USA > Iowa > Monroe County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 32
USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 32
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business to A. Shaw and confined himself exclusively to his other branch. He carries a full line of general hardware, stoves, agricultural imple- ments and tinware. At one time Mr. Stevens was interested in a sec- ond-hand store of general goods, which he managed four years with a partner a portion of the time. Nor must it be omitted that twice during his busy career he undertook the role of "mine host," having charge of the Richelieu Hotel one year and the Iowa House a short time. He began business on the capital earned at the carpenter's trade and by farm- ing, and his success in various lines indicates decided skill as a financier as well as those "hustling" qualities indispensable to success in any line.
The firm of Stevens & Elgin was the first to carry on a mercantile business at Mystic, the starting of their store in 1887 being the begin- ning of the town, as previous to that not a lot had been laid out and three farm houses were the only buildings in the vicinity. For the first six months after the birth of this embryo city goods were hauled from Garfield station on the Keokuk and Western Railroad, two and one-half miles distant. After the Milwaukee Railroad was constructed a station was opened and named Mystic. The same year that Mr. Stevens began his pioneer mercantile venture the first regularly operated coal mine was opened, but at present there are about thirty mines in the vicinity and the town has a population of over two thousand. As his partner only remained with him about one year, Mr. Stevens may truly be styled the founder of Mystic, as he certainly has been one of its principal business men and most enterprising citizens.
On the social side of life Mr. Stevens is as agreeable as he is pop- ular in the commercial world. In 1875 he was united in marriage with Miss Maggie J., daughter of Robert Baker, a pioneer of Appanoose county, and their family consists of six children. Their household
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forms the central attraction for many friends, who esteem it a privilege to share in its genial hospitalities.
A. J. RICHARDSON.
Though Mystic is only a fifteen year old town it is quite a lusty youth and has already assumed the features of an incipient city. Chiefly owing to the near presence of so many coal mines in full operation, the population has grown rapidly, and with it business has naturally in- creased, which, of course, has created a demand for merchants, bank- ers and all the other adjuncts of civilization, and it is the object of this memoir to sketch an outline of the life of one who has been quite con- spicuous among the financiers of the lively little city of Mystic. Mr. Richardson has been identified with the place for eight years, more than half the age of the town, and during that time has impressed himself most favorably upon the business element as well as the general public. His father, who had the same name as himself, was a native of Ohio, but came to Iowa before the Civil war and passed the remainder of his days in this state. After his arrival he met and married Susan Bullard, an immigrant from Illinois, located on a farm in Lee county, and lived there until his wife's death, in 1880, in the forty-ninth year of her age. Seven years after this bereavement, the father removed to Wayne county, Iowa, where he died in 1895 at the age of seventy.
A. J. Richardson, one of the five surviving children, was born at Fort Madison, Iowa, May 29, 1869, and grew to maturity on his father's farm. Besides attendance in the country schools he had the benefit of a course in the business college at Burlington, where he was graduated in the class of 1890. For a short time after leaving school he was book-
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keeper in a bank at Promise City, later was promoted to the position of cashier in the same institution and held this place about two years. In December, 1894, Mr. Richardson was made assistant cashier of Brad- ley's Bank at Mystic and three years later was given the position of cashier, which he has since held.
In May, 1897, Mr. Richardson was united in marriage with Miss Ella Taylor, one of the popular young ladies of Mystic, and their house- hold is one of the most attractive social features of the town. Besides his qualifications as a business man, Mr. Richardson is recommended to his friends and wide circle of acquaintances by his courteous address and genial manner. He is fond of club life and gratifies this feeling of fellowship by connection with Masonry, in which he has reached the Knight Templar degree. the Elks and Modern Woodmen of America.
ALBERT ROBB SCOTT.
