USA > Iowa > Monroe County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 33
USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 33
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498 BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
ROBERT W. DINNING.
Among the young business men of Cincinnati is numbered Robert W. Dinning, the senior member of the firm of Dinning & Mitchell, gen- eral merchants. He is a member of a prominent Scotch family of this county and his birth occurred in Ayrshire, Scotland, on the 9th of July, 1868, his parents being Matthew and Martha (Nicol) Dinning. Reared and educated in Scotland, he came to the United States in 1886 with his parents and has since lived in this place. . He was only twelve years of age when he began earning his own living in Scotland by working in the coal mines and after coming to America he followed the same occupation in this county for ten years. For five years he was a part- ner of the Thistle Coal Company, but sold his interest therein in 1892. In 1895 he began merchandising here and has since conducted his store with excellent success. In 1897 he admitted W. L. Mitchell to a part- nership, and they have since enjoyed a good and constantly growing trade. They do not find it difficult to retain patrons whose support has once been secured, and this is due, doubtless, to their honorable business methods, their promptness and their earnest desire to please. Mr. Din- ning possesses the qualities which make a popular merchant. He is genial and approachable, and has the tact to know how to meet the varied natures which one continually sees when engaged in any mer- cantile enterprise.
In 1895 occurred the marriage of Mr. Dinning and Miss Agnes Bowie, of Cincinnati, and they now have two children, Ellen and Mat- thew. The parents hold membership in the Congregational church and Mr. Dinning is a Master Mason, while in his political views he is a Republican, unswerving in his support of the principles of the party. In his life he exemplifies many of the strongest and most commendable
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elements of the Scottish nation, including thrift, business sagacity, strong purpose and absolute justice.
HANCE MITCHELL.
Coming to Appanoose county in limited financial circumstances, Hance Mitchell, by his well spent life, proved the force of industry, econ- omy and energy in winning success. At the same time he made for himself an honorable name and gained the respect of all with whom he came in contact. Although some years have passed since he departed this life, he is yet remembered by the many who knew him and entertained for him a high regard. He was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1801 and died in Pleasant township. AAppanoose county, in 1868. At an early age he was left an orphan and was then bound out to learn the carpen- ter's trade. In his youth he left Pennsylvania and went to Ohio, settling in Guernsey county, where he still continued to follow the carpenter's trade. There he married Miss Charity Hunt, who was born in Guern- sey county, Ohio, about 1810, and who died in Appanoose county in 1867. They resided in Ohio until 1853, when they removed westward to Illinois, spending about two years in that state. In 1855 they went to Clarke county, Iowa, and there resided for ten years, settling in Ap- panoose county on the 23d of February, 1865, as residents of Pleasant township, where their remaining days were passed. The father fol- lowed farming throughout his entire married life, and his careful man- agement of his land enabled him to win a fair degree of success in this way.
Before leaving Ohio twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell, but four of that number died in childhood. The others who
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reached mature years were: Cynthia, who married G. W. Banker, and died, leaving several children: John V., a resident of Clarke county ; Joseph, of Lafayette county, Missouri; Hiram, who is living in Clarke county, this state; Albert, of Appanoose county; Robert, who makes his home in Oklahoma; Preston, who was married and died, leav- ing several children; and Martha. who married W. L. Robertson, and died, leaving two children. All of the sons became farmers.
When Hance Mitchell came to the west he had little capital, and it was to better his condition that he sought a home beyond the Mississippi. His determination to do this was attended with good results. He pur- chased eight hundred acres of land in Clarke county at a time when farm land sold for a low figure. He afterward disposed of his property, and came to Appanoose county rather as a prospector than anything else, but here he spent his remaining days. In his political affiliations he was first a Whig and afterward a Republican. Both he and his wife were members of the Christian church and their religious belief was manifest in their relations with their fellow men. They closely followed the golden rule and were people of the highest respectability, respected and honored wherever known. They became worthy pioneer settlers of Appanoose county and deserve mention among the representative citizens who have contributed to the upbuilding of the county.
