USA > Iowa > Monroe County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 29
USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 29
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In April, 1853, Mr. Baker was married in Ohio to Penelope Head, who died in 1860, leaving three children: Penelope J., Ella and An- gelina, deceased. In 1862, after his removal to Cincinnati, he married Mary Ann, daughter of James and Martha Boley, and by this union there were seven children : James J., Henry G., Minnie, Mary, Chester, Harlan and Carl, the last three being deceased. All of the living are married with the exception of Henry. After the death of his second wife Mr. Baker contracted a third matrimonial alliance with Nancy, widow of Henry Jaquiss and daughter of Daniel McDonald, one of the founders of the town of Cincinnati. She died May 12, 1895. Mr. Baker is prominently connected with Masonry, being a member of the lodge, chapter, commandery, council and Mystic Shrine.
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CHANCELLOR J. BROWER.
A very active life has been that of the subject of this sketch, em- bracing a range of varied employment from soldiering to teaching and from official positions in connection with education to tenure of place in the government civil service. But it is principally on his achieve- ments as an educator that Mr. Brower rests his claims to recognition, and these alone would entitle him to honorable mention in any history devoted to representative men of Iowa. In fact all his life has been de- voted to worthy causes, his work usually being along business which brought more benefit to others than himself, this remark being especially applicable to his long and efficient services in educating the rising gen- crations.
The family is of mixed northern and southern origin, but moved west so long before the Civil war as to be thoroughly indoctrinated with the loyal view on all questions leading up to that memorable struggle. Jeremiah Brower, who was born and bred in New York, married a North Carolina lady who had spent the early years of life in her native state. Shortly after their marriage in North Carolina, Jeremiah and Nancy W. Brower removed to Marion county, Missouri, where they made their home about twenty years. In 1850 the family changed resi- dence to Centerville, Iowa, where the father practiced medicine three years, and then moved to Wayne county, where he continud his profes- sional work until compelled to retire by the infirmities of old age. His death occurred in 1876 and two years later his widow took up her resi- dence in Oregon, where she spent the remainder of her days. Their children, nine in number, are thus recorded in order of birth in the fam- ily register : Julia Ann. Chancellor J., Elizabeth, Elias, William, Emily. Amelia, Albert G., and Buchanan.
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Chancellor J. Brower, second of the family in age, was born in Marion county, Missouri, March 30, 1835, and was consequently fifteen years old when taken by his parents to Iowa. After an attendance of some years in the common schools of Centerville he entered the Phila- delphia University, where he was graduated in 1867, securing two de- grees, A. B. and A. M. On April 2, 1862, he had enlisted in Company F, Seventeenth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served with this command nine months, at the end of which time he was honorably discharged for disability. His service was with the army of the west and among the more important engagements in which he took part was the battle of Iuka, Mississippi, on September 19, 1862, and the one at Corinth, October 4, of the same year. After obtaining his release from the army Mr. Brower returned to Iowa and taught school several years in Appanoose county, and gradually established a reputation as an ex- perienced educator.
In 1886 he received an appointment in the civil service department of the government at Washington and served two years in the field as a special examiner. In 1891 he was appointed professor of mathematics and natural sciences at Muskogee, Indian Territory, and discharged the duties of this position about three years. In the spring of 1894 he went to Jackson, Mississippi, and spent two years as a professor of mathematics and physics, but failing health caused him to relinquish this employment and return to Iowa. In 1897 he resumed teaching at Centerville and in 1900 was elected superintendent of the Tama City, Iowa, public schools, which position he held a year and then retired from active business life.
In 1858 Mr. Brower was united in marriage with Miss Tursey J., daughter of William and Ellen Hamilton, now deceased. The two chil-
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dren of this union were Hattie and Luella, the latter dying in infancy. During the greater part of his life Mr. Brower has been a believer in re- ligion and for forty years has been a member of the Missionary Baptist church at Centerville. He is also prominent in fraternity circles, hold- ing membership in several of the best known orders, including the va- rious branches of Masonry, from the blue lodge to the Mystic Shrine; in the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Brower has performed his duty faithfully in all the relations of life, as soldier, teacher, religious worker, and in his retirement is justly en- titled to that kindliest reward: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
OBADIAH LAWTON.
