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 22
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 22
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ECK SANFORD, the able editor of the Humeston New Era, is a native of Montezuma, Poweshiek County, Iowa, born April 4, 1854, a son of H. Clay and Clara A. (Bates) Sanford. The father was a practicing physician for many years, and ranked very high as a surgeon. For a short time the family resided in Eddyville, Iowa, but in 1857 removed to Moravia, Appanoose County, and in 1865 located in Leon, Decatur County, where our subject
received his education. He entered the office of the Leon Pioneer, where he learned the "art preservative," remaining in that office till 1870. He then went to Burling- ton, Iowa, and entered the employ of Acers, Blackmar & Co., publishers, remaining with this firm nine years. In 1879 he went to Warren County, Iowa, and established the Lacona Record, which, after a brief existence of one year, succumbed to the in- evitable. He then established the Humes- ton Era, but about six months later ill health caused him to dispose of his interest. January 1, 1884, a firm, of which he was a member, bought the outfit of the old paper in Humeston and commenced the publica-
tion of the New Era, which Mr. Sanford has edited since July 1, 1884, and is also part owner of the paper. As a writer, he makes the advancement of his town, county and State his chief aim, and is an able and tireless worker. Mr. Sanford was united in marriage, May 24, 1878, to Miss Anna Gustafson. They are the parents of one child, named Marsalete. Mr. Sanford is a member of Humeston Lodge, No. 61, K. of P.
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EORGE McCART, one of the enter- prising and well-to-do farmers of Clay Township, was born in County Derry, Ireland, in the fall of 1838, a son of George McCart, a native of the same coun- ty, where he lived till his death. Our subject came to the United States in 1856. He first located in New Jersey, where he worked almost two years; then, after spend- ing a few months in New York State, he went to Morrow County, Ohio, in which county he was married to Susan Johnston, a daughter of Absalom Johnston, of Rich- land County, Ohio. Two of the nine chil- dren born to this union are deceased. The names of those living are-Mary E., Hattie E., George, Edmond, Isabelle, James and Sarah. They have also an adopted- son named Thomas McCart. Mr. McCart re- moved to Linn County, Iowa, in the fall of 1864, coming to this county in the fall of 1869, when he settled on his present farm, which at that time was a tract of wild prairie land. Mr. McCart began life in this country without means, but to-day ranks among the prosperous farmers of his town- ship, where he has a valuable farm on sec- tion 2 of 390 acres. He has always been a hard worker, and by his industrious hab- its and strict economy has acquired the property which he now owns. Beside the cultivation of his land Mr. McCart devotes some time to the raising of stock. He was
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a soldier in the British army, and during the late war he drilled two companies for the Union service. Mr. and Mrs. McCart and their eldest daughter are members of the Presbyterian church.
EPHANIAH DOUBLE, one of the pioncers of Wayne County, locating in Walnut Township, among the very earliest settlers, is a native of Butler Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, born November 16, 1830, and was reared in Butler and Warren coun- tics. His father, Zephaniah Double, Sr., was a mechanic by trade, and a resident of Butler County till his death. His widow is still living in Pennsylvania, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-four years. They were the parents of nine children, of whom four sons and one daughter still survive. Our subject was reared a farmer, but on reaching manhood he engaged in lumber- ing on the Alleghany River, which he fol- lowed for a number of years. In Septem- ber, 1855, he came to Walnut Township, Wayne County, Iowa, going soon after to Appanoose County, and engaged in the lumber trade at Hibbsville. He settled on land near that place, entering eighty acres, which he improved, living on the same for two years. He remained in Appanoose County till 1864, when he returned to Wal- nut Township, Wayne County, and settled on the place where he now lives, on sec- tion 23. His farm contains 270 acres of valuable land, located on sections 23 and 24. Since settling on his present farm Mr. Double has been engaged in the nursery and fruit business, and has quite an exten- sive nursery, supplying much of the sur- rounding country with trees since 1870, besides shipping them in large numbers to Kansas, Colorado and Dakota. He has a fine orchard, comprising twenty acres, which contains almost every variety o
fruit trees grown in the county, and has also about four acres of small fruit, such as grapes and berries of various kinds. He has made a success of the fruit business, and has established a reputation for the abund- ance and excellence of his fruit. In June, 1857, he was married to Nancy Hibbs, a daughter of Mahlon Hibbs, who immigra- ted to Indiana from Tennessee, thence to Wapello County, Iowa, in 1849, where he lived till his death. Mrs. Double's mother is now living in Appanoose County, aged eighty-two years. To Mr. and Mrs. Hibbs were born eight children, all of whom are yet living. Mr. and Mrs. Double have four children living-Rinaldo H., Othelo, Eliza- beth and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Double have seen the country develop from a wilder- ness to its present prosperous condition, having come here when wolves and other wild animals roamed at large. The nearest school to them was three and a half miles distant, and it was mainly due to the efforts of Mr. Double that his school district was organized, of which he has served as di- rector for eighteen years, the first school meeting of the district being held at his house. He now lives within the limits of the independent school district of Seymour. In politics Mr. Double generally votes the Democratic ticket, but was one of the first in his township to espouse the Greenback party.
