Biographical and historical memoirs of Story County, Iowa, Part 54

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

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both of these tracts being now well improved and under a high state of cultivation. The children that have been given to them are: Effie Ellen (now married ), Pearl Elizabeth and Ella Frances (both at home and attending school ) and Orrin L. (the baby of the home). Mr. Patridge has always identified himself with the Republican party, but holds that good men, either Republican or Democratic, should receive the suffrage of reliable, honest men ; he has never aspired to office, being too deeply engrossed with his own affairs to take a very active interest in other matters. He is a gentle- man who attends strictly to his own private matters, and is held in high regard by his friends and neighbors.

Prof. William P. Payne, of the firm of Payne & Son, editors and proprietors of the Repre- sentative, the official Republican organ of Story County, Iowa, is a native of Jefferson County, N. Y., his birth occurring there on the 22d of December, 1831. His parents, Samuel P. and Juliette (Ball) Payne, were also born in that .State, the father March 6, 1806, and the mother March 27, 1809, their deaths occurring June 20, 1883, and June 27, 1881, respectively. Samuel P. Payne was an honest, worthy and successful tiller of the soil, and reared his children to a knowledge of that calling, but, as has been seen, all have not followed in his footsteps. Prof. William P. Payne was the second of seven children, five of whom are now living, and his first knowledge of the "three R's" was obtained in the com- mon schools of York State. Possessing a bright intellect and a retentive memory, he became an exceptionally well-informed young man, and at the early age of eighteen years he began teaching the "young idea " in his home district, but gave up this occupation in 1853 to enter the New York State Normal School, an institution from which he graduated in

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1854. In the spring of that year he began following his old calling in Sackett's Harbor, continuing there for three years, at which time he entered Tuft's College, Mass., where he remained two years, after which he became a minister of the Universalist Church, and for three years was pastor of the Second Univers- alist Society of Lynn, Mass. The following year was spent in attending lectures in the scientific and theological departments of Har- vard University, and from 1863 until 1871 he was pastor of the Universalist parish at Clin- ton, N. Y., and while there taught the natural sciences in the Clinton Liberal Institute. Fol- lowing this, from 1872 to 1873, he was pastor at Nyack on the Hudson. In 1874 he came westward to Iowa and took charge of the Mitchell Seminary, at Mitchellville, but in the fall of 1875 he came to Nevada and for the following five years had charge of the public schools of the town. The two following years were spent at Boone, Iowa, as associate editor of the Boone Republican, but since that time he has been editor and proprietor of the Represen- tative, its reputation as one of the leading jour- nals of this portion of the State being well estab- lished. The editorial policy of the paper is directed by men ofgood judgment, and wields no slight influence in directing the proper steps to be taken for the successful carrying out of worthy movements. Mr. Payne was married on the 16th of January, 1859, to Miss Adaline M. Brown, whose birth occurred in Jefferson County, N. Y., November 12, 1834, her parents being. Orville and Lovisa ( Phelps) Brown, na- tives of the Empire State, the former born January 27, 1805, and died June 13, 1882, and the mother born June 22, 1812, and died April 15, 1886. Mrs. Payne attended the public and select schools of her native county until she was eighteen years of age, after which she en- tered the New York State Normal School at

Albany, and graduated the same year as did her future husband, Mr. Payne, in 1854. She first began teaching school at about the age of fourteen years, and with the exception of some twelve years has followed this calling ever since, and is now one of the most thorough and best-qualified educators in the State of Iowa. Since the purchase of the Representative, she has written many articles of interest for that journal, which are read with appreciation by all, for they indicate a delicacy, refinement and intelligence of no ordinary degree. She has borne her husband one son-William O. (who is now a clerk of the committee of coinage, weights and measures, a position he secured upon the organization of the LIst Con- gress. He was born in Lynn, Mass., May 7, 1860, and after coming to Iowa he entered the Nevada High School, graduating from the same in 1877. The following year he entered the Iowa State University, at Iowa City, and was graduated from the classical course in 1882, and the law department in 1883. Since that time he has been actively engaged in editing the Representative in connection with his fa- ther, and has proven himself to be exception- ally intelligent and well posted. During the session of the Twenty-second General Assem- bly of Iowa, he was first assistant clerk of the House of Representatives, and discharged his duties very efficiently. He was married De- cember 15, 1886, to Miss Jessie Dickens, of Madison County, Iowa, a successful teacher, whose educational work was begun in Story County.

