USA > Iowa > Monroe County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 37
USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 37
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY. £ 561
Though not without that intelligent interest in politics that be- speaks the good citizen, and keeping an eye on the parties in campaign times, he cares nothing for office, but has consented to act as justice of the peace and member of the school board. He has always affiliated with the Republican party and cast his first vote for R. B. Hayes in that statesman's memorable contest for the presidency in 1876 against Sam- uel J. Tilden. Though not officially connected with any religious de- nomination, he usually attends services at the Christian church with his wife, who is a member.
LEMONT A. PEPPERS.
This gentleman, who is the proprietor of a popular livery barn that goes by his name, though one of the youngest business men of the city, is already ranked among the most progressive. He displays rare tact an acumen in business affairs, is resourceful and enterprising as to methods and improvements, and gives promise of becoming one of the solid citizens from a capitalistic standpoint. His stable is especially popular with the young people of the city, who are attracted by the courtesies and obliging spirit of the proprietor as well as by his well groomed stock and neat outfits.
Mr. Peppers' grandparents were Reuben and Catherine ( Blevins) Peppers, the former a Kentuckian, who left his native state in boyhood and died in Kansas at the age of sixty-five years. llis wife died in Milledgeville, Appanoose county, lowa, at the age of sixty-three years, after becoming the mother of nine children. Of these five are still liv- ing, and among the number is William Peppers of Albia. He was born in Ashe county, North Carolina, and was reared on a farm, trained to
562
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
the different kinds of agricultural work, and as he grew up obtained his education in the district schools. He remained at home until eighteen years of age, and then went to Jackson county, Missouri, but six months. later went to Van Buren county, Iowa, where he spent eight months, go- ing thence to Ottumwa. Subsequently settling in the northwest part of Appanoose county, he built one of the first sawmills ever seen in that section, which he operated for some years with moderate success. Later he located on a farm in the same township, which he cultivated many years, but finally rented his property and came to Albia. He invested in the implement, hardware, harness and vehicle business, and has since given all of his attention to this line of trade.
In Ottumwa, in 1853, Mr. Peppers was united in marriage to Martha Jane Houck, who became the mother of seven children: Wil- liam H., Francis M., Mary Alice, deceased ; Drusilla, Sherman, Florence and Fred. Mrs. Peppers died in 1874, and in 1875 Mr. Peppers married Martina Hiserman. They have become the parents of three children : Roy C., Austin W. and Lemont A.
JOHN W. SHAHAN.
J. W. Shahan is the proprietor of the fine farm, Harvest Home, in Walnut valley, Monroe county, and almost all that he possesses has been acquired through his own labor, guided by sound judgment. He is now seventy-five years of age, but still manages his business interests and is an active, enterprising man, of sound judgment and progressive siprit. He has resided in this county since 1853, and is therefore classed among the pioneer settlers, for at that time comparatively few homes had been
563
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
established in the county and the work of improvement largely lay in the future.
Mr. Shahan is a native of West Virginia, his birth having occurred in Harrison county, February 17, 1828. His paternal grandfather, John Shahan, was also a native of West Virginia, of Irish descent, and both he and his wife died in that state. Their son, Richard Shahan, was born in Preston county, West Virginia, and was reared to farm life, following agricultural pursuits throughout his entire business career. He married Elizabeth Dakon, also a native of West Virginia and a daughter of George Dakon of Harrison county. On the paternal side she was of German lineage and on the maternal side of English descent. Richard and Elizabeth Shahan became the parents of eight children : Elizabeth, Mary Ann, John . W., Martha, Charity, Edmond D., Sarah J. and Sabra. These eight children were reared to woman- hood and manhood without having a doctor called to see any of them. The mother was a consistent member of the Baptist church and died in that faith when forty-five years of age. For his second wife Mr. Shahan chose Margaret Williams, and they had five children: Colum- bia, Jehu and Elihu, twins, Eppie and Joshua H. The father was also a member of the Baptist church, and his political support was given to the Democracy. He died at the age of eighty-five years.