Albert Mitchell, a son of Hance Mitchell, was born on the old home farm in Guernsey county, Ohio, April 1, 1846. When twenty years of age he accompanied his parents on their removal to Appanoose county, where he has since made his home. He was reared upon a farm and acquired a fair common school education. He afterward engaged in teaching for a few years, being employed for two terms as a teacher in the village of Cincinnati, and during the remainder of the time in the dis-
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY. 501
trict schools. Farming, however, has been his real life work and along that line he has met with success. After his marriage he lived upon the old homestead which his father purchased until about 1880, when he settled upon his present farm just at the southwest corner of Cincinnati. A part of this farm has now been laid out in town lots and good resi- dences have been erected thereon. In connection with his agricultural pursuits Mr. Mitchell has dealt in stock, his enterprise in this branch of the business bringing to him a good return. He has two hundred acres in his residence farm and he also owns three hundred and twenty acres in another part of Pleasant township. He is a practical and progressive agriculturist, keeping in touch with all modern methods, which indicates that the farmer is not behind his city brothers in improvement or ad- vancement.
In 1871 Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage to Eliza Jane Hol- brook, a daughter of Luther R. Holbrook, one of the pioneer citizens of Pleasant township and of Cincinnati. Their marriage has been blessed with two children: Charles H., now deceased ; and Wesley L., who is a member of the firm of Dinning & Mitchell, dry goods merchants of Cincinnati. The parents hold membership in the Congregational church. For thirty-seven years Mr. Mitchell has been a resident of this county and has therefore witnessed much of its growth and development. His life has been quietly passed, yet he has always been found faithful to his duties of citizenship, and in business life has won the respect and confidence of his fellow men by his reputable dealing and justice in all trade transactions.
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
GEORGE W. McKEEHAN.
McKeehan & Brothers has long been a popular mercantile firm at Cincinnati and it is the object of this biography to give a brief outline of the career of the senior member. He is a native of Iowa and a son of pioneer parents who became identified with this vigorous western state in the days when it was but sparsely populated. David Mckee- han, who was born in Ohio in 1814, came west with his two brothers, Bazil and James, in 1843, and located on a farm in Lee county, Iowa, and in 1846 came to Centerville. Before leaving Ohio he had married Susan Hankins, a native of that state, and by her he had the following named children: Hankins C., now of Centerville; Lovina, wife of Dr. Ames Patterson; Belle, wife of Porter Sparks; Sarah, a resident of Cen- terville; John K., of St. Paul, Minnesota; Samuel A., of Cincinnati; Cassie, wife of Frank Fisk ; and George W. The father of this family was a Methodist in religion, a Democrat in politics and a farmer by oc- cupation until his untimely death by a stroke of lightning in 1868. His wife survived him until 1881, when she passed away in the fifty-third year of her age.
George W. McKeehan, youngest of the children, was born on his father's farm in Appanoose county, Iowa, March 18, 1862, and received a fair common school education as he grew to years of maturity. In 1884 he branched out for himself by engaging in the butchering busi- ness, and opened a meat market at Cincinnati in partnership with his brother, Samuel A. Since that time the brothers have continued to- gether in business, but at the present time are conducting a general mer- chandise store. In 1893 Mr. McKeehan was appointed postmaster of Cincinnati by President Cleveland and held that position for a term of four years. He proved a popular official, just as he has proved a popu-
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lar butcher and merchant, and he is certainly one of the enterprising men of his adopted town. In 1884 Mr. McKeehan was united in mar- riage with Miss Minnie May, who shares with him the friendship of an extensive social acquaintance. His political predilections have always been Democratic, and his fraternal connections are confined to mem- bership in the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Modern Woodmen.
IMMER FOWLER.
Appanoose county figures as one of the most attractive, progressive and prosperous divisions of the state of Iowa, justly claiming a high order of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which is certain to gain marked advancement in the material upbuilding of the section. The county has been and is signally favored in the class of men who have controlled its affairs in official capacity, and in this connection the sub- ject of this review demands representation as one who has served the county faithfully and well in positions of distinct trust and responsi- bility. He is now serving as postmaster of Cincinnati, a position which he has occupied continuously since 1897.
