USA > Iowa > Union County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 24
USA > Iowa > Ringgold County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 24
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sor and assessor. Both Mr. and Mrs. Shannon are members of the Presbyterian church, and respected members of society. In polities Mr. Shannon votes the Republican ticket.
W. FOGG, railroad ticket agent at Creston, was born in Maine, in 1855, 1º and is a son of S. L. and Mary W. (Dow) Fogg, natives of the same State. Ile was fourteen years of age when he, in com- pany with his parents, immigrated to the West, in 1869, settling in Douglas Township. Union County. His mother is dead, and his father is living in Kansas City. Mr. Fogg was brakeman on the railroad two years and a half, when by an accident on the train he lost an arm .. He was appointed ticket agent in 1874, and has since served in that relation with perfect satisfaction to his emplovers and the many passengers whom he has an oppor- tunity to accommodate. Socially hic is a gentleman, and well qualified to fill the posi- tion he has so long and so honorably main- tained. He was married in 1878, in Creston, to Mary J. Allen, who was born in La Porte, Indiana, in 1855, and they have one child -- Allen S. Mr. Fogg owns four dwellings and lots, nd one store-house and lot on Pine Street, Creston. In his political sentiments he sympathizes with Republicanism.
M. PATCH, postoffice, Kent, engaged in farming and stock-raising in Platte @ Township, is a native of New Ilamp- shire, born September 17, 1833, a son of Dennis and Susan (Drew) Patch, who were born in the State of Maine. They snbse- quently removed to the State of Illinois, where they lived till their death. Our sub- ject was reared to the avocation of a farmer, which he has followed through life. He was united in marriage to Miss Jane Rodenbangh,
a danghter of George and Elizabeth Roden- baugh, who were natives of New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Patch are the parents of six chil- dren-Nettie, born November 19, 1861; Lorni O., born October 8, 1863; Emma O., born July 1, 1870; Cora, born March 22, 1872; Alice, born November 2, 1875, and Mattie, born February 27, 1878. Mr. Patch is iden- tified with the successful agriculturists of Platte Township, where he owns a good farm, eighty acres being located on section 29, and eight acres on section 2S. lle has a sub- stantial and comfortable farm house, good barn and other farm buildings in good con- dition, and his farm shows the care and thrift of the owner.
B. DEVOE has resided in Creston since 1878. Ile bought property in that vicinity in 1869. He purchased a half-section in Douglas Township and a half-section in Spanlding Township. In 1874 he laid out the first addition to Creston, and two years later laid ont the second addition. At this time he was a resident of Madison, Wisconsin. Hle built a large number of honses on these additions, and now resides on the second one. He still has several lots for sale. Upon his land in Douglas Town- ship the reservoir of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad is located. Mr. Devoe har- ing given the company a quit claim deed for that purpose. This is on section 11 Mr. Devoe has d me a great deal toward building up the city of Creston. Hle has erected about twenty dwellings, and in 1S$1 he built a fine brick block on the corner of Montgomery and Maple streets, the number of the block being 296. The dimensions are forty-two feet on Maple street, and 120 on Montgomery street. Mr. Devoe was born in Attica, Genesee Coun- ty, New York, in 1819. He was reared in Western New York, and married for his first wife Miss Lucretia E. Doty. Soon after his
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marriage he removed to Jefferson County, Wisconsin, then to what was then the town of Rome, now Pleasant Spring, Dane County, He was one of the pioneers of Wisconsin. Previous to coming to Iowa his life was passed on a farm. Ilis wife died in Jefferson County, in 1848. His second wife was Mary Kirby, a native of Connecticut. By his first marriage he has one daughter and four sons, and a danghter by the second marriage. Two sons and two daughters now reside in Dane County, Wisconsin, and two sons in Union County, Iowa. The oldest son, William, is a farmer in Donglas Township, and the youngest, George W., is in the insurance business at Creston, and represents most of the leading companies of this country; also a London, England, company, and a Toronto company.