NTON RUF, residing on section 21, Clay Township, was born in Baden, Germany, June 16, 1823, his father, Anton Ruf, having been a native of the same place, where he remained till his death. Our subject was reared in his na- tive country, where he remained until 1850. He then immigrated to America, locating in New Jersey, living there three years, and in 1853 removed to Kendall County, Illinois. He was married May 26, 1854, to Notburga
..
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Stoll, a daughter of Francis X. Stoll, who is now deceased. Mrs. Ruf was born in Ba- den, Germany, coming to this country when quite young. Mr. and Mrs. Ruf have three children-Charles A., Wilhelm F. and Bertha M. The sons are in Colorado, and Bertha is at home and is an excellent musician. Mr. Ruf came to this county in June, 1862, and settled on raw prairie land on section 21, Clay Township, which he immediately began to improve. He and his family spent their first winter here in a board shanty, and the following spring erected a more suitable house, tearing down the shanty in order to use the lumber for the new residence. His wife did the cook- ing out of doors at this time, and she and the children found shelter at night in the homes of their neighbors, while Mr. Ruf made his bed in the stable. As a farmer and stock-raiser Mr. Ruf has met with suc- cess, and by his persevering industry has brought his 130 acres from an unimproved tract of land to a well-cultivated farm. Al- though reared to the Catholic faith, he and his wife are now members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ruf commenced life in this country without means, the latter being obliged to hire out as a servant after coming to New York. She has always been a hard-working wom- an and has done her part toward building up a home for her family. Mr. Ruf landed in New York with but 75 cents in his pocket, and from this humble beginning has become possessed of a fair share of this world's goods.
EORGE RUSH was born in Blount 20) County, Tennessee, October 10, 1830, his father, James Rush, being a native of the same State. The father removed with his family to Madison County, Illinois, in 1838, where he remained till his death in the spring of 1846. George Rush was
reared to maturity on a farm in Madison County, Illinois, receiving his education in the rude log-cabin subscription schools, when any one sending one or more pupils had to haul his proportion of wood to be used in the school, which was chopped by the teacher and pupils. Mr. Rush was married December 4, 1851, to Mary A. Estes, daughter of Byrd Estes, deceased. Eight of the ten children born to this union are living-William B., James M., Nancy J., Fredrick P., Emma J., Florence E., Laura A. and Pearl. Mr. Rush has been a resident of Wayne County, lowa, since October, 1856, when he settled on his present farm, then an unimproved tract of land. He has met with good success in his agricultural pursuits, and by his untiring industry and frugality has acquired his present property on section 3, Benton Township, his farm containing 400 acres of land under fine cultivation. During the late war Mr. Rush served for three years as a member of the Iowa State militia. In religious faith both he and his wife are Baptists, and both are highly respected citizens of the township, where they have made their home for so many years.
ILLIAM WADE, deceased, was one of the founders of the town of Seymour, and a representative of one of the pioneer families of Wayne County. He was a native of West Virgin- ia, born in 1838, living there till 1854, when his father, Judge George I. Wade, removed with his family to Iowa. After residing a year or two in Davis County, the family re- moved to Wayne County, settling in South Fork Township. William Wade received a good common-school education, and when a young man followed the occupation of teaching for a number of years. He was married in 1860 to Mary S. Wilson, a daughter of Reed Wilson, an early settler
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of South Fork Township, where he still lives. Mrs. Wade is a native of Indiana, born in 1842. To Mr. and Mrs. Wade were born four children-Josephine, wife of William Merritt ; Cora, at home ; Lee and Worth. In 1862 Mr. Wade, accompanied by an older brother, Thomas Wade, went to the Pacific coast and took up a claim in Oregon, and there engaged in farming about two years. He then returned to Wayne County, and purchased a farm of 160 acres in Walnut Township, which he soon after sold and bought another quarter section which was also located in this town- ship. He added to his original purchase till he owned 480 acres. He also owned fifty acres, a part of which is a part of the town plat of Seymour. Mr. Wade was one of the prominent and well-known citi- zens of Wayne County, a very active and successful business man, being extensively engaged in dealing in stock. He died sud- denly of heart disease at Chicago, February 3, 1886, and his remains were brought to Seymour for burial. His widow is still a resident of Seymour.
