USA > Iowa > Monroe County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 18
USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 18
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WILLIAM MERCER.
The subject of this review is a self-made man who in his youth had few advantages, educational or otherwise, nor had he the assist- ance of influential friends, but he possessed strong resolution, and, de- siring to become a successful factor in business circles in Monroe county, he has labored earnestly and energetically until his efforts have been crowned with a gratifying degree of prosperity. He now lives in Bluff Creek township, where he owned a valuable property, com- prising four hundred and sixty-five acres of land, which, however, he has divided among his children, retaining for himself one hundred and sixty acres.
Mr. Mercer was born in Kentucky, February 26, 1827, and comes of a family of Scotch origin. From the land of hills and heather his early ancestors went to England and thence to America. The great- grandfather was a soldier in the continental army during the Revo- lutionary war and valiantly assisted in winning American independ- ence. George and Mary (Martin) Mercer, the grandparents, were residents of Pennsylvania, whence they removed at an early day to
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Kentucky, there residing until called to their final home, the former at the age of sixty-eight years, the latter at the age of seventy-four. Martin Mercer, the father of our subject, was born in Kentucky and served his country in the war of 1812 under General Jackson, partici- pating in the "tearless battle" of New Orleans. He was married to Anna L. Biggs, a daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth (Christ) Biggs, who were residents of Kentucky, but removed to Indiana, where both passed away at an advanced age, the former when he had attained four- score years, the latter at the age of seventy-eight. Mr. and Mrs. Martin Mercer also removed to Indiana, locating there in 1831. They became the parents of ten children, but only two are yet living. William and his brother, H. H. Mercer. The father died in Indiana at the age of seventy-three, and the mother's death occurred in the same place when she was seventy-two years of age.
The early youth of William Mercer was a period of persistent and unremitting toil. His educational privileges were very meager, as he had opportunity to attend school for only about two months each year, and during that time he pursued his studies in a log building, sitting upon seats made of slabs, which rested upon wooden pins or legs fitted into a hole bored in the wall. His training at farm labor, however, was not meager, for from.an carly age he worked in the fields from early morning until evening, but, always ambitious for advancement, his persistence, energy and diligence at length won the victory over limited financial circumstances, and he stands to-day as one of the suc- cessful men of his county.
On the 27th of March, 1856, Mr. Mercer married Miss Bernetta H. Sellers, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Nathan and Mary (Yowell) Sellers. Her father was a son of James and Mary (Craw-
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ford) Sellers, and the former, a native of Kentucky and of Scotch descent, died in his native state, while the latter passed away in Indi- ana. Nathan Sellers was born in Kentucky and when he had arrived at years of maturity wedded Mary, daughter of William and Margaret (Coppage) Yowell. Her father was of English lineage and lived in Kentucky. He died in an explosion of a steamer on which he was a passenger, and his wife died in Kentucky when more than ninety years of age. In 1854 Mr. and Mrs. Sellers came to Iowa and here spent their remaining days, the former dying in Appanoose county at the age of seventy-five, the latter at the age of eighty years in Monroe county. They had eight children, of whom five or yet living, including Mrs. Mercer, the estimable wife of our subject. To Mr. and Mrs. Mercer have been born ten children, six of whom are yet living : Henry, who is married and has two children; William L., who is married and has three children: John P., who is married and has four children; Emma, at home; Ida, also with her father; and Inez, who married Dr. C. N. Hyatt and has one child. A daughter, Florence, died at the age of twenty-three years, and the others died in infancy.
Since 1850 Mr. Mercer has been a resident of Monroe county, and great changes have occurred in that period, for the wild land has been plowed and made to bloom and blossom as the rose. His own farm has undergone a complete transformation. He first purchased two hundred and sixty acres and his first farmhouse was 17x20 feet, in which he lived until 1870, when his present fine home was erected, and in the interim the boundaries of his farm have also been extended until the place comprises four hundred and sixty-five acres of land. He has divided this among his boys, who are now operating it, with the exception of William, who in February, 1902, was graduated from the
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College of Osteopathy in Kirksville, Missouri, and is now practicing in Hailey, Idaho.
