Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa, Part 7

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 7
USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 7


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


Mr. Baird affiliates with the Republican party and has filled offices


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in Urbana township, being trustee for several years. For years he was a member of the school board. His religious faith is manifest by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and he has ever taken a very active part in its work, serving as class leader, steward and su- perintendent of the Sunday school. His life has been in harmony with his professions and he is justly entitled to the respect and confidence so freely accorded him.


H. M. CHIDESTER.


No history of Monroe county would be complete without mention of the Chidester family. Fifty-seven years have passed since they first came to the county, having established their home within its borders in 1846, just as the Indians were leaving for the reservations assigned them. Great indeed was the difference in the conditions of the county at that time from what it is today, most of the land being still in its primitive condition and few improvements having been made.


Mr. Chidester was born in Lewis county, West Virginia, October 28, 1837, a son of Zadok and Susannah (Tharp) Chidester, who were also natives of that county. His paternal grandfather, Holdridge Chidester, was born in Virginia of Scotch, English and Welsh ancestry, the family being early established in the Old Dominion. He was a soldier of the war of 1812. Zadok Chidester was reared, educated and married in the county of his nativity, his wife being the daughter of Hezekiah and Huldah (Cox) Tharp, who spent their last days in Van Buren county, Iowa. Her father was also a native of Virignia and of English descent.


It was in June, 1846, that Zadok Chidester brought his family to


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Iowa, making the journey by boat down the Ohio and up the Mississippi rivers to Keokuk, Iowa, whence they proceeded by ox team to Monroe county, locating on the farm in Mantua township where his widow re- sided until her death on the 15th of February, 1903. There the father secured seven hundred acres of fertile and productive land, and after building a log house for the accommodation of his family, he at once set to work to clear, break and improve his place. Throughout his active business life he successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising, but was at length compelled to relinquish active labor on account of rheumatism, from which he suffered for many years, but being a man of good business and executive ability he still managed his business with remarkable skill. After a useful and well spent life he passed away at the age of eighty-six years, honored and respected by all who knew him. He was a most hospitable man, the latch-string on his door being always out, and no one was ever refused entertain- ment at his home. His word was ever considered as good as his bond and his advice was often sought by his friends and neighbors. In poli- tics he was a Democrat. His estimable wife, who survived him, re- sided till her death in the pleasant home he erected upon his farm in later years, and was beloved by all who knew her.


To this worthy couple were born fourteen children, of whom eleven are still living, namely: H. M., of this review : Mrs. Sarah Deyo, of Mountain Grove, Missouri ; Mrs. Virginia Pittinger, of the same place; Leander and Floyd, both residents of Mantua township, this county; Mrs. Marietta Perrin, also of Mantua township: Mrs. Huldah Rogers, of Nuckolls county, Nebraska; Elliott, of Tacoma, Washington; Zadok. of Mantua township; Emery, a well known citizen and prominent stock-


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man of Urbana township, Monroe county; and Frank, who lives on the old homestead farm.


The subject of this sketch was a lad of nine years when he ac- companied his parents on their removal to Iowa, and being the oldest son he soon proved of great assistance to his father in the development and improvement of the farm. His education was acquired in an old log schoolhouse with slab seats and puncheon floor. He remained under the parental roof until twenty-six years of age, when he offered his services to the country to assist in crushing out the rebellion, en- listing in February, 1863, in Company A, Thirty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, under the command of Colonel Kittridge, Lieutenant Colonel Drake and Captain Porter. He was in the battles of Elkins Ford, Cam-


den, and at Marks Mills was taken prisoner. During the ten months he was in the hands of the enemy his rations consisted of but one pint of meal per day. After being exchanged he returned home on a furlough and later rejoined his regiment at White river, Arkansas. At the close of the war he received an honorable discharge from the service and returned home to resume farming and stock-raising.


