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 29
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 29
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was replaced by his present substantial and commodious residence, in 1862, and his barn and out buildings are in good condi- tion. In politics he is a radical Republi- can. Both Mr. and Mrs. Welch have been members of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1850. Two of our subject's uncles were soldiers in the war of 1812. His father, Solomon Welch, was a native of Vermont, and came to Ohio in 1815. In 1820 he married Lovina Smith, who died in 1835, Mr. Welch surviving till 1863. Their son, P. S. Welch, dicd three days after the father. Mrs. Welch's father, Friend Biggerstaff, was born in Westmore- land County, Virginia, in 1789, and settled in Ohio in the year 1816. He was a son of William Biggerstaff, a native of Ireland, and of high birth. He, William Bigger- staff, was abducted from his native country when quite young, and kept on board a ship for years, when he was landed in America to fight the battle of life alone. For his wife he married Rachel Ashcroft, the grandmother of Mrs. Welch.
EORGE G. RICHARDSON, one of the prominent farmers of Wayne County, was born in Davis County, Iowa, October 16, 1851, a son of Harvey D. and Elizabeth Richardson, natives of Vernon, now residents of Decatur County, Iowa. His father was married to Elizabeth Lockwood, of Vermont, in the year 1848, emigrated to Iowa, Davis County, and from there to Decatur County when George was but a small boy and there he was reared. His father being one of the pio- neers of lowa, moving to the State when it was inhabited by Indians and wild animals, all the hardships incident to a life on the frontier were undergone by him, and life at that early day was a bitter and trying experience. Our subject was reared
by practical and industrious parents, and the lessons he learned from them have resulted in placing him on a sound financial basis, and although a young man he has a good home and the prospect of a prosperous future. He moved to Wayne County in April, 1882. His fine farm is located on section 13, Benton Township. He was married April 12, 1882, to Rebecca, daugh- ter of Thomas and Mary Beal, of Corydon, Iowa. They have two children-Thomas H. and Mary N. Mr. Richardson is an active member of the Masonic fraternity.
AMES HALL, one of the enterprising farmers of Richman Township, Wayne County, resides on section 15, where he has a fine farm of 430 acres, lying partly in Wayne and partly in Lucas County. He was born in Cumberland County, New Jersey, September 15, 1844, and is the son of Caleb S. and Phœbe (Ayres) Hall. When he was thirteen months old he had the misfortune to lose his mother, and in 1848 his father removed to Peoria County, Illi- nois, where he engaged in agricultural pur- suits and later in the mercantile business. He subsequently moved to Fulton County, and from there to Marshall County in the same State. When James was ten years of age he left his father's home, going to live with M. P. Simms, a brother-in-law, and remained with him about six years. From that time he worked by the month for various parties until February 1, 1864, when he enlisted in Company E, Eighty- sixth Illinois Infantry, under Colonel Fahne- stock, and took part in the battles of Rome, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Dalton, Resaca, Rocky Face Ridge, the en- gagements around Atlanta and at Jones- boro, Georgia, where he was slightly wounded. He moved on with Sher- man's victorious army and participated
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in the engagements at Averysboro and Bentonville, and when the regiment was mustered out he was transferred to Com- pany E, Thirty-fourth Illinois Infantry, as his time had not expired, and served until July, 1865, receiving his discharge a month later at Chicago. He returned home and after taking a much-needed rest he again worked at farming by the month. He subsequently farmed with H. S. Brown on shares, remaining with him several years. Early in 1869 he came to Wayne County, Iowa, and on the 4th of March was- married to Miss Sarah A. Barnes. He returned to Illinois, but in the fall of the same year came to Iowa, and early in 1870 settled in Lucas County, where he lived until 1874, when he moved to Wayne County, where he has since lived. He is numbered among Wayne County's most intelligent self-made men, and deservedly stands high in the estima- tion of all. He is a member of Humeston Lodge, No. 61, K. of P., and Wayne Post, No. 137, G. A. R. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have two children-Carrie A. and Lillie M. They are members of the Baptist church.
