USA > Iowa > Monroe County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 21
USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 21
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On the 16th of October, 1845, Mr. Scott was married to Miss Mary Wills, who was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, May 28, 1827. Her parents, David and Sarah ( Ramsey) Wills, were natives of Kentucky, the father being born in March, 1799, died in 1868, and the mother born January 1, 1807, died March 29, 1889; they were married in Kentucky and he followed farming as a life occupation; in October, 1837, they moved from Kentucky and went to Putnam county, Indiana, and re- mained there until 1850, when they came to Monroe county, Iowa, where they made their home until their death; for a number of years they were on a farm one mile south of Albia. Mr. and Mrs. Scott became the parents of nine children, five of whom are living: Mrs. Clara Ellen Clodfelter, of Independence, Oregon; Sarah Martha died at the age of six years; Margaret Ann died two years after her marriage to Mr.
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Charles Fox ; Mrs. Mary E. Smith lives four miles south of Albia; Mrs. Melissa Jane Cooper lives in this county ; Charles Sumner died at the age of four years ; Mrs. Laura Belle Campbell is a resident of St. Louis; Mrs. Amy Mildred Dixon resides in Vincennes, Indiana; and Emma died in infancy.
WILLIAM K. HARDENBROOK.
To the superficial observer it often seems that worldly success is the result of some inherited talent which has given an individual the start of mankind or is the result of some adventitious circumstances usually designated as luck, but when studied from the standpoint of universal history the open sesame which unlocks the door of success is found to be nothing more nor less than industry and perseverance, quali- ties before which the most obstinate obstacles gradually yield and open the road to golden gain. And this rule is exemplified in the case of the subject of this sketch, who, starting with only the knowledge of a trade, has worked himself to a place of prominence in his city.
His father, Isaac Hardenbrook, was born in Ohio, February 22, 1823, and died March 12, 1888; he married Mary A. Kelly, who was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, September 15, 1823, and later came to Morrow county, Ohio, with her parents, where her marriage occurred in 1843. Isaac Hardenbrook was actively engaged in farming during the earlier part of his life and later operated a flouring mill; he dis- posed of his farm near Albia, Iowa, in 1874, and moved to La Villa, where he ran a flouring mill until 1886, when he retired from active pursuits. After his death his wife made her home in Kansas for three years and then resided in Albia with her daughter until her death, Jan-
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tiary 13, 1903. Of the nine children born to these parents four are now living.
One of the sons of the above parents was William, who was born in Mount Gilead, Morrow county, Ohio, November 9, 1844. His boy- hood was spent on the farm of his birth until he was twelve years old, and on May 8, 1856, he came with his parents to Monroe county, Iowa, and lived on his father's farm five miles north of Albia. His educa- tion was received in the town school of Mount Gilead and in the country schools of Monroe county. William remained with his parents until July, 1862, when the Civil war summoned him into the ranks, and he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-second Iowa Infantry, under Captain R. M. Wilson; he spent nine months in the service and then received an honorable discharge on account of physical disability. After his re- turn he went to Osceola, Iowa, where three years were spent in learning the harness trade; having thoroughly mastered the business he worked for three years at this trade in Henry county, Illinois; he then spent about a year in Albia and in 1871 went to Minneapolis. On November 1, 1874. Mr. Hardenbrook opened a harness shop on the southeast cor- ner of the square in Albia and since that time has rapidly extended his business and increased his influence in the various affairs of the city until he is now recognized as one of the leaders. He located in his pres- ent convenient and commodious store in 1887.
Mr. Hardenbrook has been very influential in the councils of Re- publican party ; he has been a member of the city council and has been chief of the fire department; in 1897 he was nominated and elected to the office of mayor and such has been the satisfaction with his adminis- tration that he is now serving his third term. He is a member of var- ious organizations, the Grand Army of the Republic, the Independent
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Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Elks. In 1876 Mr. Hardenbrook was mar- ried to Julia B. Mount, who was born in West Virginia, June 21, 1854; her parents, John and Mary Mount, became residents of Fairfield, Iowa, and spent their declining days in Albia; John Mount was a cabinet maker by trade and at one time owned a store in Albia. One child, Carrie M., was born to Mr. and Mrs. Hardenbrook, and she resides at home with her parents.
