Biographical and historical record of Clarke County, Iowa, Part 35

Author: Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago (Ill.)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 990


USA > Iowa > Clarke County > Biographical and historical record of Clarke County, Iowa > Part 35


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settled on his present farm in Madison Towhship, where he has 160 acres of prairie land and thirty acres of timber, with a comfortable residence and good farm build- ings. In connection with his general farm- ing, Mr. Unber is successfully engaged in the raising of stock. He was married in Germany, June 6, 1846, to Miss Susan In- gersol, a daughter of Michael Ingersol, who is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Huber have had no children of their own, but have reared four children, who have found a pleasant home with them. Mr. Huber is one of the self-made men of Madison Town- ship, he having commenced life for him- self entirely without capital, and has by his own efforts acquired a good property, the reward of years of toil and strict econ- omy. During his residence in the county he has gained the respect of all who know him.


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turned to Pennsylvania, where he formed a partnership with his former employer. This continued eighteen months, when he again returned to Clarke County, locating in Osceola, and purchasing the stock of II. W. Beckett. Ile is well prepared to supply all customers, and guarantees satis- faction. In 1877 Mr. Boden was married to Miss Mattie Knight, of Woodburn, a daughter of E. T. Knight, Esq. They have three children-Anna B., Harley E. and Robert K. He is a member of Masonic Lodge No. 212 at Woodburn, and Chapter at Osccola, No. 63.


TILLIAM W. MARQUIS, deceased, V/V was born in Highland County, [ Ohio, the date of his birth being May 30, 1825, the eldest son of John and Sarah (McCully) Marquis. His early life was passed on the home farm in his native county, his youth being spent in assisting with the work of the farm. October 30, 1847, he married Lucy B. Pace, she being a daughter of Joseph and Mary Ann Pace, both of whom arc deceased, the father dy- ing in Osceola Township, and the mother in the State of Ohio. Mrs. Marquis is a native of the State of Virginia, bora Sep- tember 5. 1828, To Mr. and Mrs. Marquis were born the following children-Sarah M., deceased wife of Levi Wolf; John MI., of Liberty Township : Joseph T., of Adair County : William, of Liberty Township; Albert, died in his sixth year ; Eliza, wife of Levi Wolf. of Madison County: Jack- ' son B. and Alfred B., of Liberty Town- ship: James E., died, aged one year, and Charles. Mr. Marquis came with his fan- ily to Clarke County. Iowa, in 1956, and made his home on section 1, Liberty Town- ship, purchasing eighty acies of Govern; ment land, on which he resided til! April,


PROMIN W. BODEN, dealer in harnesses, saddles, collars, bridles and whips- successor to H. W. Beckett, was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, Decem- ber 31, 1855. While he was yet an infant his parents, Robert and Mary .1. (Gibson) Bo- den, removed to Clarke County and settled in Liberty Township, where his father died about eight years afterward. His mother carried on the farm; John being the oldest child, rendered her considerable assistance. Ile remained with his mother until he was fifteen years of age, then started out for himself. He worked on a farm for awhile, attending school during the winter. He then returned to Pennsylvania, where he karned the harnes -maker's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years with D. P. Gibson, ar Uniontown. Having com- pleted his trade, he returned to Clarke County, and opened a shop at Woodburn : on a small scale. He remained there seven Sears, then sold out his business and re- , 1865. He then sold that property to Oliver


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Pelt, and bought 120 acres of partially-im- proved land located on section 13. of the same township, and there he spent the rest of his life. At his death, which occurred August 21, 1872, he left a widow, who was united in marriage to Charles Miller Sep- tember 1, 1881, and eight children. Hc was a good citizen and neighbor, a kind husband and an affectionate father, and his death was a source of universal regret throughout the township. In his youth he joined the Methodist church, but in later years he became a member of the Christian Union church.


HOMAS G. VINSON, who has been identified with Clarke County for many years, is a native of Wapello County, Iowa, where he was born March 7, 1845. His parents, Isaac and Charity (Glenn) Vinson, were natives of Tennessee and Indiana respectively, and were among the first settlers of Wapello County, Iowa. They had a family of eleven children- Joseph, Thomas T., Martha J., William, Elizabeth, Jesse, David, Mary, Sarah Ann, Susannah and Belle. Our subject was quite young when his parents moved to Jefferson County, and some time later they removed to Marion County, where they re- sided till Thomas G. was about twelve years old. In 1857 they located in Clarke County, Towa, near Lacelle, in Knox Township, where our subject was reared to manhood, receiving a limited education in the common schools. In February. 1864, he enlisted in the late war in Com- pany F, Sixth lowa Infantry, and was with General Sherman in Ins famous march to the sea. He was shot through the hand by a minie ball, at Atlanta, and was in a hos- pital for some time. On the way to join his regiment he was taken sick, and was sent to Fairfax Hospital, where he lay at