John Peck, one of the extensive farmers and stock-raisers of McCallsburg, Iowa, is a native of Vermont, born in 1853, and is the sixth in a family of seven children born to the marriage of James Peck and wife, nee Sheldon, the former a native of Vermont. The father was born in 1820, grew to mature years in Vermont, and

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emigrated to Tama County, Iowa, in 1855, where he engaged successfully in agricultural pursuits and reared his family. Mrs. Peck died in 1857, and the father married, a second time, in 1859, and became the father of four children by his second wife. John Peck was married in Tama County in 1874 to Miss Clara M. Heaton, a resident of that county, and moved to Story County, Iowa, in 1876. He engaged in farming and stock-raising, also sold farm implements and bought grain and stock at Mc- Callsburg. At present he is one of the most extensive stock-raisers of the county, and is also connected with J. P. Heaton in buying and shipping stock. He is the owner of 500 acres of fine land, all well improved, in Warren Township, and all accumulated since he came to the county fourteen years ago. He gives special attention to breeding fine hogs and cattle, and is very successful in this direction. Socially, he is connected with the A. F. & A. M.

Joseph Pettenger, farmer and stock-raiser, Ames, Iowa. A life time of hard, earnest en- deavor in pursuing the occupation to which he now gives his attention, coupled with strict integrity, honesty of purpose and liber- ality, have resulted in placing Mr. Petten- ger among the truly respected and honored agriculturists of the county. He was born in New Jersey on the 4th of December, 1858, and was the seventh of eight children-two sons and six daughters: Sarah (widow, residing in New Jersey), Hester (married and resides in New Jersey), Anna (married and resides in Penn- sylvania), Harriet (married and resides in Brooklyn, N. Y.), Edward (farmer and resides in Story County), Leima (married and resides in New Jersey) and Maggie (widow and re- sides in New Jersey). The parents of these children were natives of New Jersey, and the father was a farmer by occupation. He is de- ceased but the mother is still living, and is

about sixty-two years of age. Joseph Petten- ger received a rather limited education in the common schools, and for this reason, if no other, has been a friend and liberal supporter of all educational matters. He commenced life for himself at the early age of sixteen, and has been reared to a farm experience. He was married on the 10th of March, 1884, to Miss Matilda Smith (niece of Hon. William L. Smith), and her parents were natives of New Jersey. Both are now deceased. The father was a successful agriculturist. Mr. Petten- ger has identified himself with the Republican party, and cast his first presidential vote for R. B. Hayes. He does not take an active part in local politics. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and he and Mrs. Pettenger are supporters of all religious institutions. Mr. and Mrs. Pettenger emigrated to Story County in 1884, and here they have since made their home. They have 160 acres of good land, and Mr. Pettenger makes a success of farming and stock-raising. James Smith, the uncle of Mrs. Pettenger, who resides with Mr. and Mrs. Pet- tenger, was born in Passaic County, N. J., Oc- tober, 1809, and received his education in the common schools. This he has increased very materially by observation and study, and is to- day one of the best informed men, in an edu- cational sense, in the township. He has fol- lowed agricultural pursuits as his calling in life, is also a grain dealer and a cabinet-maker. He is now eighty-one years old, but is strong and hearty for that age. He was an excellent business man, and whatever he undertook was sure to be a success. His parents were natives of New Jersey. His father was a sol- dier in the War of 1812, and Mr. Pettenger relates many interesting facts concerning this war. Mr. Smith has ever been a Republican in politics, and cast his first vote for Martin Van Buren. He is generous and benevolent,

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and has ever been the poor man's friend. His charitable deeds are well known by those with whom he is acquainted. He emigrated to Story County in 1855, when the State was in a very unsettled condition, and he has seen the full development of the country. He is a close student, in fact a perfect book-worm, and has one of the finest libraries in the township. He is the owner of 480 acres of land in Story County, but will pass the remainder of his days with Mr. and Mrs. Pettenger.

