Biographical and historical memoirs of Story County, Iowa, Part 38

Author:
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 484

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Frank I Baldsom

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STORY COUNTY.

R. (born January 21, 1881) and Carrie and Cassie (twins, born February 2, 1886). Mr. Ashford is a Republican, and an ardent sup- porter of that party. He is a member of Ne- vada Lodge No. 99, A. F. & A. M., and is one of the leading men of the county.

F. M. Baldwin is one of the oldest and most successful merchants in Story County, Iowa, and although his birth occurred in Onondaga County, N. Y., November 10, 1829, he has identified himself with the interests of Story County for the past thirty-eight years. His parents, Wallace and Mary (Burnett) Bald- win, were born in Connecticut and Vermont, respectively, the former's birth occurring in 1790. He was by occupation a salt manufact- urer, and died in the State of New York in 1884, his wife also passing from life in that State at the age of ninety-two years. F. M. Baldwin is the eldest of two living children, and was reared to manhood and educated in Onondaga County, N. Y. In 1849 he came west and for three years was a clerk in a dry goods store in Chicago, after which he came to Story County, and entered land in Indian Creek Township, where he remained one sea- son. Subsequently he returned to Cook County, Ill., and until 1855 followed the mercantile business in what was known as Dundee Sta- tion. He then returned to Story County, Iowa, and located at Iowa Center, where he has since made his home. Until 1864 he was engaged in business with the Young Bros., but since that time he has been senior member of the firm of Baldwin & Maxwell, one of the oldest mercantile firms of this commonwealth. So successfully has the business of the firm been transacted, that it passed through all panics and other trying times without financial em- barrassment, and has held its own in every re- spect for almost a quarter of a century. This firm has two extensive stocks of goods, one at

Iowa Center, the home of Mr. Baldwin, and the other at Maxwell, the home of Mr. Max- well. Both these gentlemen are practical business men, and the policy on which they have ever conducted their affairs has been such as to merit public commendation, and those forming relations with their houses may be assured of receiving that liberal treat- ment which has characterized their dealings from the commencement. Mr. Baldwin was united in marriage in 1859 to Miss Mary Max- well, who was born in Ohio in 1837, and to them a family of four children have been born: Jennie, Charles G., William and Jessie. He has always been a Republican in his political views, and is a man who has ever had the best interests of the county at heart.

Russell W. Ballard, the subject of this sketch, is a prosperous farmer of Story County. He was born in New York, Chenango County, on December 24, 1826. His father, Moses R. Ballard, a native of Massachusetts, moved to New York when quite a young man, and there married Miss Eliza Beecher, a cousin of Henry Ward Beecher, and born in New Haven, Conn. Mr. Ballard was at one time a blacksmith, but studied medicine and practiced for a number of years in various counties of New York. He moved west in 1843, residing in Ohio about two years and afterward settling in Illinois in 1845, where he lived for twelve years practic- ing his profession. In 1857 he settled in Iowa, Story County, where he continued a prominent and successful physician until the time of his death. Russell Ballard grew to manhood in Illinois, attending the common schools. He moved to Iowa in 1855, returned again to Illi- nois, and finally made a permanent location in Howard Township, this county. Here he owns 192 acres of very valuable land, which is highly improved. A strong Republican, Mr. Ballard has held many prominent offices, and was for

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eleven years one of the board of supervisors for this county. He married twice; his first wife was Miss Louise E. Stolt, of Illinois, who died April 26, 1864, leaving three children: Alice J., Eliza E. and Albert A. In October, 1864, he was united at the hymenial altar with Miss B. M. Sheffield, of Iowa, a daughter of Nathan and Maria Sheffield. They have six children : Anson E., Russell N., Minnie C., Fred S., Kestin S. and John F. Mrs. Ballard is a member of the Methodist Church. The subject of the sketch is a Master Mason, and enjoys a well deserved popularity.