Owing to the fact that he has held the office of justice of the peace for many years Mr. Scott has naturally become a prominent and well known personage at Mystic. In addition to his judicial position, how- ever, he has been connected with the town almost from its birth in the shoe-repairing business or as real estate dealer. In these various capaci- ties, which have brought him in constant contact with the public, Mr. Scott has become acquainted with almost everybody for miles around and he has many friends who entertain for him a warm personal re- gard. He is the son of John Scott, who came from Indiana in the spring of 1851 and located on a farm in Appanoose county, a part of which was later used as the site of Walnut City. He arrived in Iowa with limited means, but managed to buy a small body of land, which
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he improved, and eventually placed himself in comfortable circum- stances. Aside from farming he did some promoting and was the builder of the Christian church at Walnut City. By his first marriage in Indiana he had five children, all daughters, and by a second union with Mary Robb, he had six sons and three daughters. He and his wife were members of the Christian church, which they joined in Indi- ana under the ministrations of the celebrated Alexander Campbell. Mr. Scott continued to farm with success until his death in 1860 at the com- paratively early age of fifty-six years.
Albert Robb Scott, one of the children by his father's second mar- riage, was born in Morgan county, Indiana, November 8, 1848, and was consequently but three years old when brought to Iowa by his parents. He grew up on the farm, was trained to its work, and during the first forty years of his life knew no other occupation except that connected with agriculture. In 1882 he went to South Dakota, but after trying the opportunities of that new state for six years concluded to return to Appanoose county, which has since remained his constant place of resi- dence. In 1888 he located at Mystic and opened a shoe-repairing shop, which he conducted until October, 1901, and then engaged in the real estate business. Considering that he began business on his own account in the sixteenth year of his age, without any special advantages, Mr. Scott may look complacently over his career as one of comparative suc- cess, as he now owns considerable real estate, all accumulated in the last fifteen years. In 1889 he was appointed justice of the peace and by sub- sequent elections has held the office ten years, though not continuously. and has made a good record as a dispenser of justice and dispatcher of business.
On February 18, 1869, Mr. Scott was united in marriage with Miss
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Amanda Long of Appanoose county, and of the eleven children born to this union there are ten living, seven sons and three daughters. Mr. Scott's political predilections have always been decidedly Republican, and his fraternal connections have been confined to membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America.
JOSIAH SAMUEL WAILES, M. D.
Physicians are indispensable adjuncts of new towns, whose rapid growth, lack of sanitary regulations and other dangers incident to munic- ipal adolesence are apt to make calls for the doctor frequent and per- sistent. They might make an effort to get along for awhile without lawyers or dentists or even preachers, but doctors they must have. In this connection it is not too much to say that the growing town of Mystic was rather fortunate when Dr. Wailes settled there, inasmuch as he is what is called in the west a "hustler," that is, a man of unusual energy, and besides is an excellent physician and surgeon and on the whole "a royal good fellow." The Doctor's people came from Mary- land, but were so long identified with Indiana as to be entitled to the name of "genuine Hoosiers." Jolin P. Wailes and Sarah Wilson were both born in Maryland and both migrated to Indiana, where they met and married, but later removed to Iowa and settled in Appanoose county. It was in 1855 that they took up their abode on a farm in Chariton township and here both ended their days, the mother in 1862 and the father twenty years later. They reared a family of eight children, equally divided between sons and daughters.
Josiah Samuel Wailes, one of the sons of the couple just described. was born at Wailesboro, Bartholomew county, Indiana, June 21, 1848,
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and was therefore seven years old when his parents made their migra- tion to Iowa. He grew up on the paternal homestead in Appanoose county and obtained the principal part of his-education in the schools at Iconium. He had early conceived a desire to enter the medical profes- sion, and with a view to gratify this ambition became a pupil in the office of Dr. Abel Jewett. After studying diligently for a year under this able preceptor, the youthful aspirant for professional honors went to Kansas, opened an office at Peabody and practiced there nine years in partnership with Dr. George M. Gronnett. After this experience Dr. Wailes entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk and was graduated by that institution in the class of 1889. Immediately thereafter he located at Brazil, Iowa, practiced there three years and in 1891 came to Mystic, where he has ever since been one of the features of the place.