ILLIAM F. PIERCE, retired farm- er,Lineville, Iowa, was born in Pulas- ki County, Kentucky, August 31, 1823, a son of Jeremiah Pierce, a native of Virginia. He was reared in his native- State and in 1851 removed to Putnam Coun- ty, Missouri, and in 1852 to Mercer County, and thence in February, 1853, to Wayne County, Iowa, where he has since lived, with the exception of a few years spent again in Putnam County, Missouri. When he came to Iowa there was but one house between Lineville and Corydon, two dwell- ing houses, one store and a blacksmith shop comprising Lineville, and three log-cabins Corydon. His mill was twenty-six miles distant and he often went to the Missouri
River for his groceries. The grass grew so high in the sloughs that a man on horse- back could not be seen a few rods distant. Mr. Pierce had always been a farmer until failing health compelled him to retire from the active cares of life. Mr. Pierce was married in Clinton County, Kentucky, Feb- ruary 13, 1846, to Malinda Key, a native of that county, daughter of Hugh Key. They have had five children, four of whom are living-Jeremiah N., Stephen M., Albert M. and Hartley B. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce are members of the Christian church. He has served his township as justice of the peace one term, and trustee several years.
ILLIAM MILES, deceased, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 6, 1816, and died in Corydon, Iowa, December 26, 1879. His father, Lewis Miles, was a native of Wales, and came to the United States about 1810, set- tling in Philadelphia, and later moved to Delaware County, Ohio, where our subject was reared and educated. He made Ohio his home til 1853, when he moved to Wayne County, Iowa, and made Corydon his home till his death. He was an honorable, up- right citizen, and in the twenty-six years he lived in Corydon won many friends, who valued his esteem and felt a personal be- reavement when he died. He was a lover of freedom, and a strong abolitionist, think- ing it an insufferable wrong to hold human beings in bondage. He was a member of the Free-Will Baptist church and an earnest and conscientious Christian. He was mar- ried in 1844 to Emily Welch, and to them were born'ten children, seven of whom are living-Lewis, Solomon W., Lovina S., Hannah M., Benjamin T., Martha J. and Emma F. Mrs. Miles died in October, 1865, and in 1867 he returned to his native State, and was married March 5, 1867, to
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Phœbe W. Bridge, a native of Marion County, Iowa, born October 6, 1825, a daughter of William Davids and widow of Dr. William W. Bridge. Dr. Bridge was a native of Athens County, Ohio, born Oc- tober 26, 1817, his parents having settled in that county in 1813. His father worked in the Kanawha salt works with Hon. Thomas H. Ewing, when that distinguished gentle- man was anawkward, barefooted, ignorant young man, twenty-one years old, at that time not knowing a single letter of the al- phabet. Dr. Bridge was a surgeon in the war of the Rebellion, in the service of the United States, and died in the hospital at Marietta, Georgia, in 1864. To him and his wife were born three children, but one of whom is living-Belle, now the wife of William Sproatt, of Corydon, Iowa.
ANIEL H. COMSTOCK, farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 3, Grand River Township, is a native of Yates County, New York, where he was born July 13, 1821. He was reared to the avocation of a farmer, which he has always followed, and his education was received in the common schools of his neighborhood. In 1832 he accompanied his parents to Madison County, Ohio, and in 1835 his father was killed near Springfield while working on the national pike, by the cav- ing in of a bank. In 1849 our subject set- tled in Cedar County, Iowa, locating in a sparsely settled country, where he improved a farm, on which he lived till 1869. He then came to Wayne County, settling on the farm where he now resides, and is the owner of a fine farm containing 270 acres of choice land. Mr. Comstock was united in marriage, September 18, 1842, to Miss Mary A. Sidner, a native of Madison Coun- ty, Ohio, and daughter of David Sidner, »deceased. Eleven children have been born 22
to this union, of whom seven are living- W. Lewis, who served as a soldier in the war of the Rebellion; Nancy J., Eliza, David, Charles, Mary and Edward L. One son, George S., was killed while fighting for his country in the late war. Mr. Com- stock has served his township as super- visor and trustee, besides holding other offices of public trust and responsibility.
