USA > Iowa > Union County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 17
USA > Iowa > Ringgold County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 17
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
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M. JAMES, a successful farmer and stock-raiser, living on section 2. Grant Township, is a son of C. H. and Julia James, natives of Pennsylvania, the father born in Angust, 1816, and the mother in 1821. They are still living and are making their home in Lucas County, Iowa. Mr. James was reared to the vocation of a farmer, which he has made his life work, having been engaged in agricultural pursuits from his youth, with the exception of three years spent in the army during the war of the Rebellion. Ile enlisted in Company E, Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry, and took part in the battles of Vicksburg and Arkansas Post, and others of less note. He was honorably discharged at St. Louis, Missouri, May 23, 1865, when he returned to his home, which at that time was in Jowa. Ile was married, September 17.
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1868, to Miss Amanda Layeock, who was born May 28, 1845, a daughter of Jacob and Rebecca Layeock. Mr. and Mrs. James have three children-Jennie R., born June 17, 1869; Everette C., born September 1, 187S, and Eva J., born May 6, 1874. Mr. James lived two years at Grand River, lowa, during which time he dealt in agricultural imple- ments; then, selling out his business, he re- turned to Afton, Union County, and from there to his farm, where he now resides. Ile is numbered among the well-to-do farmers of Graut Township, where he has a good farm containing eighty acres, on which he has a commodious and convenient honse, and good farm buildings. Mr. James is a member of Henry Keating Post, No. 211, G. A. R., of Afton. Both he and his wife and eldest daughter belong to the Methodist Episcopal church.
S. KEITII, who, in partnership with John A. Evans, is proprietor of the ¿ lumber, hardware, wagon and carriage- stock establishment at 288 North Pine street, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1850. His parents were A. F. and Eliza Johnson) Keith, natives of Ohio and Penn- sylvania, and of Scotch and German ancestry. In 1853 the family moved to Linn County, lowa, where they remained a year; were next in Cedar County two years, and Mr. Keith was then in Muscatine County'until their re- moval to Union County, in October, 1879. Mr. Keith was reared in the hardware busi- ness, attending school a portion of the time of his youth. At the age of nineteen years he learned the tinner's trade. On commenc- ing in business he had but $75, and he bor- rowed $1,000, and proved worthy of his trast by his faithful business management. The firm now carry about $10,000 worth of stock, and their sales amount annually to about 825,000. Their stock comprises shelf and
heavy hardware, stoves, tinware, hardwood lumber, wagon and carriage wood stock and hardware, bar iron and steel. Thice hands are constantly employed, sometimes four. Mr. Keith was married in Muscatine Coun- ty, Iowa, in 1874, to Miss Lizzie M., daugh- ter of Zenas Barnes; she was born in Geauga Coimty, Ohio, in 1852. Mr. Keith owns his residence, besides other real estate. In his political action he votes with the Republicans.
ANIEL A. WYCOFF resides on section S, Union Township, where he settled in the spring of 1857. He purchased his farm of 160 acres of Joseph Peck, who was one of the early settlers of Union County. About thirty acres had been fenced, and twenty or twenty-five acres had been broken; a part of his present residence had also been bnilt. Mr. Wycoff was born in Mercer County, Kentucky, March 6, 1811, son of Nicholas Wycoff, a native of New Jersey, who removed to Kentucky with his family several years before the birth of our subject. Late in life he and his wife removed to Indiana and resided with their eldest son until the death of the father; the mother then went to Johnson County and lived with a daughter until her demise. Mr. Daniel Wycoff is the youngest of fifteen children-nine sons and six daugh- ters. All are now deceased except two sons. lle is the only one of his father's family that settled in Union County. He was married in his native State, to Miss Ann Wilson, and about 1840 removed with his family to Switzerland County, Indiana, thence to Deca- tur County, and finally to Union County. Mrs. Wycoff died in Indiana, in 1853. She was the mother of nine children-six sons and three daughters; two sons and one daughter are now living. For his second wife Mr. Wycoff married Catherine Riggor, who died May 28, 1885. They had four children-two sons and two daughters. His present wife is Margaret
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Wilson. But few people are now living in this township who resided here when Mr. Wycoff came. He has witnessed the growth of the county from its primitive state to its present improved and attractive condition. While his sympathies have, politically, been with the Republican party, he has not allowed party prejudice to influence his better judg- ment, and he intends to vote for the best men, whatever their political views may be. Ile has been a member of the Methodist church for forty years.