The above named, now living in retirement at Mystic, spent the greater portion of a long life in the arduous and trying work of coal mining. He may be said to have inherited this calling, as his father, James Lawton, was a miner in England many years ago and continued that occupation until the end of his life. He was a religious man and a strict member of the Anglican Wesleyan Methodist church, his life being of such an exemplary character as to prove an example to his fel- low miners. He married Ann Cooper and their seven children were Robert, John, Ralph, William, James, Rachel and Obadiah, none of whom are now living except the last mentioned.
Obadiah Lawton, youngest of the family, was born in Staffordshire, England, March 25, 1826, and in October, 1854, lost his father by death. Finding little to encourage him in his native land, Obadiah resolved to emigrate, and when still a lad found himself in the United States search- ing for a job. Naturally he turned towards the mining regions, and
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succeeded in getting work in the coal mines of West Virginia, which for many years was continued in the coal-producing sections of Penn- sylvania and Illinois. ' Having wearied of this employment and saved some money, Mr. Lawton came in 1881 to Iowa and settled in Ap- panoose county near Brazil. Eleven years after his arrival in the county he took up his abode in the town of Mystic and since 1891 has lived a retired life in that place. As the result of industrious habits and much hard work, Mr. Lawton has laid up a sum sufficient to make him comfortable for life and to assist his children, some of his prop- erty consisting in farm land in Appanoose county. In 1857 he was married to Agnes Brown, and the children by this union are thus re- corded: Mary Ann, deceased; Jennie, Maggie, Lizzie, Lena, Sarah, Robert, James, William, David and Obadiah.
FRANCIS M. WELLS.
This gentleman, who is now living in retirement at Plano, is en- titled to entrance to the class known as early settlers of Iowa, his resi- dence in the state having extended over thirty-five years. He is a na- tive of Pennsylvania and a son of Benjamin L. and Sophia (Coon) Wells, a worthy and unpretentious couple who spent all the days of theit lives within the borders of the Keystone state. Benjamin Wells was a farmer by occupation, what was then known as a Free Soiler in politics, and in religion rather inclined toward the Methodist church, of which his wife was a devout member. The latter died in 1851, when about forty-eight years old, and after surviving her a number of years the husband passed away in 1863 at the age of sixty.
Their son, Francis M. Wells, was born in Greene county, Penn- sylvania, February 1, 1832, and remained at home imtil a year or two
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past his majority. After reaching his twenty-third year, he determined to strike out for himself, and going to Illinois engaged in the carpenter's trade. At Bureau in that state he became acquainted with Christina Anderson, and this acquaintance ripened into marriage in 1857, after which the couple still continued to reside in Illinois about ten years. In 1867 Mr. Wells removed to Appanoose county, Iowa, obtained pos- session of some land in Johns township and for many years thereafter devoted his whole time to its cultivation. His wife died in 1871, leav- ing four children: Henry Clay, Mandana, Emma, deceased; William Sherman. In 1872 Mr. Wells married Lydia A. Hinegardner, whose two children. Byron and Daniel R., are now dead. In 1893 Mr. Wells and family removed to Plano, where he has since lived in retirement. and there his second wife died July 22, 1902. She was a good woman, of devout religious temperament, and all her life she belonged to the Christian church, of which Mr. Wells himself is also a member. His political predilections have always been Republican, though he has neither sought nor held office, and his fraternal connections are con- fined to membership in the Masonic order.
JOSEPH BLAND.
Few of its present citizens can claim a longer residence in Iowa than the gentleman whose name is above transcribed. He came here in 1853. only seven years after its admission into the Union as a state, and when the population was but two hundred thousand, as compared to the mil- lions now inhabiting this prosperous commonwealth. During all of the fifty succeeding years of rapid development and marvelous growth, Mr. Bland has counted one and borne his full share in making Iowa
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what it is now generally admitted to be, the greatest agricultural state in the Union. He is a native of Pennsylvania and son of Thomas and Elizabeth Bland. This worthy couple, though both born in old Vir- ginia, went, after their marriage, to the neighboring Keystone state and were identified therewith during all of their subsequent lives. . Thomas Bland was a carpenter by trade, and it required all his time and many a day's arduous toil to support his wife and thirteen children. He suc- ceeded, however, in making a good living for all until called to his last rest in 1874, at the ripe old age of eighty-four years. His first wife died in 1854 after becoming the mother of the following named chil- dren : Mary, Susan, Delilah, Amelia, Martha, Joseph, John, Kate, Elizabeth, Thomas, Sarah, Cynthia and Ellen. By a second marriage with Sarah Sharpneck there were three children: Frank, William and one who died in infancy.