Vivaldo A. Ballon is the editor and proprie- tor of the Watchman, a newspaper published in the interests of the Democratic party at Ne- vada, Story County, Iowa, and under his able management it has come to be regarded as one of the leading journals in this section of the country. He was born in Prattsburg, Steuben County, N. Y., September 7, 1840, a son of David H. and Helena A. (Whitman) Ballon, who were also born in this State, the former in March, 1814, and the latter in 1818. In 1850, Vivaldo A. Ballou first came to the State of Iowa, and in the spring of 1856 began learn- ing the printer's trade in the Tribune office at Dubuque, but in June, 1858, he went to Web- ster City, and for about two years worked in the Freeman office, and from there in Septem- ber, 1860, he entered the Upper Iowa Univer- sity, remaining a student in the same until the following June. In July he enlisted in Com- pany F, Second Iowa Cavalry, being sworn in- to the United States service in September. At the end of one year he was discharged on ac- count of physical disability. He subsequently returned to Webster City, and after managing the Webster City Freeman for two years, he became a student in Cornell (Iowa) College, and was earnestly engaged in pursuing his studies in that institution for two years. In

the fall of 1868 he came to Nevada, and after being engaged in conducting the Aegis for one year he sold out, and the subsequent ten years were spent in selling drugs. In 1880 he be- came proprietor and began editing the Watch- man, and is now one of the oldest and most successful newspaper men in this section of the State. Having acquainted himself with the printing business at a very early day, he is a thorough master of this calling, and under his able management his paper has proven a de- cided success. He was married, in 1868, to Miss A. M. Sharp, and by her has had four children: Maude, Edith, Victor and Ruth. Mr. Ballou is a Mason, belonging to Nevada Lodge No. 99, and 3 X 3 Chapter No. 92. He also belongs to J. D. Ferguson Post No. 31, of the G. A. R., and has been adjutant for the last five years.

Ambrose K. Banks. The life record of this gentleman is one of more than usual interest, and his career has been of such influence and benefit to the people of Story County, that a sketch of his life will be of more than passing interest. He was born in Ontario, Canada, near Kempville, September 21, 1845, and is a son of Israel and Mary (Clothier) Banks, who were born in New Hampshire and Vermont, in December, 1804, and 1813, respectively, both dying in Iowa Center, Iowa, in 1863. The subject of this sketch is the youngest of their nine children, seven of whom are living. At the age of ten he was taken to Ogle County, Ill., where he acquired the rudiments of his educa- tion in the common schools near his home. In 1861 he removed to the State of Missouri, for the purpose of driving mules in the employ of the Government, and later was a soldier in the Fourth Missouri Cavalry, and was in the fight at Wilson's Creek, where the lamented Gen. Lyon was killed. In 1862 he returned to Rockford, Ill., and began learning the machinist's trade, but in

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the spring of 1864 enlisted in Company G, One Hundred Fifty-third Illinois Infantry, and served his country faithfully until the close of the war, being, for about eight months, orderly under Brevet Brig .- Gen. A. M. Dudley. He was honorably discharged at Springfield, Ill., Sep- tember 21, 1865, then returning to Rockford, where he built the first livery barn erected in that place, and there he continued to success- fully conduct business until 1869, when he re- moved to Story County, Iowa. However, in the fall of 1865, he had come thither, and par- chased a farm, and his parents permanently lo- cated here the same year. Mr. Banks spent the year 1869 on his farm, after which he opened a drug store at Iowa Center, but eight years later removed to Nevada, and for one year acted in the capacity of city marshal. He has al- ways been an uncompromising Republican in his political views, and in 1880 was elected sheriff of Story County, and so ably did he dis- charge his duties that he was twice re-elected to that position, and time showed the wisdom of the people's choice. He is now extensively engaged in the breeding of fine horses, in partnership with Jay A. King, and in March, 1889, they purchased "King Onward" of Lewis Bros., of Kentucky, at a cost of $1,500, when he was only seventeen months old. He was sired by "Onward" ( whose time is 2:25}), by "George Wilkes," time 2:22. His dam was " Mist," her time being 2:293, and he is a full brother of "Advance," with a record of 2:243. Besides this fine animal, for which they were offered $5,000 in the spring of 1890, they have eleven thorough- bred brood mares. Mr. Banks is a Mason, and a member of Lodge No. 99 of Nevada, and he also belongs to the M. W. of A., and the G. A. R. He is a man of family, having been married in 1861 to Miss Sarah E. Rice, a native of Illinois, by whom he has five children: Edith L., How- ard A., Arthur, Jay K. and Alma.