At the age of twenty-five years Mr. Chidester married Miss Sarah Parry, who was born in England but was reared and educated at Cedar Creek in Guilford township, Monroe county, Iowa, her parents being David and Mary (Newman) Parry, also natives of England. By oc- cupation her father was a stonemason and farmer. On coming to the new world in 1854, he located in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and in 1856 came to Iowa, making the journey by water, down the Ohio and up the Mississippi river to Keokuk. He settled in Guilford township, Monroe county, but his last days were spent in Union township, Iowa, where he died at the age of seventy-six years. He was an earnest member of


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the Christian church and a Republican in politics. His wife, who was a member of the same church, departed this life at the age of eighty- five years. They had eight children, namely: David, who enlisted in the Sixty-third Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil war and died in the service; Sarah, the wife of our subject; James M., Mrs. Mary McCauley, Emily, Jennie, Mrs. Martha Peck, Mrs, Maggie Turner.


In his farming operations Mr. Chidester has steadily prospered and is today the owner of a fine farm of four hundred acres, it being one of the most desirable tracts in the county. The buildings upon the place are of good and substantial character, and its neat and thrifty appear- ance indicates the supervision of a painstaking farmer and man of more than ordinary business ability. He follows stock-raising in con- nection with general farming.


Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Chidester: Lean- der, in business in Ottumwa, Iowa; Mrs. Clara Grooms, of Monroe county ; William and James, both residents of Mantua township; Mrs. Anna Wilson, who is also living in that township; and Ussie, who is now a student in Drake College of Des Moines, where she is taking up the arts and sciences : she has been a popular and successful teacher and spent four years in the Ottumwa high school. Hezekialı died aged two years, six months:


Mr. Chidester maintains relations with his old army comrades by his membership in Castle Post No. 313, G. A. R., of Avery, and has held office in the same. Politically he is a strong Republican, never wavering in his allegiance to that party. As an honored pioneer and one of the representative men of his community, as well as a loyal de- fender of the country during the dark days of the Civil war, he is worthy of the high regard in which he is uniformly held.


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SAMUEL FLOYD CHIDESTER.


Samuel Floyd Chidester, who owns and controls a farm of ninety- five acres on section 27. Mantua township, Monroe county, was born in Lewis county, Virginia, July 19, 1846, a representative of one of the old families of that state. His paternal grandfather was also born in Virginia. The father, Zadok Chidester, likewise a native of that state, came to the west at an early period in the development of Monroe county, locating here in 1851. He became an active factor in the agricultural development of this portion of the state, and through his labors a rich tract of land was improved and transformed into a valuable farm. He was united in marriage to Miss Susannah Tharp, who was born, reared and educated in Virginia, a daughter of Hezekiah Tharp, of that state. Their home farm comprised seven hundred acres of valuable land in Monroe county and Mr. Chidester was very successful, practical and progressive in carrying on the work of the fields and in the raising of stock. He possessed excellent business qualifications, and his property was the visible evidence of his life of well directed labor and enterprise. He gave his political support to the Democracy until his death, which oc- curred when he was eighty-three years of age. In the family were fourteen children: H. Morgan, who is a prominent citizen of Man- tua township and a veteran of the Civil war; Mrs. Sarah N. Deyo, of Mountain Grove, Missouri; Mrs. Virginia Pittinger, of that place; S. Floyd; Mrs. Hulda Rogers, of Nebraska; Mrs. Mary Perrin, of Man- « tua township; America, deceased; Zadok and Leander, who are resident farmers of Mantua township; Elliott, of Tacoma, Washington; Emery, a prominent citizen of Urbana township, Monroe county; Frank, who is living on the old homestead farm, where his mother died at the ad-


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vanced age of eighty-one years; Grant, who died at the age of sixteen years; and one that died in infancy.


No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Samuel Floyd Chidester in his youth. He worked upon the farm and gained a practical experience of the best methods of caring for the stock and of cultivating the fields. He pursued his studies in a log schoolhouse with slab seats and puncheon floor, and at the age of nine- teen years was married to Celestia Stevenson, who was then sixteen years of age. They have since traveled life's journey together, shar- ing with each other its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity. Mrs. Chidester was born in this township and pursued her education here. Her father, John Stevenson, one of the early settlers of Mantua township, passed away in 1896, while her mother, who bore the maiden name of Dorliska Bates, passed away in 1879. Their children were as follows: Grandison, of Des Moines, Iowa ; George, of Oregon; Charles, of Mantua township; Mrs. Chidester; Fred, who died on the home farm at the age of sixteen years; Eben, who was accidentally shot at the age of twenty-seven years and died as the result of his injury; an infant son died unnamed; Laura Jane, who resides with our subject; and Robert, who was killed for his money in California. Mr. Stevenson was seventy-nine years of age when called to his final rest, his birth having occurred in Ireland in 1817, while his wife, who was born in Ohio, died at the age of sixty-two years. They both held membership in the Baptist church and were people of sterling worth.