Joseph Bland, who was the sixth of his father's first set of childrer., was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, October 19, 1824, and re- mained at the place of his nativity until reaching his majority. In 1844 he came west, spent a year in Ohio, thence went to Missouri, where he remained over a year, and then returned to Pennsylvania and was married to Elsie, daughter of Henry and Nancy Church. In 1853, accompanied by his bride, Mr. Bland again started westward, but this time settled in Appanoose county, which was destined to be his perma- nent abiding place. It took hard work to succeed in Iowa, as else- where, but Mr. Bland was young and vigorous then and equal to all reasonable demands that might be made upon him. The long years of struggle have not been without their compensation, and besides a com- fortable home he finds himself in possession of considerable land and other property. About 1883 Mr. Bland noticed that his health had be-
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gun to fail, and deeming it the part of prudence to cease from hard work, he retired with his family to Plano and in a cozy home at that place is spending the evening of his days.
The children resulting from Mr. Bland's early marriage are ten in number, and thus recorded in order of birth: Nancy, Mary, de- ceased : Henry; Benton, deceased; Sarah; Minerva; Amelia, deceased ; John, Ada, and Charles, the latter dying in infancy. During the Civil war Mr. Bland served as a member of the Iowa State Home Guards. He and his wife have long been members of the United Brethren church and are highly esteemed in all relations of life.
JOHN M. STURDIVANT. M. D.
A man who for many years held a leading place among the physi- cians of this county and seemed to be one of those gifted men who are successful in everything they undertake, was Dr. John M. Sturdivant. His father, Robert J., was a native of Tennessee, born in 1804; he re- moved to Indiana, but in 1836 came to Iowa and located on a farm in Harrisburg township, Van Buren county, where he lived for many years, and where he died, having become very wealth. He married Anna Smithson, also a native of Tennessee and born in 1812, whose father was a native of France; she died when the subject of this article was only five years old, and Mr. Sturdivant married a second time.
John M. came into the world on a farm in Van Buren county. Iowa, on the 3d day of August, 1838, and ended his long and success- ful career in Centerville on the 7th of November, 1890, when he had lived to see his life's highest ideals and hopes realized. He passed his boyhood days on his father's farm, where the healthful influences of country life no doubt did much to shape his character. His educa-
JOHN M. FLURDIVANT
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tion was received in the country schools, and he then attended college at Denmark and Galesburg. Having determined upon medicine for his profession he began his studies under Dr. O. George at Bonaparte, Iowa, and after practicing for a time in Bonaparte, he attended an eye, ear and throat infirmary at St. Louis; he then went to the Keokuk Medical College, where he was graduated in 1861. Coming to Appa- noose county, he began his practice in Cincinnati, which he continued till 1882, when he came to Centerville. He had been one of the pioneers of the town of Cincinnati and was one of its first merchants. In the med- ical profession he was eminently successful and his patients over the county will long remember his kind offices.
In 1860 Dr. Sturdivant was married to Miss Elizabeth Wood; she was born in Carroll county, Ohio, in 1841, and was brought to Iowa in 1844 by her parents, Benjamin and Jane (Lowe) Wood, who settled in Van Buren county. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sturdivant : Laura M., who is the wife of T. F. Gault; Law- rence J., a prominent physician of Exline, Iowa; John M., also a phy- sician, of Cincinnati; Anna Iowa, deceased; M. Gertrude, deceased; George W., who is a merchant of Centerville; B. Wayne, deceased; Carleton B., of Centerville; and Frank, of Centerville.
Dr. Sturdivant was a man of high moral character and with many qualities which endeared him not only to his immediate family but to the whole community, and thus his loss was deeply felt. His political affiliations were with the Democratic party, and he was prominent in the Masonic order. Mrs. Sturdivant is a faithful member of the Christian church and also of the Eastern Star. She is much esteemed in the city, not only on her husband's account, but for her own sweet and noble ways.
