USA > Iowa > Wayne County > Biographical and historical record of Wayne and Appanoose counties, Iowa, containing a condensed history of the state of Iowa; portraits and biographies of the governors of the territory and state; engravings of prominent citizens in Wayne and Appanoose counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of Wayne and Appanoose counties > Part 20
USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Biographical and historical record of Wayne and Appanoose counties, Iowa, containing a condensed history of the state of Iowa; portraits and biographies of the governors of the territory and state; engravings of prominent citizens in Wayne and Appanoose counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of Wayne and Appanoose counties > Part 20
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my undivided time and serious attention thereto, so in the future I promise the most earnest devotion and untiring effort in the faithful performance of my official require- ments. I have seen the State grow from infancy to mature manhood, and each year one of substantial betterment of its previous position.
" With more railroads than any other State, save two; with a school interest the grandest and strongest, which commands the support and confidence of all the peo- ple, and a population, which in its entirety is superior to any other in the sisterhood, it is not strange the pride which attaches to our people. When we remember that the results of our efforts in the direction of good government have been crowned with such magnificent success, and to-day we have a State in most perfect physical and financial condition, no wonder our hearts swell in honest pride as we contemplate the past and so confidently hope for the future. What we may become depends on our own efforts, and to that future I look with earnest and abiding confidence."
Governor Sherman's term of office con- tinued until January 14, 1886, when he was succeeded by William Larrabee, and he is now, temporarily, perhaps, enjoying a well- carned rest. He has been a Republican since the organization of that party, and his services as a campaign speaker have been for many years in great demand. As an officer he has been able to make an enviable record. Himself honorable and thorough, his management of public business has been of the same character, and such as has com- mended him to the hearty approval of the citizens of the State.
He was married August 20, 1862, to Miss Lena Kendall, of Vinton, Iowa, a young lady of rare accomplishments and strength of character. The union has been happy in every respect. They have two children -Lena Kendall and Oscar Eugene.
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WILLIAM LARRABEE.
WILLIAM LARRAHEE.
ILLIAM LARRABEE is the thirteenth Governor of this State, and the six- teenth Governor of Iowa, counting from the Territo- rial organization. His ancestors bore the name of d'Larrabee, and were among the French Hugue- nots who came to America early in the seventeenth century, set- tling in Connecticut. Adam Larrabee was born March 14, 1787, and was one of the carly graduates of West Point Military Academy. He served with distinction in the war of 1812, having been made a Second Lieuten- ant March 1, 1811. He was promoted to be Captain February 1, 1814, and was soon after, March 30, of the same year, severely wounded at the battle of Lacole Mills, dur- ing General Wilkinson's campaign on the St. Lawrence. He recovered from this wound, which was in the lung, and was afterward married to Hannah Gallup Lester, who was born June 8, 1798, and died March 15, 1837. Captain Larrabee died in 1869, aged eighty-two.
The subject of this sketch was born at
Ledyard, Connecticut, January 20, 1832, and was the seventh of nine children. He passed his early life on a rugged New Eng- land farm, and received only moderate school advantages. He attended the dis- trict schools winters until nineteen years of age, and then taught school for two winters.
He was now of an age when it became necessary to form some plans for the future. In this, however, he was embarrassed by a misfortune which betel him at the age of fourteen. In being trained to the use of fire-arms under his father's direction, an ac- cidental discharge resulted in the loss of sight in the right eye. This unfitted him for many employments usually sought by ambitious youths. The family lived two miles from the sea, and in that locality it was the custom for at least one son in each family to become a sailor. William's two eldest brothers chose this occupation, and the third remained in charge of the home farm.
Thus made free to choose for himself William decided to emigrate West. In 1853, accordingly, he came to Iowa. His elder sister, Hannah, wife of E. H. Williams, was then living at Garnavillo, Clayton County, and there he went first. In that way he selected Northeast Iowa as his
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future home. After teaching one winter at Hardin, he was for three years employed as a sort of foreman on the Grand Meadow farm of his brother-in-law, Judge Williams.
In 1857 he bought a one-third interest in the Clermont Mills, and located at Cler- mont, Fayette County. He soon was able to buy the other two-thirds, and within a year found himself sole owner. He oper- ated this mill until 1874, when he sold to S. M. Leach. On the breaking out of the war he offered to enlist, but was rejected on ac- count of the loss of his right eye. Being informed he might possibly be admitted as a commissioned officer he raised a company and received a commission as First Lieu- tenant, but was again rejected for the same disability.