the point of death for many days. On his recovery he was honorably discharged at Davenport, lowa, and returned to bis home in Clarke County. He has been a resident of his present farm since 1882. li is located on section 33, Knox Township. and contains 290 acres of well-improved land, which he has made by his own un- tiring efforts, he having commenced life without means. He devotes considerable attention to dealing in stock, raising, feed- ing, selling and buying, and is miceting with good success. Mr. Vinson was mar- ried July 14, 1868, to Julia Ann Chaney, daughter of Francis Chancy. Mrs. Vin- son died February 28, 1872. To them were born two children-Alpha Omega and Walter L .; Alpha died before her mother, and Walter two months after. Mr. Vinson was again married September 10, 1873, to Margaret Emily Barr, a daughter of Samuel and Mary Barr, and to this union have been born four children-Julia Ann, George H., Wilham HI. and Samuel Isaac. Mr. Vinson is a comrade of Lacelle Post, G. A. R. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party.


B ENJAMIN ARNOLD, one of the old and honored pioneers of Clarke County, residing on section 19, Green Bay Township, is a native of Mor- gan County, Indiana, born February 23. 1835. His parents, Barnard and Nancy C. (Utterback) Arnold, werc natives of Ken- tucky, the father born near Frankfort. They reared a family of ten children -- Agnes, Noel, James, Elizabeth, Eliza Janc, Willis, Nancy, Benjamin, William G. and Mary C. In 1849 the family left Morgan County, Indiana, and started for the New West beyond the Mississippi. They spent the first winter near Bellefontaine, lowa, and in August, 1850, came to Clarke


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County, lowa, locating on section 19. Green Bay Township, where the father entered 4So acres of land from the Government, and built a log cabin for himself and fani- ily. At that time not a house was to be found in Osceola, and the settlers were few and scattered, and here amid pioneer scenes, our subject grew to manhood. IIc also helped to build a log school-house, cighteen feet square, in which his sister was among the first teachers. Benjamin Ar- nold wasunited in marriage March 20, 1865, to Miss Sarah R. Johnson of Green Bay Township, a daughter of Reuben Johnson. Three children were born to this union, Elizabeth, William and Anne. Mrs. Arnold died August 1, 1868, and June 4, 1870, Mr. Arnold was married to Miss C. C. DeSelin. By this marriage he has two children liv- ing, Emma and May. Mr. Amold located on his present farm in 1865 which contains 382 acres of highly-cultivated land. He has a good residence, comfortably fur. nished, and surrounded by shade and orna- mental trees, and his improvements are among the best in his neighborhood. In 1875 he engaged in the mercantile business at Green Bay, which he followed for three years. Ile then returned to his farm where he has since been engaged in gen- eral farming, and raising and feeding stock and by his fair dealings with his fellow citizens he has won the respect of all who know him. In politics he votes the Re- publican ticket.


HIILIP L. FOWLER, ex-county au- ditor, of Clarke County, is a native of Ohio, born in Tuscarawas County, September 3. 1845, a son of L. D. and Joanna (Laffer) Fowler, natives of Ohio and Kentucky respectively. The father i moved his family to Clarke County, lowa, in 1851. locating in Osceola. He was an


active business man and had purchased the ground where the Arlington Hotel now stands (southwest corner of the public square) and was building a frame hotel, when he was accidently killed in a saw- mill then located in the northeast part of Osceola, August 26, 1854. Ile was engaged in moving a slab and a wrong step caused him to be thrown against a saw, which caused his death almost instantly. The mother is still a resident of Clarke County. Phihp L. Fowler was but cight years of age when he accompanied his parents to Osceola. He attended the public schools of Osceola and later entered a select school, where he made rapid progress in his studies. At the age of seventeen he entered the clerk's office, as deputy under A. J. Burrows. In 1864, at the age of eighteen, he entered the army, enlisting in Company IJ, Forty-sixth lowa. At the close of the war he returned to the clerk's office and remained in that office a number of years. In 1873 he was elected anditor of Clarke County, which office he held for two terms of two years each. Retiring from office he contracted with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad to work out their road taxes upon the highways through the State, which con- tract he has had ever since. In ISSo he went to Kentucky where he purchased a car load of fine Jersey cattle, and was the first to introduce a herd of this celebrated stock into Clarke County. He owns 300 acres of the best land for stock-raising in Osceola Township. It is well stocked with cattle and horses, among the latter being specimens of the celebrated Hambletonian roadsters. Mr. Fowler was married in 1871. 10 Maggie A. McKee, of Osceola, a daughter of Professor W. A. Mckee, who is now a resident of Knoxville, Jowa. Mr. Fowler has been president of the Ckake County Farmers' and Mechanics' Agri-