In 1891 Dr. Wailes was married to Sarah J. Cross, who died in 1897, leaving five children. In 1902 he took a second wife in the per- son of Mrs. Susa M. Stoole, whose maiden name had been Cunningham, and there is no more popular couple in Mystic social circles than the Doctor and his amiable wife. Dr. Wailes is justly entitled to rank as a strictly self-made man, as he owes all he has and all he has done to his own practically unaided exertions. As previously stated, he is a man of great energy of character and has no superior in the rapid and effi- cient dispatch of business, both ordinary and professional.
JOHN J. STONE.
All the states of the Union have contributed to the population of Iowa, but perhaps none have sent a more generous stream than Ohio. Much of this, too, may be said to have been by "infiltration" rather than
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direct contribution, that is, the immigrants first came to Ohio from the east or south and later moved farther west. Included in this class was James M. Stone, whose father was one of three brothers who emigrated from England to the United States in the latter part of the eighteenth century and made their subsequent homes in Connecticut. James mar- ried Ann Eliza Wilcox, a native of New Jersey, of German descent, and with her joined the tide of emigration to Ohio, where they lived for a number of years, and in 1858 came to Iowa. He bought a home in Johns township, Appanoose county, which he cultivated for a livelihood during the remainder of his days. His wife died in 1871 in the fifty- eighth year of her age and his own life was terminated by death in 1898 when eighty-seven years old. They were both members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church and their children consisted of five boys and two girls.
John J. Stone, one of his father's five sons, was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, February 4, 1842, and was about sixteen years old when brought to Iowa by his parents. There was nothing out of the ordinary either in his rearing or his schooling. the first notable event in his career occurring in September. 1861, when he became a soldier of the Union for service in the Civil war. His enlistment was in a company that had been raised in Johns township, but as Iowa's quota of seventy- five thousand men under the President's call was already full it could not be accepted by the governor of that state. They had better success, however, with the chief executive of Kansas, who had them enrolled as a company in the Fifth Regiment, Kansas Cavalry. They were mus- tered in without delay and Mr. Stone served altogether for more than three years and three months, part of the time with Harvey's Company from Iowa and later by transfer as a member of Company H (Thomp-
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son's). Fifth Regiment, Kansas Cavalry. Besides numerous skirmishes Mr. Stone took part in the more serious engagements at Helena, Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Yazoo Pass, and when mustered out in 1865 had reached the rank of corporal. After returning from the army he pur- chased a farm in Johns township and cultivated it for a livelihood until 1880, when he engaged in merchandising at Plano. Thirteen years later he located at Mystic, and this proved to be his final move, as he has ever since been one of the active commercial spirits of the town, the firm name at the present being J. J. Stone & Son. He has been quite successful in business and his entire career, both in war and peace, has been creditable to him as a man and citizen.
In 1865 Mr. Stone was married to Sarah E. Cole, by whom he has five children : Zena M., James M., Celia E., Albertus and Arthur, all married except the last and all four of the sons merchants. Mr. Stone's political preferences are for the Republican party, but his office-holding has been confined to two terms as mayor of Mystic and eight years as justice of the peace in Johns township. He has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for twenty-five years, and by virtue of his honorable military services is an esteemed comrade of Centerville Post, G. A. R.
WILLIAM SAYRES, M. D.
Dr. William Sayres, now deceased, has left behind him the memory of an upright life as well as one of professional skill and ability. He was the loved physician in many a household in Appanoose county and enjoyed the warm regard of those with whom he came in contact both professionally and socially. He was born in Harrison county, Ohio, December 24, 1818, and passed away in Cincinnati, Iowa. March 14,
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1897. He was reared upon the farm belonging to his father, Ephriam Sayres, of Harrison county, and was given a common school education. Later he was apprenticed to learn the tailor's trade, and after the expira- tion of his term of service followed that pursuit for a few years, but a natural predilection for the study of medicine led him to prepare for the practice, and he began his reading toward that end in Freeport, Ohio. For two years he continued his reading under a practicing physician who acted as his preceptor, and then began the practice of medicine in Westchester, Ohio, where he remained for a year. He also practiced for a similar period at Marietta, that state, and in 1851 came to the west, locating in Drakesville, Iowa, whence he came to Cincinnati in 1855. Here he practiced for about six years and then on account of failing health abandoned the practice of medicine and on a very limited capital engaged in the grocery business. In the new undertaking, how- ever, he prospered, and soon had a general store, doing a large volume of business. He was assisted by his sons, O. H. and A. M. Sayres, the former becoming his partner in 1877 and the latter in 1880, after which the firm was known as Sayres & Sons, general merchants. At the time of the father's death in 1897 O. H. Sayres became sole proprietor of the store.