ENRY McVEY, deceased, was a na- tive of Maryland, where he was born April 24, 1825, a son of William and Mary (Bailey) McVey. When a child he went with his parents to Coshocton Coun- ty, Ohio, where his mother died, his father surviving till January 29, 1869. His fa- ther's family afterward removed to Greene County, Indiana, where he lived till becom- ing a resident of this county, when he lo- cated on the farm where his family has since resided. He was united in marriage December 1, 1859, to Mary Miller, daugh- ter of John and Sophia (Walworth) Miller, natives of Pennsylvania and Canada respect- ively. Her father is now deceased, and 28
her mother makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. McVey. Of the eight chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. McVey five are living-John W., Benjamin N., Nel- lie M., Joseph M. and Lewis F. John mar- ried Lillie Ritchie and has one child -- Mary L. He is a resident of Clay Township, this county. Mr. McVey died in Clay Township on his farm, on section 17, February 5, 1882, and in his death his family lost an affec- tionate husband and father, and the township a good citizen. He was upright in all his dealings, and was highly respected by all who knew him. During his life he was a hard working man, and many a time has split 300 rails in a day, and at his death his family was left in comfortable circumstan- ces.
OHN FENLEY, residing in Wright Township, on section 9, was born in Hendricks County, Indiana, April 22, 1837, a son of Havilah and Melinda (Bohan- nan) Fenley, the father now deceased. They were the parents of ten children- Nancy, Mary, Eli J., John, Andrew, Eme- line, James, Mahala and Isaac (twins) and Lemuel. After the death of the father, the mother was subsequently married to John Allen, one of the old pioneers of Wayne County, the date of their marriage being April 20, 1871. John Allen was born in Mason County, Virginia, March 4, 1806, a son of John and Rachel Allen. He has been a resident of Wayne County, Iowa, since 185 1, and is now living with our subject in Wright Township He held the office of clerk of Wayne County for eighteen months. John Fenley, whose name heads this sketch, was reared in his native county till seventeen years of age, when he re- moved with his parents to Putnam County, Indiana. He was united in marriage, No- vember 27, 1860, to Nancy Jane Wright, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Rude)
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Wright. Six of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fenley, are living-F. M., Laura Belle, Charles M., Albert, Cynthia O. and Gertrude. A son, William Wash- ington, is deceased. Mr. Fenley came with his family to Wayne County, Iowa, in 1868, and first located on section 16, Wright Township, where he resided eight years, and in 1877 settled on the farm where he has since made his home. His farm con- tains ninety-four acres of choice land under thorough cultivation, on which he has a good residence and farm buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Fenley are consistent members of the Missionary Baptist church, and re- spected members of society.
EVI CALDWELL, engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising on section 17, Clay Township, was born in Portage County, Ohio, October 23, 1822, his father, John Caldwell, being a native of Westmore- land County, Pennsylvania, and an early settler of Ohio. Our subject received his education in the schools of his neighbor- hood, which were supported by subscrip- tions, the school-house being a rude log cabin. He was reared to agricultural pur- suits which he has followed through life, and by his persevering industry and excel- lent management he has succeeded well in his farming operations, and is now the owner of a finc farm in Clay Township which contains 205 acres of land under good cultivation. He has been a resident of Wayne County since 1855 when he lo- cated in Richman Township, four miles north of his present farm. He has made his home on section 17, Clay Township, since 1860, but the board shanty in which he then settled has given place to a sub- stantial farm dwelling. Mr. Caldwell was married in Portage County, Ohio, October 25, 1843, to Louisa M. Curtis, a daughter
of Reuben and Hopy (Hills) Curtis. Nine children have been born to them, five of whom are living-Oscar G., Marietta J., John F., Lydia A. and Seymour G., all now married and settled in life. One son, Gilbert C., was killed in a snow slide in Colorado, in February, 1878, at the age of twenty-six years. Mr. Caldwell has served his township as trustee, school director and road supervisor. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
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W. FREELAND, the oldest practic- ing attorney now living in Corydon, is a native of Owen County, Indiana, born in August, 1840, a son of John R. and Anna (Hance) Freeland, natives of Mary- land. The mother died when our subject was a child, the father living to the ad- vanced age of eighty-five years. The carly educational advantages of Mr. Freeland were such as the common schools of his native town afforded. He afterward at- tended the county seminary of his native county for one year. In 1857, at the age of seventeen years, he left his native county, coming to Corydon for the purpose of re- ceiving instruction of W. E. Taylor, then one of the prominent lawyers of Wayne County, Iowa. He remained a student in his office till the fall of 1859 when he was admitted to the bar, J. S. Townsend being at that time presiding judge. After being admitted to the bar he became associated with Mr. Taylor, under the firm name of Taylor & Freeland. In 1862 the former entered the army, when Mr. Frceland practiced alone for several years. He then formed a partnership with J. N. McClenc- han, with whom he practiced several years, when he was again alone for two or three years. E. E. Clark was then associated with him two years, and in 1879 the present law firm of Freeland & Miles was formed.
