Biographical and historical memoirs of Story County, Iowa, Part 48

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


USA > Iowa > Story County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Story County, Iowa > Part 48


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sheds, etc., and a good bearing orchard, also considerable small fruit. He has a grove of good natural timber at the home place, and the farm is well supplied with plenty of living water. In politics Mr. Jolin is a Republican, and a Prohibitionist in principle, and has held several local positions in his township. To Mr. and Mrs. John were born eight children: Marion E. (married and resides in the county ), Charles E. (at home), Blanche (a teacher in the county), Ida (also a teacher), Willard (at- tending school at Des Moines), Anna, Fred and Esther. Mr. and Mrs. John and some of the children are members of the Evangelical Church, and Mr. John has been class-leader in the church at Maxwell for a number of years.


Elias Jolmson, a prominent and successful farmer and stock-raiser of Story County, is a native of Norway, first seeing the light of this world on the 29th of September, 1833. His parents, John Patterson and Julia Johnson, were both Norwegians, and the father died in that country about 1852. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in the land of his an- cestors, receiving a common-school education, and emigrated to the United States in 1854, where he settled, first in Kendall County, Ill., devoting all his attention to farming for five years. In 1859 he married Miss Taaraan Larson, a native of Norway, and continued to live in that county until 1865, at which period he moved, and located in Story County, and now owns 300 acres of exceedingly valuable land, that is kept in a splendid state of cultivation at all times. Mr. Johnson is a Republican in politics, and is a prominent citizen, being a member of the school board. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have eleven children: Julia, Caroline, Isabel, John, Joseph, Peter Eli, Lewis G., Charles W., James A., Arnie J. and Eliza. They are members of the Lutheran Church.


Iver Johnson, many years ago, left the his- 22


toric shores of Norway to woo Fortune upon American soil, and tempt her to guide aright his business ventures. And she, with that gen- erous benevolence with which she sometimes treats her favorites, has more than granted his request, until at the present time he is pre- eminently successful in the mercantile world, and justly popular and influential in the com- munity where he resides. He received an ex- cellent education in his native language, emi- grating when seventeen years of age. Upon first reaching the country which was hence- forth to be home to him, he located in North- ern Iowa, in 1865, and the following year moved to Nevada, where he clerked for I. J. Ringheim, one of the leading merchants of that place. Talent and industry combined soon served to raise the subject of our sketch to the enviable position of confidential clerk to his employer, a position which naturally enabled him to grasp the details of the business in a most substantial way, thus fitting himself for the responsibility of a business of his own. In September, 1884, Mr. Johnson established a mercantile business at Roland, growing each year in strength and experience, until he now ranks at the top of successful merchants, and has a large and constantly increasing trade. Constantly occupied with business matters, Mr. Johnson has so far never married.


Edwin Johnson, merchant, Cambridge, Iowa. There are a number of young business men in Story County, who are rapidly coming to the front among the representative citizens of the community, but none mentioned in this work are more deserving of prominence and success than Edwin Johnson. His birth occurred in La Salle County, Ill., on June 30, 1855, and his parents were natives of Norway. The father was a farmer by occupation and died in Illinois at the age of seventy-three years. The mother still survives, is about sixty years of age and


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resides on the old homestead in Illinois. Mr. Johnson first attended the graded schools of Leland, Ill., and later took a three years' course at the Northwestern University at Evanston, Ill., which has fitted him admirably for the practical business of life. Although reared to the duties of the farm, when twenty-five years of age he engaged in merchandising, and this has continued up to the present. He married Miss Linnie Anderson, a native of Illinois, on May 28, 1885, and one little daughter, Eda Linnona, is the result of this union. Mr. Johnson has been identified with the Repub- lican party, and cast his first presidential vote for R. B. Hayes. He has ever been active in local politics, and advocates men of principle, honor and integrity, rather than being a strict par- tisan. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are worthy mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Cambridge, Iowa, and he is at present Sunday- school superintendent. He has been a mem- ber of the church for about twelve years, and is an exemplary Christian worker. About ten years of Mr. Johnson's life have been passed as Sunday-school superintendent, and the school under his charge is prospering finely. He is the third of seven children-five sons and two daughters: John (died in 1866, at the age of eleven years), Elsie (died in 1873, when about twenty-two years of age, and was married to S. A. Haggman, a farmer by occupation and a resident of La Salle County, Ill. ), Joseph (died at the age of thirty-four years, and was a well educated young man; he was a farmer and stock-raiser by occupation, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, being superintendent of the Sunday-school; he married Miss Bertha Peterson, a native of Illinois, who bore him one child, a son, named Brett. Joseph died on February 16, 1890), Benjamin (resides in Leland, Ill., and is a merchant; he married Miss Minnie Peterson ),