TILLIAM F. CRAIG resides on the north half of the northeast quarter of section 24, Union Township, where he settled in the fall of 1873. He has eighty acres here and forty acres on section 25, township 72, range 29. He has been a resident of Union Connty since October. 1866. Hle first settled on the north half of the southeast quarter of section 24, where he resided about five years. Disposing of this land he purchased his pres- enthomestead of Josephine Linscott, of Wash- ington. Iowa. He has made ali the improve- ments that are on his place, it being wild land when he bought it. Mr. Craig was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, November 11, 1835, and grew to manhood in his native State. Hercecived superior educational advan tages, having passed to the senior year in Muskingum College. He did not graduate, owing to the breaking out of the civil war, and the enlistment of the senior class of the college, whose patriotism exceeded their de- sire for college honors. Mr. Craig's attend- . ance at college was not continuous, as he had ; of Afton. They have one son -- Guy C. Since
to pay his own way, which he did by teaching and engaging in other occupations. In 1860, when Abraham Lincoln was first a candidate for the presidency, Mr. Craig was in Illinois teaching school. At this time he had an op- portunity to engage in a newspaper enter- prise with Ira A. Batterton, who was publishing the Lexington Globe, and warmly supporting the Republican nominee for the presidency. Early in 1861 he returned to Ohio for the pur- pose of resuming his studies at college, leaving the paper in charge of his partner. But the excitement attending the beginning of the war, and the first call for volunteers, precluded the idea of re-entering school, and in July, 1861, he enlisted; but the State's quota being full he was not accepted. It being gen- erally thought that the war would soon end, and having failed to enter the service, he, with his brother, John Craig, went to Indiana and engaged in farming. It soon beeamo ap- parent that the war was not to end without a desperate struggle, and further calls for men being made, he and his brother decided to enter the service. The brother enlisted in the Seventy-ilfth Regiment, Indiana Infantry, and our subject, after settling up the business of the firm, enlisted in the Ninth Indiana In- fantry, and was soon placed on detached duty, where he remained during the entire term of his enlistment, serving as clerk at the head- quarters of General HI. B. Carrington, at Indianapolis, Indiana, and later with General Alvin P. Hovey. Ilo was well fitted for his position by his supestor educational advan- tages, and he discharged the duties assigned him with satisfaction. Mrs. Craig was formerly Mary E. Passmore, a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, to whom he was married October 31, 1861. She died in 1875, leaving live children-John C. M .; Maggie, a teacher, wife of E. S. Moffitt; Emma C, wife of J. W. Moffitt; George W. and Willie F. May 16, 18-1, Mr. Craig was married to Mrs. Effie Clough, eldest daughter of Robert J. Biggs,
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coming to Iowa, in 1866, Mr. Craig has been engaged both in farming and teaching. He has twice been a candidate for the county superintendency of schools, and the second time, in 1885, was defeated by only eighteen votes. He has been secretary of the School Board ten years, and township clerk for three years. He is a member of Henry Keating Post, No. 211, G. A. R., of Afton, and was identified with the Iowa National Guard for seven years. His first vote was cast for Abra- ham Lincoln, with whom he was personally acquainted; followed his fortunes through the vicissitude of the civil war, and finally looked upon his remains after he had been stricken down by the hand of his assassin. At the meridian of life Mr. Craig finds himself com- fortably situated amid the works his own hand has builded; his patriotism as warm as it was way back, in the sixties; an ardent admirer of his adopted State, believing that the near future will see her develop into one of the most honored of the sisterhood, and is willing to accept the situation and try to grow old gracefully.
IXON WATERMAN, editor and active partner in the proprietorship of the paper known as Every Sunday Morning, pub- lished at Creston, is a son of Lyman and Elizabeth (Wakefield) Waterman, natives of New York and Pennsylvania respectively. They were married in the Keystone State. Mr. Waterman has been a farmer in Demi- sylvania, Illinois and Iowa, to which latter State, Union County, he came in 1869. Jlc is now retired from active employment, and resides in Creston. Of cleven children eight grew to maturity, and five are now living. Nixon, the youngest of these, was born No- vember 12, 1859, in Kendall County, Illinois, and remained within the family circle until 1881, receiving his education in the public schools of Creston, and studying also for one year in the college at Valparaiso, Indiana.
Returning to Creston he was employed by S. A. Brewster, from September, 1SS1, to June, 1SS5, when he beemine interested in Every Sunday Morning. He is making a success of this paper, and has only friends in Creston. He was married March 14, 1883, to Miss Nellie Haskin, of the "Twin Cities," Wis- consin.