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As will be seen, Mr. Freeland has spent all his professional life in Corydon. Com- ing here when but a boy and when Wayne County was in its infancy, he has witnessed its remarkable growth and the changes which have taken place in the past thirty years. Probably no man is more widely known in Wayne County than Mr. Free- land. He has always been a close student of his profession, and, aided by a sound judgment and clear reasoning powers, has gained the head of his profession, and his opinions on matters of law are regarded as authoritative. Before the office of County Judge was abolished Mr. Free- land served one term in that capacity, be- ing elected in 1860. In politics he has al- ways affiliated with the Democratic party. Mr. Freeland was married in January, 1861, to Miss Belle Kelley, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of B. H. Kelley. They have three children-Carrie B., wife of J. S. Garrett ; Lillie and Floy,
B. PORTER, son of Samuel and Lydia Porter, was born in Fulton County, Illinois, October 2, 1854. When he was a babe he was taken by his parents to Wayne County, Iowa, they loca- ting on the farm which is still the home of our subject. Here he was reared to the life of a farmer, receiving a limited education in the common schools of the county. June 28, 1874, he was united in marriage to Mar- tha E. Rook, she being a daughter of Adam and Barbara (Grubaugh) Rook, of Mercer County, Missouri. This union has been blessed with two children, a daughter, Sarah Etta, and Gilbert Glenn. Mr. Por- ter, though yet a young man, has gained a good position in the county, both socially and financially, and is classed among the enterprising farmers of Clinton Town- ship, where he has so long resided. His
mother finds a home with him, where she is surrounded with all the necessary com- forts of life. Mr. Porter is quite extensively engaged in dealing in stock, and has some fine specimens of horses and mules on his farm, his mules and jacks being classed among the best in the county. He is pleas- antly located on section 21, Clinton Town- ship, having a good story and a half residence built in 1883, and his farm under thorough cultivation.
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OHN A. JOHNSON, general mer- chant, Lineville, was born near Cam- bridge, Guern sey County, Ohio, Octo- ber 9, 1843. His father, Jesse Johnson, was a native of Pennsylvania. In early life he followed the hatter's trade, but later en- gaged in agricultural pursuits which he fol- lowed till his death. John A. Johnson was reared on a farm, and in his youth attended the common-schools, completing his educa- tion at the Garden Grove (lowa) Seminary. He enlisted in the late war in Company H, Seventy-eighth Ohio Infantry, and partici- pated in the battles of Shiloh and Donelson. .He was discharged on account of disability. He came to Wayne County, Iowa, in the fall of 1865, and in the spring of 1867 set- tled in Lineville, where he had charge of the school for one year. He had taught school one year previous to coming to this place. He then ran a branch store at Som- erset, Missouri, for J. M. Sullivan, when he returned to Lineville. He then clerked one year at this place for Mr. Sullivan, when he engaged in business on his own account, in which he has metwith ex- cellent success. He began life without means but by his persevering industry and energy he has become one of the well-to-do citizens of Wayne County. He carries a stock of $6,000, his annual sales amounting to about $10,000. Mr.
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Johnson was married June 8, 1871, to Julia A. Mead, daughter of George Mead, of Grand River Township. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Presbyterian church, the church of that denomination at Lineville being organized by them. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Good Templar's order. He was nominated by the Republican party for the Iowa State Legislature, in 1881, but was defeated solely because he made the canvass from a tem- perance standpoint.
