USA > Iowa > Union County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 13
USA > Iowa > Ringgold County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 13
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which he owns and occupies, at a cost. of $29,000. Ile has done considerable toward building up and improving the town. Ile owns a fine residence on Adams Street, which he erected, digging the basement with his own hands, and also doing much of the carpenter work; he also built two other residences on Adams Street. In 1880 he and his brother, M. L. Kelley, built the Pearl flouring mill in that city, the whole of which he at one time owned. He owns several valuable business lots in town. Mr. Kelley has been connected with several enterprises of public interest; he was prominent among those who were instru- mental in establishing the telephone at Creston. He was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, in 1852. When sixteen years of age he went to Allegheny City, and was two and a half years connected with the drug business, and for two years was cashier and bookkeeper for Boggs & Buhl. He then came West, accompanied by Mr. Becker, and when he arrived here his cash capital was only $250, having been unfortunate in his in- vestments. September 14, 1876, Mr. Kelley was married to Miss Clara V. Hopkins, of Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. They have three children-John, William N., Jr., and Olive V. Their second child, Clara N., died in infancy.
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FACOB BALLY, one of the leading agri- culturists of Lincoln Township, living on section 3, is a native of Germany, born near the river Rhine, April 6, 1820. In 1832 his father, Samuel Bally, immigrated to Amer- ica with his family, and settled in Ashland County, Ohio, where he dicd, May 9, 1846. Our subject, Jacob Bally, received a fair common-school education, attending school in Germany, and also in this country. Ile grew to manhood in Ashland County, where he was reared to agricultural pursuits, remain- ing in that county till 1849. He then went to Woodford County, Illinois, and in 1856
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
came to Iowa, locating in Adair County, eight miles north of his present farm. Ile was married, in 1855, to Miss Christina But- ler, a daughter of the late Peter Butler, who died in Mahaska County, Iowa. Of the three children born to this union two are living, Joseph T. and Emma S., both being prom- inent teachers. Joseph married Miss Clara IJayden. Mr. Bally came to Union County in 1872, settling on the farm where he has since resided, which he has converted from a state of nature into a well-cultivated farm. He was one of the first settlers of Adair County, settling there when the surrounding country was in a wild state, deer, wolves, and other wild animals being numerous. He has met with success in his agricultural pursuits, and is now the owner of a fine farm of 160 acres. Both he and his wife are members of the Evangelical Association, and respected members of society.
AMES M. BARR, partner of S. J. Bayles in a general mercantile business at Crom- well, was born in La Salle County, Illinois, in 1857. His father, Henry W. Barr, is a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother, Elmira (Grable) Barr, was born in Ohio, and died in 1873, at the age of thirty-seven years. His father is living in Missouri, where he is a land speculator, owning about 3,000 acres of land. Mr. Barr, of this sketch, is the eldest of six children in his father's family. When he was ten years old his parents moved to Adams County. lowa, where he resided until 1871. He then resided in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, until 1874; next in Allegheny County, Penn- sylvania, until 1876, when he finally settled in Union County. He pursued agrienlture, the oc- cupation of his youth, until 1871, when, his father being engaged in mercantile business, he entered the store as clerk. At present he and his partner carry a general stock in their line, and are commanding a good trade. Mr.
Barr owns a house and lot at Cromwell; is a member of Cromwell Lodge, No. 237, 1. O. O. F., at Cromwell, and is highly re- spected as a good citizen. In 1882 he married Miss Susie L., daughter of Pressley O. and Lucinda Wright, who reside in Cromwell; she was born in 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Barr have oue child, named Buena E.
7SAAC REYNOLDS, farmer and miller, re- sides on section 36, Pleasant Township, where he owns a farm of 217 acres, and also a grist-mill. Postoffice, Hopeville, Clarke County. He was born in Hendricks County. Indiana, and reared on a farm in Morgan County, that State, until he became a young man. In the last-named county his parents, Henry and Mary (Jones) Reynolds, died. He immigrated west, to Keokuk, Iowa, in 1848, and a short time afterward removed to Mahas- ka County, where he managed a mill one year; next he was in Keokuk again a short time, then two years in Jasper County, then in Keokuk the third time, then, in 1854, he set- tled in Ringgold County, Iowa, where he resided nine years; and finally, in 1863, he located at his present place. Being a self-made man and starting in life without a dollar, he has exhibited marvelous talent in his lines of business, meeting with the losses he has and yet has his head far above the waves of vicis- situde. The mill which he bought when he came to Union County burned down, leaving him $11,000 in debt. He has held the office of road supervisor, and other township and school offices; is a member of the order of Freemasons, of Concordia Lodge, No. 215. and both himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. She relates that in pioneer times she had to " paddle " the Indians out of her house; they were such lazy beggars that they were a constant pest. She can talk in the language of two different tribes - the [Pottawattamie and one other.