Mr. and Mrs. Chidester have had two sons and three daughters. Isan, who is a barber of Blakesburg, Iowa, wedded Millie Hampshire, of Ottumwa, this state, and they have two sons, Harold and Edmond. Susan is the wife of Riley Kendall, of Ottumwa, Iowa, and they have


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three children, Audrey. Goldie and Floyd. George, who lives in New Mexico, wedded Myrtle Miller and has two sons, Paul and Boyd. Mrs. Laura Denning is a resident of Poweshiek county, Iowa, and her chil- dren are Loyd and Ona. One daughter, Lavina, was accidentally burned to death when three years of age.


The home farm is pleasantly located not far from Albia, on sec- tion 27, Mantua township, and comprises ninety-five acres of land, on which are found substantial buildings and all modern accessories. Mr. Chidester votes with the Democracy and has served as a member of the school board. His wife belongs to the Christian Union Club, and his moral standard is that of the golden rule, which he practices in his daily life, and as a result his career has ever been an honorable and upright one, worthy of the confidence and esteem of those with whom he has been associated.


CONRAD DEROSS.


Conrad DeRoss, who is living on section 15, Mantua township, Monroe county, has resided here since 1867. Pennsylvania is the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred in Meadville, Crawford county, July 20, 1836. His father, Alexander DeRoss, was born in German- town, near Philadelphia, and comes of French ancestry, his father hav- ing crossed the Atlantic to America with General LaFayette, and aided the colonies in their struggle to secure independence at the time of the Revolutionary war. He was pleased with the new world and after the cessation of hostilities returned to his native country and brought his family to Philadelphia.


Alexander DeRoss served a seven years' apprenticeship at the shoe-


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maker's trade, and in Meadville, Pennsylvania, was married to Susan Cole, a native of that state and a daughter of Conrad Cole, who was also born in Pennsylvania and represented an old Pennsylvania Dutch family. Conrad Cole served as a soldier in the war of 1812 and was present when Commodore Perry achieved his famous victory on the lakes. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Magdalena Deeter, and among their children was Mrs. Alexander DeRoss, who by her marriage became the mother of seven sons and a daughter: Helen, a resident of Meadville, Pennsylvania; Henry, also of that state; and six sons who were in the Civil war as defenders of the Union cause. Wil- liam was a member of the Forty-fifth Missouri and is now living in Louisiana. Alexander H. belonged to the One Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Infantry and went with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea, and died in 1900. Conrad was a member of the One Hun- dred and Fiftieth Pennsylvania Regiment, known as the Bucktails. Jonathan G. belonged to the same company and regiment and after being four times wounded in battle was killed at Hatches Run, south of Peters- burg. Hiram C. was a member of the One Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Infantry and afterward a lieutenant of the Third Pennsyl- vania Heavy Artillery, and at Fortress Monroe he had charge of the guards over Jefferson Davis, who was confined there after the close of hostilities. Eli was a member of the Third Missouri Light Artillery, Battery L, and was afterward an Indian agent who became well known in the west and is now a physician in Wichita, Kansas. The father of this family passed away at the age of sixty-four years. In politics he was a Republican and he belonged to the English Lutheran church. His wife, who also held membership with that denomination, died at the age of eighty-four years.


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Conrad DeRoss is indebted to the public school system of Craw- ford county, Pennsylvania, for the educational privileges he enjoyed. He learned the mason's trade in early life and followed that pursuit until after the beginning of the Civil war, when, in August, 1862, he responded to the country's call for three hundred thousand and joined Company H, of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, known as the Bucktails, under the command of Captain James W. H. Reisinger and Colonel Langhorn Wister. The first lieutenant was C. T. Shaw, a veteran of the Mexican war and the second lieutenant was George D. V. Sheldon. The subject of this review was in the service for three years and was then discharged on account of disability.