JOHN G. BRIDAL.
At one of the hospitable homes in Moulton may be found an elderly gentleman of English birth, but a thoroughly Americanized citizen, who is a decidedly interesting person to talk to. He can tell you of a period in American history which yields to none in "stirring incidents of flood and field," tragic events growing out of sectional feuds, racial wars and deeds done when the passions of lawless men are at their worst. For Mr. Bridal will entertain you with stories of "Bleeding Kansas" in the days of the "border ruffians," old John Brown of Osawatomie and the frightful feuds growing out of the bitter antagonism between the advo- cates of slavery and the friends of freedom. From 1856 until 1865 Mr. Bridal was right in the midst of all this and participated actively in some of the most exciting scenes of those dark and tempestuous times. One who listens to him now in his quiet retirement at Moulton and finds him in a mood to talk of his first ten years' experiences in "free America," will be struck at the contrast between the startling nature of his themes and the subdued voice in which he describes them.
It was to Joseph Bridal, a gentle English shepherd, and his wife,
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Elizabeth Galpin, that America is indebted for the son who was des- tined to take such lively part in the first serious collision between the forces of freedom and the hateful system of human bondage. John G. Bridal, child of these unassuming parents, was born in Dorsetshire, England, September 11, 1831, and twenty-three years later found him- self standing in New York city wondering where to turn for a living. He finally decided to go "up state" to the great river connecting Erie with Ontario, and here for a few months he secured employment as a boat- man on the Niagara. Tiring of this occupation, the young Englishman moved further west and upon arriving in Illinois secured a year's work as hired hand in connection with a sawmill and farm. The termination of this job brought him into the year 1856, when he married Mary Gaplin, and later made a move which introduced all the excitement he wanted into his hitherto rather uneventful life. In the year following his marriage. Mr. Bridal, with his newly made bride by his side, started on his venturesome trip to Kansas. On the way they were joined by a Methodist minister named Frate Shepard, who was taking his family to join a brother then engaged in selling supplies to the Indians in Frank- lin county. At the time these little parties united their forces the terri- tory to which they were journeying was the most disturbed and the most dangerous place in the United States. Kansas was filled with outlaws of every kind, rude and lawless people from all over the world, intent only on killing and plundering, and a "holy terror" to all persons peace- fully inclined. What were called the "border ruffians" were organized gangs from the southern states, chiefly Missouri, whose object was to make a slave state out of the new territory, and with this end in view they sought to drive out all who were unfriendly to their scheme. As many fearless men had come to this debatable land from the northern
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states and many of them were strong Abolitionists, hating slavery with all the earnestness of their natures, it was easy to foretell that the ruffians would not have it all their own way. In addition to all this, the terri- tory abounded in wild Indians, who were not slow to take advantage of the incipient Civil war, and altogether Kansas at that time was anything else but a pleasant summer resort.
When Mr. Bridal and his fellow travelers reached their destina- tion in Kansas, they were not long in realizing the deadly dangers by which they were surrounded. Hardly had they alighted from their sad- dles until it was ascertained that a conspiracy to exterminate them was on foot among the Indians. Fortunately for the intended victims, how- ever, a squaw who was at the time on unfriendly terms with her tribe betrayed the plot in time to enable them to escape. This treacherous action of the redskins delayed for two years a treaty then pending be- tween them and the United States government and caused much incon- venience. After this trouble subsided Mr. Bridal and Preacher Shep- ard secured a job of hay-cutting from one of the Indian chiefs, but dur- ing the six months' time of its continuance had many exciting experi- ences and narrow escapes from the wiles of the savages.