EORGE R. JOHNSON, farmer, stock- raiser and dealer, and dairyman, resides on West Adams street, Creston. He is a son of S. B. and Lucinda (White) John- son, natives of New York. They were the parents of nine children, of whom George R. is the seventh child and sixth son. IJe was born in Chenango County, New York, in 1847. In 1862 he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Fourteenth New York Volunteer Infantry, and corred two years and ten months, participating in all the battles with Banks and Sheridan; was taken prisoner by Mosby while on : foraging expedition near Winchester, Vir- ginia, was in the battles of Cedar Creek, Winchester, Red River, Port IIndson, Pleas- ant IJill, etc., and was mustered ont at Elmira, New York, at the close of the war. Then, after a three-years' residence as & con- fectioner at Norwich, New York, he came to Lucas County, Iowa, and settled on eighty acres of wild land, where he was a resident eleven years. Hlas resided in Union County since 1580. He entered the arena of life with no resources but his own, and has, through dili- gence and judicions nse and improvement of opportunities, achieved an honorable and merited snecess. He has always displayed a prominent interest in all worthy public enter- prises. He owns a fine farm of 100 acres on section 3, Douglas Towns hip, where he has a large, handsome house, with all the necessary out-buildings to correspond. He also owns eighty acres of good land on section 10, same township, on which there is a good dwelling
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
house, and one of the finest groves in the county; also several fine dwellings in Creston, and his residence there is a splendid, large structure, elegantly furnished. lle also has seventy fine dairy cows. Mr. Johnson was married in 1868, to Augusta Clark, of New York, who was born in 1947, in that State, and they have two children-Carrie A. and Nellie A. As a family, they are noted for their industry, perseveranee and uprightness, and are worthy of the respect in which they are held by the community. Mrs. Johnson is a lady of more than ordinary intellectual ability; is hospitable, kind and considerate, and for visitors makes her home pleasant and attractive. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
TENHOMAS GRANTHAM, physician and druggist, 150 North Pine street, Cres- ton, is of English descent, inheriting the true English blood, his father, John Grantham, being an English gentleman of note, and of the royal family of England, as was also his mother, Anna (Mercer) Hunt, who was the daughter of a prominent Eng- lish gentleman. His great-grandfather, Themas Bell Hunt, was a prominent physi- cian, and famed for being the discoverer of a specifie for diseased eyes. His father estab- lished the first veterinary college in America, and was for a number of years principal of the same, assisted by Rembler Paul. His grand- father was Mayor of York. England, which office is next the highest, that of the Lord Mayor of London being the highest. Dr. Grantham, the subject of this sketch, was born in 1836, in Upper Canada, where he ob- tained a good education. After completing his studies he entered a drug-store as clerk, in which capacity he acted until he was twenty years of age, in the meantime making a trip to the West, to see the country. Ile also assisted his father in his drug-store at
Brantford, Canada. At the age of twenty he went to Buffalo, where he engaged in the drug trade three years, and in the same busi- ness also for a short time at Boston, Massa- chusetts. But, having once seen the grand and beautiful West, and found Iowa to be his choice, he became anxious to change his resi- dence to this new and rising State. Accord- ingly he soon located in Creston and established himself in his chosen calling, in which he has been successful. Ifis was the first drug and apothecary store established in this place. In his profession as a physician he also com- mands an extensivo and Inerative practice, . employing a clerk in his store, where he has over $5,000 worth of stoek, his sales amount- ing annually to $10,000. In 1864, in Boston, Massachusetts, Dr. Grantham was united in marriage with Miss Ella Conny, daughter of William and Mary (Wilson) Conny, natives of Massachusetts; she was born in 1846. The doctor has three children-Florence, Myrtle and Bertie. Although a poor man when he came to Creston, the doctor now owns two fine dwelling houses and lots, besides his stock of drugs and sundries, all of which he has earned by his own industry. Hle is an enterprising citizen, and always stands ready to advance any projeet that he thinks will benefit the community; is a gentleman of fine social character and good principles, sterling integrity, and highly merits the esteem in which he is held. IIc has no taste for political life, and hence has never given any time to the strategy of politics. He has, however, labored faithfully to assist in the development of his adopted State and to enlarge the city in which he lives; is firm in whatever he deems to be right, diligent in the callings and labors of life, and has no skill in boarding money, as he looks upon that article as valu- able only as it contributes to the comforts of the body and improvement of the mind. It is due to Dr. Grantham to state that, while he does not claim to be a graduate of any medi- cal college, he did attend Knox Medical Col-
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lege two years, and has ever been a close student of the human system, and is certainly well posted on all medical subjects. Having also attended medical lectures of different schools, he is liberal enough to " seize upon truth where'er 'tis found." He is thus well qualified for the prominent and responsible position he now holds. ilis widely-extended and highly-respected patronage supersedes the necessity of entering further into particu- lars upon this head, except to note one remark- able feature of his practice, so far as we can learn, and that is, he has never been known to make a mistake in compounding and ad- ministering medicines. " Be sure you are right before you go ahead, " is known to be pre-eminently the Englishman's motto. As one of Union County's prominent and suc- cessful physicians, the publishers of this work enjoy the pleasure of presenting, in connec- tion with the above biographical sketch, the portrait of Dr. Grantham, which will be ac- ognized and appreciated by his many friends.