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cultural Society for several years, which has proved very successful under his man- agement. Ile is also president of the Old Settlers' Association. Mr. Fowler is not only an active man in the stock interests of his county. but is first and foremost in every enterprise which tends to the public good. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and takes an active in- terest in the Sabbath-school of which he is superintendent.


AMUEL N. MARQUIS, an carly settler of Liberty Township, living on section 14, was born April 10, 1833, a native of Highland County, Ohio, He lived in his native county till 1857, when, in the fall of that year, he came with his parents, John and Sarah (McCully) Marquis, to Clarke County, lowa, making their home on section 12, Liberty Town- ship, where the father bought 120 acres of land. Samuel N., at the same time, pur- chased forty acres on section 13, but did not commence the improvement of his land till 1860, he assisting his parents in building up the home where they spent the rest of their days. Samuel N. Mar- FROHN W. RICHARDS, president of the Osceola Bank, is a native of Massa- chusetts, born in Greenwich, Hamp- shire County, in October, 1833, a son of James and Priscilla (Newcomb) Richards. natives also of Massachusetts. His mother died in 1881, in the eighty-first year of her age, and his father in february, 1886, in the cighty-fifth year of his age. Theh family of five sons and four daughters are all living. John W. Richards passed his youth on a farm, receiving a common- school education. When twenty-one years of age, in October, 1854. he carne to lows. and taught school in Van Buren County the following winter, and in March, 1855, quis was married September 14, 1858, to Rachel J. Lozier, who was born in Ohio November 2, 1833, and died March 3. 1863. leaving two children, Susan, wife of Homer Kennedy, of Osceola, and Cedora E., el- gaged in the millinery business at Lucas, lowa. John W., their youngest child, died in infancy. Mr. Marquis made his first home on section 13. where he remained till 1864. He then sold his place to his brother William, and bought 133 acres on section 12, Liberty Township. Mr. Mar- quis was married a second time November 7. 1865. to Mrs. Jemima (Lozier) Puls, sister of his first wife, and widow of John Pals, by whom she had two children, Anna, , came to Clarke County, and was employed


wife of William Calvin, of Kansas, and Edward living in Liberty Township. Mrs. Marquis was born in Henry County, lowa, September 20, 1840, a daughter of Simon and Susan Lozier who are now resi- dents of Page County. They were among the pioneers of Henry County, going tiere from the State of Ohio. By his present wife Mr. Marquis has had five children -- Josephine, Calvin C., James, Simon, died aged three years, and Clark. Both Mr. and Mrs. Marquis are members of the Christian Union church. They moved to their present home in March, 1882, on which all the improvements have been made by our subject. The homestead con- tains 320 acres, and is one of the best-im- proved farms in the township, and the buildings on his place are new, commodi- ous and substantial. All this fine property has been acquired by the industry and per- severing energy of Mr. Marquis, he having commenced life in Clarke County with no capital, but a stout heart and a determina- tion to succeed. In his political views he is a Democrat.


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as clerk for George W. Howe & Seth Richards, of Osceola, nine years. In Octo- ber, 1864, he bought Mr. Howe's interest, and from that time until 1876 was associated with Seth Richards, the firm name being S. & J. W. Richards. On the organization of the Osceola Bank he was one of the stockholders and was elected its president, a position he still holds. In 1865 Mr. Richards returned to Massachusetts and was married to Anna M. Currier, a native of Vermont, and immediately returned to lowa, and has since made his home in Osceola. Mr. and Mrs. Richards have one sun-Ilarry S.