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
Iler maiden name was Lavina Costeel, being the daughter of John and Mary ( Hardesty) Costeel, natives of Ohio. She was bom in the State of Indiana, in 1829, and her parents sub- Ecquently moved from that State to Missouri, in 1840, then to lowa in 1842. Her marriage to Mr. Reynolds took place in 1848,in Mahaska County, Jowa, where the marriage license was No. 150 for that county. Their children are- John H .; William H., who married Susan Arnold and has five children - William, Thomas, Lata, Pearl and Elva; Mary E .. wife of Charles Lawrence, and has four children -- Henrietta, Emina, James C. and Nina J .; Emma married George Chew, and they have three children-Ethel, Frances MI. and Floyd B .; Eliza J. is the wife of Edward Arnold, and they have one child, Fredrick R .; Cynthia Ann is the wife of Wesley Chew and they have one child, named Isaac; Josephine married Samnel Swank and has two children-Nora and Elger; the remaining children of Mr. and Mrs. Rey- nolde arc Isaac A., Charles F. and James W., ton in all.
URR FORBES, farmer and stock-raiser, section 17, Sand Creek Township, was born in the town of West Union, Sten- ben County, New York, in the year 1842. In 1850 he was taken by his parents to Bureau County, Illinois, with whom he remained till twenty years of age, when he went to Alfred Center, New York, and attended school at that place for two years. The following five years he spent teaching school, working on the farm by the month, and on the road as con- tracting agent, visiting twelve different States. He then came to Iowa, and after farming one year in Jasper County he came to Union County, where he has since resided. He was inarried in Illinois, to Miss Melinda Um- barger, whose father was born in Pennsylva- nia, June 25, 1803, and is now living in Putnam County, Illinois. Her mother was born October 23, 1805, and is now deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Forbes have three children- Frank E., aged sixteen years; Lenora K., aged eleven years and Lillie C., aged nine years. Mr. Forbes is one of the prominent farmers and stock-raisers of his township, and in his agricultural pursuits he has met with gool success. His farm is among the finest in the township, and contains 480 acres of choice land, and his barns and farm build- ings are large and commodious. In politics Mr. Forbes is a Republican.
ABRAHAM E. KEITH, the present mayor of Creston has been identified with its =1 interests since February, 1870. He is engaged in the boot-and-shoe trade, and is one of the most successful business men of Creston. His location is on Front or Adams street, and his stock of goods, in extent and completeness is probably the finest in Marion County. Mr. Keith is a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, born in December, 1832. His fatlier, Alexander Keith, was a native of Vir- ginia, and was one of the pioneers of Colum- biana County. He died in 1SS2. His mother, Eliza (Ball ) Keith, resides in Muscatine County, Iowa, at the advanced age of eighty- three years. There were nine children in the family of Alexander Keith, three sons and six daughters, all of whom grew to maturity. Mr. Keith came to Iowa in 1853, first settling in Linn County, thence to Cedar County, thence to Muscatine County, where the great- er part of his life in Iowa was spent, previons to coming to Creston. He was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting in August, 1862, a member of Company H, Eleventh Jowa Infantry, and rose from a private to the First Lientenancy. His regiment was attached to the Army of the Tennessee in the Seven- teenth Army Corps. He participated in many of the important events of the war, including the siege of Atlanta and Sherman's march to the sea. At the close of the war he returned
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHIES.
to Muscatine County. In the fall of 1865 he was elected sheriff of that county, and served in that capacity six years, he then engaged in the lumber and hardware trade at West Liberty, in which he continued until he came to Cres- ton. Mr. Keith has shown great ability as an executive officer, and his success in this direc- tion is admitted by all. Ile was married in West Liberty, January 1, 1860, to Margaret Miller, a native of Virginia. They have four children-Edwin C., Wilford K., George M. and Louisa J. In politics Mr. Keith is a Republican.