In politics Doctor Sayres was first a Whig and afterward a Republi- can. He served as a delegate to the first Republican state convention of Iowa, held at Iowa City, traveling on horseback to take part in the deliberations of the new political organization. In July, 1861, he was appointed by President Lincoln to the position of postmaster of Cin- cinnati and continuously thereafter held the office up to the time of the first administration of President Cleveland, discharging his duties in a most capable manner, which won for him the high commendation of all
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concerned. In 1876 he visited the Centennial Exposition at Philadel- phia and there saw many things of interest giving evidence of the world's progress. He was always public spirited, and his nature was never narrow or restricted, rejoicing only in the advancement of his local community.
In December, 1841, Dr. Sayres was united in marriage in Ohio to Miss Mary Hannah Winders, a native of Harrison county, Ohio, born August 20, 1822. She still survives him and is now one of the oldest residents of the county, making her home in Cincinnati. Of the chil- dren born of this marriage, four died in early life while the following reached years of maturity: John D., born in Ohio, in 1843, was a hardware merchant of Cincinnati, and died September 24, 1895; Oscar H. and Arlington M. are both mentioned on another page of this work; Mary C. is the only surviving daughter of the family. For many years the Doctor and his wife were members of the Congregational church, to the support of which he contributed liberally, while in its work he took an active part and zealously promoted its efforts in behalf of mankind. He served at one time as mayor and was one of the influential and hon- ored members of the community. Those qualities which ever command respect and regard were his; he was kind, a quality which tempered his inflexible love of justice; he was ever true to what he believed to be right and neither fear nor favor could swerve him in defending his honest convictions, yet he was always lenient in passing judgment upon others and was ever ready to assist those in need. Well known in Cin- cinnati, no man enjoyed the respect and good will of his fellow citizens more than did Dr. Sayres.
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OSCAR H. SAYRES.
Throughout his entire business career O. H. Sayres has been con- nected with the mercantile interests of Cincinnati and throughout the greater part of his life he has lived in this place. Not to know O. H. Sayres is to argue one's self unknown, for through the long years of his residence here, because of his prominence in public affairs, his activity in business and his social nature, his acquaintance has constantly widened. He was born in Harrison county, Ohio, August 5, 1847, and was only four years of age when brought to Iowa hy his parents, Dr. William and Mary Hannah ( Winders) Sayres. He was not yet eight years of age when the family came to Cincinnati. Here he acquired his education in the common schools and in early life entered upon his business career as a clerk in his father's store. In 1877 he was admitted to a partnership in the business, and in 1880 his brother, A. M. Sayres, also became a partner, this relation being maintained until the death of the father in 1897. At that time the younger brother withdrew and Oscar II. Sayres has since been sole proprietor. Since 1901 he has been engaged in the hardware trade, carrying a complete stock of the best goods in his line. He has a well arranged and handsome store and his is an active and successful business career. When associated with his father he was engaged in general merchandising.
In 1878 occurred the marriage of Oscar H. Sayres and Miss Liz- zic Johns, a native of Ohio. Two children graced this marriage: Lois E. and George C., both of whom are still with their parents. The latter was born in Cincinnati, August 8, 1880, and was provided with a high school education ; he is now associated with his father in business, and is a Master Mason. Mr. Sayres is also identified with the Masonic order, having taken the degrees of the blue lodge. He and his wife are mem-
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bers of the Congregational church, to which their children also belong. The family is an influential and leading one in the community. Mr. Sayres exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, but has never sought or desired of- fice, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his business, which has been attended by gratifying success.