While living in Franklin county, Mr. Bridal became acquainted with the then only locally known John Brown, who was destined soon to obtain world-wide celebrity as organizer and leader of the famous Harper's Ferry raid. At the time under consideration, Brown was en- gaged in preaching to his followers in Franklin county, and Mr. Bridal, who often went to hear him, says he always placed revolvers on the pulpit in front of him before he began to talk, to prevent attacks from the friends of slavery. The natural gloominess and bitterness of the old fanatic had been greatly intensified by the killing of three of his
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sons at the hands of the "border ruffians." and his intense hatred of slav- ery was doubtless accentuated by desire for personal revenge upon the murderers of his children. Although Mr. Bridal enjoyed the personal acquaintance of Brown, he knew nothing of the plans for the Harper's Ferry episode until the explosion of that great forerunner of the Civil war had electrified the nation from ocean to ocean.
In 1858 Mr. Bridal went to Kansas City with a team of oxen to do hauling, and his first job was to take a load of sugar and coffee to some Osage Indians who were located at Humboldt, one hundred miles west of his starting point. It was a dangerous and desperate trip and one which Mr. Bridal will never forget, beset as the country was by savage Indians and still more savage white men. He lost his way several times and once after night drove far out into a pond and had much difficulty in extricating himself from the murky morass. Near Mound City he came upon a party of friends located in a fort and shortly after his ar- rival the men departed to visit their families in different parts of Kan- sas, leaving two boys on guard. Mr. Bridal moved on west and when he reached his destination found that the people he came to supply had been out of provisions for nearly a month and were almost starved. On his return trip he learned that a bloody tragedy had been enacted at the fort which he passed on the outward journey. The two boys left as guards, besides ten other persons, had been murdered by a band of vil- lains, such as were then often met with in that turbulent territory. . This same gang of ruffians had met Mr. Bridal on their way to the fort, but strange to say had not robbed or molested him in any way. Mr. Bridal was a resident of Kansas when the vote was taken on the momentous question of making it a free or slave state and this contest led to intense excitement among the opposing factions. In order to vote Mr. Bridal
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and others were compelled to cross the river, which was swollen high at the time, and for the benefit of those who could not swim, William H. Lawrence, afterward secretary of state of Kansas, swam across carrying a rope which was stretched over the stream and used as aid for his fol- lowers. In 1862 Mr. Bridal enlisted in Nugent's Second Missouri Bat- talion and for six months was with this command in pursuit of General Price and his raiding forces. He also assisted in defense of Fort Scott, meeting a force of Confederates which outnumbered the Union troops seven to one, but they succeeded in defeating them. The nearest Mr. Bridal came to being wounded was when three bullets passed in rapid succession through his hair, but they only grazed the scalp and did no injury. This ended his war experience and also his adventures in "Bleeding Kansas," which he left shortly after the war for more peace- able and congenial climes.
In 1865 he located in Davis county, Iowa, having lost his wife in Kansas in 1864, and two years later came to Appanoose county, where he lived until eleven years ago on a farm north of Moulton and then moved to town, where he has since resided. By his first marriage he had three children: Joseph W., of Council Bluffs, Iowa; George L., of Oklahoma; Mrs. Ann E. Taylor. By his second marriage, to Martha J. Dysart he had two children: Arthur, of Appanoose county, and John, of South Dakota. His present wife was Jane Thrap, a native of Ohio; was brought to Davis county. Iowa, when quite small by her par- ents, Henry and Susannah (Moots) Tharp. Mr. Bridal is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and one of the esteemed comrades in the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic.
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W. PARKER TAYLOR.
Descended from early residents and connected with a family long identified with the interests of Appanoose county, Mr. W. Parker Tay- lor owns and resides upon a farm of three hundred and thirty acres of what many consider the finest land in the county. His home is the abode of elegance, comfort and hospitality, and its owner is one of the most popular as he certainly is one of the most substantial citizens of the township. The family name for generations has been connected with farming, but the younger set, being born in the age of marvelous advances in scientific agriculture, have figured conspicuously in all that relates to that great industry in the section where their lot has been cast. They are of eastern origin and of mixed northern and southern blood. Samuel Taylor, who was born in Ohio in 1816, and Elizabeth Pella, whose birth occurred in West Virginia, August 4, 1832, met and mar- ried many years afterward in the state of Iowa. Their union took place in Davis county in 1855, but later land was purchased in Appanoose county, where the father farmed and raised stock with success until his death in 1891 at the age of seventy-five years. His widow survives and makes her home with a son, John E. Taylor, who now owns the old homestead.