Mr. Fowler was born in Noble county, Ohio, October 1, 1843, his parents being Cherry V. and Elizabeth (Bond) Fowler. The father was born in New Hampshire and when six years of age accompanied his parents on their removal to Noble county, Ohio. He was a son of Lemuel Fowler, also a native of the old Granite state. The ancestors of the family came from England. The grandfather was a farmer by oc- cupation and after his removal to the west remained a resident of Ohio until his death. Cherry V. Fowler was reared in the Buckeye state and
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as a companion and helpmeet for life's journey chose Miss Elizabeth Bond, who was born in Harrison county, Ohio. They became the par- ents of fifteen children, nine sons and six daughters, and five of the sons were loyal defenders of the Union cause in the Civil war. The father was a farmer by occupation, and with his wife at the time of their mar- riage settled upon a farm in Noble county, Ohio, there living together for sixty-four years, their mutual love and confidence increasing as time passed by, for theirs was an ideal marriage relation. Mrs. Fowler died at the age of eighty-one years, while her husband reached the advanced age of eighty-seven years.
Upon the home farm Immer Fowler was reared and in the common schools of the neighborhood obtained his education. He was but eigli- teen years of age when he offered his services to the government, enlist- ing as a private of Company G, Seventy-eighth Ohio Infantry, with which he served from the 24th of December, 1861, until the 11th of July, 1865, having re-enlisted on the Ist of January, 1864. At the time he was discharged he held the rank of sergeant. He had participated in many important battles, including that of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, Vicksburg, the Atlanta campaign and Sherman's march to the sea. He likewise participated in the grand review at Washing- ton and was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, after which he re- turned to his Ohio home. In 1865, while his company and others were at Louisville, Kentucky, awaiting the mustering out, there was issued a general order to furlough three men from each company, but in order to increase the number the division commander issued an order that each company elect a fourth man from its ranks, and Mr. Fowler's com- pany chose him as this fourth man. This was an honor conferred upon him and indicates the standing he held with his comrades, who further-
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more manifested their friendship for him and their trust in him by plac- ing in his charge a large sum of money which they wished to be carried to their several homes in his vicinity, the sum aggregating between two and three thousand dollars.
Mr. Fowler remained in Ohio for only about a year and in 1867 came to Appanoose county, Iowa, settling in Caldwell township upon a farm. He carried on agricultural pursuits here until 1891 and in the meantime gave considerable attention to teaching. He followed that profession for twenty-four years, from 1866 until 1890, in Ohio, Iowa and Missouri, and was a capable instructor and gave general satisfaction in every district in which he was employed. At the same time he car- ried on his farm work through the summer months, but in 1891 he abandoned the plow and removed to Exline and two years later to Cin- cinnati, where he engaged in merchandising until appointed postmaster on the 23d of July. 1897. He has since occupied the office and his ad- ministration of its affairs has been practical, businesslike and sys- tematic, showing that he has gained the commendation of all fair-minded citizens.
In 1868 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Fowler and Miss Mary Steward. They have five children: Charles C., a physician in Des Moines, Iowa; Ella D., wife of H. E. Johnson, of Caldwell township; Hattie I., wife of J. C. Bohne, who resides in St. Louis; Bert E., a stu- dent in Des Moines; Ethel, in school at home. Mr. Fowler is identified with the Republican party, having long supported its principles, and he maintains pleasant relationship with his old army comrades through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is interested in the moral, intel- lectual and material development of his community. True to his duty
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upon southern battlefields, he has been equally loyal to the best interests of his country in times of peace, and is now proving his fidelity to the government by capable service as one of its official representatives.
JAMES VALENTINE LESENEY.