After selling the mill Mr. Larrabee de- voted himself to farming, and started a private bank at Clermont. He also, ex- perimentally, started a large nursery, but this resulted only in confirming the belief that Northern Iowa has too rigorous a cli- mate for fruit-raising.
Mr. Larrabee did not begin his political career until 1867. He was reared as a Whig, and became a Republican on the or- ganization of that party. While interested in politics he generally refused local offices, serving only as treasurer of the School Board prior to 1867. In the autumn of that year, on the Republican ticket, he was elected to represent his county in the State Senate. To this high position he was re- elected from time to time, so that he served as Senator continuously for eighteen years before being promoted to the highest office in the State. He was so popular at home that he was generally re-nominated by ac- clamation, and for some years the Demo- crats did not even make nominations. During the whole eighteen years Senator Larrabee was a member of the principal committee, that on Ways and Means, of which he was generally chairman, and was
also a member of other committees. In the pursuit of the duties thus devolving upon him he was indefatigable. It is said that he never missed a committee meeting. Not alone in this, but in private and public business of all kinds his uniform habit is that of close application to work. Many of the important measures passed by the Legislature owe their existence or present form to him.
He was a candidate for the gubernatorial nomination in 1881, but entered the contest too late, as Governor Sherman's following had been successfully organized. In 1885 it was generally conceded before the meet- ing of the convention that he would be nominated, which he was, and his election followed as a matter of course. He was inaugurated January 14, 1886, and so far has made an excellent Governor. His position in regard to the liquor question, that on which political fortunes are made and lost in lowa, is that the majority should rule. He was personally in favor of high license, but having been elected Governor, and sworn to uphold the Constitution and execute the laws, he proposes to do so.
A Senator who sat beside him in the Senate declares him to be "a man of the broadest comprehension and information, an extraordinarily clear reasoner, fair and conscientious in his conclusions, and of Spartan firmness in his matured judg- ment," and says that "he brings the prac- tical facts and philosophy of human nature, the science and history of law, to aid in his decisions, and adheres with the earnestness of Jefferson and Sumner to the fundamental principles of the people's rights in govern- ment and law."
Governor Larrabee was married Sep- tember 12, 1861, at Clermont, to Anna M. Appelman, daughter of Captain G. A. Appelman. Governor Larrabee has seven children-Charles, Augusta, Julia, Anna, William, Frederic and Helen.
HISTORY
OF
WAYNE
COUNTY
BIOGRAPHICAL
e
KISKETCHES.D
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of Mckinley
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ILLOUGHBY MCKINLEY .- When preparing for future gener- ations a memorial of the pioneers who have made Wayne County one of the most prosperous in the grand State of Iowa, we feel that it would be incomplete did it not contain at least a brief record of the life of Willoughby Mckinley. He is a na- tive of the Buckeye State, born in Belmont County, April 23, 1821, and was the fifth child of William and Tamar (Brown) Mc- Kinley, both natives of Loudoun County, Virginia. His early life was somewhat uneventful, attending school and assisting in the home work, as is common with sons of parents in moderate circumstances. When seventeen years of age he learned the carpenter's trade, which with char- acteristic energy he plied zealously for a period of thirty years. Being suc- cessful in his calling and wishing a home of his own, like all wise young men, he concluded to take to himself a wife and settle down to the stern realities of life. Accordingly, when twenty-four years of age, he was married to Elizabeth Carter, daughter of Richard and Rachel Carter, then residents of Guernsey County, Ohio. As years went on he became dissatisfied with his prospects in his native State, and, thinking the West held out better induce- ments for men in limited circumstances, in
the fall of 1863, with his family, he immi- grated to the State of Iowa, and located immediately on the farm in Richman Town ship, Wayne County, where he now lives, which is situated two miles southwest of the town of Humeston. At that time it was a wild and unbroken tract of prairie land, Mr. Mckinley being the first to live on it, although he bought it of Rev. Kyle, of Guernsey County, Ohio. His first purchase was 320 acres, but to this he has added untilhe now owns 720 acres in Rich- man Township and forty acres of timber- land in Clay Township. At the time he settled in Iowa, wolves, deer and prai- rie chickens were numerous, he often shoot- ing deer on the present site of Humeston. For fifteen years he devoted considerable attention to sheep-raising and was often annoyed and suffered severe losses by the wolves killing his sheep. His neighbors were few, and these were at some distance from him, but in those days were valued highly, as their kindred trials and priva- tions drew them closer together and united them with the bond of sympathy and true friendship. Not many of the companions of the early days are left, and ere another quarter of a century shall have rolled away they will recall the story of their life on the prairies of Wayne County in their brighter home. As time rolls on none will be re-