In the state of his nativity J. W. Shahan was reared and educated, and aside from the lessons learned in the schoolroom his parents in- stilled into his mind lessons of industry and integrity. He would often study at home at night by the light of a pine torch, for he was desirous of improving his knowledge, and after feeding forty head of cattle gladly walked the distance of two miles which lay between his home and the school in order that he might enjoy the educational advantages
564 BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
there afforded. When nearly twenty-two years of age he was married in Harrison county, West Virginia, to Miss Emeline Drummond, a daughter of Wilford Drummond and Nancy Tharp, both of whom lie buried in Monroe county, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Shahan began their domestic life in West Virginia, but in 1853 came to Monroe county, Iowa, coming by way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Keokuk, Iowa, and thence across the country to their destination. Mr. Shahan secured a tract of good land, well watered and comprising both timber and valley land. This farm today comprises two hundred and eighty-eight acres of rich land on sections II and 13. Mantua township, upon which he has erected a fine residence at a cost of eighteen hundred dollars. The barn is thirty by fifty feet and has a rock basement. There is a fine bearing orchard, beautiful groves, pastures of blue grass and meadows of hay in addition to the fields adapted to the cultivation of grain. He has a fine herd of thor- oughbred English red polled cattle, including some of the best specimens of the breed in the state. Among the number are seven young bulls. Mr. Shahan owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Allen county, Kansas, where use is made of the natural gas on that place; also a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Pleasant township, this county, together with other property, having wisely placed his money in the safest of all investments, real estate. As the years have passed his possessions have steadily increased as the result of his careful man- agement and good business judgment, and he is now one of the men of affluence in Monroe county. He gives his political support to men and measures irrespective of party ties, and has served as county super- visor.
To Mr. and Mrs. Shahan were born seven children : Mrs. Mary
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY. 565
E. Bell, of Eddyville, Iowa; Wilford A. I., who is engaged in the real estate and claim business in Portland, Oregon; Edmond Lee, who died at the age of nine years and twenty-five days; Jackson, who is a drill in- spector and expert in core drilling and now in Pennsylvania; John La- fayette, of Chicago, Illinois, serving as pattern maker with the Stand- ard Oil Company; Mrs. Jennie Bowman, of Port Angeles, Washington; and George H., at home. The mother of these children passed away, but her memory is still enshrined in the hearts of those who knew her because she was a good Christian woman, an active member of the Christian church, a faithful friend and a devoted wife and mother. In 1878 Mr. Shahan was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth (Smith) Berry, a native of Johnson county, Illinois, and a daughter of D. H. and Emeline (Gosney) Smith, both of whom died in Wapello county, Iowa. By her first marriage Mrs. Shahan had three children: Mrs. Mary Canfield, who died in Kansas; and two who are living, Elvin Berry, of South Dakota; and Clara, wife of Arthur Jones, of Washington. By her second marriage, to David Swope, Mrs. Shahan had two children: Vienna, the wife of George Burkman, of Mantua township; and Ermina, wife of Alonzo Bellman, of Chillicothe, Iowa. By his second marriage Mr. Shahan has two children : Richard F., a student in the Iowa City Medical College; and Mabel G., at home. Mr. Shahan votes in the main with the Democratic party. He has been a delegate to the farmers' congress held at Fort Worth, Texas, and is interested in all that pertains to the promotion of agricultural interests. He has served as county supervisor and is an elder in the Christian church, of which he has long been a faithful mem- ber. Whatever has for its object the betterment of mankind receives his
34
566
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
endorsement, and he is widely acknowledged as a citizen of worth in his adopted county.
EMERY CHIDESTER.
There is no more hospitable home in Monroe county than that of Mr. and Mrs. Emery Chidester, in Urbana township. The owner is a leading agriculturist, a genial man and one who makes friends wherever he goes. Moreover he is one of the native sons of the county, his birth having occurred on the old family homestead in Mantua township, March 16, 1862. His father, Zadoc Chidester, had come to this county at an early day, locating here in 1846, the year of the admission of the state into the Union. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan Tharp, was a native of Virginia, and their children were Morg; Sarah; Lee; Hulda; Floyd; Mary; Jenny; Zadoc: Elliott, who is living in Tacoma, Washington; Emery,; Frank, at home; and Grant, deceased. The father of this family passed away in Monroe county at the advanced age of eighty-six years, after having lived to see the county emerge from its primitive condition and pioneer environments to take its place with the leading counties of the commonwealth.