ILLIAM M. WICKHAM, section 1, Highland Township, was born in Hancock County, Ohio, March 1,
1835. His father, Minor T. Wickham, was a native of Seneca, New York, and when a child ten years old, accompanied his parents to Portsmouth, Ohio, and after reaching man- hood, went to Hancock County, and helped to raise the first cabin in Findlay. When our subject was three years old his parents moved to Champaign County, Ohio; in the fall of 1854 to Dubuque County. Iowa, and thenee, the following June, to Union County, where he has since lived. At the time of his coming to Union County, there were but two houses in Afton, and the deer and wolves roamed at will on the present site of Creston. He slept for some time in his wagon, until he could build a house, and his visits by the wolves were of nightly occurrence. There were no mills in the county, and he was obliged to go to Mis- souri, a distance of about seventy miles, to buy corn and buckwheat, which constituted their breadstuff. For some years after coming to the county he sold his hogs to drovers who took them to Keokuk. He has often sold corn in Afton for 15 cents a bushel, and but- ter for 3 cents a pound, taking the proceeds in goods. Ile was a poor man when he came to Iowa and split rails to get the money with
which to pay for his land. He was ambitious, and persevered in spite of the obstacles he en- countered, and to-day has a fine farm as the reward for his toil, and the many hardships he was obliged to undergo, he and his wife to- gether owning 24S acres of choice land. IFe is engaged in general farming, but makes a specialty of stock-raising, having some of the best grades on his farm. He enlisted in the defense of the Union in the war of the Rebell- ion, and was assigned to Company H, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and served three years, participating in the battles at Helena, Little Rock, Little Missouri, Poison Springs, Jenkins' Ferry, siege of Mobile and others of minor importance. He was married, March 14, 1858, to Eneretia Emerson, daughter of Jasper Emerson, of Highland Township. To them were born seven children, but four of whom are living - Jasper E., Willie G., Walter L. and Nannie M. Mrs. Wickham died October 1, 1874, and January 9, 1876, Mr. Wickham married Arletta F. Philbrick, a native of Hillsboro, New Hampshire, dangh- ter of Josiah Philbrick. Mr. Wickham is a member of the Christian, and his wife of the Free-Will Baptist church.
S. REX, lumber-dealer, is one of the early settlers of Creston, the date of his advent being Angust 4, 1870. He is also one of the successful business men of the town, which was less than two years old when he came, and but few of the present residents date their coming as early as Mr. Rex. Colonel Swan was then keeping the Creston House, and Mr. Rex engaged to work for him, receiving $1 a day for his services. During the following spring he was employed as clerk for the ticket agent. IFe then em- barked in the drug business with Colonel Swan, and abont a year later bought ont the Colonel and was for some time engaged in the drug trade. But Mr. Rex is better known as
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
a business man by his connection with the Inmber trade of Creston, with which he be- came identified in 1874. Two years later he sold out and engaged in the coal trade for a time. Ile was next employed as clerk for O. Q. Holman about three years, when Mr. Holman sold out to the White Pine Lumber Company, and Mr. Rex condneted the busi- ness for the company about eighteen months, when the Rex Lumber Company was formed. This company was composed of Mr. Rex and Messrs. Anderson & White, of Montrose, Iowa. In August, 1886, Mr. Rex became sole proprietor of the business, having pur- chased the interests of his partners. Ile was the owner of but a few dollars when he came to Creston, but he possessed good health, energy and a determination to succeed. Do- ing whatever he could find to do to earn an honest dollar, and improving business oppor- tunities as they presented themselves, he has risen to the front ranks among business men of Creston. Mr. Rex has been twice married. He was first married at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, January 10, 1865, to Miss Eliza Payne, a graduate of the Wesleyan University of that town. She died July 13, 1869, leaving a son and daughter-George, who is in the office of his father, and Blanche, who died at the age of twelve years. In October, 1871, Mr. Rex married Sarah Kitchen, of Mount Pleas- ant. This union has been blessed with four children-Annie, Harry, Edna and C. S., Jr.
ILLIAM F. PATT, real-estate dealer and insurance agent, also agent for the sale of land and lots for the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Com- pany, established his business at Creston, in October, 1SS1. He is located in Patt's block, on Adams Street. He has been a resident of Creston since 1880. Ile does a large business both in real estate and the insurance business. His city patronage is large. Mr. Patt is a
brother of J. L. Patt, and was born in Rhode Island. When thirteen years of age he re- moved with his parents to Tiskilwa, Bureau County, Illinois. In 1869 he went to Brad- ford, Illinois, and was engaged in the mer- eantile trade until he came to Union County. lle was married in Illinois to M. J. New- man, a native of Chautauqua County, New York. They have five children-William N., in a bank in Kansas City; Herbert, assist- ing in his father's office; Charles E., Ralph HI., and Edith Pearl. James and Geneva are deecased.