Mary ( married a farmer by the name of Henry Nelson, and now resides in La Salle County, Ill. ), Julius (died at the age of seven years). Mrs. Johnson's parents were natives of Nor- way and the father was a farmer and stock- raiser in Leland, Ill. He died at the age of about forty-five, and the mother when fifty- five years of age. Mrs. Johnson was one of the following family: Sophia (married a farmer by the name of Alexander Halverson, and now resides in Leland, Ill.), Methea (died at the age of twenty-two years), Andrew ( married Anna Vold, a native of Illinois, and is now a grain dealer in Leland, Ill. ), John ( is a farmer and resides in Illinois ) and Nelsie (married A. S. Peterson, a dealer in clothing and gents' fur- nishing goods, and died at the age of twenty- three years). Mr. Johnson emigrated direct from La Salle County, Ill., to Story County, and in addition to the grain business he is carry- ing on in Cambridge, Iowa, also conducts a branch establishment in Huxley, Iowa. He is a good business man, and is doing well in his chosen occupation.


Albert Jones, dealer in farm implements, fur- niture and undertakers' goods, Collins, Iowa. Mr. Jones will always be found among the leaders in any enterprise that may come before the people of this community. He is a native of Illinois, born in De Kalb County, on the 4th of March, 1850, and is the son of Owen T. Jones, a native of Wales, born in 1809, and who came to this country when a young man (1835). The latter settled in New York, remaining there engaged in tilling the soil until 1839, when he moved to De Kalb County, Ill., and there pur- chased 500 acres of land. He was occupied extensively in buying and dealing in land. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Williams, a native of Wales, where she was reared, and the second daughter of Mr. Williams. To this mar- riage were born four sons, all now living, and


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heads of families. The father of these children amassed quite a fortune, and was a prom- inent man. He died on the 10th of June, 1890, but his wife survives him. His character, both private and public, was honorable and upright, and he was a good man in the fullest sense of the word. Albert Jones, the eldest of the four children mentioned above, grew to manhood with a farm experience, and received a common education in the school of Illinois. He enlisted in 1867, in the United States Army, Fourth United States Infantry, and served for three years on the plains. While in the army he improved his education by study and observa- tion, and is to-day a well-posted man on any subject. After being discharged from the army he returned to Illinois, and tilled the soil for eight years in Kane County. In 1879 he moved to Iowa, located on a farm in Collins Township, Story County, and there he resides at the present time. He was married in Kane County, in 1876, to Mrs. Mary J. Jones, a wid- ow, and a native of New York State. She is the daughter of Hugh J. Hughes, who was a native of Wales, and received her education in the schools of New York. Mr. Jones has four children: Hattie M. (a teacher in the county ) and Ella S. (also a teacher), Cora A. and Grace E. Mr. Jones has owned his present farm for twenty years, and to his original tract has added an adjoining farm, making 500 acres. In the spring of 1886 he moved to town, and engaged in merchandising, which he carries on at the present time. He carries a good stock of im- plements, furniture etc., and is doing a good business. Mr. Jones is a Republican in poli- tics, and has held several local positions of honor. He was elected justice of the peace in 1885, to fill a vacancy, was re-elected, and has held term after term since. He served three years as trustee, and has served as a delegate to State conventions. Mr. Jones is a member


of the I. O. G. T., and he and wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is trustee.


John Jory, the subject of this sketch, was born near Niagara Falls, Canada, February 14, 1843. From there he moved with his parents to Brantford, Upper Canada, and subsequently, when only seven years old, to Boone County, Ill., where he was reared on the farm and attended school. Having attended the ordinary school of the district he went to the high school at Roscoe, Ill., in which he acquired a very good education. Upon arriving at the age of eighteen or twenty years, when the toc- sin of war was sounded, he commenced the battle of life by enlisting, October 7, 1861, in Company F, Forty-fifth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, then being organized at Galena, Ill., and was mustered into the United States service at Chicago, Ill., in December, 1861. Two months after enlistment the regi- ment was ordered to Cairo, where it was as- signed to the Third Division, Seventeenth Army Corps, participating in the capture of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. When the forces then commanded by Gen. U. S. Grant went to Pittsburg Landing, they formed a line a short distance from Shiloh, on which ground is recorded in history a memorable battle between Gens. Grant and Beauregard, the commanders of the contending armies. After the evacuation of Corinth, Mr. Jory was de- tached from his regiment in May, being as- signed duty at the Third Division headquar- ters as dispatch orderly. He went with the army to Holly Springs, Oxford and Abbyville, and as far south as the army went, thence returned to La Grange, thence with the army to Memphis, Tenn., after Gen. Grant's army failed to co-operate with Gen. W. T. Sherman in the capture of Vicksburg. Later he accom- panied the Third Division, then commanded by


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HISTORY OF IOWA.