In field and meadow through the period of his boyhood, Emery Chidester worked when not engaged with the duties of the schoolroom, and thus he gained practical knowledge of farming methods and was well qualified to carry on agricultural pursuits for himself when he had reached man's estate. At the age of twenty-one years he married Anna Mahon, who was born in county Antrim, Ireland, a daughter of David Mahon, who was a second cousin of General McMahon of the French army. Ile had two uncles who came to the United States and
567
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
served in the Revolutionary war. David Mahon, having arrived at years of maturity, married Maria Dunn, and in 1863 crossed the broad Atlantic to America, settling in Urbana township, Monroe county, upon a farm. He carried on farming and merchandising throughout his remaining days, and died at the age of seventy-four years. After be- coming a naturalized American citizen he supported the Republican party, and in his religious views was a Unitarian. His widow is still living, at the age of seventy-three years, and makes her home with her daughter. By her marriage she became the mother of nine children: Anna; Dave; Mrs. Jane Burk; Mrs. Agnes Peck; Mrs. Isabelle Miller; Mrs. Delphine Angel, who is a widow and is engaged in teach- ing in Polk county, Iowa; Mrs. Emma Angel; Mrs. Lotta Goodwine; and Mary, who died at the age of nine weeks.
· At the time of his marriage Mr. Chidester began farming on his own account, and that his years have been years of industry and per- severance is shown by the fact that he is now the possessor of a valu- able farm of four hundred and twenty-three acres, constituting one of the finest farms of Monroe county. Upon it is a splendid home of twelve rooms, which was erected at a cost of three thousand dollars. Its attractive furnishings give evidence of the cultured taste of the in- mates, and the piano shows their love of music. Around the home is a well kept lawn and in the rear are substantial farm buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. He buys, feeds and ships cattle and horses, and this as well as the production of grain proves a profitable depart- ment of his business.
To Mr. and Mrs. Chidester have been born eight children: Mar- cia, Dave F., Ansel Tecumseh, S. Della, Emma Agnes, Vesta Lucretia, Emery Hale, and they also lost an infant son. The parents are sincere
568
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
members of the Christian church and Mr. Chidester is a Democrat in his political views. Honorable in business relations, loyal in citizenship and the champion of all measures tending toward the betterment of man- kind, Mr. Chidester is respected throughout the community, and his life record illustrates the power of industry and integrity in winning success.
THOMAS WESLEY KILLION.
The parents of this enterprising Iowa editor were Thomas Jeffer- son and Jeanette Ann Killion. The former was a merchant and also held the office of justice of the peace for several years. In this latter position he made a reputation for his decisions, and throughout his section of the country was considered an oracle on all legal and political questions. This extensive knowledge was due to his voracious reading of all books and papers, and his constant intercourse with men for many years.
Thomas Wesley Killion was born to these parents at Orleans. Appanoose county, Iowa, July 7, 1860. The good mental training which has at all times been of value to him in his career he obtained in the common schools of his vicinity, supplemented with constant read- ing of the best books and periodicals. He early manifested considerable talent in the line of vocal music, and the only schooling which he was privileged to enjoy away from home was the brief time he spent in the musical department of the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant. He had been reared to the work of the farm, and in connec- tion with this pursuit at the age of twenty he began teaching music, which he carried on during the winter months for the following twelve
THOMAS W KILLION.
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY. 571
years. His versatility has also been shown in his writing of several musical compositions, which have been published. Mr. Killion has been connected with the Moulton Sun in the capacity of editor and proprietor for five years. This is one of the leading papers of Appa- noose county and was established on March 1, 1898. It is a Democratic organ, and its motto is "Equal rights to all, special privileges to none" -most fitting in this age of trusts and monopolies.