In politics Mr. Mercer was first a Whig and voted for General Scott, and in 1856 he cast his ballot for John C. Fremont and has since been a stanch Republican. He has filled various local offices and in 1860 he was elected county supervisor, serving for two years, and was the first supervisor of the first superior court of Monroe county. He has always been active in support of measures for the general good, and through more than half a century's residence in the county his labors have greatly benefited his locality, and at the same time his efforts in business circles have brought to him a very gratifying return.
JESSE SNODGRASS.
One cannot carry his investigations far into the history of Monroe county without learning that the Snodgrass family has long been a prominent and honored one in this section of the state. The year 1846 witnessed the arrival not only of our subject but his parents and their children, and the three generations which have here been represented have taken an active part, first in reclaiming the wild land for farming purposes and since then in carrying forward the work of improvement and upbuilding.
Jesse Snodgrass was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, January 1, 1831, a son of Jesse and Jane (Atchison) Snodgrass. The father was born in Ireland in 1784 and spent the first twenty-four years of his life on the Emerald Isle, after which he crossed the Atlantic to America in 1809 on a sailing vessel. He took up his abode in Pennsylvania, and the year 1812 was an eventful one in his history, for in that year he
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was married and he also enlisted for service in the second war with England. He wedded Jane Atchison, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and in 1825 they removed to Ohio, where they remained for twenty years, coming thence to Monroe county, Iowa, in 1846. All was wild here, the district being a frontier region, and the father en- tered from the government the land upon which the city of Albia now stands, making it his home for nine years. His last days were spent upon the farm of his son Jesse, where he died in 1876 at the age of ninety-two years. His wife, whose birth occurred in 1795, died in Albia in 1858. In his political views Jesse Snodgrass, Sr., was a Dem- ocrat in early life, but became a stanch adherent of the abolition prin- ciples, and when the Republican party was formed to prevent the fur- ther extension of slavery he joined its ranks and continued to march under its banners until his death.
Jesse Snodgrass, whose name introduces this record, remained a resident of Ohio until fifteen years of age, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Monroe county, where he has since resided, and its history from pioneer times down to the present is familiar to him. He assisted in the arduous task of developing a new farm from the unbroken prairie, following the breaking plow and later planting crops and gathering harvests. Throughout most of his life he has carried on farming, and is to-day the owner of a valuable tract of rich and productive land, comprising two hundred and fifty acres. It is splendidly equipped with excellent buildings, the latest improved ma- chinery and all accessories for facilitating the work of the farm, and through the careful and systematic control of his business affairs he has gained a very handsome competence. In addition to his agricultural pursuits he was engaged in merchandising in Albia for nine years.
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Mr. Snodgrass was united in marriage to Miss Sarah M. Martin, a native of Monroe county, Indiana, and a daughter of William and Sarah Martin, who were natives of Ireland. After living in Indiana for some time they became residents of Monroe county, Iowa, in 1846, and here they spent their remaining days. To Mr. and Mrs. Snodgrass have been born nine children, of whom six are yet living: Olive, who married John Lucas and has eight children; Cora B., at home; Emma, the wife of Dr. Bartram; Charles, who is married and has two chil- dren; Susie, who is married and has two children; and Clara, who is also married, but has no children. Mr. Snodgrass provided his family with excellent educational privileges, all having entered the district schools and from there advanced until they became students in the state normal. The family is one of prominence in the community, noted for intelligence, business capacity, social qualities and moral worth. Most of the representatives of the name living in this county are mem- bers of the United Presbyterian church, although some are identified with other denominations. Since the parents of our subject came to the frontier of Iowa in 1846 Monroe county has been indebted to the family for what has been accomplished by its members in four genera- tions for the welfare and progress of this section of the state. Mr. Snodgrass has borne his full share in upholding the county's best inter- ests, and wherever he is known he is highly esteemed for his genuine worth. He is a supporter of the Republican party, with which he has affiliated since casting his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont in 1856, but has never been an office seeker, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business affairs, in which he has met with gratifying success.