ANIEL KELSO, farmer and stock- raiser, residing on section 3, Howard Township, is one of the old and re- spected pioneers of Wayne County. He was born in Switzerland County, Indiana, September 13, 1835, a son of David and Nancy (White) Kelso, the father a native of New York State, and the mother born in Indiana in 1800. Daniel Kelso can trace his ancestors back to 1750, he being a de- scendant of Alexander Kelso, who came to America from the northern part of Ireland in that year. His son, Daniel Kelso, was our subject's great-grandfather, and Robert, son of Daniel, was our subject's grandfather. David Kelso was a soldier in the Mexican war, and removed from his native State to In- diana in 1828, and was married in that State in 1830. He had a family of five children -Robert, William, Joseph, Daniel and Ad- eliza. Daniel remained in his native county till ten years of age when he went with his parents to Tazewell County, Illinois. His early life was spent in assisting with the work of the farm, and in attending the common schools, where he received but a limited education. In 1857 he came to Wayne County, Iowa, and bought 160 acres of his present farm. He then built a house, and improved a part of his land, on which he resided till 1861. He then re- turned to Illinois, remaining there till 1867, when he again settled on his farm in Howard Township, where he has since re-
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sided. His farm now contains 370 acres of as good land as can be found in the township, and is under a high state of cul- tivation. He has a substantial two-story dwelling, 20 x 40 feet, comfortably furnish- ed, and his barns and outbuildings are noticeably good. He has one of the best orchards in the county, which contains 260 fruit trees of the best varieties. In con- nection with his general farming Mr. Kelso devotes his attention to the raising of cattle and horses. Mr. Kelso was married March 5, 1864, to Fannie E. Marshall, of Wood- ford County, Illinois, formerly of Lamoille County, Vermont, where she was born October 5, 1845, a daughter of Charles H. and Melvina (Marsh) Marshall. Her mother was a daughter of Perry Marsh, who served as a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Kelso have six children- Inez F., Esther M., Nancy M., Jessie A., Charles D., and Mareness D. Mr. Kelso is one of the enterprising citizens of Howard Township, and during his long residence here has won the confidence of the entire community by his honest and upright dealings with his fellow-citizens. He has held almost all the township offices, and in 1882 was elected supervisor, holding that office three years.
¿LBERT E. ALLEN, of the firm of P. Allen & Sons, dealers in clothing, dry- goods, groceries, boots, shoes, etc., was born in Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa, the date of his birth being April 2, 1858. His education was obtained at the common schools and at his home. His early life was passed in assisting in his father's store and mill. The mercantile firm of which he is a member carries a larger stock of general merchandise than any other business house in Wayne County, their trade being second to none in the
county. Mr. Allen was united in marriage, November 1, 1884, to Ella Glasner, a daugh- ter of William Glasner, a resident of Wayne County. They are the parents of one child, a daughter, named Beulah.
ON. GEORGE McCULLOCH, M. D., was born in Benton, Holmes County, Ohio, October 24, 1848, a son of Joseph and Nancy (Miller) McCulloch, who were both natives of Pennsylvania. Our subject was reared on his father's farm, receiving his education in the schools of his neigh- borhood, and at Millersburg and Hayes- ville. After completing his education he began the study of medicine with Dr. C. E. Rayburn, of Brooklyn, Iowa, he having come to this State in 1870. In the fall of 1871 he entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois, with the intention of at- tending lectures, but the great fire which devastated that city in October of that year destroyed the college. After witness- ing this, one of the greatest fires, he re- moved to Michigan, attending lectures in the medical department of the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor. The fol- lowing year he entered Rush Medical Col- lege, of Chicago, Illinois, from which insti- tution he graduated February 19, 1873, with the degree of M. D. On leaving his Alma Mater he went to Malcolm, Powe- shiek County, Iowa, remaining there but a short time. In the fall of the same year he came to Humeston, Wayne County, being the pioncer physician of this city, where he is still engaged in the practice of his chosen profession. Possessed of rare mental abilities he is unusually skilled in the knowledge of his profession, and among the medical men of this and the southwest part of Iowa he ranks with the highest. The Doctor was married October 14, 1879, to Drucilla D. Maxwell, a native of Millers-+
Purge El ulloch Eng.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LANOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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burg, Holmes County, Ohio, and this union has been blessed with one child-Milan E., born January 5, 1883. Dr. McCulloch served as a member of the Nineteenth Gen- eral Asssembly of Iowa, having been elected on the Republican ticket. He is the owner of 440 acres of land in Richman Town- ship, which is a part of 800 acres of land which his father entered in an early day. He is interested in fine graded cattle, and has started a herd of Poll- Angus stock on his farm. He is also a partner of Captain J. D. Hasbrouck in the Home Bank of Humeston. Dr. Mc- Culloch is a prominent member of Fidelity Lodge No. 228, A. F. & A. M., and of Chap- paqua. Lodge, No. 121, I. O. O. F., of Humeston.