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membered more kindly or with more es- teem for the part taken in transforming the boundless prairie into a country of thrifty farms and prosperous villages than Wil- loughby McKinley, and it is with pleasure that we pen these altogether too brief lines that the rising generation may know some- thing of the life of one who was identified with the county in its infancy, or at least early youth, and may learn from him the lessons of self-dependence and honorable integrity. July 12, 1885, Mr. McKinley's wife, who had shared alike his sorrows and joys for a period of forty years, left him for the home beyond. She had been a faithful, loving wife, a fond mother and kind neigh- bor and friend. Their family consists of three children, two sons and one daughter -John R., the eldest, married Miss Han- nah Davis, and has four children; Rachel married Augustus Taylor, of Humeston, and has five children; the youngest, George W., married Clara Porter, and has two children. Mr. Mckinley was a charter member of Garden Grove Lodge, F. & A. M., but, on the organization of the Humeston lodge, transferred his member- ship to that place. He is a member of the Christian church at Humeston, and has been one of its most faithful supporters. He was one of the trustees when the church was built and contributed $400 toward its erection. He has ever re- sponded freely when duty called, and has never shrunk, even though burdens at times seemed heavy. He has by his indomitable perseverance been successful where many would have utterly failed, his courage and zeal overriding all obstacles.
OHN ULERICH was born in Baden, Germany, July 20, 1841, his father, Ja- cob Ulerich, being a native of the same place. The father brought his family to America in the year 1847 and settled in
the State of Ohio, where he still lives, being now a resident of Wyandot County. John Ulerich was reared on a farm in Ohio. His educational advantages were rather - limited, as his father was a poor man, and he was obliged to help with the work on the farm. He began life on his own account as a day laborer, chopping wood, etc. He came to Wayne County, Iowa, in March, 1877, and the first two years lived on rented land. He then bought his present farm on section 28, Clay Township, where he has a fine farm of 405 acres of well-cul- tivated land. All this has been acquired by his persevering industry, strict economy, and good management, and from a poor man he has become a prosperous farmer, and a much respected citizen of his town- ship. Mr. Ulerich was united in marriage, in 1866, to Miss Barbara Binaw, a daugh- ter of George Binaw, of Salem, Ohio. Six children have blessed this union, of whom one is deceased. Those living are-Anna, Laura, Lizzie, Cora and Julia. In religious faith Mr. Ulerich and family are Lutherans.
ALLEN, senior member of the firm of P. Allen &Sons, dealers in general merchandise, Warsaw, was one of the pioneers of Wayne County. He was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, April 15, 1832, the eldest of a family of five sons of G. W. and Rebecca Allen, who were both natives of Virginia. When he was five years old his parents removed to La Porte, Indiana, where our subject was reared, and, his father being a merchant, his youth was passed in his father's store, and in attend- ing the schools of La Porte. At the age of eighteen he started overland for Cali- fornia, reaching his destination at the end of six months, after much suffering for want of provisions and water. He was en- gaged in mining in California ten months, when he returned home by way of the
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Isthmus of Panama. In the spring of 1854 he came to Iowa, locating first at Center- ville, Appanoose County, where he carried on a drug store two years. In the spring of 1859 he went to Pike's Peak, Colorado, where he spent eight months, when he re- turned home. In 1860 he removed to Ge- noa, Wayne County, where he was engaged in the mercantile business for four years. In June, 1864, he enlisted in Company H, Forty-sixth Iowa Infantry, and after serv- ing four months he received an honorable discharge. He then traveled some time for J. S. Kimball, as salesman of dry-goods and notions. In the spring of 1865 he came to Wayne County, Iowa, and engaged in the mercantile business at Warsaw. He subsequently sold out his business and built the Warsaw Steam Mill, this being the second steam mill in Wayne County, where he did an extensive business for sev- eral years. Mr. Allen was married Octo- ber 17, 1855, to Tabitha McCreary, of Brook County, West Virginia, a daughter of William and Actius (Harper) McCreary. Of the ten children born to this union nine are living-Millard F., Albert E., Carl S., Leo L., Fanny Belle, Clora T., Eva A., William P., Isal V. A daughter, Floyed L., is deceased. Mr. Allen resides on a fine farm of 120 acres where he and his family have a good home, surrounded with all the comforts of life.