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JAMES K. WATSON.
James K. Watson, who is recognized as one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of Monroe county, resides on section 4, Troy town- ship. He was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, in 1846, à son of John and Ellen (Davis) Watson, who were also natives of Pennsyl- vania, and in that state the father died. The family continued to reside in Juniata county until 1871, when they decided to establish a home in the west and made their way to Monroe county, where was pur- chased the farm upon which our subject now resides-then a partially im- proved tract of land. The sons began the further development and cul- tivation of the place, and it was upon this farm, three miles northwest of Albia, that the mother spent her remaining days, passing away in 1879. She had survived her husband for twenty-seven years, and had ever remained true to his memory. She carefully reared her children. five in number, doing for them everything in her power, that they might be fitted for life's practical duties. Three of the children still survive her.
Coming to Iowa, James K. Watson at once became a factor in the agricultural development of Monroe county, and the fine farm which he to-day owns is the visible evidence of his life of thrift and enterprise. With the exception of six apple trees, every tree upon the place has been planted by him. The buildings have been erected by him, and the fine property as we see it to-day is the result of his labors. In 1874 he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Elder, who has since been to him a faithful companion and helpmate on life's journey. Their only child, however, died in infancy. Their first home was a small and poor house, 16x24 feet, but after twenty years he erected his nice residence and in addition he has built good barns and other outbuildings. For some
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time he has engaged in the breeding of fine stock, more for his interest in fine domestic animals than as a source of profit. He was one of a company that brought the first Clyde and Percheron stallions into Monroe county, and he has done much to improve the grade of stock raised in this locality, while upon his own farm he has some very fine cattle, horses and hogs, showing the result of high breeding in producing good grades.
Mr. Watson cast his first presidential vote for General Grant at the time of his second election, and has been deeply interested in the growth and success of his party, using his influence to this end. His fellow- citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to positions of public trust, and for ten years he served as township trustee, while in 1901 he was elected a member of the county board of supervisors, on which he is now serving in an acceptable manner. He belongs to the United Presbyterian church, and in a business and political way is widely known in the county and state, where he is recognized as a high type of our progressive American manhood.
EDWARD TRENTON PRINTZ.
The medical profession has an eminent representative in Edward Trenton Printz, a leading physician of Moulton, Appanoose county, Iowa. He is of German ancestry and inherits some of the estimable traits of that worthy race. Peter Printz, his paternal grandfather, was of German lineage and a native of Virginia, being a large planter. Solomon Printz, our subject's father, married Sarah Kibler, whose father, John Kibler, was a Virginia planter and also of German descent, and later came west with our subject's parents and died in Illinois at
EDWARD I PRINTS
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the age of eighty-seven. Solomon and Sarah Printz were both natives of Page county, Virginia, and in 1849, with a family of two sons and two daughters, came west in a wagon and settled in Jasper county, Illi- nois, on a farm; there they spent the rest of their lives, he dying when past sixty, and she when past seventy. They belonged to the Evangeli- cal Lutheran church, and he was an active Democrat and a success- ful farmer. Their children were as follows: Calvin F., deceased; Hiram, living in Newton, Illinois, and a prominent business man of that place; the two daughters next in order died in childhood in Illi- nois; Lydia, the wife of Mr. Strall, of Illinois; John A., a farmer and stock-raiser of Jasper county, Illinois; Edward Trenton; and Mary, who died at the age of twenty-six years.
Edward Trenton Printz was born in Newton, Jasper county, Illi- nois, November 6, 1856, and was reared on a farm up to his sixteenth year; he first attended the country schools and then attended the normal school at Newton. Having fitted himself thoroughly for the task of teaching, he followed that profession for five years in the state of his birth. Having decided that his bent of mind was toward medicine as a calling. he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Chi- cago and graduated in 1884, after which he located in Newton, Illinois, and practiced for two years. The date of his arrival in Moulton is 1886, since which time he has gained a large and lucrative patronage. Mr. Printz is a member of a number of professional organizations, the Iowa State Medical Society, the Des Moines Valley Medical Society, the Appanoose and Wayne Counties Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and the National Association of Railway Sur- geons.