D. A. ALDRICH is engaged in the drug business at Creston, and is lo- cated on Montgomery street, his store being in the brick block known as the Eagle Block. Mr. Aldrich succeeded Morrow & Co. in May, 1886. The business was estab- lished by J. N. Tremain, on Pine street, in 1880. Mr. Tremain was succeeded by J. W. Timmerman, who continued on Pine street until the Eagle Block was built, sinee which time it has been conducted in its present lo- cation. In September, 1883, Mr. Timmer- man died, and Black & Wells succeeded to the business. The next change was to Mor- row & Co., and then Mr. Aldrich became proprietor. He came to Creston in 1880, and has considered this place his home ever since, although be was absent from August, 1884, until May, 1886, being engaged in the drug business in Texas. He was born in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, in 1851. In 1856 his father, E. J. Aldrich, removed with his family to Lee County. Iowa, but is now a resident of Pottawatomie County. In 1871 Mr. Aldrich took a course of instruction at the School of Pharmacy in Chicago, and was subsequently engaged five years as a druggist clerk in that city and Geneva, Illinois. He then went to West Liberty, Muscatine County, Iowa, and engaged in business under the firm name of Aldrich & Gibbs, coming from West
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Liberty to Creston. Mr. Aldrich possesses a thorough knowledge of his business, and has had many years' experience as a practical druggist. Mrs. Aldrich was formerly Emma C. Keith, daughter of A. F. Keith. They have two sons-Clifford K. aud Harry C.
J. MYERS, M. D., is the Homeopathic physician and surgeon of Creston. He Q settled here June 15, 1879, and is the second resident physician of his school in the city, the first being Dr. T. L. Andrews. Dr. Myers was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, January 12, 1854. When he was ten years of age his father removed with his family to MeDonongh County, Illinois. He began the study of his profession at Macomb, in 1875, with Dr. B. R. Westfall, and graduated at the Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago, in February, 1878. After graduating he engaged in practice in Wash- ington, Illinois. The school of medicine to which Dr. Myers belongs is rapidly growing into favor as its many virtues become known to the people. He has a large, lucrative practice, which is increasing year by year. He was married, at Creston, to Miss Mar- garet Silverthorne, daughter of O. J. Silver- thorne, formerly of Creston.
\ S. PERRY is a native of New York State, born December 5, 1846. a son of John F. and Christiana (McCum- ber) Perry, who were natives of New York. Our subject left his native State in 1834, when he accompanied his parents to Illinois, and in that State he grew to manhood, receiv- ing in the district schools a very limited edu- cation. He was united in marriage February 18, 1574, to Miss Sarah Stickland, a daughter of George and Olive (Sheldon) Stiekland, her father being a native of England, and her
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mother of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Perry are | to Miss Martha J. Morrow, a daughter of the parents of three children-Harry S., born William Morrow, who resides at Afton, Union County. Mrs. Bragg is a native of Guernsey County, Ohio. In politics Mr. Bragg affiliates with the Greenback party. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. December 22, 1874; Ilarvey O., born July 15, 1878, and Joseph I., born May 30, 1881. Mr. Perry remained in Illinois until 1876, when he came to Union County, lowa, and has since resided on his present farm on see- tion 3, Grant Township, where he has eighty 200000 acres of land under a fine state of cultivation. He has a fine residence and good buildings on his farm, and north of his residence he has a good orchard, which covers about four acres of land. All the improvements on the place have been done by Mr. Perry, he settling on the land when it was in a state of nature, en- tirely unimproved. In politics Mr. Perry affiliates with no particular party, voting for the man whom he considers best fitted for office. Mrs. Perry is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal church.