HARLES SNYDER has been a resi- dent of Wayne County, Iowa, since 1866, when he settled on his present farm on section 26, Corydon Township. He was born in Baden, Germany, Decem- ber 3, 1830, a son of Henry Snyder, who died when our subject was fourteen years old. Charles Snyder was drafted into the German army for a period of six years, but after serving his country for three years he resolved to come to America, and made good his escape, reaching New York City, December 24, 1854. He immediately went went to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he worked for a time. He was then employed on a farm thirty miles west of Chicago, where he remained three years, after which he was engaged in a livery stable at Burlington, Iowa, about eight months. He then located in Fulton County, Illinois, where he was married to Catherine Efland, a native of Germany. He removed from Fulton County to Wayne County, Iowa, in 1866, where his wife died in 1869, leaving three children-Milton, Catherine and Car- oline, of whom Caroline is now deceased.
For his second wife Mr. Snyder married Lovina Shottsman, a native of Ohio, who died October 25, 1882. To this union were born seven sons and one daughter, of whom one son, Eli, is deceased. Mr. Snyder has a fine farm of eighty acres where he resides. Politically he is a Democrat.
ATHAN TROGDON, who is num- bered among the pioneers of Wayne County, Iowa, is a native of North Carolina, where he was born in 1814. In 1829, when he was fifteen years of age, he went with his parents, Samuel and Elander Trogdon, to Edgar County, Illinois, they being among the early settlers of that coun- ty. There the father died many years ago, the mother and one of her sons still resid- ing in that county, the former aged nearly ninety years. Nathan Trogdon was reared to manhood in Edgar County, and was there married in 1835 to Elizabeth Hodgin, who was born in North Carolina in 1818, a daughter of William and Mary Hodgin, with whom she removed to Illinois, her parents living in that State till their death. Mr. and Mrs. Trogdon have had fifteen children born to them of whom eight still survive-Samuel A., Melinda J., Solomon C., Matilda M., James A., Viola D., Mil- lard F. and Lincoln L. Those deceased are-William J .; Cynthia M., married T. C. York and died aged thirty-two years ;the remainder died in childhood. William J. served as a soldier in the late war, enlisting in the one hundred days' service. He died at Keokuk on the last day of his term of service, Solomon and Samuel also served in the late war. Mr. Trogdon re- moved with his family to Buchanan Coun- ty, Iowa, in 1846, Iowa being then a Terri- tory, Mr. Trogdon helping to organize Buchanan County. Five years later they returned to Illinois, remaining there until
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
coming to Wayne County in 1855. The family remained in Monroe Township till the following spring, since which they re- sided on section 36, Walnut Township, till March, 1882, when Mr. Trogdon sold his farm and came with his family to Seymour. Mr. and Mrs. Trogdon are members of the Christian church. Although born in a slave State, Mr. Trogdon is much opposed to the institution of slavery. In politics he has always affiliated with the Republican party.
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OBERT C. GARNES, residing on section 7, Corydon Township, was born in Clarke County, Ohio, in 1836, a son of Joseph and Mary (Clark) Garnes, who settled in Corydon Township in 1856. Joseph Garnes was a native of Virginia, born in 1813, and when thirteen years old went with his parents to Clarke County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. He was a tanner and currier by trade, which he followed till 1842, after which he en- gaged in farming till his death. He came to Wayne County, Iowa, in the fall of 1856 with his wife and three children- James R., Robert C., and Catherine, who married R. J. Lancaster. Mr. Lancaster died in rebel prison, Charleston, South Carolina, during the late war, and his widow subsequently married Captain W. E. Taylor, and after his death she married a Mr. Nelson, who is also deceased. After coming to this county Joseph Garnes set- tled on section 7, Corydon Township, pur- chasing a quarter-section of land from the Government. He improved his land, on which he resided till his death, which occurred November 18, 1864, the home- stead being now part of the farms of his two sons. Joseph Garnes was one of the enterprising carly settlers of his township. In politics he was formerly a Whig, casting his first Presidential vote for General Har-
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