Ira Barnes is agent for the St. Paul & Kan- sas City Grain Company at Zearing, Iowa, but was born in Erie County, Ohio, in 1832, being the eighth of nine children born to the mar- riage of Ira and Eunice (Tuttle) Barnes, who were born in York State in 1790, being also reared and married there. They were among the first to locate in Erie County, Ohio, their settlement there being before it was surveyed, and here they spent the rest of their lives, dying in 1876, at the age of eighty-six years. Ira Barnes attained his twenty-first year in Ohio, his youth and early manhood being spent in tilling the soil and attending the common schools, but in 1853 he removed to Wisconsin, and was married in that State, in 1860, to Miss Ettie M. Warren. In 1861 he joined Company B, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry, and served un- til the close of the war, being in the following engagements: Port Gibson, Champion's Hill, the charge of Black River Bridge, Vicksburg, Fort Blakeley, besides a number of engagements of less importance. He served with different com- mands, and at the close of the war returned to Wisconsin, where he remained until 1872, at which time he located in St. Charles, Ill., remaining there four years. He then came to Iowa, and has been engaged in his present business since 1878, the duties of which he discharges in a very creditable manner. He has always been a Republican in politics; is a member of the G. A. R., Andrew Patton Post No. 239, of Zearing, and in his religious views is a Methodist. He and wife are the parents of four children: Cora (now Mrs. William Pat- ton, of Zearing), Katie, Harry and Warren. Mr. Barnes' brothers and sisters are as fol- lows: James, Grant, Lorenzo, Farwell, Ellen, Wealthy (now Mrs. M. Prentiss, of Sandusky County, Ohio), Burton and Nelson.

George M. Barnes is the leading harness dealer and manufacturer of Nevada, Story

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County, Iowa, and although he was born in Allegany County, N. Y., December 21, 1846, he has been a well-known resident of Nevada, Iowa, since February, 1870. His parents, Or- lando and Saloma (Moon) Barnes, were born in York State, and the former is still living at the age of seventy-two years, being a resident of Grant Township, Story County, Iowa. His wife died here in 1884 at the age of sixty-six years. Of a family of eight children born to them, the subject of this sketch is seventh in order of birth, and seven of the family are now living, R. J. Barnes having died while serving in the Rebellion. George M. Barnes was reared on a farm in New York until he was ten years of age, at which time he moved with his parents to Illinois and settled in Sheffield, Bureau County, where he was given the advan- tages of the common schools. At the age of fourteen years he was apprenticed to the har- ness-maker's trade at Sheffield, and continued to work at this calling until 1863, when he en- listed in Company C, Sixty-sixth Illinois, and served until the close of the war, being honor- ably discharged July 13, 1865. He was in all the battles in which Sherman's army partici- pated from the 9th of May, 1864, until the final surrender. He then returned to his old home in Illinois and resumed his trade, but becoming dissatisfied with his location he came to Iowa in 1866, and until 1870 was a resident of Marengo. Since that time he has resided in Story County, and has built up an excellent business for himself in Nevada. He has a complete line of harness, saddles, etc., and is also extensively engaged in the manufacture of these articles, and finds a ready sale for them throughout the county. He has been engaged in this business for about thirty years, and as far as enterprise, push and honesty are concerned, has few superiors. He was married December 7, 1882, to Miss Josie Hefler, a native of Iowa.

He has one child, Ada E. He belongs to Nevada Lodge No. 99, A. F. & A. M., and also belongs to the G. A. R., two of his brothers who served in the late war being also members. He is one of the substantial, law-abiding citi- zens of the place, and is looked up to and re- spected by his fellow-men.

Elnathan Bates, farmer and stock-raiser, Ne- vada, Iowa. Mr. Bates is a native of Williamson County, Ohio, where his birth occurred on the 17th of April, 1853, and was the youngest of four children born to his father's second mar- riage. Of his brothers and sisters, Rhoda was married to Gilbert Barber, and died in 1878. Oliver died in infancy, and Stephen is . a farmer of Jewell County, Kas., and was mar- ried to Miss Katherine Alldridge, a native of Iowa. The father of these children was a na- tive of the Empire State, and was a farmer by vocation. The mother was also a native of New York State. Both are deceased. Elna- than Bates received his education in the schools of Ohio and Iowa, and has ever been an ardent supporter of all educational institu- tions. He began working for himself at the early age of thirteen, and has made what he has by his own exertions. He was married to Miss Margaret Miller in Story County, Iowa, on the 27th of March, 1872, and four children are the result of this union: Ada May, Della, and Leland and Eland (twins, now ten years of age). Mrs. Bates was born in Defiance County, Ohio, on the 1st of August, 1852, and was educated in the common schools of Ohio and Iowa. Her father was a farmer by occupation, served al- most three years in the late Rebellion, was wounded in the left hand, and was honorably discharged in 1865. He was present at the Grand Review at Washington, D. C. He was a native of Indiana, and died in 1876, at the age of fifty-five years. The mother was a native of Ohio, and died at the age of thirty-

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two years. Mr. Bates has always been iden- tified with the Democratic party, and his first presidential vote was for S. J. Tilden. He has filled the position of assessor, and has been school director for a number of years. He and wife are members of the Evangelical Church. He came to Story County in 1864, and has witnessed the rapid development of the country since that time. They expect to make this county their home, and here, surrounded by their children and many warm friends, will pass the balance of their days.