FRACOB CROWLEY, merchant, Wood- burn, purchased the stock of D. B. Johnson five years ago. He also brought his own stock of goods from Ot- tawa and added to it, then built an exten- sion of thirty feet to the store building, making it 20 x 60 feet, the largest in the town. lIc has a warehouse, 9 x 20 feet, by the side of the main store. He carries a general line of dry goods, groceries, hats, caps, boots, shoes, implements, etc. Mr. Crowley carries the largest and best-as- sorted stock of goods in town, and is the leading merchant. He was born August 15. 1828, in Mansfield, Bristol County, Massachusetts, and is the son of Walter and Annie M. (Skinner) Crowley, natives of the same town, as was his grandfather, Abraham Crowley. The family all lived and died in that town except Walter, who died in Illinois, in 1869, while visiting a brother. He was sixty-five years of age. Our subject was reared in the town of his nativity, where he lived many years, re- ceiving his education in the schools of that noble State. He lived on a farin, and barnel the blacksmith's trade, following bul: his trade and forming, until he was 27


twenty-five years of age ; then entered the mercantile business, which he followed three or four years. le then went to Franklin County, Maine, purchased 300 acres of land, and farmed for a few years. While there he was appointed by the Gov- ernor to the office of trial justice, which brought him a salary of $500. In 1862, his health failing, he sold his property, and in company with his brother-in-law, Charles Hallett, captain of a vessel, took a trip to New Orleans, then in possession of B. F. Butler. Three months later he returned and engaged in building telegraph lines, by contract and otherwise, in Connecticut and New York State. Later he spent two years in Ohio and Indiana in the same work. In I86;, he removed to Oak Creek, Milwau- kee County, Wisconsin, and engaged in the manufacture of hats and bonnets, an occu- pation in which he had previously had experience in Massachusetts. Mr. Crow- ley. like nearly all New Englanders, was skilful in all kinds of business, and has fol- lowed nearly all the trades of his time. He worked in a thread factory abont a year. In 1868 he removed to Decatur County, Towa, and purchased a fine farm of 250 acres near Garden Grove. He worked at carpentering some, as he numbered that among his trades. In 1870 he went West to the Sac and Fox Agency, Indian Terri- tory, when he followed blacksmithing and carpentering. He remained in the employ of the Government two years. From there he went to Smyrna, Clarke County, Iowa, and embarked in the mercantile trade, which he continued two years, then re- turned to his farm in Decatur. In the spring of 1878 he moved back to Clarke County and settled in Ottawa, and after one year of blacksmithing, again went into the mercantile business. In January, 1881. he came to Woodburn, where he has been engaged ever since. He bas the most cx- ter-ive trade of any merchant in this part


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of the county. October 28, 18.49. Mr. Crowley was married, in Maine, to Miss Mary P. Guild, who died in Garden Grove, August 26, 1877. September 18, 18;S, he was married to Eliza A. Clark. He is the parent of seven children, four of whom are living-J. A., Rosa A., Carlotta W., and Walter S. The deceased are-Leroy, Winnie and Milo C. From 1874 till 1884 Mr. Crowley was a minister in the Society of Friends, and spent considerable time and money traveling and holding meetings among them. But, feeling he was not wanted, he withdrew and turned his whole attention to business, with which he is at present engaged. Mr. Crowley is a mem- ber of Unity Lodge, No. 212, of which he has served as master three years, and of Pintalpha Chapter, R. A. M., Osceola. In politics he is a Republican. He has held the offices of selectman, overseer of the poor. etc., in Massachusetts, and township trus- tee, and justice of the peace since coming here ; is now township treasurer. His Grandfather Crowley was one of the pa- triots of the Revolution. His uncle, Jacob Crowley, served in the war of 1812-'14.


OHN H. MARTINDALE, editor and proprietor of the Murray News, is a son of Mason and Mary (Simonds) Martindale, natives of New York. They came to Clarke County in 1869, where the mother is yet living. John H. lived with his parents until twenty years old, receiv- ing a common English education. Ile then learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, which he followed for a time and then en- gaged in farming. In 1862 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-second New York Volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of the war, and receiving his dis- charge in July, 1865. He came to Musca- tinc County, lowa, and in 1866 rented a


farm in Clarke County. When the village of Murray was started he found profitable employment once more as a carpenter. From 1873 to 1876 he was engaged in mer- chandising. He was then occupied as post- master and justice of the peace until 188o. In i8;9 he was chosen representative from this county to the General Assembly, in which he served one term. In 1881 he en- tered upon journalism, to which he has since devoted his time. Mr. Martindale was married June 26, 1866, at Nichollville, St. Lawrence County, New York, to Jane D. Clark. Their six children are named- Ella J,, now Mrs. Dewey ; Hersey M., now Mrs. Kadel; Edmund M., Mary D., Ralph M. and Gertrude L. Mr. Martindale is a Republican, a Good Templar and a mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic; and, with his wife, belongs to the Baptist church.