Page, in the manufacture of soap, their fac- tory being on the corner of New York Avenue and Union Street. He is an enterprising man, and is one of the prominent and infinential citizens of Creston, He was married in Cedar County, Iowa, in 1868, to Sadie Spohn, a native of Ohio, born in 1846. They have one child-Edna. Mr. Derr is a member of the Odd Fellows order. In politics he is a Demo- crat.
& MBROSE C. HAGER, superintendent of the county poor farm, section 12, Highland Township, was born in Steu- ben County, New York, March 31, 1832. His father, Peter V. G. Ilager, was a native of Tompkins County, New York. His great- grandfather Hager was one of four brothers, who came from Germany before the Revolu- tion, and founded Hagerstown, Maryland, where the grandfather of our subject, John Hager, was born. He went to Tompkins County, New York, when twenty-one years old, making that county his home the rest of DWARD DERR, of the firm Derr & Smith, clothiers. Creston, Iowa, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1848, a son of Philip and Catherine Derr. He lived in his native State until sixteen years of age. In 1864 he came to lowa, and lived in Cedar County, until 1873, when he came to Union County, and located in Creston, where he has sinee lived. When eighteen years of age he began elerking in a mercantile house, and has since given his attention to that branch of business. le has been industrions and economical, and by good management and honorable dealing has acquired considerable property. The firm of Derr & Smith keep a full line of clothing and furnishing goods. and have by their accommodating and genial manner and reasonable prices built up a good trade. In addition to his mercantile his life. In the fall of 1833 the parents of our subject moved to Richland County, Ohio, where the father died, in 1840. When he was eleven years old he began to work for his own maintenance, and when seventeen years of age began to work at the carpenter's trade, at which he served an apprenticeship of three years. ITe afterward worked at his trade six years. when on account of failing health he was obliged to seek other pursuits, and accord- ingly, took charge of the home farm and cared for his mother and stepfather until the death of the former. four years later, in 1859. After the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he offered his services in the defense of the Union twice, but was rejected on account of physical disability, and afterward gave $150 to assist his township to send out its quota o soldiers. He was a staunch Union man, and business Mr. Derr is associated with W. A. , although unable to go to the front, was always
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on the side of his country when necessary to make his sentiments known. He cast his first presidential vote for Fremont, in 1856, and has since been a strong Republican. In March, 1875, Mr. Hager went to Chautauqua County, Kansas, and the following September came to Iowa, and located in Union County, where he has since lived. He lived in Lincoln Town- ship until March, 1886, when he was appointed to his present position. He owns a good farm of eighty acres on section 15, Lincoln Town- ship, which is well improved. He was mar. ried in November, 1859, to Lucelia E. Magner, of Crawford County, Ohio, daughter of Edward Magner.
