Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa, Part 40

Author: Lewis, S. Thompson, comp; Lewis Publishing Company. pbl
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Lewis publishing co.
Number of Pages: 638


USA > Iowa > Monroe County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 40
USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 40


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


He was then again elected to teach the home school which he had given up three years before to go in defense of his country's flag, and was the successful teacher of the school for two years, when he was


611


BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.


elected to take the school at Liberty, the largest district school in Wapello county, having an enrollment of one hundred twenty-eight pupils. He conducted this school successfully for two years, when failing health, due to the exposures of prison life, compelled him to give up the schoolroom, which was the pride of his life. Since this time Mr. Stevenson has given his attention principally to the business which was mentioned at the beginning of this sketch, and his success as a horticulturist has been as remarkable as it is well deserved, the Avery Valley fruit farm being the equal of any in this portion of the state.


When Mr. Stevenson was twenty-one years old he married one of his pupils, "the prettiest girl in the county," so he says. Ellen E. Swope was born in Virginia, but being brought at an early age to this state, was reared here. Her parents, David R. and Nancy Ellen Swope, both died in Wapello county, Iowa. Mrs. Stevenson died May 13, 1899, leaving nine children: Mrs. Ida Mosher, of Bluff Creek town- ship, Monroe county: Alice B. Sears, of Buxton, Iowa; Clyde, who is one of the superintendents of the coal drills of the Burton Coal Com- pany : Robert H .; Andice Lesley; Mrs. Teda Colvin, of Bluff Creek township; Lellie E .: Carrie S .; and J. Maurice at home. One child, Emma Rocella, died at the age of twenty-six years. The children all received good educations, and some of them have been successful teach- ers in Wapello and Monroe counties. Mr. Stevenson is a stanch Re- publican, and as he was a defender of the Union in the days of civil strife, so he is now the champion of progress and development of American interests. He belongs to Castle Post No. 313, G. A. R., at Avery, and is a member of the Baptist church, while he neglects no opportunity to advance the welfare of his community along all lines,


612


BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.


especially in educational progressiveness, which is the strongest pillar upon which the nation rests.


JOHN S. SUTCLIFFE.


Many years have passed since this gentleman arrived in Monroe county, and he is therefore numbered among her honored pioneers as well as leading citizens. Long since has he passed the psalmist's span of three-score years and ten, being now in his eighty-fifth year, and his birth occurred in Kentucky. His father, John Sutcliffe, was born in England and was a local minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, while by trade he was a reed-maker. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Lomax, was also a native of England, and their marriage was celebrated in Kentucky. She was a daughter of John and Mag- dalene (Stelly) Lomax. John Sutcliffe and wife became the parents of the following children: Frederick, Mary A., Eliza, two who died when young, Seneca, Elsie, Julia, John S. and Joseph. In 1855 the parents came to Monroe county, lowa, where they became owners of a valuable farm, but subsequently they removed to Fayette county, In- diana, from which commonwealth both were called to their final rest, the father passing away at the age of sixty-three years.


John S. Sutcliffe was reared in both Kentucky and Indiana, and in early life was taught the trade of reed-making. Since 1855 he has been a resident of Iowa, and his first home in this state was a little log cabin, which has since given place to a comfortable and commodious residence, and he has also erected a good barn, forty by eighty feet, and many other necessary farm buildings. His landed possessions consist of three hundred and twenty acres, where he is engaged in general


613


BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.


farming and stock raising, and on his place is a valuable orchard of two acres. For fifty years Mr. and Mrs. Sutcliffe have traveled life's journey together, their mutual love and confidence increasing as year by year they have together met the joys and sorrows, the adversity and prosperity which checker the careers of all. Their marriage was cele- brated in Fayette county, Indiana, and she bore the maiden name of Mary Jane Robinson, being a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Shelly) Robinson and a native of Fayette county. She was the eldest of her parents' six children, the others being: John and Franklin, deceased; Oscar H., who died in California; Martha Ann, who died in Missouri; and Wash, who passed away in California. The parents both died in Cooper county, Missouri. Two children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Sutcliffe, but the son William died when only six weeks old.


Their daughter, Mary Elizabeth, was born in Fayette county, In- diana, on the 27th of June, 1850, and was reared and received her edu- cation in Monroe county, lowa. She was first married to William Whitmore, a well known citizen of the county and a soldier of the Civil war, he having served in the Thirty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. At his death he left his widow with three children: John Oliver, a busi- ness man of Brown county, Kansas; Ellen, the wife of N. Stump and the mother of three children-Maud, Charles and Ona; and Minnie Jane, who became the wife of Thomas Smith and has two children, Florence and Fern Elizabeth.