In the fall of 1867 Mr. DeRoss came to Iowa and afterward went to the territory of Nebraska, where Indians were numerous, both of the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes. These went upon the warpath against each other, and there were exciting times in that section of the country. On account of poor health Mr. DeRoss removed to White Sulphur Springs, Missouri, and later came to Monroe county, Iowa. Here he has an excellent farm of fifty-five acres, supplied with all modern equipments and underlaid with a rich vein of voal. There is a good orchard upon his place, and substantial buildings, and the whole is en- closed with well kept fences.


On April 17, 1861, five days after Fort Sumter was fired upon, Mr. DeRoss was married at Meadville, Pennsylvania, to Sarah E. Prall, who has been to him a good wife. She was born in Meadville and is a daughter of John and Phebe (Smith) Prall; the latter was a daughter of one of the soldiers of the war of 1812 and she died in Pennsylvania; Mr. Prall, however, is now living in Nemaha, Nebraska. His chil- dren are: Mrs. Rosetta Seid, of Nebraska, Mrs. DeRoss and John


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H., who is living in Oregon. To our subject and his wife have been born eleven children: Mrs. Laura E. Green, Belle Prall, Frank, of Louisiana; George, who is one of the successful carpenters and photog- raphers of Oklahoma; Henry, a carpenter and photographer; Mrs. Phebe Rhodes, Mrs. Orpha Lukey, Mrs. Myrtle Kirkendall, Frederick, Magretta E., who died at the age of eleven years; and Jolin Alexander, who died at the age of eighteen months. Mr. DeRoss has provided his children with good educational privileges, realizing how important this is as a preparation for life's work.


An earnest Republican in his political views, Mr. DeRoss has never wavered in his support of the principles of the party and has been hon- ored with a number of township offices, in which he has served with capability and fidelity. He belongs to the Grand Army Post at Avery, and three times has served as its commander, a fact which indicates his popularity with his old army comrades. For twenty-eight years he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his wife has taken the Rebekah degree. He is a man of intelligence, a progressive farmer and an honored old soldier, and as one of the worthy citizens of Monroe county we gladly present the record of his life to our readers.


LEVI BILLINGS.


Levi Billings is proprietor of the Springhill dairy farm of Mantua township. Monroe county, and is one of the popular, intelligent and prosperous citizens of this locality, where he has made his home since 1851. He is also entitled to representation in this volume because he was a loyal soldier of the Union army during the Civil war. His birth


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occurred in Cleveland, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, August 30, 1845, and the family moved to Williams county in the northwestern part of the state when he was an infant. His father, Ed Billings, was born in Vermont and was a son of Elias Billings, whose birth occurred in Connecticut, and who represented one of the old families of that state. His death occurred in the Green Mountain state. It was in Vermont that Ed Billings was reared, and when a young man he emigrated westward, settling in Cleveland, Ohio. He was married in Cuyahoga county to Amelia Gildersleeve, a native of that county and a daugh- ter of Joseph Gildersleeve, who was of Pennsylvania Dutch an- cestry, and whose wife died during the infancy of Mrs. Billings, who was then reared by her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Beebe. In 1851 the parents of our subject arrived in Iowa, having made the journey westward by team and wagon. They settled on Miller's Ridge, but the father was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, for his death occurred in 1855, when he was but thirty-five years of age. He left a widow and six children, of whom four are now living, namely : Mrs. Dorcas Soles, of Illinois; Levi; William, of Kansas; and Or- lando, of Missouri. Those who have passed away were Mrs. Ellen Dodge, of Appanoose county; and Anson, who died at the age of forty-nine years. The mother long survived her husband and passed away at the age of seventy-three years.