OHN E. BRAGG, farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 12, Dodge Township, was born in Coles, now Douglas County, Illinois, September 18, 1839, a son of Abra- ham Bragg, who was a native of Greenbrier County, Virginia. The family removed to Illinois in 1847, where our subject, John E. Bragg, lived till 1865, with the exception of eighteen months spent in Texas in 1859 and
1 1860, and while in the war of the Rebellion. He enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Sixteenth Illinois Infantry, in the three- years service, and participated in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Vicks- burg, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Keresaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Bentonville and others of min.or importance. In the fall of 1865 he came to Union County, Iowa, and settled on section 14, Dodge Town- ship. Ile is now engaged in agricultural pur- snits on section 12 of the same township, where he has a valuable farin of $20 acres. Mr. Bragg was united in marriage April 7, 1575,
OSEPII M. DILLOW, section 8, Lincoln Township, was born in MeDonough County, Illinois, August 7, 1851, a son of Frederick and Sarah J. (Baxter) Dillow, the father being a native of Virginia. Ile settled in MeDonough County, Illinois, in the year 1850, and in 1861 came with his family to Lincoln Township, Union County. The surrounding country was then in a wild state, and the family experienced many of the hardships and trials of pioneer life, going a distance of forty miles to mill, ete. Their first farm machinery was brought from Des Moines. Wolves, deer and other wild animals were numerous, and our subject and his father hunted and trapped wolves and minks. Our subject caught forty minks, which he sold in Chicago, Illinois, at $3.25 each, and in this way made his first money. At that time there were but a half dozen shanties where Afton now stands, and Creston had not even been thought of. The parents subsequently went to Clay County, Nebraska, where they died-the mother September 19, 1882, and the father August 25, 1883. Joseph M. Dillow, whose name heads this sketch, was a mere boy when he was brought by his parents to this county, and here he grew to manhood and was educated in the common schools. Hle bought his present farm April 7, 1875, which was then raw prairie, but by persevering industry he has brought it under a high state of cultivation, and has made all the improvements on the place. ITis fine frame residence was erected in 1876, and in 1885 he built his present commodious barn,
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which is 32x60 feet in size, with 18-foot posts and good basement. He was married, in March, 1878, to Miss Mande Maxwell, a daughter of Robert Maxwell, of this county. They have had two children-Edith E., who died at the age of four years, and Zella Florence. Mr. Dillow has met with success in his agricultural pursuits, and has now a fine farm of 160 aeres where he resides. He is devoting considerable attention to stoek- raising, and is making a specialty of short- horn cattle. Thirteen of his cattle have pedigrees, nine of them being registered, and he has also seven thoroughbred spring calves. Mr. Dillow has never sought office, wishing to devote his entire time to his farm duties. He is a member of the Evangelical church. Two of his brothers, Samuel and William, are ministers in the Evangelical church, the former in Nuckolls County and the latter in Seward County, Nebraska.
EORGE W. AURACHER, dealer in fur- niture at Nos. 205 and 207 North Pine street, Creston, carries about $4,000 worth of well-selected furniture, his sales amounting to about $20,000 a year. He was born in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, in 1860, and is a son of Gottlieb and Elizabeth Auracher, both parents of German descent: father died in 1884, and mother lives in Lisbon, Iowa. Mr. Anracher lived in the lat- ter place until he was sixteen years of age, his parents having moved there when he was six years old. He received a fair education. First entered the furniture business in Cres- ton, and since 1876 has commandedl a profit- able trade, and now owns a half interest in the building and in the brick structure at 203 Pine street, one house and two lots. In his political principles he is a Republican; belongs to the Knights of Labor, is a member of the School Board and of the Fire Department. Is highly respected by all who know him. Be-
lieves in no religion but that of humanity, and that we cannot add anything to the hap- piness of an infinite God. Ile was married in 1881 in Lisbon, to Mary Runkle, who was born in that village in 1863. They have one child, Harry.
RA SEELEY, section 33, Dodge Town- ship, was born in the mountains of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, October 8, 1829, a son of Gideon and Eunice (Townsend) Seeley, who were natives of New York and Connect- ient, respectively, both now deceased. Ira Seeley was reared to agricultural pursuits, re- ceiving a common-school education, the first school he attended being in a rude log-cabin with puncheon floor, slab seats, etc. He came to Union County in 1855, his parents coming at the same time, they locating in Platt Town- ship, with our subject. He was married July 29, 1858, to Martba A. Anderson, a daughter of John Anderson. They have had six chil- dren-Helen, Angie, Ralph W., Frank E., Carl E., and one who is deceased. Mr. Seeley was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in the three-years service in Company II, Twenty- ninth Iowa Infantry, and participated in the battles of Helena, Little Rock, Fort Spanish and others of less importance. He was home recruiting from November, 1863, till May, 1864. He enlisted in the service as a private, was promoted to First Sergeant, and commis- sioned Second Lieutenant November 10, 1864. At one time Mr. Seeley was engaged in teach- ing school, and tanght some eight or ten terms. In 1STG he purchased the Afton Tribune, which he published for one year. He is now devoting his attention to farming and stock- raising on section 33, Dodge Township, where he has a fine farm of 320 acres. Mrs. Seeley owns a tract of eighty acres. Mr. Seeley held the office of sheriff from 1856 until 1558, and from January, 1866, until January, 1870, he was county treasurer. He is county commis-
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sioner elect, at this writing, a position he has held two terms, has also served as township assessor a few years and school treasurer many years, and has also held other offices of trust, serving in all to the best interests of his town- ship and county. He is a member of the Odd Fellows order, and of the Grand Army of the Republic.