Thomas Porch, retired farmer and stock- raiser, Ames, Iowa. It is a recognized fact that, among those who have made their home in this county, the men of foreign birth have contributed their full share to the development and prosperity of a community known as one of the best in this portion of the State; and it is also apparent that those of English nativity have occupied no inferior portion in all matters tending to the improvement and continued progress of Story County. Mr. Porch was born in England in 1818, and was the youngest of a family of six children born to John and Ann (Clark) Porch, both natives of England. Thomas Porch came to America in 1847, lo- cated near Kenosha, Wis., and was there mar- ried to Miss Mary Selway. In May, 1868, he came to Story County, Iowa, where he has since made his home, located where he now re- sides and is the owner of 200 acres of land. He is one of the first-class citizens of the county, and his true worth is fully recognized by an enterprising and substantial community. To his marriage were born four children: Thomas F., Henry, Annie (now Mrs. C. Gid- dings, on the home place), and Edwin. Mr. Porch has been a life-long Republican, though never an aspirant for political advancement. He settled on Section 34, when he first came to the county, made many and vast improve- ments, and has 200 acres of as good land

as is to be found in the community. He had the misfortune to lose his wife in December, 1888.

Judiah Ray is fully deserving of mention in the pages of this volume, for he is one of the pioneers of Story County, Iowa, and has ever identified himself with its progress and devel- opment. In 1852 he settled one mile north of Iowa Centre, and in February of the follow- ing year he brought his family thither. He was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, October 1, 1823, being the eldest of four children, three of whom are now living, born to the marriage of Samuel Ray and Maria R. Davy, natives of Ohio and New York State, respectively. In 1825 they removed to Marion County, Ind., and settled eight miles north of Indianapolis on White River, where Mr. Ray died when the subject of this sketch was about eight years of age. His widow, who was born June 9, 1803, on Long Island, N. Y., afterward came to Story County, Iowa, and here she quietly breathed her last, February 23, 1878, at the age of seventy-four years, eight months and twenty-three days. Judiah Ray began his farming operations in this county in 1853, and by the sweat of his brow and many years of earnest and persistent endeavor he has become the owner of 1,200 acres of land, the most of which is improved, all lying in Story County. Besides this he has given each of his eight chil- dren a good farm. He also owns a half interest in the First National Bank of Nevada, in which he is a stockholder, and a half interest in the foundry. In 1884 he removed to the town of Nevada, and the same year built the Ray business block, which is forty-six feet wide by eighty feet long, the building and the land on which it is erected costing about $11,500. In 1889 he built his store almost opposite the same at a cost of $4,000, it being 24x80 feet. Mr. Ray has made his own way in life, and

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deserves much credit for the admirable way in which he has surmounted the many difficulties which have strewn his pathway. He has always shown excellent judgment in the man- agement of his affairs, and has ever given close attention to whatever business he had in hand, and as a result is now one of the wealthy men of this section. The most of his money has been made at farming and stock-raising. In the fall of 1853 he helped raise T. E. Alderman's house, which was the first to be erected in the town of Nevada. He has always supported the principles of the Democratic party, and socially is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the Good Templars. His marriage, which occurred in March, 1843, was to Miss Clara Ann Belcher, who was born in Virginia in 1821. The following are the children boru to their union: Archibald, Jacob, John, Sarah, Samuel, Clara, Ann, Judiah B. and Etta.

Prof. J. Fred Reed is the principal of the Zearing schools, and is one of the successful and well-known educators of Story County. He owes his nativity to Marshall County, Iowa, his birth having occurred there in 1864, but his parents, John S. and Nancy (Ruseau) Reed, were born in Ohio and Indiana, respectively, the former's birth occurring in 1826. He was the eldest of five children born to Simon and Elizabeth (Clark) Reed, the other mem- bers of the family being John S., Viola, David (of Canton, Ohio), Jane ( Mrs. Brown, of Navarre, Ohio), and William (of India nap- olis, Ind.). The immediate subject of this sketch is one of seven children: Edgar, Viola (Mrs. H. C. Oakes), James, Frank, Clay and Claud, and acquired his education at Albion Seminary and in the Iowa State Normal School, leaving school in 1885. Since that time he has followed the occupation of teach- ing, and has faithfully filled the duties of his present position since the fall of 1887. He

has at all times been connected with and a supporter of the Republican party, and socially is connected with the A. F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F. In the month of January, 1889, he was united in marriage to Miss Emily Oakes, a native of Story County, and a daughter of Sam- uel Oakes. She had formerly graduated in the academy at New Providence, Iowa. She and Prof. Reed have one child, Joice. Favored with excellent preparatory training, Prof. Reed was enabled to at once enter upon a success- ful career, and the results from the first were gratifying. Thoroughly fitted by study and experience for a superior educator, he has built up a reputation as an instructor and discipli- narian that is not merely local, but extends over a wide section of the State.