ARLINGTON M. SAYRES.
Arlington M. Sayres, a general merchant of Cincinnati, was born in Drakesville, Iowa. June 6, 1854, and is a son of the late Dr. Wil- liam Sayres, who is represented above in this work. During his infancy he was brought to Cincinnati by his parents and was here reared and educated. Early in life he received his business training as a clerk in his father's general store and in 1880 he was admitted to a partnership in the business in which his brother Oscar H. Sayres had become a part- ner three years before. Under the firm name of Sayres & Sons the busi- ness was conducted until the father's death in 1897. Not long after this our subject sold out to his brother and turned his attention to the hard- ware trade, but later disposed of his stock of goods in that line and was out of business for two years. On the Ist of August, 1901, how- ever, he again became a potent factor in trade circles of Cincinnati by opening a general mercantile establishment, which he has since con- ducted. He is today enjoying a large and growing patronage, his well selected stock finding favor with the public, so that his sales are quite extensive, and thereby a good profit accrues.
In 1883 Mr. Sayres wedded Miss Clara Orr, of Davis county, Iowa, and two children have blessed this marriage, Byron and Lela, aged re- 30
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spectively seventeen and thirteen years. The son is associated with his father in mercantile pursuits. The family are all members of the Con- gregational church. Their home is celebrated for its gracious hospital- ity, which is enjoyed by a large circle of acquaintances, who are many in the community. Mr. Sayres's study of the political issues and ques- tions of the day has made him an ardent Republican. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. As a representa- tive business man of his community Mr. Sayres is widely respected and honored by those who know him.
WILLIAM BARTON McDONALD.
During his long life the gentleman above named has spent a good deal of time in three different states, but has been a resident of Ap- panoose county for nearly half a century. While his career has not been especially adventurous, it has been one of usefulness, and contrib- utory to the full extent of his abilities to the welfare of each and every community in which he has resided. More than this no man can do, and it will be well with the best of us if the same can be truthfully said when we come to render the final accounting for deeds done in the flesh. Thomas McDonald, who was a native of Maryland, found his way to Kentucky when it was still the "dark and bloody ground" of song and story, and became a participant with the other settlers in the adventures incident to the pioneer period. Some years after arriving there he met and married Frances Smoot, a native of the state, and who had lived for twenty years in Kentucky. In 1846 he removed with his family to Indiana, but within a year after reaching that state the final summons came both to himself and wife, and the children were left to shift for themselves.
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM B. MCDONALD
THEN VYONK
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William Barton McDonald was born in Kentucky on the 15th of January, in 1818, and was consequently twenty-eight years old when his parents took up their residence in the Hoosier state. He spent his twenty-first year in the college at Bloomington, Illinois, and for some time afterwards was engaged in farming in the Indiana counties of Montgomery, Jennings and Monroe. Mr. McDonald was a resident of Hendricks county, in the same state, for twenty years, six of which were devoted to school teaching and fourteen to farming. On No- vember 5, 1847, he was married to Lucinda Dale, and eight years later removed with his wife to Appanoose county, of which they have been honored residents for forty-seven years. Originally Mr. McDonald lo- cated three miles northeast of Centerville, where lie owned three hun- dred and seventy-six acres of land, most of which was subsequently sold or divided among the children. The latter were eight in number and the ones now living are Mrs. Mary Frances Shaw, George W., John D., Mrs. Emma Florence Long, and Henry McDonald. Those deceased are James W., Thomas J., and Mrs. Luella Jane Evans. In 1902 Mr. and Mrs. McDonald took up their abode at Centerville and have since been comfortably located in a cosy home on Seventh street. They are both members of the Christian church at Centerville, and are objects of almost reverential esteem by those who are familiar with their blameless lives and exalted worth. Mr. McDonald holds fraternal connections with Lodge No. 42, F. and A. M., of which he has been a member in good standing for twenty-six years.
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