II. COPENHUFFER, attorney at law, joined the bar of Union County in 187S, and has been alone in his practice ex- cept abont three years, during which period he was associated with S. S. Dunning. He was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1853, where he lived until about twenty years of age. His edneation was obtained at one of the normal schools of his native State. He began to study law when about seventeen years of age. Later he came to Oskaloosa, where he continued his studies two years, and was admitted to the bar in 1876. The greater part of his professional life thus far has been spent in Union County. His parents were John B. and Susan Copen- buffer. The former is deceased, and the latter resides with her son at Creston.
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AMUEL G. LEAK came to Afton in Angnst, 1859, and bought unimproved land on sections 21, 22 and 34, in Union Township. The following year he broke a part of the land and built a house. Finding it necessary to return to Montgomery County, Indiana, whence he had come, to look after his parents, improvements were discontinued. In 1869 he came back and purchased a farm in Dodge Township, upon which he settled with his family. This farm, containing 250 acres, he still owns. Since 1881 he has re- sided in Afton, and is engaged in the grocery and provision trade. In 1854 he retired from
that business, owing to failing health. Mr. Leak was born in Montgomery County, Indi- ana, March 15, 1832. His father, Hiram Leak, was a native of Virginia, and was reared in Kentucky. He died in Indiana in 1865. His mother, Henrietta Harris, was born in the State of Maryland, and died in 1875. Iliram Leak was twice married, and had eight children who grew to maturity. Samuel G. was the oldest of the three children by the second marriage; the others were- Mrs. Lucretia Ann Handley, of Dodge Town- ship, and Charles M., of Guthrie County, Iowa. Mr. Leak married Miss Catherine A. Compton, who died in this county in 1880; his present wife was formerly Hattie M. Lawrence. By his first marriage were five children-Francis E., Emily A., Jolm H., Russell A. and Samuel A. He has one child by his second marriage-Bennett C.
ILLIAM V. McQUAID, proprietor of one of the leading mercantile houses of Creston, engaged in business here in September, 1880. His stores occupy a part of the Summit House Block, Nos. 307, 309, 311. In ISSO Mr. McQuaid and his father, J. R. McQuaid, engaged in the grocery trade at Creston, and in Angust of 1882 they added the china hall department. In 1884 Mr. Me- Quaid succeeded McQuaid & Son, and in April, 1885, he added the dry-goods depart- ment. The rooms devoted to the several branches of business are adjacent, and open into each other. The grocery department, which is very complete, includes a meat market, the latter being an important branch of his trade. The second or middle room constitutes the china ball, while the third room is a first-class dry-goods store. The rooms are commodious, the first two being 22 × 80 feet, and the last 22 x 70 feet. In 1885 his sales amounted to $90,000, and the first six months of 1886 reached $50,000, and will
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doubtless aggregate $100,000 during this year. Mr. McQuaid was born in Canton, Illinois, where he grew to manhood. He was reared to mercantile pursuits, and for three years prior to ecming to Creston he was a com- mercial traveler. His father still lives at Canton. He was married, in Illinois, to Miss Nettie Reffer, daughter of David Ref- fer, of Canton. They have four children --- Harry, Edith, Charles and Bossie.
OAH M. JACKSON, retired farmer and stock-raiser, resides on section 2, Pleas- ant Township, where he owns 140 aeres. Postoffice, Thayer. He was born in Marion County, Indiana, in 1831, but was brought up in Cass County. His parents, John M. and Mary (Watts) Jackson, were from North Carolina, and both died in Indiana, he in Cass County and she in Marion County. Noah M., our subject, eame West during the year 1863, settling in Pleasant Township, Union County, without any property; but he has earned his present estate, which com- prises a well-improved farm. His early edu- cation was very limited, as there were no schools but those supported by private sub- seription, and they were few and poor; but what Mr. Jackson lacked in school-training he has made up in common sense, by which he has attained a high standing in his com- munity. He has held the offices of school director, township trustee, justice of the peace twelve years, cte. He is a man of firm principle and consistent conduct, and is a member of Hopeville (Clarke County) Lodge, No. 306, I. O. O. F., also of the Christian church, and is a Republican. Mr. Jackson was married in Fulton County, Indiana, in 1851, to Phobe Gripp, who was born in Wayne County, Indiana, in 1833, the daughter of Frederick and Anna (Emmel) Gripp. The marriage has been blessed with the birth of
nine children, namely-Sarah F., who is now the wife of Peter Walters and has four ehil- dren -- Marion, Agnes, Harvey and Ona; Mary A., who married Elias Day, of Jones Town- ship, and has eight children-Minnie, Josie, Mand, Myrtle, Clyde, Emma, Clarence and --; John A. married Mary Olinger and has three children-Ethel, Bessie and Jennie; Elizabeth L. is the wife of Wesley Walters, and has four children-Carrie, James, Jessic and Nellie; Harvey F., Jay M., Nora M., Em- ma F. and Laura C. are the five others. Mrs. Jackson died during the year 1883, and Mr. Jackson during the following year married Miss Helen, daughter of Henry and Catharine (Hamilton) Baker, of Welsh and Irish ances- try. Her parents died when she was quite young. Mr. Jackson's postoffice address is Thayer, Union County, Iowa.