RA BANTA, of the firm of Ira Banta & Co., established the pioneer drug store at Harvard in May, 1881, this be- ing the only drug store in the town. This firm also carries a stock of groceries and other merchandise in connection with their drug business, and is carrying on a good trade. Mr. Banta is a native of Woodford County, Illinois, where he was born in 1849, a son of William H. and Elvira (Page) Banta, the former born in Mercer County,
Kentucky, and the latter a native of New Hampshire. Ira Banta received a good education, and for a number of years fol- lowed school teaching in Iowa and Mis- souri. For his wife he married Miss Sarah J. Weeks, a native of Indiana, and daughter of Aaron and Susan Weeks. This union has been blessed with a family of seven children-Ivan, John W., Alvin Ira, Earl, Alma, Dell and an infant daughter. Mr. Banta was reared in this county, his par- ents being pioneers of Howard Township, where they settled with their family in the fall of 1854, removing from Woodford County, Illinois, and are still residents of that township. They are the parents of four children, whose names are as follows -Mary Elizabeth, Ira, Alice R. and Laura E., all of whom are married and living in Wayne County, Iowa.
OLUMBUS H. CLARK, farmer and stock-raiser, was born near Ashland, Wapella County, Iowa, February 5, 1851, a son of D. M. Clark. He received his early education in the schools of his native county and later took a business course at Oskaloosa, Iowa. He was mar- ried in Benton Township, Lucas County, December 31, 1873, to Mary Ida Merrill, who was born in Trivoli Township, Peoria County, Illinois, February 14, 1854, a daughter of J. G. and Sarah (Thompson) Merrill, natives of Maine, the father born in Charleston. Penobscot County, and the mother in Hermon. Mrs. Clark's parents were married in Bangor, and subsequently removed to Lucas County, Iowa, where the mother died in 1873, leaving seven chil- dren, all now deceased with the exception of Mrs. Clark and her brother Everett, who still resides with his father on their homestead in Lucas County. Mr. Clark has been a resident of Wayne County since 1863, when he located with his parents in
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Union Township. They subsequently re- moved to Richman Township, where Mr. Clark worked on a farm with his father till 1881. He then purchased his present farm in Corydon Township, on section 2, from U. H. Welch, who had improved the land and erected the house and barn. Mr. Clark's farm now contains 352 acres of well- cultivated land, and his residence and farm buildings are comfortable and commodious. Part of his farm is bottom land, sixty acres being timber land. He pays considerable attention to stock-raising, making a spe- cialty of cattle, and has fed on an average, during the past few years, twenty-eight head of cattle. He also has a flock of sixty sheep. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are the parents of seven children-M. Bertha, J. Albert, Carl H., Hattie E., Sarah M., Kittie E. and Harry D. In politics Mr. Clark affiliates with the Greenback party. While living in Richman Township, Mr. Clark held the office of township trustee.
HARLES H. AUSTIN, editor and publisher of the Lineville Tribunc, is a son of C. G. and Harriet (Curtis) Austin, natives of the State of Connecticut. They were married in Portage County, Ohio, in the carly days of that State, and after twenty-five years' residence in Ohio came to Iowa in 1842. They lived at Mus- catine the next three years, and both died of typhus fever on the same day in 1845, leaving two sons and two daughters. The subject of this biography was born May 28, 1838, at Ravenna, Ohio, and lived with his parents until their death, after which, returning to Portage County, Ohio, he lived with an uncle until fourteen years old, attending the common schools. Going once more to Muscatine, he attended the high school until eighteen years of age, and then learned his trade (printing) in the
Fournal office. In the spring of 1858 he came to Chariton and engaged as manager of a paper, owned by the then county treasurer. A year later the office was sold, but Mr. Austin was retained as manager. Six months later, however, he went to Leon, Decatur County, and assisted in establish- ing the first newspaper in that town, the Leon Pioncer. Returning to Chariton he was married and then carried on farming near Chariton for two years. In the spring of 1861 he moved to Chariton again and took charge of a printing office and book bindery for his brother-in-law, whohad en- listed in the army. Then till 1863 Mr. Austin was again a farmer, near Chariton, having the care of, besides his own family, several relatives dependent upon persons who had volunteered in defense of the Union. During this time Mr. Austin was engaged more or less in trading. A stock company having been formed at Corydon with a view to establishing a Republican paper in Wayne's county seat, and a com- mittee being sent to Chariton to purchase the material, Mr. Austin arranged with them to come to Corydon and run the mechanical part of the Monitor, William Hartshorn being employed as editor. This was the autumn of 1863. Two numbers of the Monitor came out before election, when the county gave a Republican majority for the first time in its history. Mr. Austin remained in the Monitor office for two years and was then appointed revenue collector for Wayne County. He also engaged in photography. During his residence at Corydon he was for two years county supervisor for Corydon Township. His next move was to a farm three-fourths of a mile east of Corydon. During his residence of seven years on this farm he was en- gaged in job and editorial work in the News and other Corydon offices until Messrs. Miles & Le Compte purchased the Monitor and changed it to the Republican.