William O. Bates. Many years ago, in the Emerald Isle, dwelt Mathew Bates. After nineteen summers of happy school-days he ventured forth to test the desirableness of the far-famed United States, and finding it all and more than admirers had painted it, determined to desert the land of his fathers for this broader country. Before reaching Uncle Sam's fair domain William settled for a time in Canada, where he became acquainted with Miss Cyn- thia Bentley, to whom he was married. Locating in Story County immediately after touching American soil, he appreciated the advantages of this district to such an extent that he started at once to build up a prosper- ous farming business there, remaining in the same place until his death, September 23, 1885. He had the misfortune to lose his beloved wife by death several years before. Of the family, consisting of four sons and five daugh- ters, William O., the subject of this sketch, is the oldest. He remained at home until his fifteenth year, when he started to Tilford Col -. lege, and later Webster College, and afterward to Waterloo College, preparing himself in this way to meet with grand success in all intel- lectual pursuits. For a while Mr. Bates con- ducted a prosperous school, and still devotes much of his time to teaching in connection with farming. He is the owner of 200 acres

of valuable land, which is in an excellent state of cultivation. November 29, 1888, our subject married Miss Carrie Ballard, daughter of H. L. Ballard. Their only child is Florence May. A Republican in politics, Mr. Bates is prominent in all matters; was elected con- stable in 1886, and is a member of the Masonic Lodge.

Lemuel Holmes Beckley is a farmer and stock-raiser, of Union Township, Story Coun- ty, Iowa, and is a native of Ohio, his birth hav- ing occurred on February 15, 1834, he be- ing the fifth in a family of ten children born to George and Nancy Beckley, both of whom were born in West Virginia on the 25th and 24th of December, 1804 and 1803, respect- ively. He was of German lineage, his parents having been born in Germany, and by occupa- tion he was an agriculturist, and prior to his deatlı, which occurred in his seventy-ninth year, could well remember the scenes of the War of 1812. His widow survives him at the age of eighty-seven years, being a resident of Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Their children's names are as follows: Marie M. (Mrs. Morgan, re- sides in Ohio), Mary Jane (Mrs. Mills, died at the age of forty-three years), Samuel (mar- ried Miss Castile, a native of Ohio, and re- sides in Buchanan County, Iowa), Jacob (was married to S. McCray, a native Ohioan, and died at the age of forty-eight years, having been a school teacher and preacher, his educa- tion having been received in Springfield, Ohio), Lemuel H. (next in order of birth), then came Josiah (residing on the old home farm near Mt. Vernon, Ohio, his wife being a Miss Beach, a native of that State), Henry (came to Iowa in 1864, but now lives in Missouri, being engaged in farming; he first married a Miss Parrott, and after her death a Miss Boyle, both natives of Ohio), Sarah Ann ( Mrs. Buchanan, resides in Ohio), Louisa (Mrs. Parrott, also lives

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there) and Talitha (who is the wife of Taylor Eky, of Ohio, a horticulturist and fruit-grower ). Lemuel Holmes Beckley obtained his educa- tion in the old subscription schools of Ohio, and acquired a sufficient fund of useful infor- mation to fit him for the practical duties of life. At the age of twenty he began the life of an agriculturist on his own responsibility, his means that time being less than a dollar, but on the 26th of March of the same year he was married in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, to Miss Delilah Stecher, who was born in Pennsylvania, May 26, 1835. In time a family of nine children were born to them, their names being as fol- lows: John (who married Frances Crouse, is engaged in farming), Warner (is a city dray- man in Aurora, Hamilton County, Neb., and is married to Agnes Tipton, a native of Ohio), Da- vid (is farming in Story County, and was mar- ried to a Miss Jacobson), George ( who is till- ing the soil in Story County ), Charles S. (who married Fannie E. Cronk, June 25, and who is working on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway), Allie, Bertha and Effie, the latter of whom expects to become a school teacher. Min- nie B., a bright little girl, died at the age of nine years. Mr. Beckley has always been a Republican, and his first presidential vote was cast for John C. Fremont. He has been a director in his school district ever since he has resided in Union Township, and is a stanch supporter of the public school system-the bulwark of the State and nation. In 1867 they came to Story County, Iowa, from Ohio, coming through with a four-horse team, and they can tell with accuracy of the primitive condition of Story County, even at that date. They came across country from Nevada to Cambridge, as there were no highways at that time, and narrate with interest their experience in crossing the numerous sloughs between those places. Mr. Beckley has an excellent