Among the earnest and enterprising men whose depth of character and strict adherence to principles excite the admiration of their con- temporaries, James Valentine Leseney is prominent. Banking interests are the heart of the commercial body, indicating healthfulness of trade, and the bank that follows a safe, conservative business policy does more to establish public confidence in times of wide-spread financial depres- sion than anything else. Such a course has the Farmers and Merchants' Bank of Cincinnati followed under the able management of its officers, one of whom is Mr. Lesency, the popular and well known cashier. For some time he has been one of the most prominent and active business men of this place, and his efforts have been of benefit to the city, while they have also promoted his individual prosperity.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Leseney was born in Miami county, near the town of Fletcher, on the 14th of February, 1858, his parents being Jon- athan and Jane (Garbry) Lesency, who were also natives of Miami county. The paternal grandfather. William Leseney, was born in Penn- sylvania and spent the greater part of his life in Ohio. John Garbry, the maternal grandfather, was' also a resident of the Buckeye state throughout the greater portion of his life. The parents of our subject were married in Miami county and to them were born five children, one of whom died in childhood. Those still living are William L., a resi- dent of Oklahoma ; Frances E., the wife of N. A. Robertson, of Promise
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY. 507
City, Iowa; James V., of this review ; and Justice M., who is a railroad passenger conductor of New Mexico, running on the Santa Fe road. In 1862 the father brought the family to Iowa, settling upon a farm near Cincinnati, where he carried on agricultural pursuits for about a decade. In 1872 he took up his abode in the town and for ten years was proprie- tor of the Cincinnati hotel. In 1882 he turned his attention to mer- chandising, conducting a general store in connection with his son James. This was sold out in 1893 and in that year the Farmers and Merchants' Bank was organized by Mr. Leseney, his son and N. A. Robertson, the bank being opened for business on the 3d of January, 1894. The father was connected with this institution until his death, which occurred De- cember 18, 1900, when he was nearly seventy-five years of age, and since that time his widow has held his interest in the bank. Mr. Leseney was a staunch Republican in politics, and in ante-bellum days was an Aboli- tionist. He held membership in the Christian church, was an untiring worker in its behalf and was one of the organizers of the church of that denomination in Cincinnati. His life was permeated with his Christian faith and in his relations with his fellow men he largely exemplified the precept known as the golden rule. His widow still survives him and is now living in Cincinnati, at about the age of seventy-five years, her birth having occurred on the 3d of January, 1828. She, too, is a member of the Christian church and a most estimable lady.
Under the parental roof James V. Leseney was reared. He at- tended the schools of Cincinnati and from an early age has been an ac- tive factor in the business life of this locality. His parents removed to the town when he was fourteen years of age, and he was twenty-four years of age when he became a partner of his father in the establishment and conduct of a general mercantile store, which they successfully car-
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ried on for eleven years. In 1893, however, they sold out in order to give their attention to the banking business. In that year they were joined by N. A. Robertson in the establishment of the Farmers and Mer- chants' Bank, which now enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the lead- ing institutions in this part of Appanoose county. From the organiza- tion Mr. Robertson has served as president and Mr. Leseney as its cash- ier. Since its organization the bank has enjoyed a constantly increasing patronage. It has always followed a safe, conservative policy, which has commended it to the support of the public, and its officers and stock- holders are men of well known reliability and unquestioned business honor.
In 1884 occurred the marriage of Mr. Leseney and Miss Adda Armstrong, a daughter of J. H. B. Armstrong, who was formerly a resi- dent of Cincinnati, Iowa, but is now deceased. They have one son, Chester A., who, with their niece, Myrtle O. Mallum, constitutes the household. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and in his political views is a Republican. Mr. Leseney is recognized as a very wide-awake, progressive business man, whose life seems to typify the enterprising spirit that has ever dominated the Mississippi valley and has led to its wonderful development. His success has been the result of honest, persistent purpose and effort in the line of honorable dealing and manly principles. His aims have always been to attain the best and he has carried forward to successful completion whatever he has undertaken. His life has been marked by a steady growth, and now he is in the possession of a comfortable competence, and more than all has that contentment that comes from the conscience of having lived to a good purpose.
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JAMES S. HOAGLAND.
This gentleman was born near Campbellsville, Kentucky, the son of John and Nancy (Ship) Hoagland. The former was also a native of Kentucky and a farmer and breeder of fine horses. His wife was a native Kentuckian. In 1837 they moved to Indiana and settled eighteen miles south of Indianapolis in Johnson county, where they remained till their deaths, he passing away in 1889 at the age of eighty-eight, and his wife was also eighty-eight years old at the time of her death. Their children were Malinda Jane, deceased; James S .; Eliza Ann; John, Isaac, deceased: Marian ; Jeptha, deceased; Isabel, deceased; Lizzie, deceased; George; and Nancy. The sons, with the exception of James S., are living in Johnson county, Indiana, and Marian and Nancy also live there, while Eliza Ann is a resident of Iowa.