On the 17th of October, 1900, Mrs. Whitmore married Adam Crawshaw, who was born in Clinton, Iowa, September 12, 1843. His father, James Crawshaw, was born in Lancaster county, England, and after coming to the United States took up his abode in Rochester, New


614 BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.


York. As early as 1837 he took up his abode in Iowa, thus becoming one of its earliest pioneers, and his death occurred in Clinton, this state, in 1851, when he was but thirty-six years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Dorothy Dunn, passed away in 1845, leaving one son, Adam Crawshaw. James Crawshaw was twice married, and by his second union became the father of two children, Alice Ann, the wife of ex-Governor Leslie Shaw, and Jane Gulick, of Denison, Iowa. Adam Crawshaw proved himself a loyal defender of his country in her time of trouble, having for two years served as a soldier in Company G, Fourteenth United States Volunteer Infantry, First Brigade, Second Division, Fifth Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac. His mili- tary services covered a period of two years and nine months, on the expiration of which period he received an honorable discharge and returned to his home in Iowa. In this state he was united in marriage to Mary C. Tony, who bore him three children: James T., a resident of Nebraska; Dorothy R., deceased; and O. U., who makes his home in Pennsylvania. In 1874 Adam Crawshaw removed to Nebraska, where for some years he made his home in York county, but in 1886 went to Oberlin. Decatur county, Kansas, where in 1900 he held the position of census enumerator. For four years he also served as oil inspector of Iowa under Governor Shaw. Before reaching his twenty- first year, with a soldier's privilege, he supported Lincoln in his race for the presidency, and has ever continued to give his allegiance to the Re- publican party. His services in behalf of the Union during the Civil war entitle him to membership in the Grand Army of the Republic, where he maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades of the blue.


615


BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.


JOHN RALSTON.


In presenting to our readers the history of John Ralston we record the life work of one who has long been recognized as a leading, influ- ential and respected citizen of Monroe county. He is now living retired in Albia, but for many years was engaged in farming and stock raising in Monroe county, and in his business affairs his conduct was so straight- forward and honorable that his word was recognized as good as any bond. Mr. Ralston was born in eastern Ohio on the 15th of August, 1830, and is a son of James and Martha Ann (Gordon) Ralston, both of whom were natives of Scotland. The father spent the first eighteen years of his life in the land of the heather, and thence crossed the broad Atlantic in a sailing vessel, eventually becoming a resident of eastern Ohio. He first settled, however, in Virginia, and from that place removed to the Buckeye state. His first wife died during the early boyhood of her son John, who was the youngest of their three children, the others being Andrew and Nettie. After her death James Ralston was united in marriage to Elizabeth Mathers, who was born in 1807 and was a resident of Ohio. Five children graced this marriage: Martha, Samuel, Robert, James and Maggie. A third time Mr. Ralston was married, Miss Mary Reed, a native of Pennsylvania, becoming his wife. There was one son by that union, William. For several years James Ralston continued to make his home in Ohio, but in the fall of 1860 he severed his business connections there and came to Iowa, spend- ing his last days in Madison county, this state, where he died in 1867 at the age of eighty years.


John Ralston spent the years of his minority in Guernsey county, Ohio, and on attaining his majority sought a home in Iowa, for he believed he would have better business opportunities in the western dis-


616 BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.


trict, where competition was not so great. Here he took up carpenter- ing, but in his earlier years he had taught school in Ohio. In 1860 he became a resident of Madison county and was living here at the time of his enlistment for service in the Civil war. He was in the army the last nine months of the long struggle for the preservation of the Union, being drafted for service, after which he became a member of Company D, Fifteenth Iowa Infantry. He was with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea, and after the close of hostilities was mustered out in Washington, D. C. His brother Robert served throughout the entire period of hostilities as a member of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry. At the close of the war Mr. Ralston returned to his home in Madison county and for twenty years was interested in farming and stock raising. In 1885. however, he took up his abode in Monroe county, settling in Albia, where he is now living. However, he spends about six months each year upon his farm in Madison county. About six years ago he established a tanning factory in Albia. organizing a stock company for this purpose, but eventually he sold out and the factory has since been moved elsewhere.


On the 22d of November, 1862, Mr. Ralston was united in mar- riage to Miss Harriet Bell, a daughter of William and Mary Bell, who were natives of Ohio. They became the parents of two children, Mary and Emma. The wife and mother, however, died in 1890, passing away at her home in Albia on the 5th of September of that year, after which her remains were interred in the Albia cemetery.