WV. Parker Taylor, another of the sons, was born in Davis county, Iowa, October 8, 1859, and remained under the parental roof until sev- eral years past his majority. In 1883, he made his first venture on his own account by beginning work on one of the neighboring farms and while so engaged, like the young man in Tennyson's poem, his fancy "lightly turned to thoughts of love." In other words, he determined to take a wife, and this resolve was consummated by his marriage on March
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5, 1884, to Miss Nancy J. Ransom. Immediately thereafter the young couple settled down to housekeeping on the old Taylor farm, which had been entered from the government by his father, and have since had no complaint to make as to the share of happiness and prosperity vouchsafed to them. In fact, they have every reason to be thankful, as in addition to the luxurious home above mentioned and other property, both real and personal, their household has been brightened by the advent of healthy and happy children, such as cannot fail to delight a parent's heart. Of the seven born to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, they have lost only one by death, the survivors being Clarence Lowell, Orpha, Samuel D., Leo, Elsie and Mabel. Father and mother are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, while Mr. Taylor's fraternal connections are with the Masonic Order and "Yeomen."
JOHN N. McFALL.
After working hard on his farm for over fifty years with only brief and occasional intervals of rest, the gentleman above named was com- pelled in the fall of 1902 to suspend his personal labors on account of poor health. Nor will any one begrudge him this well earned rest which comes in the evening of a long and useful life, during which he has reared and provided for a large family, borne his share of all public bur- dens and fulfilled every obligation of good citizenship. Mr. McFall's earliest recollections are of an "old Kentucky" home, in which he played with a numerous band of little brothers and sisters, most of whom have long since settled their earthily accounts and joined the silent majority. The head of this household in the "time long ago" was David McFall, an industrious, hard-working man who eked out a living for himself
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and numerous progeny by incessant labor on a none-too-productive Ken- tucky farm. He married Mary Ann Harvey who, like himself, was a native of the state and after "plodding along" many weary years they concluded to try their fortunes in a more bounteous if not more con- genial clime, where better results would reward the toiling husband- man. With this end in view, the father and mother prepared for the long journey to the "far west," and there was something both pictur- esque and pathetic in the picture presented on the eve of departure. As there were few railroads in those days, the trip must necessarily be made in wagon and the lack of good roads, the innumerable streams to be crossed and the long distance, made such a journey a very serious under- taking. The household "plunder," as it was called, was loaded into the "prairie schooner," the numerous children were stowed away as well as possible, a final farewell was taken of friends in old Kentucky and the adventurous emigrants were off for the distant state of Iowa. The journey included the passage through many states, the crossing of the Ohio, Mississippi and scores of other streams, with all the incidents and accidents sure to happen to such a train of movers. This was in 1850, and after being many weeks on the road the weary wanderers finally reached their destination in Appanoose county, where they secured a humble home and set bravely to work to re-establish their shattered for- tunes. There were altogether eleven children in the family, but only three of them now remain. The father died at St. Louis in 1862, while visiting a son who was in the army at that place, and the mother, after surviving him about twelve years, passed away in 1874.
John N. McFall, one of the three surviving children, was born at Russell, Kentucky, December 11, 1836, and well remembers the wagon trip across the country, as he was fourteen years old at the time.