OBERT J. McKEE is the senior mem- ber of the firm of McKee & Emer- son, dealers in boots, shoes, clothing, and gentlemen's furnishing goods, at Afton. In 1880 Mr. McKee engaged in business under the firm name of George Brown & Co. In February, 1884, he purchased the interest of his partner, and in September of that year, sold a half interest to his present partner, Mr. Balt Emerson. He has been a resident of Union County since March 22, 1867. Ile was born in Brown County, Ohio, in January, 1843. His father, Peter McKee, is also a native of Ohio, and now resides in Adams County, same State. Robert was reared on a farm in Adams County. In October, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Seventieth Ohio Infantry, for three years; at the end of that period he veteranized, and served until the elose of the war. His entire term of service covered a period of four years. ITis regiment was attached to the Fifteenth Army Corps, and participated in many of the most impor- tant battles of the war. IIis first battle was at Shiloh, in the whole of that two days' terrible fight, his regiment being in General Sher- man's division; thence to Corinth, partici- pating in the siege of that place. Here he was slightly wounded. Thence to Memphis, Ten- nessee. Then followed the siege of Vicksburg,
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
where his regiment assisted in protecting the rear of Grant's army from the Con- federate General Johnson. After Vicksburg, followed the movement to Jackson, Missis- sippi, thence to Chattanooga, taking part in the battle of Mission Ridge, under General Sherman, thence to Knoxville to relieve the troops at that place, tlience to Scottsboro, Alabama. At the battle of Kenesaw Mount- ain he was wounded in the arm. July 28, 1864, he was severely wounded in the left hip at Ezra Chappell, General Logan being then in command of the Fifteenth Corps. In con- sequence of this wound he was unable to undergo the fatigne of the march to the sea, and was sent home. In February, 1864, he had so much improved that he was enabled to rejoin his regiment at Beaufort, South Caro- lina. He was at the burning of Columbia, South Carolina, and took part in the severe battle of Bentouville, marching on to Wash- ington and taking part in the grand review; thence to Louisville, Kentucky, and on to Little Rock where he was mnstered out with his regiment in September, 1865. He has never fully recovered from the effects of his wound, and receives a pension therefor. At the close of the war he returned to Ohio, and eame to Union County in March, 1867. JIe settled in Grant Township, and engaged in farming. Mr. McKee was elected Sheriff' of Union County in 1877, and served four years, making a popular and efficient officer. Mr. Mc- Kee was married to Edith M. Lavy, daughter of Hinton Lavy, of Afton. They have two children-Edgar and Walter.
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ERMAN MIELKE, farmer, resides on section 5 of Pleasant Township, where he owns 240 acres of finely-cultivated land. Born in Germany in 18-12, he came in 1867, to America, settling where he at present resides. Ile started in life a poor man, har- ing only twenty-five cents when he landed in
America; but by hard labor, and fair dealing, and good management, he has amassed a handsome property. Ile is withal a liberal man, never refusing to contribute to any and all enterprises he considers worthy of patron- age. IIe is classed among the " solid " men of Union County. He is a Democrat, and both himself and wife are members of the Evangelical elinreh. Postoffice, Afton. Mr. Mielke was married in 1867, to Mary E. Shilling, who was born in Germany, in 1838. Their three children are-Emma, Charles and Nellie. Mrs. Mielke has two children by a former marriage-Henry and Lou.