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JOHN G. CRIST.
The above named, who is now leading a retired life at his home near Jerome, has been a resident of Appanoose county for thirty-three years. Previously he had lived many years in Indiana, where his parents brought him in what the historians call an "early day," and thus Mr. Crist has been familiar with life in the west for the full period allowed by the psalmist as the limit of human existence. Though his career has not been especially adventurous, Mr. Crist has seen much and can tell many interesting stories of his experiences of what used to be called "the far west," but which is now in the very center of civilization. A son of John and Mary Crist, he was born at Delaware, Pennsylvania, October 28, 1819. When he was still a lad his parents left their native state and located in Franklin county, Indiana, where they spent the remainder of their days. Though not members of any church, they were believers in the truths of the gospel, often attended divine services and instructed their offspring in the fundamental truths of Christianity. Of their eight children the four now living are John G., Isaac, Allison and Margaret.
Mr. Crist grew up in Indiana, where he got some education by irregular attendance at the country schools, and when the Civil war came on he enlisted in Company B, Eighty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served loyally until injury from a fall while marching compelled his discharge for disability, after twenty-one months in the army. In 1869 he left Indiana for Iowa, and upon arrival took up his abode on a farm in Appanoose county, near Jerome, which has ever since been his abiding place. In 1849 Mr. Crist was married in Indiana and has eight children: John, Isaac, Alfred, Sarah Elizabeth, Emily, Mary, William and Minnie. The parents are members of the
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Baptist church and the whole family are among the most respected residents of the neighborhood around Jerome.
EDWARD T. JENNINGS.
It is not too much to say that in this commonwealth of the free and independent the man who performs faithfully the duties that fall to the lot of the American citizen is the peer of any proud and hide- bound aristocrat who ever pranced in the royal purple before the admir- ing gaze of serf-born foreigners; and at the end of a long life of con- scientious and active effort he may well view with satisfaction and con- tentment the work of his hands. In this list of worthy and honored citizens we include with perfect right the name of Edward T. Jennings, who is one of the leading farmers of Appanoose county, and resides near the town of Plano.
William Jennings, who was the father of our subject, was born in Covington, Kentucky, and died in Johns township, Appanoose county, in May, 1869; he married Christina Shultz, who was a native of Penn- sylvania, and died in Johns township May 16, 1874. They were mar- ried in Adams county, Ohio, and there began their home life. Mr. Jennings was a gunsmith by trade and followed this calling all his life. In July of 1854 he left Ohio and took up his residence in Johns town- ship, Appanoose county, where he and his wife remained the balance of their lives.
One of the children of the above parents was Edward T. Jennings, whose birth occurred in Adams county, Ohio, September 13, 1837, and his youth was passed in the varied activity common to most boys reared in the first half of the last century. At the very beginning of the war of
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the Rebellion he enlisted in the Fifth Kansas Cavalry under Colonel H. P. Johnson, who recruited a company in Iowa. He was afterward transferred to the Sixth Kansas and saw much of the stern reality of war in Missouri, Arkansas and other western states. He was taken prisoner at Fort Smith, Arkansas, and for over a year endured confine- ment in the southern war prison at Tyler, Texas. He was among those who were engaged in chasing the Price raiders, and did considerable guerrilla fighting. After he was released from the prison he returned to Appanoose county. He first lived on a farm two miles south of Plano, and in 1892 removed to his present nice home just south of Plano. There he conducts his farming interests very profitably.
Mr. Jennings was married in 1869 to Josephine Van Dorn, who was born in Van Buren county, Iowa, March 12, 1844, and died August 21, 1899; her parents removed to Appanoose county in 1856. Of the four children of Mr. and Mrs. Jennings two are still living and keep house for Mr. Jennings-Lena and Elizabeth. Mr. Jennings lives over again the scenes of the Civil war among his comrades in the Grand Army of the Republic post at Centerville. He actively supports the principles of the Republican party, and has shown his interest in edu- cation in his community by serving for twenty-five years as president of the school board.
ARMILDA JENNIE KINGSBURY.