James S. Hoagland remained in Kentucky until he was fourteen years old, where he received a common school education. After going to Indiana he attended Franklin College, where he was graduated in 1846 and was then chosen assistant surveyor on the Miami reserve having taken a civil engineering course in college. He was next resi- dent engineer on the Franklin and Martinsville Railroad, and in 1855 was connected with the management of the construction of the line from Jeffersonville to Indianapolis, and also sketched the topography of the Peru and Indianapolis line.
On November 23. 1848, Mr. Hoagland was married to Miss Mary Ann Woods, of Morgantown, Indiana, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Woods, natives of Tennessee. On account of his wife's ill health he moved to Iowa and settled on a quarter-section of land which he had entered in 1848 in Monroe county. On this he began the rais- ing of live stock and general farming, and he also acquired land in
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Wayne township. He has made several moves since coming to the county, but now resides on his farm in Cedar township, where he held the office of supervisor for twelve years shortly after coming here, and was also a justice of the peace. He was nominated three times for the legislature, but refused till the last time, when he was elected, and served during the session of 1884.
His wife died December 31, 1887, and was buried at Eden Chapel cemetery. Her children were Elvirely R .; Fremont, deceased; Hernon; Jerome, deceased; John, deceased; Peter; Marius; Laura, deceased ; and Mary Ann. Mr. Hoagland was an ardent Democrat till the forma- tion of the Greenback party, when he joined its ranks, and it was on that ticket that he was elected a member of the twentieth assembly, which was the first session held in the new capitol building. He is a member of the United Brethren church, as was his wife, and her brother, the Rev. Woods, is a prominent minister in the Methodist church, being a presiding elder, with his residence at Indianapolis, Indiana.
HENRY J. HAMMOND.
This gentleman was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, near Zanes- ville, February 6, 1833, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Hammond. Grandfather Hammond came to Ohio at an early day; he was a farmer, a Republican in politics and a Methodist, and his death occurred in Marion county, Ohio. His son Jacob was a native of Pennsylvania, and he and his wife came to Iowa in 1854, where he died in February, 1882, at the age of seventy-two, and his wife died in 1876. Their children were: Henry J., Daniel W., GreenvilleC., who died in the army of ill- ness; Butler, deceased; James, Emeline, Catheryn, Nancy Hattie, and Elizabeth, deceased.
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY. 511
Henry J. Hammond remained in Ohio till he was twenty-one years old, where he received a fair education and also became acquainted with farming, which was the principal occupation of his life. In 1862 he en- listed for the war at Knoxville, Iowa, and served through the struggle in Company A, Thirty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was mus- tered out at New Orleans and discharged at Davenport, Iowa, and is now a pensioner.
In 1860 Mr. Hammond was married to Mary M. Copeland, the daughter of James and Jane Copeland, the former from Kentucky and the latter of Indiana. The children of this union were Samuel B., Joseph F., John C., Elizabeth, deceased, Josephine C., Clayton, Clarke, de- ceased, and Mary Emeline, deceased. Mrs. Hammond died in April, 1882, and is buried in Marion county ; she was a member of the Metho- dist church. Mr. Hammond is a Republican, has been a Mason since 1862 and is a member of the Methodist church. His son, Joseph F., assists him in carrying on the home place.
WELLINGTON SPENCER.
This citizen of Monroe county, Iowa, was born in Morgan county, Ohio, May 15, 1848, the son of David and Angeline Spencer, both na- tives of Ohio. The father was a farmer all his life and lived in Ohio till his death, which occurred July 28, 1888; ten years later his wife came to Iowa, and now makes her home with her son Wellington and at McConnelsville. There were twelve children in the family: Welling- ton, Levi D., Anna N., Corwin H., the first vice president of the St. Louis exposition; Hamilton, Arthur C. and Albert, twins; Jenny, Bush- rod, Alonzo, Rhoda C., and Mrs. Florence Donnelly. 31
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