ATILLIAM W. BARBER, section 11, Highland Township, was born in Lieking County, Ohio, January 16, 1839, a son of James and Anna (Williams) Barber, his father a native of Virginia, and his mother of Muskingum County, Ohio. He was reared and educated in his native State, remaining there until twenty years of age, and in 1859 came West, as far as McLean County, Illinois, and in 1861 came to Iowa and located in Union County. After the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he enlisted in the defense of the Union, and was assigned to Company II, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and served three years. IIe participated in the battles at HIelena, Arkan- sas, Little Rock, Jenkins' Ferry, Camden, Spanish Fort, Mobile, Fort Blakely and others of minor importance. He was a brave soldier, always at his post when duty called, but escaped uninjured, save a slight wound. After his discharge from the army he re- turned to Iowa and has since given his atten- tion to farming. He now owns eighty-five acres of good land, with a pleasant residence and comfortable farm buildings. Ile was married June 25, 1866, to Mrs. Nancy L. Denel, Jangliter of Jasper P. and Eliza Emer son, and widow of James II. Denel. She is a
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
native of Licking County, Ohio, where she was reared. She is a refined, cultured lady, and before her marriage to Mr. Barber was a school-teacher, and taught several years in Union and Madison counties. She tanght the first school in District No. 1, then a part of Lineolo Township. The noted Indian chief, John White, was one of her pupils. She has one son by her first marriage- Harry J. Deuel, now manager of Lombard's Investment Company, of Larned, Kansas. The only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Barber, James W., died in the fourth year of his age. Mr. Barber is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
TEPHEN J. BAYLES, senior member of the general mereantile firm of Bayles & Barr, of Cromwell, was born in Adams County, Ohio, February 15, 1845, a son of James Bayles, who was a native of the same county. He accompanied his parents to Henry County, Illinois, in 1855, and there grew to manhood, receiving his education in the common schools and at the Academy at Monmouth, Illinois. In 1867 he left Henry County, coming to Union County, Iowa, when he located at Afton, and engaged in the mercantile business at that place for a time, when he went on a farm, locating in Douglass Township, in 1874. Mr. Bayles was first married in the fall of 1868, to Miss Louie M. Abbey, a daughter of Ebenezer Ab- bey. She died November 11, 1572, leaving one son-Adelbert F. Mr. Bayles was again married December 2, 1875, to Miss Jennie M. Ingham, a daughter of Charles Ingham, of Afton, and to this union have been born four children -- Lula M., Sylvia G., Frank L. and Bert L. Mr. Bayles went to Barber County, Kansas, in the fall of 1584, where he remained one year, returning to Union County and locating at Cromwell in the fall of 1985. IIe engaged in his present business with his part-
ner, Mr. Barr. in August, 1886. They carry a full stock of general merchandise, and have the finest store in the village, and by their gentlemanly manners and strict attention to the wants of the public they are building up a good trade. Mr. Bayles still owns his farm on section 16, Douglass Township, which con- tains 160 acres of choice land.
AMES F. CREEL, merchant at Afton, is one of the early settlers of Union County, having been engaged in business at Afton since 1859. At that time he became man- ager of the mercantile business of Howe & Richards. In 1864 Mr. Richards became sole proprietor, and Mr. Creel remained in charge of the business nntil 1867, when he purchased an interest, and the firm became Richards & Creel. In 1871 I. N. Rice be- came a partner, and the firm name was S. Richards & Co. In 1874 Mr. Creel retired from the firm and it became Richards & Rice. In 1878 Mr. Richards again beeame sole proprietor, but Mr. Creel continues to manage the business, assisted by G. L. Bar- num. Mr. Richards is a non-resident, and seldom indicates by his presence that he is an interested party in the business. At one time an interval of nine years elapsed be- tween his visits, showing emphatically his confidence in the management of the business. This is one of the largest as well as one of the oldest mercantile firms in Union County. Mr. Creel has been a resident of Afton since September 29, 1859. No railroad had reach- ed the eity at that time, and the old-fashioned stage was the vehicle that enabled the trav- cler to go to and fro. Mr. Creel was born at Culpeper Court-House, Virginia, May 29, 1831. Ilis father, Matthew Creel, was a native of Fauquier County, same State, where he was reared, removing to Culpeper County when a young man. In 1947 he re- moved to Taylor County, West Virginia,
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
where he passed the remainder of his life. Mr. Creel's mother, Ann (Adams) Creel, was also a native of Fauquier County, and died when her son was three years of age. The father was three times married. To the first marriage were born four children, three sous and one daughter, of whom James F. was the second son and third child. The oldest son, Charles W., died in Grafton, Taylor County, Virginia; the sister is now Mrs. Sarah A., widow of John Towles, and re- sides near Grafton, Virginia. Her husband was killed by the railroad cars. Matthew J., the youngest, is a resident of Richmond, Ray County, Missouri. To the second mar- riage were born cleven children, six of whom are living, and to the last marriage one child was born. Our subject was reared in his na- tive State, and in 1834 came to Bentonsport, Van Buren County, Iowa, and here he met Seth Richards, with whom he has been asso- ciated so many years. Hle was married in Bentonsport, August 28, 1856, to Lucy F. Newlon, born in Virginia, and when five years old, removed with her parents to Mans- field, Ohio, where her father died, in 1851. She then removed to Bentonsport with her mother's family. Mr. and Mrs. Creel have had six children, five of whom are living- Charles A., Frank E., Seth W., James C. and Carrie. The second son, Albert B., died in infancy.
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