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As he grew up in Appanoose county he worked at such odd jobs as he could obtain, mostly on farms, until eventually he was able to have a home for himself and settle down to the peaceful pursuits of agricul- ture. As the sharer of his cares and joys he selected Miss Lavisa King, to whom he was married in 1861, and of whom he was bereaved by death on the 14th of July, 1876. The six children of this union are James William, a resident of Kansas; David L., Francis M., John L., Mrs. Amanda Ellen Davidson and Charles W. Mr. McFall is a man of religious tendencies and has been a member of the Christian church during all the years of his adult life. He continued to attend actively to his business affairs and do more or less manual labor on his farm until the fall of 1902, when he was compelled by ill health to seek re- tirement. Since then he has been making his home with his second- born son, David L. McFall. The latter was married to Mary E. Mc- Grew, of Appanoose county, and they have five children : Alta M., Blanche I., Ella C., Glenn C., and Zana E.
JAMES C. BARROWS.
The above named gentleman needs no introduction to citizens of Appanoose county, but a few biographical details concerning this promi- nent editor of Centerville may prove of interest to those living without the sphere of his activities. For twenty-two years Mr. Barrows has been identified with newspaper work at the county seat, and two-thirds of this time has been spent as proprietor of its leading political journal. Such a position, always one of conspicuousness and responsibility, has necessarily given Mr. Barrows a wide acquaintance and brought him in touch with the forces engaged in developing and governing his city and
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section. Though editors naturally make enemies, Mr. Barrows has probably escaped with as few of these necessary counter-irritants of successful men as any one in the business, a result due largely to an un- failing tact and a "sweet reasonableness" combined with firmness.
Though Mr. Barrows was really born in Canada, it was so near the border and under such circumstances that this slight difference in geography cannot be cited in discount of his genuine Americanism. His grandfather was a Vermonter, who engaged in business near Pres- cott, on the Canadian side of the St. Lawrence, and retained a residence in that locality during the remainder of his life. He left a son who strengthened the ties originally binding him to American soil by marry- ing a lady of the typically patriotic family of Adams, whose ancestors came from Boston. James C. Barrows, the future editor with whose affairs this sketch is concerned, was the son of the last mentioned couple, and his birth occurred at Prescott, Ontario, February 16, 1845. Eleven years after his appearance in the world his parents removed to Iowa and located in Wapello county, but after the war Mr. Barrows located in Centerville, where he has since resided. In 1856, the date of his arrival, Iowa was a new and comparatively crude state, having been a member of the Union only ten years and as yet scarcely giving promise of the wonderful commonwealth which it has since become. It was a good state to go to, however, and a good state to remain in, as Mr. Barrows and some hundreds of thousands of others have long since found out. It was, above all, a patriotic state and rallied rapidly to the support of the flag of the free when that sacred emblem was menaced by the re- bellion of 1861. Though quite young when this portentous event oc- curred, Mr. Barrows contributed his full share in support of the Union cause by enlisting in Company H, Eighth Iowa Cavalry, with which he
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served until the close of hostilities. His regiment during the last year and a half of the war was part of General Ed McCook's cavalry divi- sion, which operated in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi, and did effective service by those rapid raids which gave the final strokes to the dying rebellion.
After the restoration of peace Mr. Barrows located in Centerville and engaged in business. About 1881 he became connected with news- paper work, and seven years later took charge as proprietor of the Iowegian, the leading Republican paper of Appanoose county. He was alone in the ownership for some years, but later his son, George Earl Barrows, was admitted into partnership and the paper has since been conducted under the firm name of Barrows & Barrows. It ranks among the strongest and most successful of the many prosperous county-seat newspapers in Iowa, and at all times and under all circumstances has been a true and able exponent of Republican principles.
MATISON S. EDWARDS.
The gentleman above named is another member of the family whose record and achievements are fully noticed in the sketch of his elder brother. With the latter he constitutes the firm of Edwards Brothers, which for thirty-two years has been actively engaged in buying, breed- ing, selling and shipping live stock of all kinds. Though his activities have been chiefly confined to the stock business, Mr. Edwards has been a moving spirit in other lines and quite prominent in political, religious and banking circles. He is certainly one of the leading men of the county and it would be taking little risk to set him down as also one of the most popular of the citizens of Appanoose. Mr. Edwards comes
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