Mr. Ralston has always had firm faith in Iowa and its future. When he came here as a young man he believed that the state was entering upon a period of progressive development and was therefore anxious to ally his interests with those of the early settlers. Taking


617


BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.


advantage of the business opportunities, he steadily worked his way upward, brooking no obstacles that could be overcome by determination and earnest purpose. His life record has at all times been one that would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny, and through his well directed business affairs he has not only won a competence, but has also gained the respect and regard of his fellow-men.


WILLIAM WILCOX.


The subject of this sketch is one of the honored veterans of the Civil war, having served his country during that struggle as a member of Company K, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Thomas Kennedy. He was on duty for a time at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, and in the Shenandoah valley, and remained in the service until hostilities ceased, being honorably dis- charged on August 4, 1865.


Like many of Iowa's best citizens, Mr. Wilcox is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred near Zanesville, in Muskingum county, on the 18th of June, 1839. His father, Charles Wilcox, was born in the same county and was a son of James Wilcox, a native of New York state. The latter was drafted during the war of 1812, but obtained a substitute. In the county of his nativity Charles Wilcox grew to man- hood and married Miss Nancy Taylor, who was also born there and was a daughter of Dr. James Taylor, of Ohio. They continued to make their home in that county throughout life, the mother dying at the age of fifty-eight years and the father at the age of eighty-four. He was never in but two counties during his entire life and never rode on a railroad train. Politically he was a Democrat, and religiously


618 BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.


was a very active and zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he served as class leader for many years. He was a very consistent and conscientious Christian gentleman, and was highly respected and esteemed by all who knew him.


In the family of this worthy couple were ten children, five sons and five daughters, namely: James, now deceased; Lavina, who died at the age of sixteen years; Emily, who died at the age of fourteen; John Wesley, who died at the age of twenty-three; George, who died in Coshocton county, Ohio, at the age of sixty-eight years; William, our subject; Charles, a resident of Muskingum county, Ohio, who enlisted in 1862 in the Second Ohio Regiment and served two years ; Mary Jane Musk, of Ohio; and Rebecca and Elizabeth, also residents of the Buckeye state.


Under his father's watchful care William Wilcox was reared to habits of thrift and industry, and during much of his youth was en- gaged in cutting wood and grubbing stumps that the farm might be cultivated. He received a fair education at a time when primitive meth- ods were in use and the teacher boarded around among the scholars. On reaching man's estate, he was married in Coshocton county, Ohio, to Miss Minerva H. Poland, who proved to him a faithful companion and helpmate. She is a native of Coshocton county and a daughter of George Poland, who was born in Maryland and died at the home of our subject in Iowa at the age of eighty years. He was a farmer by occupation, a member of the Baptist church and a Democrat in politi- cal sentiment. His wife died in Washington county, Pennsylvania. Seven children were born to our subject and his wife, four sons and three daughters, as follows: Charles, who now owns and operates a good farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Mantua township, Monroe


619


BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.


county, Iowa; George F. and Willis, both at home; Flora, wife of Grant Cook, of Mantua township; Clara J., wife of George Cook, of Mantua township; Myrtle Ethel, at home; and Walter Scott, who died at the age of one year.


Leaving Ohio in 1871, Mr. Wilcox came to Iowa, and after spend- ing eight years in Wapello county took up his residence in Mantua township, Monroe county, where he purchased forty acres of land. To the cultivation and improvement of this farm he has since devoted his energies. He is a supporter of the Republican party and an honored member of Castle Post No. 113, G. A. R., of Avery. His religious faith is manifest by his membership in the Methodist Protestant church, to which his wife belongs, and he has served as class leader in the same for the last twenty-five years.


THOMAS PULLIAM.


Thomas Pulliam, one of the old settlers and highly respected citi- zens of Sharon township, Appanoose county, was born in Pike county, Illinois, on the 26th day of January, 1843, and is a son of John and Rebecca (Likes) Pulliam. His paternal grandfather was Thomas Pulliam, a native of Kentucky, who removed to Illinois and there spent his last days, his death occurring in that state. The father of our sub- ject was born in a block-house on the Wabash river in Illinois during the pioneer development of the state. The place in which he was born had been built for the protection of the settlers against the Indians, and all was wild and unimproved in that region. After arriving at years of maturity he was married in his native state to Miss Rebecca Likes, who was born in Indiana and was a daughter of William Likes, a native of Pennsylvania. Both of the grandfathers of our subject


620


BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.


were soldiers in the war of 1812, and removed to Illinois in pioneer times, taking an active part in laying broad and deep the foundation for the future development and progress of the localities with which they were associated. After their marriage the parents of our subject continued to live in Illinois until March, 1864, when they determined to seek a home in Iowa, and settled in Wells township, Appanoose county, where both passed away, the mother departing this life about 1873, while the father survived her for three years and died in 1876, at the age of sixty-two years. They were the parents of five sons and three daughters, and three of the sons are now deceased. In order to support his family the father followed agricultural pursuits throughout his entire life, being a progressive and enterprising farmer. In his political affiliations he was a Democrat, and in religious faith was a Dunkard, while his wife held membership with the Baptist church.