Mr. Killion's first public office was that of justice of the peace, to which he was elected in Washington township, Appanoose county, in 1887, and he has been re-elected and has held the office altogether for three years. In the fall of 1893 President Cleveland appointed him postmaster of Moulton, and he took charge of the office on the first of December and held it, with credit to himself, till February 5, 1898. He has always been a Democrat of the Jeffersonian school, and from his entrance into politics has been a member of the county committee. He is now a member of the eighth district Democratic congressional com- mittee and is chairman of the Democratic county central committee. His Democracy has always been based upon the good old doctrine of a tariff for the purpose of revenue only.
In 1891 Mr. Killion became connected with the Knights of Pythias; in April, 1896, he joined the Modern Woodmen of America as a charter member, and was elected to the office of worthy adviser and has served in some official capacity in Moulton Camp No. 3799 since its organization, serving now his third term as venerable consul, the presiding officer of the order. In March, 1900, he joined the Brotherhood of American Yeomen as a member of Moulton Home- stead No. 374, and was soon elected to the office of correspondent, which he held for three terms; he is now the honorable foreman, or the
572
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
presiding officer of the homestead. Mr. Killion has been identified with the work of the Christian church since he was eighteen years old, and his religious views are in conformity with this organization.
On April 2, 1885, Mr. Killion was married to Miss Sarah Frances Clark. Her father was a Union soldier in the Civil war and was a devout member and for many years a minister of the Methodist church. Carl G. Killion, the first child of this happy union, was born March 6, 1886; the next in order of birth was Floyd, born March 3, 1888; Paul was born June 13, 1893: and Pearl was born July 12, 1897.
WILLIAM BROTHERS.
Many are the natives of the green land of Ireland who have come to America and carved for themselves a niche in the great western re- public and have found the position and the opportunities for accumulat- ing property which would never have been afforded them in the old country, and in this number we must reckon one of the old citizens of Monroe county, who has been a resident of the county for over half a century and well deserves mention among the prominent men of the county.
Michael Brothers, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Tipperary county, Ireland, and his wife, Mary Bryan, was of the same county. They lived and died in the land of their birth and be- came the parents of seven children, five sons and two daughters: Cath- erine, John, Michael, Daniel, Patrick, William and Mary.
William Brothers was born over three-quarters of a century ago, about the year 1825, in county Tipperary, and spent the early years of his life in his native land. When about twenty-six years old he emigrated
573
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
to America, and coming west to Iowa bought eighty acres of improved land in Monroe county. A few years later he was married and then removed to Keokuk, Iowa, where for about three years he worked at blacksmithing, and then came to Monroe county and located on the farm where he now lives. He owns about two hundred and forty acres of land, all under a good state of improvement, and Mr. Brothers has the name of being one of the successful farmers of the county.
In 1857 Mr. Brothers was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Conroy, who was born in Queens county, Ireland, and was the daughter of James Conroy, who died soon after his arrival at St. Louis, Mis- souri ; she spent her childhood in Ireland and came to this country with her parents. There were eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Brothers, three sons and five daughters: Mike and James, twins; Mary, Cath- erine. Annie, Elizabeth, Julia and John. Mr. Brothers has been promi- nent in the local affairs of the township; he has been township trustee and a member of the school board for several terms; in politics he adheres to the Democratic party. He is now about seventy-seven years old and his estimable wife is eighty-two, both having passed the allotted span of life. They are zealous members of the St. Patrick's church at Georgetown and they gave liberally of their means and influence to build it.
HUGH Q. ADAMS.
Nature has been lavish in her gifts to America. Each section of the country has been provided with at least one source of income. New England has its splendid lumber regions, Pennsylvania its coal fields, the south produces cotton, the west has its rich mineral deposits and the broad Mississippi valley is the agricultural district of the country, and
574 BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
it is upon the agriculturist more than any other class of citizens that the prosperity and upbuilding of the country depends. Iowa is one of the best cereal-producing portions of the entire land, while its rich pas- ture lands afford ample opportunity to the stock-raiser. Mr. Adams is among those who are devoting their time and energies to farming, his valuable homestead being located in Bluff Creek township. He was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, on the 14th of April, 1844, and is a son of Alexander M. and Harriet (Quinn) Adams, natives of Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania, where the former died at the age of sev- enty-six years and the latter when she had reached the age of forty years. This worthy couple became the parents of fourteen children, eight of whom are still living.