OHN M. CARDER, a progressive farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 2, of Madison Township, was born in Parke County, Indiana, June 18, 1832, a son of George Carder, who is liv- ing in Murray, this county. John M. Car- der was reared to manhood on the home farm, receiving such education as was com- mon to farmer boys in that early day, in the subscription schools of his neighbor- hood, attending school in the rude log-cabin school-houses with their split-log seats, greased-paper windows, and large fireplaces. He was married to Miss Hester A. Everett, July 28, 1852. They have no children of their own, but have reared two, whose names are-Lucinda Knott and Flora M. Darnell. Mr. Carder came to lowa in the fall of 1854, and after spending a few days in Clarke County located in Madison Coun- ty, remaining in that county till 1865. Ile then returned to Clarke County, since which he has followed agricultural pur-


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suits on the farm where he still resides He has met with fair success through life, owning his home farm in Madison Town- ship, which contains 126 acres of well-cul- tivated laud, besides sixteen acres located at Murray. Mr. Carder is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He also be- longs to the Masonic fraternity.


7SALAH HANKS, one of the pioneers of Ward Township, was born near the town of Zanesville, in Muskingum County, Ohio, February 5, 1819. His par- ents, Jeremiah and Catherine (Shively) I lanks, were both natives of the State of Vir- ginia, and were among the carly settlers of Ohio, locating in that State in ISIS, and making their home in Muskingum County till their death. They were the parents of twelve children, five sons and seven daugh- ters, of whom only eight are now living. The father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and for his services received a land war- rant which he reserved for his sons, the land being in Union County, Iowa. He died at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Isaiah Hanks grew to manhood in his native county, remaining there till 1840. He then went to Illinois and lived in Ed- gar County until i850, when he went to California, overland with ox-teams, re- mained there two years and returned, via the Isthmus of Panama. While liv- ing in Edgar County he was married, in 1843, to Miss Ruth Lewis, a native of Edgar County, and a daughter of Will- iam Lewis. Her father served both in the war of 1812, and in the Black Hawk war, and died at the age of eighty years. To Mr. and Mrs. Jmiks were born seven chil- dren, all living to maturity -Jeremiah Har- man, died from sickness contracted while serving in the late war ; John W., died, aged twenty-four years : Catherine, died af


the age of twenty-three years : Jane, wife of John Leckliter. living in Nebraska : Martha E .. wife of William Church, of Warren County, Iowa ; Benjamin F., living in Ne- braska; and Mary A., at home. In the fall of 1855 Mr. Hanks left his farm in Edgar County and came to fowa. He remained in Eddyville, Wapello County until the following spring, when he removed with his family to Clarke County, and settled on the farm on section 5. Ward Township, where he has since followed agricultural pursuits. He came to Clarke County with but small capital, but owing to his habits of industry and frugality he has met with success, and to his original purchase of forty acres has been enabled to add from time to time, till his farm now contains 160 acres of valuable land, well improved. Mr. Ilanks has held many of the township offi- ces, being supervisor some cight years under the old law, justice of the peace four years, assessor two years, and also served as trustee, and as a member of the School Board, holding all of these offices with credit to himself, and to the satisfaction of his constituents.


M ARQUISC. FORSTER, a resident of Jackson Township, was born in Knox County, Ilinois. November 12, 1850. His parents. Frederick H. and Martha J. (Harold) Forster, were natives of Indiana, His father always followed farming, and to that avocation reared all of his sons. Marquis was the oldest, of thir- icen children, the names of the others are -Martha A., wife of S. S. Chritchfield, of Liberty Township: Frances J., wife of Robert Chritchfield, of Jackson Township. Lucas County: Robert, a resident of Hodgman County, Kansas; James T., of Knox County, Illinois. Sarah Ellen, wife of George Painter, Hodgman County, Kai -


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sas; Mary, wife of N. Elvendorph, Liberty Township. Lucas County; Augusta, died young: Luther, resides in Oregon; Nora, wife of Douglas Grey, of Liberty Town- ship, Lucas County; John, of Hodgman County, Kansas; Edwin, lives with Mar- quis; Minnie and Nettie, are with their parents. The family came to lowa in the spring of 1869, first settling in Jackson Township, Lucas County. Marquis re- mained with his parents until twenty-one years of age. He married in Lucas County Miss Amanda E. Sater, daughter of Eph- raim Sater, of that county, February 28, 1872 ; she was born in Henry County, lowa, May 28, 1853. Her mother is deceased. The Forster family came to their present home in 1881. Later the parents moved to Kansas, where the mother died in 1878. Mr. Forster, the subject of this sketch, owns a large farm of 280 acres situated on sectionsi, 2 and 12; also owns eighty acres on section 3, and a small tract of timber on section 15, and five acres in Liberty Township. He is a member of Unity Lodge, No. 212, at Woodburn, and in politics, a Repub- lican.




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