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APTAIN J. N. GADD, of Afton, is the manager at this place of the lumber in- terests of E. D. Rand & Co:, of Bur- lington. This yard was established by Mr. George W. Beymer, in 1868, and Mr. Beymer was succeeded by the present firm. Captain Gadd was born in Perry County, Ohio, in 1842. When he was four years of age his father, David Gadd, died. Ilis parents had twelve children, of whom he is the youngest except one. His father was married twice; four of his children, three daughters and one son, being the children of his second wife. Soon after his father's death the family re- moved to Morrow County, and in the fall of 1853 came to Scott County, Iowa ; thence, in 1854, to Wapello County. Au elder son, E. Gadd, settled in Davenport, in 1850. When sixteen years of age, our subject engaged in a furniture factory at Davenport, to learn the turning business, where he remained until 1861; then went to Bloomfield, Davis Conn- ty, where a brother, Rev. William Gadd, was residing. In July of that year he enlisted in an independent body of cavalry, which after- ward became a part of the Third Iowa Caval- ry. HI. Il. Trimble was Lieutenant-Colonel of this regiment. Mr. Gadd served in Mis-
souri about one year. He then returned, and engaged as traveling salesman for a eigar and tobacco firm, of Ottumwa, and was connected with this firm when he came to Afton, in 1867. For a time he discontinued traveling, and went into the osage business, but finally returned to the road, traveling altogether sixteen years. He has had charge of the lumber yard since 1SS3. In October, 1869, he was married, at Afton, to Cyrena L. Cherry, a native of Perry County, Ohio, daughter of Judge I. N. Cherry, of Afton. Judge Cherry settled in Union County when a young man. His family consisted of seven children, four daughters and three sons, Cyrena being the youngest. All are living except one, Dr. Cherry, who died in Winterset several years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Gadd have had three children, only one of whom, Charles T., is living. He was born October 12, 1870. Their only daughter, Mary Cherry, died August 29, 1885, aged seven years. Harry E. died in 1878. Captain Gadd's paternal ancestors were Scotch. Ilis mother, Elizabeth Gadd, was of English descent. She died at Daven- port, in 1865. David Gadd and wife had a large family. Six sons and five daughters are now living. Several of the sons are well known professionally. Samuel lives in Hyde County, Dakota; Dr. Joseph Gadd resides in Buffalo, Scott County, a prominent physician of that place; Rev. William Gadd is a min- ister of the Christian church, now in Attica, Kansas ; Enoch S. resides at Omaha, Nebras- ka; Dr. Benjamin T. Gadd is a member of the medical faculty at Des Moines. Upon the first organization of the militia of this State, Captain Gadd raised a company at Afton, of which he had command eight years. and when Governor Sherman was elected Governor of Iowa, Captain Gadd was made a member of his staff; and served in the capac- ity of Lieutenant-Colonel of Staff for four years. Ile is one of the wide-awake, public- spirited citizens, and always foremost in whatever tends to promote the best interests
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of the public. Ile has a beautiful home at Afton, and owns a farm on section 13, in Union Township. Captain Gadd has always been an "Iowa man"; in polities a Republican, and a lively one at that. His faith in the future of lowa, years ago, was publicly known, for he believed the State was soon to become the leading State in the West.
HARLEST. WELLS, American Express agent at Creston, was born in Canton, Ohio, in the year 1856. His father was Thomas Wells, a native of Pennsylvania, of Scotch parentage, and a contractor by occu- pation; and his mother, whose maiden name was Mary M. Gregg, was born in Pennsyl- vania, of German ancestry. Mr. Wells was appointed express agent at Fairfield, Iowa, when but eighteen years of age, and served five years, and than for four and a half vonpa he was express messenger on the railroad, running from Burlington to Omaha, Ne- braska. IIe came to Creston in 1883, where he has faithfully served in his calling, and carned a good reputation, bidding fair to be- come a prominent citizen. He is a member of the orders of Free Masons, Odd Fellows, and Legion of Honor. He was married in 1SS2, in Chicago, Illinois, to Miss Minnie Mathews, daughter of Amelia Mathews. She was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1862, and brought up there.
B F. SMITH, dealer in harness, saddles, etc., on Pine street, Creston, was @ born in Butler County, Ohio, in 1834, the son of Charles and Matilda Smith, natives of Pennsylvania. When he was fif. teen years of age he went to Franklin County, Indiana, and was a resident there until 1866, when he came to Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa, where he was engaged for ten years in the harness business, which he had learned in ; discharge he re-enlisted in Company O, See-
Indiana; he also followed farming to some extent, which vocation he had learned prior to the age of fifteen, in Ohio. At present he carries about 82,500 worth of stock, while his sales amount annually to about $7,000; he keeps two hands in his employ. He also owns a house and lot. In 1864 he enlisted in the One Ilundred and Thirty-fourth In- diana Infantry, and served four months, being mustered out in Indianapolis. He was first married in Bookville, Indiana, in 1854, to Frances Carmichael, who was born in that State, in 1836, and died in 1869. They had four children, only one of whom is now living, Lenore, the wife of E. Austin. The deceased were Eddy, Harry A., and one unnamed in- fant. In 1879, in Wapello, Iowa, Mr. Smith married Maria Blackburn, widow of the late A. Pierce. By this marriage there are three children-Everett, Ernest and Warren.
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