Gen. John A. Logan, to Lake Providence, on the Louisiana side of the river, when the canal was cut to let the water of the Missis- sippi River into the lake, so that by raising the water in the bayous the army could get below Vicksburg. This effort failed. Going to Mil- liken's Bend he afterward went below Vicks- burg, on the Louisiana side, and on May 1 was engaged with forces at Port Gibson, thence to Raymond, Jackson, Champion's Hill, Big Black and the investment of the stronghold of Vicks- burg, and all of the attacks until the surrender of Pemberton to Gen. Grant on July 4, 1863, he serving through the preceding campaign in the capacity of private orderly for Gen. John A. Logan. In October or November Gen. Logan was released from his old command, and he was assigned to the command of the Fif- teenth Army Corps, then commanded by Gen. Sherman, and hotly engaged at Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge. After those memorable battles were fought, Gen. Logan took command at Chattanooga or Bridgeport, remaining during the winter at Scottsboro and Huntsville. Mr. Jory was en- gaged in all of the Atlanta campaign, com- mencing at Dalton, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, and on July 22, when Gen. Mc- Pherson was killed, Gen. Logan assumed immediate command of the Army of the Ten- nessee, Mr. Jory still remaining with him. When Gen. O. O. Howard superseded to the command of the Army of the Tennessee, Gen. Logan returning to his old command, the Fif- teenth Army Corps, he engaged in the battle of Ezra Chapel July 28, and Jonesboro, and all of the minor engagements until the evacua- tion of Atlanta. When Gen. Logan returned North to Washington, Mr. Jory was sent back with Gen. George H. Thomas, he having charge of field desk and other camp equipage belonging to headquarters, which was making


its rapid march to the sea. He was at Chatta- nooga and Nashville, then was ordered to Lou- isville, Ky., where he joined Gen. Logan; from there he went via New York and Beaufort, S. C., to Savannah, Ga., where Gen. Logan again took command of the Fifteenth Army. Corps. Mr. Jory then received his order for discharge and returned home via New York, and was dis- charged at Chicago, Ill., February 7, 1865, having served three years and four months. He now entered into the lumber business at Belvidere, III. Mr. Jory has always identified himself with the Republican party, he having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln when he was yet in the field of action engaged in the defense of the union of States. He purchased his present farm of 160 acres in 1866. He was married, January 23, 1868, to Miss Mi- nerva M. Markle, a native of Pennsylvania, born October 25, 1849. The marriage took place at Beloit, Wis. To them were born four children: Ella May, Orville N., Arcia (who died at the age of eight months) and Jennie (who died at the age of twelve months). Mr. and Mrs. Jory have always been liberal con- tributors to religious and benevolent institu- tions, and both are members of the I. O. G. T., and earnest supporters and workers of that institution. Mr. Jory has been an earnest worker in the G. A. R. order, being a charter member of Ersland Post No. 234, Cambridge. He served as its adjutant three years; was senior vice-commander and one year com- mander of the post. He attended the National Encampment at Minneapolis, Minn., and at San Francisco, Cal., and the Department En- campment at Marshalltown, Davenport and Des Moines. He and his wife moved to Story County in 1869, at which time the country in this vicinity was wild and not much settled. It has since been converted from a somewhat poor community to an extremely rich and fer-


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tile district, and Mr. Jory's farm is one of the best in the vicinity, being 160 acres of prairie and twelve acres of timber in Centre Grove. His buildings are all commodious and in excellent repair. Mr. Jory's father, Thomas Jory, was born in Cornwell, England, and died in Story County, Iowa, aged sixty-nine years. Jane Elliott, his mother, was born at Toronto, Canada, and died in Boone County, Ill., aged sixty-five years. The following are the chil- dren born to their union: Elizabeth (the wife of Reuben Sherman, a dairyman of Leadville, Colo. ), Henry ( who married Miss Fannie Wares, is a mason by occupation and lives at Beloit, Wis.), John (the subject of this sketch is next in order of birth ), Mary ( wife of J. B. Markle, of Littleton, Colo., who is a farmer), James (married to Miss Elizabeth Hammond, and is a mason by trade, living at Belvidere, Ill.), and Jennie (wife of William W. Chapman, of Lit- tleton, Colo., a farmer and stock-raiser).