Thomas Pulliam was reared upon the home farm and received a common school education. He was only eighteen years of age when he enlisted for service in the Union army, joining the boys in blue on the 14th of August, 1862. He was assigned as a private to Company F., One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois Infantry, and remained with that command for more than three years, when he was honorably dis- charged, on the 30th of October, 1865. He participated in the Vicks- burg campaign, including the siege and capture of the city, and was afterward in the battles of Arkansas Post, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River and many other engagements. At Black River the com- pany was mounted and thereafter was on cavalry duty. Mr. Pulliam was ever found to be a loyal soldier, faithful to the old flag and the cause it represented. He was always found at his post of duty, whether in the midst of battle or upon the tented fields.


621


BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.


After the war was over and the country no longer needed his services, Mr. Pulliam returned home. He first came to Appanoose county in 1865 and remained for a year. He then returned to his native state, where he spent two years, and then once more came to Appanoose county. Later, however, he removed to Missouri, where he resided for ten years, but since 1882 has made his home continuously in this county, following the occupation of farming. He has one hundred and twenty acres of land, which he has operated with good success, acquiring a comfortable competence, which now enables him to enjoy not only the necessities but many of the comforts of life.


In 1869 Mr. Pulliam was united in marriage to Miss Laura Smith, who was born in Ohio, and they have an interesting family of five chil- dren: Emma, Charles, Edward, Gertrude and Laura. Mr. Pulliam exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, but he has never sought or desired office, pre- ferring to give his entire time and attention to his business affairs, which he has capably conducted, with the result that he is now a prosperous farmer of his adopted county.


JOHN ABEGGLEN.


The little republic of Switzerland has sent to America compara- tively few of her adopted sons, but those who have come are a valued portion of our citizenship. One of these worthy immigrants is John Abegglen, who was born to Peter and Maggie Abegglen. His father followed farming in one of the beautiful valleys of Switzerland until 1855, when he brought his family across the Atlantic to America. Pro- ceeding into the interior of the country, he took up his abode in Ripley 37


622


BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.


county, Indiana, where he remained until 1869, and then came to Monroe county, Iowa. For the next twenty-four years he was one of the respected residents of this vicinity, and in 1893 his life came to a peaceful end, when he was eighty-two years of age; his wife is also de- ceased. Both were devout and consistent members of the Lutheran church and impressed upon the minds of their children lessons which have borne fruit in upright lives. This worthy couple were the parents of the following children: Crist, Margaret and Gottlieb, deceased; John; Elizabeth, also deceased; and Fred and Anna, both residents of Monroe county.


John Abegglen was born in Switzerland November 27, 1840, and was a youth of fifteen when he came with his parents to the new world. All the educational advantages he was privileged to enjoy were obtained before he left his native land. He accompanied his parents to Iowa and has since been one of the prominent agriculturists of this great state. Shortly after his second marriage he took up his residence on his present farm just east of Lovilia, and in the course of the nearly ten years spent on the place has made his property both valuable and attractive. Excel- lent improvements are found on the farm, and everything is kept in the best of order and system.


In 1865 Mr. Abegglen returned to Switzerland on a visit, which ended in a practical romance for him, inasmuch as he met Miss Margaret Michalo, with the result that she accompanied him to the United States, where they were married in 1866. Their domestic life was begun on a farm in Cedar township, Monroe county, where they remained during the lifetime of Mrs. Abegglen. They enjoyed eighteen years of wedded life, but in 1884 Mrs. Abegglen was called to her final rest. The chil- dren born of this marriage were John, Charles, Anna, George, Walter


623


BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.


and Sherman, who are all living; and those deceased are Willie, George and Jennie. Ten years after the death of his first wife Mr. Abegglen married Miss Jennie Rose, a daughter of Edward and Phrela Rose. For a quarter of a century Mr. Abegglen has been an exemplary mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, and his political support is given to the Republican party. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church, but as there is no congregation of that denomination in the vicinity, they attend the services of the Methodist Episcopal church.





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.