBOLD.
Development and progress, centralization and specialization-these terms are characteristic of the present age of industrial activity; and nowhere are these facts more patently shown than in the history of the great stock-raising and meat business, which reaches its highest per- fection in the United States and under the energy and genius of the American producer. It is only within the past few years that the rais- ing of large quantities of cattle was possible or profitable; but with the growth of transportation facilities and the expanding of the pack- ing and preserving industry, the stock business has been revolutionized and is now one of the surest and most profitable pursuits; immense herds may be fattened and hurried off to distant markets for packing with absolute certainty of returns, and with none of the anxieties or de- lays connected with the old local markets and local slaughter houses. With these facts before us, we can better appreciate the foremost posi- tion which Lincoln Harbold occupies among the business men of Ap- panoose county, for although a comparatively young man, he is reck- oned as one of the leaders of Iowa's many stock dealers.
Samuel L. and Mary E. (Hudson) Harbold were the parents of our subject; the former was a native of the old Bluegrass state and was born near the town of Paris. These worthy people first met in Appanoose county and were there married and spent the remainder of their lives. Samuel was considered one of the prominent and influen- tial farmers of southern Iowa and his successful life was certainly an inspiration to his young son, and the memory of his name and work was not by any means the least inheritance which he left behind at his death. His life was ended on September 10, 1895, and his wife died in 1875, when the boy, Lincoln, was but twelve years old.
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Lincoln Harbold is a native of Appanoose county and was born on his father's farm, August 7, 1863; he was reared under the sturdy discipline of the home farm and early acquired an insight into the prac- tical working of the business to which he was to later give his atten- tion and utmost efforts. As he grew older and the possibilities of the business became more apparent, he increased his facilities until lie is at present the owner of six hundred and sixty acres of fine land near Plano, and two hundred and eighty acres near Truro, Iowa, which he devotes to the grazing of the thousands of cattle handled by him every year, and he buys large quantities of grain for their consumption. Mr. Harbold first began the feeding and handling of stock on a large scale in 1896, and now his broad acres are the temporary feeding grounds for many cattle, which, as soon as they have reached the required weight and the market justifies it, are shipped off to the packing centers, and thus the business goes on, with its various fluctuations, but continually bringing increased returns to its capable manager and owner. He feeds annually three thousand cattle and five thousand hogs, which con- sume one hundred and fifty thousand bushels of corn.
In 1887 Mr. Harbold was married to Caroline Kirkland, the daughter of Benson and Mary (Doran) Kirkland. Her father was a native of West Virginia and her mother was born in Maryland; they were married in West Virginia and in 1869 came to Iowa and located on a place two miles west of Mr. Harbold's home; they are still living and reside on the old Kirkland farm in Johns township. Mr. and Mrs. Harbold became the parents of three children, only one of whom is now living, Grace Harbold. After their marriage they began house- keeping on the farm which they now reside and to-day they own the finest residence in Appanoose county, comfortable and commodious, and
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fitted with all the conveniences which make life in the country ideal. All these possessions which go to make life happier are but the results of the well deserved success of Mr. Harbold, who has won all by care- fully following the business instincts implanted in him in his youth and by the application of the cardinal virtues which are given to every man. In his fraternal relations he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Plano.
SAMUEL ELDER.
In almost all American communities there may be found quiet, re- tiring men, who never ask for public office or appear prominent in pub- lic affairs, yet who, nevertheless, exert a wide-felt influence in the com- munity in which they live and help to construct the proper foundation upon which the social and political world is built. Such a man is Samuel Elder, who throughout his entire life has been an honored and respected citizen of Monroe county. He was born on the farm on which he still resides, ten miles northeast of Albia, four miles north of Avery and three miles from Chisholm. the latter being his postoffice address, and the date of his birth was January 26. 1853. His paternal grandfather, John Elder, came to this country from Ireland when twenty years of age, and his death occurred in Ohio, while on the maternal side our subject is descended from old Pennsylvania ancestry. He is a son of Matthew and Jane ( Lowery ) Elder, the former of whom was born in Coshocton county, Ohio. In 1850 Matthew Elder came to Iowa, locating on our subject's present homestead, where he passed away in death at the age of sixty-eight years and one month. His wife, who was born near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, died at the home of
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY. 247
a son in Albia, when she had passed the age of eighty-one years. Ten children were the result of this union, nine of whom are still living, and the deceased daughter left a family of five children.
Samuel Elder received his early education in the schools of Mon- roe county, while later he attended the educational institutions of Eddy- ville, lowa, and Monmouth, Illinois. After his marriage he located in Ringgold county, Iowa, where he farmed on rented land for two years, after which he purchased and removed to a place in Wayne county, this state. After a residence there of one year he sold his possessions and purchased the three hundred acres which constitute his present valuable homestead. The farm is located in Pleasant township, and at the time of purchase was only partially improved, but he has since placed the entire tract under cultivation, and it is now one of the valuable farms of the county. He devotes his attention to general farming and stock- raising, and in both lines of industry his efforts are being rewarded with a high and well merited degree of success.