Dr. Printz was married in 1888 to Lizzie Marshall, who died in
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1890; in 1895 he was married to Verna Dye, and he has had two chil- dren by his last wife. Fraternally he is a Master Mason, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
JOHN E. CARHARTT.
Far back into the early history of this country can the ancestry of the Carhartt family be traced. The first of the name in America was Thomas Carhartt, who crossed the Atlantic to serve as secretary to Governor Dugan, and in our subject's home is a complete genealogical record, giving the lines of descent from Thomas Carhartt down to the present. The parents of our subject were James S. and Mary ( Elder) Carhartt, the former a son of Seth Carhartt and the latter a daughter of John Elder. They resided for some time in Coshocton county, Ohio, and both were natives of that state, but in 1850 they started westward and established their home in Monroe county, where the father engaged in farming. He spent his last days in the home of our subject, where he died aged seventy-six years. The mother afterward went to Union county, Iowa, where she died at the age of eighty-two years, but John Carhartt brought her remains back to this county, and she was buried by the side of her husband. In the family were six children, but John E. and one sister are the only ones now surviving.
John E. Carhartt was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, September 13, 1840, and was reared upon the home farm, spending the first ten years of his life in the state of his nativity, and then accompanying his parents on their removal to Iowa, with the interests of which state he has since been identified. His education was begun in a log schoolhouse, and he conned his lessons while sitting upon a bench made of a slab
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laid on wooden pins driven into the wall. Later, however, he enjoyed better educational privileges and for a time was a student in Albia. Reading upon the current topics of interest has made him a well in- formed man, and he keeps well versed on general subjects, political and otherwise. Through his youth he assisted in the work of the home farm, but during the early part of the Civil war he enlisted in Company E, Sixth Iowa Infantry, under Captain Sanders. He was with his regiment in a number of battles and skirmishes, and though he often went upon long marches or took part in battles when suffering from ill health, he reported for duty every day and loyally stood by the old flag until it was planted victoriously in the capital of the south- ern Confederacy. After the close of the war he was honorably dis- charged at Louisville, Kentucky, and was mustered out at Davenport There was no braver man in the army, and with a creditable military record he returned to his home.
Mr. Carhartt at once went to his father's home, near where he now resides, and in the spring of 1866 purchased his present farm in Troy township. He further completed his arrangements for having a home of his own when in 1868 he married Miss Alice A. Boggs, a native of Monroe county. Four children have been born to them, of whom three are yet living: Mary L., who married S. H. Latham and has four sons; James S., who is married and has two sons and a daughter; and John W., at home, assisting his father in the cultivation of the farm. Since his marriage Mr. Carhartt has resided continuously upon his present farm and has made it a fine country home, its neat and thrifty appearance being indicative of the care and supervision of a progressive owner.
Never an active politician in the sense of office seeking, Mr. Car-
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hartt has always had firm faith in the principles of the party which he endorsed by casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, in 1864, while in the army. He has labored for the success of the party and is recognized as one of the stalwart Republicans of the locality. He is a charter member of J. R. Castle Post No. 313, G. A. R., of Avery, the oldest post in this section of the state; for two years he served as its com- mander, after which he became quartermaster and has since held that office. He also belongs to the Presbyterian church, and his Christian faith and belief have been manifest in his conduct toward his fellow- men, who know him to be a man of upright purpose and of intrinsic worth of character.
THOMAS S. PATTON.