Levi Billings was a little lad of six summers when the family came to Monroe county, and he can remember in those days when two to five yoke of oxen were driven to the breaking plow. He was early taught to work, and the habit of industry thus inculcated has been one of his salient characteristics in later life. He obtained his education in a subscription school, and in 1862 he offered his services to the


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government, enlisting as a member of Company B, Seventh Iowa Cav- alry, under Captain Wilcox and Colonel Summers. He served for three years, one month and twelve days as a loyal defender of the Union, and in addition to his long experience in the war, he also cast his first vote and was married before he was twenty-one years of age. He joined the army on the 17th of August, and his regiment formed a part of the rough rider command of the western army. He marched 4,888 miles over the plains of the west in 1864, and was at Fort Kearney, at Julesburg, Colorado, in Utah and at Yankton, South Dakota, participating in a number of engagements with the hostile Siouxs and Cherokees and other warlike tribes. He had also crossed the plains to Pike's Peak, Colorado, in 1862, driving an ox team. At Omaha, Nebraska, he was honorably discharged and at once returned to his home.


It was on the 12th of August, 1866, that Mr. Billings was united in marriage to Miss Mary Tyrrell, a daughter of Oliver Tyrrell, who came to the west in 1845 from Lorain county, Ohio, with a team and wagon. Her mother bore the maiden name of Melvina Johnson and was born in Virginia. The father carried on agricultural pursuits in Iowa until his life's labors were ended in death at seventy-five years of age. His political support was given the Republican party and he was a member of the Christian church. His wife, who was an earnest Christian woman, passed away at the age of seventy-four years. In their family were ten children: Mrs. Ellen Hoskins, Mrs. Billings, Mrs. Hulda Wilson, who is deceased; Mrs. Lora Elder, who died at the age of thirty-five years; Eliphalet, who resides in Mantua township; William, who is living upon the old homestead in Mantua township, Monroe county. where the little log cabin still stands; Mrs.


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Eliza Gabb, of the same township; Mrs. Ann Miller and Mrs. Cath- arine Wignall, both of Mantua township; and Mrs. Leona Cook, of Wapello county.


Since his marriage Mr. Billings has devoted his energies untir- ingly to agricultural pursuits, and his farm property now comprises two hundred and thirty-three acres of rich land, on which are found unfailing springs of pure water. His place is appropriately named the Springhill dairy farm, for he is extensively engaged in the dairy busi- ness, keeping twenty-three cows for this purpose. Every equipment known for a model farm is found upon his place, and neatness and thrift characterize every department of the farm work. The sale of his dairy products brings to him an excellent financial return and he also realizes a comfortable competence from his harvests.


The home of Mr. and Mrs. Billings has been blessed with nine children : Mrs. Ida Beebe, of Nebraska; Clinton, who is living upon a farm adjoining the home place; Willard, of Monroe county; Mrs. Minnie Lesenger, of Avery, Iowa; Mrs. Ella Porter, of Albia; George, Albert, Harrison and Daisy. Mr. Billings is a stalwart Republican, unfaltering in his advocacy of the party principles, and on questions of the day he keeps well informed. He has held a number of township offices and is a member of James R. Castle Post No. 313, G. A. R., of Avery, in which he has twice served as commander. He has also been an officer in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and both are people of genial manner and social disposition, and are popular with a large cir- cle of friends.


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FARES RICHARDSON.


The gentleman above named, who is now spending the evening of his days raising fine poultry and stock on his farm near Moulton, has had an adventurous career and is able to tell some thrilling stories of his early experiences. Before he had reached his majority he took the then perilous trip across the plains to California, and encountered all the dangers and hardships incident to pioneer life in that western wilderness. It was the period of the first gold excitement in that region, and Mr. Richardson's tales of his mining life, with its fits of alternate hope and disappointment, success and failure, "flush times" and starva- tion, have diverted many a party of friends as they assembled around his hospitable stove in the long winter evenings. The family was of eastern origin, but by early migration were long identified witlı different states of the west. Samuel Richardson, who was a native of Maine, was married in New York to Susan Granger, a lady of Canadian parentage. They farmed for a while in the state of their nuptials, and they removed to Michigan, where the same occupation was taken up and followed for many years. In the spring of 1844 the family again turned their faces toward the setting sun and entered upon a tedious journey, which did not end until they drew up in Jackson county, Iowa. A home was secured in that locality, which continued their place of abode until 1869, when they came to Appanoose county and settled in Washington township, where both parents found their last resting place.




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