Mrs. Armilda Jennie Kingsbury, residing near the village of Dia- mond. Appanoose county, Iowa, was born in Coles county, Illinois, August 28, 1844, and was the daughter of excellent people by the name of Dr. A. A. and Catherine (Dick) Keran. Her father was a native of Shelby county, Ohio, and her mother was born in Kentucky. These
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parents were married near Paris, Edgar county, Illinois, and soon after- ward came to Coles county, where the subject of this sketch first saw the light of day. A. A. Keran was a physician and also a Methodist minister. For thirteen months he was engaged in the practice of medi- cine in Minnesota, and he then brought his family to Davis county, Iowa, and settled on Soap creek, but in 1854 he removed to Appanoose county and located on a farm one mile west of where Mrs. Kingsbury now resides. Mr. Keran and wife afterward moved to Clarke county, Iowa, also to Kansas and Missouri, and in Golden City of the latter state he passed away.
It was in the fall of 1860 that Miss Armilda married John Kings- bury, and they at once began their married life on a farm to the east of the place where Mrs. Kingsbury now lives. When the Civil war came on Mr. Kingsbury was found among the volunteers who were willing to sacrifice their private interests to the welfare of the country. He enlisted in Company I, Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry, and at the battle of Arch Mills was wounded. This wound was the eventual cause of his death in 1885. Mrs. Kingsbury made her home with her parents in Kansas until her husband was discharged from the service, and they then returned to Iowa and engaged in farming pursuits.
To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kingsbury were born eight chil- dren, and these are now filling honorable places in the different walks of life. William is at home; Mrs. Minnie O'Neal lives in Ringgold county, Iowa; Roy is at home; Elmer was a member of Company I, Fourteenth Infantry, of the regular army in the Philippines, but now resides in Salt Lake City; Charles resides at Marion, Iowa; Harry is in this county; Jesse Gordon makes his home near Garfield; and May is at home. The sons have taken the place of their father and
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farm the estate of one hundred and sixty acres in Bellaire township. Mrs. Kingsbury is a devoted member of the Christian church and occu- pies a place of high regard in the community.
ROBERT KINGSBERRY.
Robert Kingsberry is a native of the bright, green isle of Erin, and with all the lively and progressive qualities of the race, he, like thousands carrying the blood of the ancient Celts in their veins, has closely identified himself with the American democracy and filled the niche of a worthy and upright citizen. He was born in the north of Ireland, county Monaghan, in the month of March, 1823. His father, Robert Kingsberry, was born in 1802 and died in 1858, and spent his whole life in tilling the soil of his native land. His mother's maiden name was Mattie Dugan. She came to America and lived with the subject of this sketch, passing away about 1863.
Robert spent the first twenty-four years of his life on the farm of his father, and in 1848 decided to cast in his lot with the great world he had heard so much about on the other side of the Atlantic. He landed in New York on June 13 and remained there one month, ac- quainting himself with the ways of the new world, and then went to Cleveland and from there to Nenia, Ohio, where he lived for a num- ber of years. In the latter place he was engaged in railroading on the Little Miami Railroad for sixteen years, and for two years was engineer on a switch engine in Centerville. In February, 1864, Mr. Kingsberry enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, and until the close of the war saw much hard service in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama. He was mustered out at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, with a creditable record as a soldier for his adopted
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country. Mr. Kingsberry dates his arrival in Iowa in the year follow- ing the war. He had previously, in 1853, purchased one hundred and eighty acres of land in this county, and here he has ever since made his home, owning at the present time two hundred and twenty acres of choice land.
On the 26th of February, 1850, Mr. Kingsberry married Miss Sarah Mills, who was living at Springfield, Ohio, at the time of her marriage. She was born in Ireland, January 1, 1828, and was reared on a farm near the home of her future husband. Her father died in 1836, and in 1847 she came to America with her mother, who died three months after landing. Mr. and Mrs. Kingsberry had eight chil- dren, of whom the six following are living: W. D., George, Mary, Robert, Jr., Jennie, and Maggie. Mr. Kingsberry was for a number of years secretary of the school board. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, holds closely to the tenets of the Republican party and is a member of the Methodist church. In all the relations of life, whether in the position of the skilled mechanic, as a soldier or as a farmer, whether in private business affairs or in the larger public inter- ests, he has made his influence felt as a man of integrity, thorough, ca- pable and honest.
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