The above named, now living in retirement at Albia after a busy life, is a native of Ohio and has spent the whole of his activities within the borders of this state. Like most of his ancestors for generations, he has depended upon the soil for a livelihood, and the chief business of his life has been the cultivation of Mother Earth. His people, like nine-tenths of all the older Iowans, came from eastern states during the formative period of this section and took part in the settlement, which was at its culmination between 1850 and 1870. The paternal grandparents of the gentleman under consideration were James and Anna (Walker) Patton, natives of Pennsylvania, who ended their days in the state of Ohio. Their son, James H. Patton, was born in Ohio in 1820, came to this state in 1856 and practiced medicine in Louisa and Washington counties, Iowa, for a few years, when he engaged in farm- ing. He died December 22, 1889. Dr. Patton married Elizabeth A.
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Shaw, who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1829, and died in Iowa in 1902. Her parents were Pennsylvanians, who emi- grated to Iowa, engaged in farming and died in that state.
Thomas S. Patton, son of the physician above mentioned, was born in Harrison county, Ohio, August 29, 1849, and remained under the parental roof until he reached the age of twenty-one years. In the expressive western language he then "struck out for himself" and spent the two following years in laboring for monthly wages. On February 5. 1874, he married Mary A., daughter of Josiah J. and Margaret (Shaw) Orr, and a native of Louisa county, Iowa. Her father was a Tennessean, but the son of an Irish immigrant who came to this country at an early period and died at an advanced age. Josiah J. Orr came to Iowa about 1844 and purchased land, which he was engaged in farming until his death, which occurred January 26, 1900, at Columbus City, in the eighty-eighth year of his age, having been born August 26, 1812. After his marriage Mr. Patton spent six months in Washington county, then rented a farm from his father-in-law in Louisa county, which he cultivated for seven years, and then purchased one hundred and twenty acres of partially improved land in Monroe county, Iowa. This was followed by various purchases and sales until, as the result of all his transactions in real estate, Mr. Patton's holdings now amount to two hundred and ninety-six and one-half acres. Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Patton, Frederick Oscar died when he was twenty months old; James O., who was born November 20, 1888, in Monroe county, is now attending high school; Robert A., the youngest child, was born August 13, 1894, and like his brother gives promise of a bright future. In fact, both of Mr. Patton's boys show unusual spright- liness and bid fair by their future achievements in life to reflect credit
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on their honored parents. Mr. Patton's political affiliations have always been with the Republican party, and his first vote was cast for General Grant when he was making the race for his second presidential term. In religion he and his wife are believers in the doctrines taught by the United Presbyterian church, and as members of that denomination they have always been active in its work.
SAMUEL A. NEWELL.
Though not a native of Iowa, the above named has been a resident for over fifty years, and so long has he been identified with the affairs of Monroe county that he may justly be classed with the earliest pio- neers. Originally from the north of Ireland, his ancestry settled in old Virginia many generations ago, and his paternal grandfather, Samuel Newell, was a man of note during the latter half of the eighteenth century. He enlisted for the Revolutionary war, fought gal- lantly in many engagements, and at the battle of King's Mountain re- ceived a British bullet in his body which he carried until his dying day. Samuel married a Miss Montgomery, and among their children was a son named William. The latter married Paulina, daughter of David and Elizabeth Fain, Tennesseeans by birth, who removed first to Ken- tucky and then to Indiana, where the former ended his days. William and Paulina (Fain) Newell came to Iowa in 1851 and settled in Monroe county, where the former died shortly after his arrival, in the fiftieth year of his age, his wife long surviving him and dying when seventy- six years old. Of their eleven children six are living in different sec- tions of the country, and all of them have families of their own.
Samuel A. Newell, who is included in the last mentioned list, was
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born January 25, 1838, during the residence of his parents in Owen county, Indiana. He was therefore about thirteen years old when they came west, and grew to manhood on the farm settled by his father in Monroe county. After his father's death he became the head of the household and occupied the position of a parent towards his younger brothers and sisters. He took charge of the farm and managed it until 1870, and during the subsequent twelve years was engaged in mer- chandising at Melrose, Monroe county. After retiring from his mer- cantile venture in 1882, he embarked in the live stock business, and since then has been a general dealer in this industry.
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