The marriage of Mr. Elder was celebrated on the 14th of March, 1878, when Miss Anna Chisholm became his wife. She was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, and is a member of an old and prominent family of Monroe county, Iowa, the village of Chisholm, located therein, having been named in honor of her father. She is a daughter of William and Mary (McQueen) Chisholm. The father, also of Col- umbiana county, Ohio, came to Iowa in 1860, and his death occurred in this state at the age of sixty years. His mother, Janet, reached the re- markable age of one hundred and one years, and she was from Scot- land. The mother of Mrs. Elder, who was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, also spent her last days in this locality, passing away in death at the age of sixty years. By her marriage Mrs. Elder has become the
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mother of three children, the two eldest of whom, Charles M. and Mary E., are attending Penn College of Oskaloosa, Iowa, and the youngest, Janet, is at home. In political matters Mr. Elder has been a life-long Republican, his first vote having been cast for R. B. Hayes in his race for the presidency, and in 1899 he was elected to the position of supervisor and he was made chairman of the board. The family are members of the United Presbyterian church, and Mr. Elder as- sisted materially in the erection of the house of worship of that denom- ination in this locality.
THOMAS FOSTER.
For a half-century Thomas Foster was a resident of Appanoose county and while he did not figure prominently in political or public affairs, he was nevertheless numbered among the valued citizens because of his interest in everything pertaining to the public good, and because in private life he was a man worthy of respect and honor. He was born in Edgar county, Illinois, on the 14th of July, 1828, and passed away at his home near Moulton, Iowa, on the 14th of August, 1901.
His parents were John and Elizabeth Eve (Rhoades) Foster, in whose family were thirteen children: Thomas, Rachel, Arthur, An- drew, Hannah, Rebecca, Catherine, Mary, John, Evaline, Angeline, Jackson and Washington. Of this family Thomas Foster was the eldest and in consequence of this the burdens which devolved upon him in early years were heavy. He was reared to farm life and in the common schools pursued his education. He remained under the par- ental roof until he was twenty-five years of age, and at that time be- came the manager of the family affairs, remaining in charge for sev-
THOMAS FOSTER.
TILDEN FFUNDATI ING.
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eral years, during which time he was the main support of his mother and younger brothers and sisters. He bravely performed the duties which devolved upon him and fulfilled his task with conscientiousness and energy, such as characterized his entire career. On leaving Illinois the family had removed to Missouri, thence to Lee county, Iowa, and in 1851 had come to Appanoose county, where Thomas Foster made his home until called to his final rest. Throughout the years of his man- hood he carried on agricultural pursuits, his labors being interrupted only by his service in the Civil war. On the 8th of July, 1862, feeling that his first duty was to his country in her hour of peril, he offered his services to the government, enlisting as a member of Company D, Sixth Iowa Infantry, in which command he served for four years and one month, never faltering in his loyalty or in the discharge of any task as- ยท signed to him, although he was often in the thickest of the fight and became familiar with all the hardships of war.
In 1864, while home upon a furlough,' Mr. Foster was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Sabra A. Robinson, a daughter of Joel and Jane (Daily) Robinson. The lady was born in Fountain county, Indiana, September 25, 1836. Her parents were southern . people who removed from North Carolina to Tennessee, thence to In- diana, whence they came to Appanoose county, Iowa, in 1851, here spending their remaining days. After the close of the war Mr. Foster resumed farming and was thereafter actively engaged in the work of tilling the soil. He placed the land under a very high state of cultiva- tion and made many excellent and modern improvements upon his place, which are today evidences of his life of thrift and industry. In connection with the cultivation of the fields he also engaged in stock- raising and found that a profitable source of income. At his death he
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left a fair estate, and to his widow, who survives him, he left a com- fortable competence for the rest of her life. He was an industrious and energetic man. in whose career there were few idle moments. He was fair-minded, just and honest, and was uniformly respected by a wide circle of acquaintances. While not a member of any religious organization. he was a man of high moral worth and rectitude of charac- ter, and well may it be said of him that he was a loyal and enterprising citizen and a faithful friend and kind husband. He held membership in the Grand Army of the Republic and was highly esteemed by his old comrades of the blue. Mrs. Foster is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is well known in the county where she has re- sided for more than a half century.
WILLIAM BERNARD.
When the hey-day of life has been spent and old age comes on, it is a blessed privilege to be able to look back upon a life of fruitful effort and to know that not all the opportunities thrown in one's way have been passed by; and certainly in a country of opportunity, this great United States, no man can offer any excuse for not enjoying this privi- lege, and it is a pleasure to here record the life of one who has passed a successful career and now reaps the contentment coming to the re- tired farmer.
Malechia Bernard, who was born in Maryland, came from there to Seneca county, Ohio, when that state was still young, and he remained there till his death. He married Sarah Rayner, a native of Maryland, and she died in Michigan. These were the parents of the subject of this sketch and they had nine children in all, six sons and three daugh-
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ters : John, deceased; Susan, deceased; Edwin, deceased; Aaron; William: George; Washington, deceased; Ellen, deceased; and Mary. Malechia Bernard was a member of the old Whig party and his reli- gious belief was that of the Methodist Protestant church.
William Bernard is able to claim the beautiful old state of Mary- land for his birthplace, being born there in Frederick county, December 17, 1823, and he was reared and educated in that place. At the age of seventeen he came to Ohio, where he remained for eleven years. His arrival in Monroe county is dated in 1855, and he first located in Pleas- ant township, but afterward bought a farm in Jackson township, which he still owns, although he is now retired from active farming. He be- longs to the Republican party and for a number of years was a suc- cessful attorney, but he has never aspired to any of the honors that come with political office. His has been a well-rounded and full life, and he is a representative and worthy citizen of the county.
While residing in Seneca county, Ohio, Mr. Bernard was married to Elizabeth Egbert, who was a native of that county. Eight children now make up the happy family, seven sons and one daughter, as fol- lows: Charles W., George M., Warren, Rolla, Jesse, Alta, William, Jr., and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Bernard died December 31, 1890, and on October 15, 1902, Mr. Bernard married Miss Sarah Albert, who is a native of Indiana.
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