John J. Kegley, farmer and stock-raiser, Ames, Story County, Iowa. Perhaps no name in the county is better known than that of the subject of this sketch, who is numbered among the highly-respected citizens of this commu- nity. He was born in the Buckeye State, August 31, 1845, and when but six years of age emigrated, with his parents, to Iowa, where he has made his home most of the time since. His father, John H. Kegley, is a native of Pennsylvania, born September 10, 1819, and the mother, whose maiden name was Sarah J. Jen- nings, was also a native of that State, and born June 17, 1826. John J. Kegley is the oldest in a family of nine children, all of whom grew to maturity, are still alive, and qualified by their own efforts and hard labor to fill almost any position. They are named as follows: Thomas J., Frank T., Eugene A., Cary B., Charles H., Samuel M., Lizzie M. and Lillie Ann. Eugene A. is a graduate of the Chicago


Medical College, has also attended other med- ical colleges, has been to Europe to take a special course, and is to-day one of the recog- nized specialists of the State. He is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Cary B. is traveling for Mason Bros., wholesale notions and woolen goods, and also represents a wholesale firm in New York City. Charles H. is an attorney and real-estate dealer, of Hoquiam, Wash. The sisters, Lizzie M. and Lillie Ann, are located with Charles in Hoquiam, Wash. John J. Kegley received a good practical edu- cation in the common schools of Story County, but not contented with that, spent all his leisure hours prosecuting his studies at home, until he had fitted himself for a teacher. He then commenced teaching, and continued at this in Story and Boone Counties for two years, at which time he wisely chose for his life-com- panion Miss Julia E. Hinchey, daughter of William and Lucy A. (Davis) Hinchey, natives of New York, and five children were born to this union: Jennie, Clara, Frank, Genevieve and Howard. Miss Jennie has fitted herself for teaching, by attending the high schools of Sionx Rapids and Ames, Iowa. Mr. Kegley owns one-half section of land in Dakota, one- fourth section in Central Kansas and 1,000 acres in Kentucky. He is a Democrat in pol- ities and a strong Prohibitionist. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church. He has been identified with the best interests of the county since his residence here, and his intelligence, enterprise and many estimable qualities have acquired for him a popularity not derived from any factitious circumstance, but a spontaneous and permanent tribute to his merit. The Kegleys are of German ex- traction, and the ancestors were among those who at an early day sought America as their home.


Hon. George Albert Kellogg's name appears


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in various chapters in the body of this history. He figured prominently in all efforts for the best interests of the town of Nevada in its early years. He became a resident of Nevada in 1855. He had studied law in the offices of Peter Odlin and Clement L. Vallandigham, both being in Dayton, Ohio. He had also taken the full law course in the Cincinnati College, and received the degree of Bachelor of Laws March 23, 1855. He was, therefore, when he settled in Nevada, probably the only resident attorney who was entitled to write "B. L." af- ter his name. Meantime, from his youth up, he had not wasted time by lounging on a bed of roses. In his boyhood he had the advan- tages offered by the common schools of Ohio, one term at a select school, and a year at the seminary at Milan, Ohio. To accomplish this he worked on the farm of his father during summers and taught in the common schools in the winters. He not only supported himself in this manner, but also assisted an elder brother to a medical education. At the age of twenty-seven he was ready to pull out for the West and take his chances in growing up with the country. For quite a number of years he practiced law in Story County, having been ad- mitted to practice in the District Court by Judge McFarland in May, 1856. He had pre- viously been admitted to the bar in Ohio, and subsequently has been granted the same favor in the Federal and State Courts of Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado and Washington. In 1856 his friends complimented him with a nomina- tion for a seat in the State Senate. The dis- trict included many counties, extending from Fayette to Greene. He received a very flatter- ing vote, but being in the minority, he, with his ticket, was defeated. In 1857 he was elected county judge of Story County, and as such is- sued the bonds that had been voted to secure the location of the Agricultural College. His