farm of 180 acres, and one of the prettiest building sites west of Cambridge. He can farm every foot of his land, although at one time a man on horseback could not pass over the same ground. This desirable state of things is the result of a thorough system of farming and draining, and their farm, which is one of the finest for its size in this portion of the county. has been earned by honest and faithful endeavor, frugality and economy. They now have all necessary comforts, and here, surrounded by numerous friends, ac- quaintances and their dutiful family of chil- dren, they expect to spend the rest of their days. They have ever been noted in their neighborhood as open-hearted and benevolent patrons of worthy enterprises, and as friends and neighbors have not their superiors. While living in the East, Mr. Beckley was a member of the Lutheran Church, but since his resi- dence in the West has not been connected with any religous denomination. In conclusion, it might be added that Mrs. Beckley's maternal grandfather was a soldier in the War of 1812, and that a pension is lying at Washington, D. C., for his heirs.

D. A. Bigelow (deceased). Callimachus wrote:

'Tis ever wrong to say a good man dies.

And this, written over 2,000 years ago, is as true now as then, true at all times and in all countries; the good man never dies. The influence of his life is imperishable. During his career Mr. Bigelow lived a life that has left a tender memory behind, and that was an ex- emplification of the purest and most exalted principles. He was born at Chester, Mass., November 24, 1839, and came to Illinois in 1856, locating at Kewanee. In 1861 he entered the University of Chicago, with a view of a professional life before him, but at the break- ing ont of the war he was filled with a patriotic

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desire to aid his country, and as a result en- listed in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty- fourth Illinois Volunteers in 1862, serving un- til the close of the war. He was acting quar- termaster for some time, but retired from the service with the rank of first lieutenant. He was aid-de-camp of Gen. Geddes, and was known by his comrades as a brave and gallant soldier. In August, 1868, he came to the new town of Ames, but in November of the same year returned to Kewanee, where he was mar- ried by the Rev. K. W. Benton to Miss Sara E. Moore, a native of Pennsylvania, and the daughter of John R. and Sarah (Bodle) Moore. Four children were the fruits of this union: Margaret M., Robert E., C. Pearl and Alida. From the time of his first residence here Mr. Bigelow did all in his power to promote thie welfare of the town and community in every way, and the civic organization to which he be- longed knew him as a faithful and efficient worker. As a member of the school board his liberal views and constant interest added greatly to the efficiency of the public schools, and as a business man his career was both upright and honorable. For quite a number of years he was vice-president of the Union National Bank of Ames, and was engaged in merchandising in that city from 1868 to the time of his death. This sad event occurred March 9, 1890, and was the occasion of universal sorrow, for all felt the loss which would be sustained by the de- parture of such a man. He gave to Story County the best energies of his life, and to the community and all among whom he lived the example of a life well and usefully spent. He was a worthy member of the Baptist Church, and gave much of his time to church and Sab- bath-school work, taking a leading part in all religious matters. He was a good man in the fullest sense of the word, a kind father, loving husband and true friend. He was a sincere,

active and consistent Christian. He was buried with Masonic and G. A. R. honors. Mr. Bige- low was a delegate to the Republican National Convention held in Chicago in 1888, and was chairman of the State Central Committee at the time of his death. He was a natural orator, and was a brilliant extemporaneous speaker on any occasion. He was the son of Daniel E. and Margaret ( Baker) Bigelow, the father a na- tive of Massachusetts. The mother was left an orphan in her youth, and was an adopted child of the Rev. John Grant, who was a prominent Scotch minister. The parents moved to Illi- nois in 1856, located in Henry County, and there both received their final summons. They had four children-three sons and one daughter, all deceased with the exception of one, Andrew.

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Story County, Iowa, Part 38

Author: Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Goodspeed Number of Pages: 484

Author:
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 484