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DWARD STALKER, JR., farmer and stock-raiser on section 21 of Douglas Township, was born in Rochester, New York, his parents being Edward and Jane (Kneale) Stalker, whose history appears else- where in this volume. He lived with his parents in Rochester until he attained the age of twelve years, when they moved to Knox County, Illinois. After living there nine years, working on his father's farm, he came, in 1875, to Union County, locating at his present place. Here he has worked hard, and made all his property by his own exertions, now owning 240 acres of good land, all except sixty aeres of which is under cultivation. Ile makes a specialty of feeding stoek. His farm and buildings are so arranged that he can feed all his stock at home. He was married in Douglas Township, in 1877, to Miss Susie E., danghter of C. E. and Phoebe (Morris) Widger. the former a native of Ohio and the Jatter of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Stalker have three children-Charles E., Jennie M. and James IF. Mr. Stalker received a good
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edneation in the common schools, and him- self and wife are genial, kind-hearted, and by their deeds of benevolence have endeared themselves to all who know them. They are prominent members of the Free-Will Baptist church, and in political views he is an out- spoken Republican. Postoffice, Cromwell.
APTAIN B. T. NIX, Clerk of Court, Union County, was born in Ohio County. Kentucky, in 1840. ITis father, Rev. James E. Nix, was a Methodist minister, and as such was necessitated to change resi- dence often. When the civil war broke out the people of Kentucky were divided in their sympathies toward the North and South, and the partisan feeling became extremely bitter. There was no neutral ground to be taken. A man was either for or against the Government, emphatically and absolutely. When the time for deciding this question came, there was no hesitaney in the mind of Captain Nix, nor in that of any other member of the family, as to which cause he should espouse. They were arrayed at once on the side of the Gov- ernment. In August, 1862, our subject en- listed in Company B, Thirty-second Kentneky Infantry, for one year. Upon the organiza- tion of the company he was made its Captain, and he commanded the company throughout his time of service. The regiment operated in Kentucky, participating in the battle of Mill Springs, where the Confederate General Zollicoffer was killed. At the expiration of his term of service he immediately engaged in recruiting a company, which consisted of many members of his former company, and, as be- fore, was made its Captain. He re-entered the army and the company became Company D, Fifty-third Kentucky Infantry. He continued in the service until after the war closed, being mustered ont in the fall of 1865. He served with his regiment in Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. Much of the time he was engaged
in guerrilla fighting, the most dangerous and hazardous kind of warfare. Captain Nix was a gallant and an efficient officer, ready for duty at all times, and discharging that dnty wisely and faithfully. His record as a soldier is an honorable one. In 1868 he decided to come West. He first went to Kansas with a view of locating in that State; but not being altogether pleased with the country he retraced his steps as far as Iowa, and, in 1870, settled upon a farm in Clarke County, where he re- mained five years. In 1875 he came to Union County and purchased a farm in Platte Town- ship, which he still owns. He was married in Kentucky, to Virginia E. Rhodes, a daughter of S. C. Rhodes, formerly of Platte Township, but now deceased. She was born in Cinein- nati, Ohio. They have one danghter, Libbie F., born in Des Moines County, Iowa. Their first child, Alberta M., died at the age of five years. The father of Captain Nix died in Kentucky, in November, 1885. He had ten children, most of the surviving members still living in Kentucky. He had been twice mar- lied. A sister, Mrs. E. C. Lucas, resides in Creston. Politically, Captain Nix is a Re- publican. He has served as clerk of the conrt six years, having been first elected in 1880. He is recognized as a worthy and effi- cient officer, having been nominated three times by acclamation by the Republican party of Union County.
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