administration of that office was characterized by integrity and efficiency. In April, 1871, partly because of impaired health, and in search of a supposed milder climate, Judge Kellogg removed to the then Territory of Washington, and settled in Whatcom, on Puget Sound. While he remained at Whatcom he was the resi- dent attorney of the Bellingham Bay Coal Company, a wealthy corporation of San Fran- cisco, and doing much business in the Puget Sound country. His impaired health caused him to seek relief for several years in different localities, and interfered with his law practice to such an extent that he abandoned it. He now has a pleasant home in Fairhaven, and de- votes himself to his real estate interests and to the upbuilding of the growing city where he lives. He is highly esteemed in the new State of Washington. He was strongly solicited to stand for a seat iu the constitutional convention of his State, but while acknowledging that the labor would be congenial and highly honora- ble, he firmly declined to allow his name to go before the people, because he felt he had not strength for the work. He was born in Yates County, N. Y., November 5, 1828, came with his father to Erie County, Ohio, at the age of six years, and there grew to man's estate, at- taining a height of about six feet, and a weight of 165 pounds. His complexion is quite fair, his hair quite sandy in color, and he has a dig- nified presence and manner that give token of a generons and kindly disposition. For many years, as above noted, he has been handicapped with a shattered constitution, and he has been physically unable to perform the labor that his ambition has prompted. He married Miss Dif- fenbacker, of Story County, and the surviving issue are two daughters and a son. The eldest daughter is happily married, and lives at Fair- haven ; the younger is just through college, and the son is obtaining an education in the best


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colleges of the State. Modesty and honesty have ever been characteristic of Mr. Kellogg.


Richard Kimble, farmer and stock-raiser, Roland, Iowa. A life time experience in the channels of agricultural pursuits has contribu- ted not a little toward the success which has fallen to the lot of Mr. Kimble since he began farming for himself. He is still a comparatively young man, and is already in the possession of 365 acres of excellent land, which is being skillfully managed and cultivated. He was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., in 1835, and was the second of eleven children, the result of the union of Henry and Emaline ( Van Vlack ) Kimble, natives of New Jersey and New York, respectively. The father's birth occurred in 1809, and he was married in Tompkins County, N. Y., to Miss Van Vlack. In 1855 he and fam- ily moved from Illinois to Black Hawk County, Iowa, took up land, and there the mother still lives. The father died in 1886. Henry Kim- ble was one of the following children: Polly, Henry, Enos, Kate, Susan, Jacob, Elias, John, Sarah and David, and was the son of Jacob and Betsey (Cole) Kimble. The mother of our subject was one of nine children born to Jacob and Mary (Green) Van Vlack, of New York. The children were named as follows: Emaline, Richard, Martha, Adelia, Mariah, Edgar, Sarah, Jemimah and John. Richard Kimble is one of the following children: Al- bert, Richard, Jeremiah, George (deceased ), Jacob (deceased), Sarah (now Mrs. William Hamilton, of Laporte, Iowa), Lydia (wife of Dr. G. W. Black, of Pomeroy, Washington), Avoric (now Mrs. M. Gilley, of Waterloo, Iowa), Mary (now Mrs. Elihu Hamilton, of Black Hawk, Iowa), Anson (deceased), and Emaline (deceased). Richard was married in Kane County, Ill., in 1858, to Miss Ellen M. Robinson, a daughter of W. H. Robinson, a native of Vermont. In 1860 he moved to Iowa,


and eight years later, to Story County, where he has since made his home. He has a well improved farm, and raises an excellent grade of horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. Mr. Kimble has seventeen shares in the Milford Farmers' Creamery Co. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. To his mar- riage have been born three children: Clarence A. (now in Keya Paha County, Neb. ), Elroy W. and George A.


Jay A. King is one of the most capable, practical banking men in the West, and his ex- perience in this line dates back to January, 1882, when he purchased a half interest in the Farmers' Bank of Nevada, Iowa, of which he is now the efficient cashier. He was born in Summit County, Ohio, May 28, 1845, being the eldest of six children, five of whom are liv- ing, born to Dr. J. E. and Ann (Jackson) King, who were born in Pennsylvania and Eng- land, respectively. Dr. King has been an ex- ceptionally successful medical practitioner for the past thirty years, and is now residing in Hardin County, Iowa. In 1855 Jay A. King removed with his parents to the State of Wis- consin, and after residing near New Lisbon of that State, until 1861, he came to Iowa and settled in Hardin County. Although he re- ceived the advantages of the common schools in the vicinity of his home, he became very de- sirous of increasing his knowledge of the " world of books," in more advanced institu- tions of learning, but before he could put his intentions into practice he was called upon to take up arms in defense of the grand old " stars and stripes," and in 1863 enlisted in Company H, Ninth Iowa Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He was honorably dis- charged at Little Rock, Ark., in 1866, and was mustered out of service at Davenport, Iowa. He came to Story County. Iowa, in 1868, and for seven years was cashier for the firm of




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