Rev. Isaiah Reid is the editor and proprietor of the Highway, a journal published in Ne- vada, Iowa, in the interests of the church. Mr. Reid was born at Walnut Ridge, eight miles north of Salem, Washington County, Ind., on the 16th of April, 1836, being a son of Thomas and Jemima (McKnight) Reid, who were born in York County, S. C., and Ken- tucky, January 24, 1802, and October 3, 1808, respectively, their union taking place on the 29th of December 1831. After their marriage they took up their abode in Washington Coun- ty, Ind., where they made their home until 1850, at which time they moved to Louisa County, Iowa, settling on a farm near the pres- ent town of Morning Sun. Here they were still living, in May, 1890, being the oldest married couple in the county, but the mother is in rather poor health at the present time. The father has been a life-long farmer, is a stanch mem- ber of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and has always been a pronounced Abolitionist and is strongly opposed to the use of intoxicants and tobacco. His parents, Isaiah and Mary (Clyde) Reid, were of Scotch-Irish and Irish

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descent, respectively, the former being from the North of Ireland and the latter from Dublin. Isaiah Reid received a fair education in his youth, and after attaining a suitable age was engaged in teaching school, then became a mer- chant and later a farmer. He came to America just after his marriage, and settled near Charles- ton, in York County, S. C., but in 1815 emi- grated to the then new region for settlement, Southern Indiana, where they spent the rest of their lives, the former living past middle life, and the latter to the age of ninety-two years. She was a lady of refinement and considerable educa- tion, and both were of the old Covenanter stock of the Presbyterian faith, and from early youth were identified with the church. The mater- nal grandparents, William McKnight and his wife, were of pure Scotch birth, being born at Glasgow, Scotland, and at an early day came to the United States, and were among the earliest settlers of Washington County, Ind. Mr. Mc- Knight identified himself with the struggles against the Indian depredations in that region, and lived to a fair old age, dying of fever. His wife outlived him, dying while in the eighties. Rev. Isaiah Reid, the immediate subject of this sketch, came to Iowa with his parents, and in October, 1854, entered Kossuth Academy, an institution which was ten miles distant from his home, and attended this and other educational institutions until 1861, graduating in June of that year, from what was then known as Yellow Spring College, which was under the direction of the Presbyterians of Iowa, of which Par- son's College, of Fairfield, Iowa, is now the legal successor. He was converted to Christian- ity in the month of March, 1856, and in Sep- tember, 1861, he entered Auburn Theological Seminary, New York, and was licensed to preach by the Cayuga Presbytery of New York, in May, 1863. In the summer of that year he traveled as a missionary among the boatmen

on the Genesee Valley Canal, under the auspi- ces of the American Bethel Seamen's Society, but the following year pursued his theological studies in the Seminary of Anburn, N. Y., graduating in May, 1864, being ordained the following month as an evangelist, by the Pres- bytery of Keokuk, Iowa. He immediately be- gan preaching at Nevada, continuing there as pastor, until 1873, but also preaching at Iowa Centre, Centre Grove and elsewhere. In June of the last-named year, at the first National camp-meeting, in Iowa, for the promotion of holiness, Mr. Reid experienced holiness, or perfect love, and the following October he took charge of the Presbyterian Church, at Albion, Marshall County, Iowa, continuing there until March, 1975, when he accepted a call to his old charge at Nevada. At this time he was also pastor of a newly organized Presbyterian Church at Centre Grove, Iowa, twelve miles south of Nevada. In November, 1875, he be- gan the publication of Highway Papers, of which the Highway is the legal successor, the latter being issued weekly since January, 1879. In November, 1877, he closed connection with the church at Nevada, and the following month went to Chicago, Ill., to engage in holiness missionary work, under the care of a number of special friends of the cause, and March, of the following year he began general evangeli- cal work. In August, of that year, he began band camp-meeting work, at West Union, Schuyler County, Ill., which he has continued each summer since, making his home at the old headquarters, Nevada, Iowa. In the spring of 1879 he drew up and published a call for the temporary organization of the Iowa Holi- ness Association, and in the month of July, was put in charge as president of the perma- nent Holiness Association, which was organ- ized at the first annual camp-meeting, which was held near Jefferson, Iowa, and he has con-