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He was by them employed as editor for a year, and March 18, 1874, he purchased the Lineville Tribune of Lewis Miles. Since that date he has devoted himself to the Tribune and resided at Lineville. He was postmaster of Lineville from October, 1879, to April, 1884. He was married at Chari- ton, December 24, 1859, to Henrietta Van Voast, and has seven children-Edward C., Carl G., M. Eugene, Clara E., Louise M., Chassie E. and Ivan W. Mr. Austin is a Mason and an Odd Fellow. Republican in politics.
TEPHEN VAN BENTHUSEN farmer and stock-raiser, section 10, Wright Township, is one of the old and respected pioneers of Wayne County. He is a native of Ohio, born in Goshen, Clermont County, November 5, 1827, the ninth of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, of James and Susan (Smith) Van Benthusen. His paternal grandfather was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and his father in the war of 1812. His ma- ternal grandfather, David Smith, was a sea captain and died while absent from home on a voyage across the ocean. When he was two years old his parents moved to Shelby County, Indiana, where he remained until manhood, and was there married. In the winter of 1851 he left Indiana and started with an ox team for Iowa. He first entered some Government land in Lucas County, where he lived until September, 1852, when he moved to Wayne County and located in Wright Township on the farm where he now lives. He owns 320 acres of valuable land which he has im- proved and has erected comfortable build- ings and has a good orchard set out by himself. He has a pleasant home, where he is surrounded by all the comforts of life, as a reward for his many years of toil, and can now contemplate with pleasure the re-
sult of a life well spent. Mr. Van Benthu- sen has served with honor in two wars. First in the Mexican war, enlisting in Sep- tember, 1847, in Company E, Fifth Indiana Infantry, and was absent from home ten months. May 19, 1864, he enlisted in Com- pany G, Forty-sixth Iowa Infantry, and served until his discharge, September 23, 1864, being mostly engaged on guard duty. Five of his brothers were in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion, as were also three of Mrs. Van Benthusen's brothers. Mr. Van Benthusen was mar- ried February 14, 1850, to Miss Margaret Kendall, daughter of Abbott G. and Sarah (Lucas) Kendall, of Shelby County, Indi- ana. They have had a family of seven chil- dren, of whom but four-Mrs. Inez Isadora Finley, Mrs. Susan Frances Searse, Mrs. Sarah Ann Stone and Zella Agnes are liv- ing. James A. died aged twenty-nine years, Margaret Jane died aged nine years, and one died in infancy. Mr. Van Benthusen has held several local offices of trust, among others that of assessor, township trustee and school director. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Confidence. He and his wife and three daughters are members of the Christian church.
R. FRY was born in Mason County, Virginia, December 28, 1852, a son of Samuel Fry, a prominent pioneer of Washington Township, Wayne County. Our subject received a liberal education at Western College, of Iowa, graduating from that institution. He commenced teaching school at the age of nineteen years, which he followed successfully for several terms. He was married March 2, 1874, to Carrie M. Kellogg, who was born in Lamoille County, Vermont, May 7, 1856. She came to Wayne County, Iowa, with her parents, A. V. and F. Jane (Marsh) Kellogg, in 1865,
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where her father died September 5, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Fry have five children-F. Bird, Jeva M., Arva M., Elo and S. A. Mr. Fry is located on a good farm of 190 acres on section 25, Washington Township. His land is under a high state of cultivation, and his residence, which is well furnished, and ont buildings are comfortable and comnio- dious. Mr. and Mrs. Fry are active members of the United Brethren church, and Mr. Fry is superintendent of the Sunday-school at Fry's Chapel. He is one of the enterpris- ing citizens of Washington Township, where he has won the confidence and esteem of all who know him. Poiticallly he affiliates with the Republican party.
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