From his early youth Hugh Q. Adams has been identified with ag- ricultural pursuits. When he was eighteen years of age the Civil war broke out and he offered his services in defense of the Union cause, entering Company H, One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Infantry, under the command of Captain Orman. His military career covered a period of three years, on the expiration of which he received an hon- orable discharge at Washington, D. C., for the war had ended and the country no longer needed his services. Returning to his old home in the Keystone state, he there resumed the more quiet duties of the farm and was thus engaged until about twenty years ago, when, in 1882, he came to Iowa. His valuable farm of two hundred acres is located six miles north of Albia, in Bluff Creek township, and all of the many and substantial improvements thereon stand as monuments to his thrift and excellent business ability. He is engaged in diversified farming and stock-raising, and in both lines of endeavor is meeting with a high and well merited degree of success.
575
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
The marriage of Mr. Adams was celebrated on the 8th of October, 1868, when Miss Mary Martha Clever became his wife. She, too, was born in the old Keystone state, in Allegheny county, and is a daughter of Martin and Elizabeth (DeGroft) Clever. Her paternal grandparents were Martin and Mary Magdalene (Minick) Clever, while on the maternal side she is a granddaughter of Adam and Eve DeGroft. Martin Clever, the grandfather, survived until about eighty-three years of age, and his wife reached the age of seventy-five years, both dying in Pennsylvania. Martin Clever, the father of Mrs. Adams, was born near Harrisburg. Pennsylvania, but when nine years of age he removed to Allegheny county, that state, six miles northwest of Pittsburg. In the spring of 1869 he came to Iowa, first locating north of Albia, but sub- sequently removed to that city, and there he still resides. His wife, a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, died in Allegheny county, that state, at the age of thirty-seven years. Ten children were born of this union, and with one exception all are still living, are married and have families of their own. Mrs. Adams remained on the old home farm until her marriage, and she, too, has become the mother of ten children, one of whom, LeRoy, died at the age of four years and three months. Those living are as follows: Martin H., who is married and has two children, and the family reside in Chicago, Illinois; Alexander George, whose wife died in Albia, leaving two children, and they are being reared by our subject and his wife; Elmira F., who is married and has two children; Robert L., who also has two children and is en- gaged in business in Albia; Mary M., who is married and had two chil- dren, one of whom is now deceased; Glen L., who is engaged in operat- ing the home place; Nannie C., who is married and has one child; Ethel G., who is married and has one child; and Avis A., at home. The chil-
576 BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
dren reflect much credit upon the parents, and the family is one of prom- inence in the locality in which they reside.
JAMES A. CALHOUN.
The above named is one of the well established farmers of Frank- lin township and enjoys general respect among his neighbors and fellow citizens generally. This is proved by the fact that he has been entrusted with the important office of assessor as well as the consideration accorded him in all movements affecting the public interest. Mr. Calhoun's paternal ancestry were residents of the Scottish highlands, so famous in song and story and the background for many of Sir Walter Scott's charming romances. As the highlanders were born fighters, it is not surprising to learn that Joseph Alexander Calhoun, the first of this family who crossed the Atlantic, had been ashore but a short time when found helping his adopted country against the British in the war of 1812. This gallant old highlander, who subsequently ended his days in Indiana after living at different times in other states, left a son whom he christened David Bell Calhoun. The latter was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, in 1819, and after growing up en- gaged in farming, but later taught school and clerked in a store for awhile at Wheeling, West Virginia. There lived in Allegheny in those days a family by the name of Fife, and as they were also of Scottish origin it was natural that David should have been drawn towards them on account of racial affinities. It is pleasant to learn, therefore, that in time a match was made between David Bell Calhoun and Margaret B., daughter of William Fife. An intermarriage between the Cal- houns and Fifes was peculiarly appropriate, a reunion as it were of
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.