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tinued in this relation up to the present time. The members of the Presbyterian Church ob- jected to Mr. Reid preaching holiness, and asked him to either cease or retire from the church, but as he did not wish to do either he was expelled. In March, 1883, he became pas- tor of the Independent Congregational Church, of Nevada, Iowa, continuing until February, 1886, and the following March joined the Methodist Episcopal Church as an ordained elder, awaiting recognition. He was married in the month of June, 1860, to Miss Mary E. Braden, of Northfield, Iowa, and on the third of September, 1865, their first child was born: Edwin J. G., who was married on the 16th of November, 1887, to Miss Eva K. Snyder. Oc- tober 3, 1868, a daughter was born to them, whom they named Minnie E. (she being now the wife of Elwyn E. Wier, whom she married May 3, 1888). In February, 1869, Mrs. Reid was accidentally thrown from a cutter and sus- tained such injuries that she was maimed for life.

Samuel Reid. Among the best-known mer- cantile establishments in this section of the country is that belonging to Mr. Reid, at Mc- Callsburg, Iowa. He was born in Washington County, Ind., October 14, 1838, a son of Thomas and Jemima (McKnight) Reid, the former born in South Carolina in January, 1802, and the latter in Kentucky in 1809. They now reside in Louisa County, Iowa. Samuel Reid is the second eldest of six living children, and after residing in his native State until he attained his twelfth year, he came with his parents to Iowa in 1850, and settled with them in Des Moines County. Here, in the spring of 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, but was honora- bly discharged in January of the next year, and returned home only to again enlist in the service on June 29, 1863, this time becoming

a member of Company M, Eighth Iowa Cav- alry. He served until the close of the war, proving a faithful and efficient soldier, and re- turned to his home and friends with the con- sciousness of having done his duty on every occasion. Since his return home he has been engaged in mercantile pursuits the most of the time, and since 1881 has been a resident of Story County, and until 1887 resided at Nevada, at which time he came to McCallsburg, and here has since been successfully following the same calling. He was married in 1868 to Miss Tressie McConnell, a native of Pennsylvania, and to their union two children have been born: Oscar I. and Walter H. In politics Mr. Reid is a Republican of pronounced type, and he and wife are members of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church. He has resided in the State of Iowa for the past forty years, and during that time has proven himself to be a reliable busi- ness man, and a worthy and upright citizen in every respect.

John Rich, farmer and stock-raiser, Nevada, Iowa. A lifetime devoted with perseverance and energy to the pursuit of agriculture has contributed very materially to the success which has attended the efforts of Mr. Rich, a man of substantial and established worth. He is the son of Jacob and Mary (Carr) Rich, and was born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1832. [For particulars of parents see sketch of Sam- uel Rich. ] He remained in his native county until 1849, received his education there, and then moved with his parents to Grant County, Ind., where he remained until he reached his majority. He was married in 1853 to Miss Susannah Hicks, daughter of James and Sarah (Bond) Hicks, natives, respectively, of Vir- ginia and Ohio. She was the eldest of nine children: Hamilton, Ruth, Sarah A. (who died at the age of fourteen ), Olivet, Benjamin (deceased), William, James (deceased) and

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John. Mr. Rich moved to Story County in May, 1858, located on Section 7, and has re- mained in this county ever since, a period of over thirty years. He purchased his present farm in 1868, and now owns the northeast quar- ter of Section 8 and twenty acres of Section 9, besides improving two other farms in the county. He has abont 100 rods of tile on his place, and his farms are well cultivated and well improved. Politically he is a Republican. He is the father of seven sons: Samuel H., Oliver P., Frank, Will, Charles, Willis M. and Wilson D., all now living and grown to maturity. The last two are teachers. Oliver is a member of the I. O. O. F.

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Story County, Iowa, Part 54

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

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