OHN R. RANKIN, deceased, was one of the pioneers of Wayne County, Iowa. He was born in Brown County, Ohio, December 20, 1809, and was there married to Polly Harbaugh, a native of Adams County, Ohio, born October 7, 1814. In 1832 they moved to Hamilton County, Indiana, and settled on a new farm which he improved, making it his home until 1854, when he moved to Warren County, Iowa, and in April of the next year located in Wayne County, on section 24, Warren Township, where he entered 320 acres of land, to which he afterward added sixty acres. The family at that time consisted of four children-William M., John W., Mary E. (dicd aged ten years); and Thomas T. (died aged five years). An elder son, Lewis H., remained in Indiana, but came to Iowa in 1859. Two children were born in Iowa, but both died in childhood. In 1866 Mr. and Mrs. Rankin visited their old home in Hamilton County, Indiana, and when returning home Mrs. Rankin was taken sick with cholera, and died on the evening of the day she returned home. Mr. Rankin was attacked with the same disease three days later and lived but a few hours. Their son, William M. Rankin, was born in Hamilton County, Indiana, Sep-
tember 30, 1841. He was a gallant soldier in the war for the preservation of the Union, serving with his two brothers in the Twenty-third Iowa Infantry. In 1871 he lost his right arm in his flouring mill at Warsaw, and for several years has been traveling salesman for M. C. Lillic & Co., of Columbus, Ohio, selling lodge fixtures, regalias, etc. He, married Martha M. Farnsworth and has six children, three sons and three daughters. John W. Rankin was born in Indiana, February 21, 1844. He enlisted July 26, 1862, in Company D, Twenty-third Iowa Infantry. He partici- pated in the battle of Port Gibson, and was there on detached service until May 15, 1863, when he joined his regiment at Ray- mond, Mississippi, and took part in the bat- tle of Champion Hills, May 16. The follow- ing day he was seriously wounded at the charge at Black River Bridge, which resulted in his discharge from the service September 21. He remained on the home- stead farm until 1870, when he engaged in the dry-goods business at Warsaw, and later at Allerton, where he now resides. Mr. Rankin has been twice married. His first wife was Nancy E. Wilson, daughter of James R. Wilson. She died in 1878, leav- ing two children-Mary E. and Hattie M. His present wife was Mary J. Wilson, a sister of his first wife. They have one son -Charles G., born December 16, 1881.
C. THOMAS, section 24, Jackson Township, is one of the enterpris- ing farmers and stock-raisers of Wayne County. He is a native of Jef- ferson County, Iowa, born January 4, 1851, a son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Ander- son) Thomas. His early life was spent in assisting his father on the farm and in at- tending school, remaining at home until manhood. In 1875 he went to Wayne
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County, and in 18So located on his present farm, where he owns 240 acres of valuable land near the village of Harvard. He has one of the pleasantest homes in the town- ship, surrounded with shade and ornamental trees, with a good orchard and an abund- ance of small fruit. Mr. Thomas was married October 26, 1876, to Mary Thomp- son, who died September 8, 1878, leaving one child-Charles T. March 17, 1881, Mr. Thomas married Mary Harper, daughter of Daniel and Sarah Harper. They have two children-William and Ira T.
E. BUOY, youngest child of Nathan- iel and Mary (Reighter) Buoy, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Perry County, December 17, 1825. His parents were of German ancestry. They had a family of ten children as follows- Mary, Sarah, George, Joseph, Catherine, John, Matilda, Susan, Nancy and Nathan- iel E. Our subject remained on the home farm till seventeen years of age, when he began learning the carpenter's trade which he followed many years, making that his principal avocation till 1851. At the age of twenty-two years he went to Adams County, Ohio, living there till 1853. He was united in marriage, November 22, 1854, to Anna Query, a daughter of William and Ruhama Query, who died November 3, 1863, leaving five children-Mary A., John WV., W. Hyman, Anna Jane and Wilber N. Mr. Buoy was again married March 3, 1864, to Mary Johnson, of Licking County, Ohio, who came with her parents, Samuel and Mary (Wheeler) Johnson, to Iowa in 1860. One son, George E., has been born to this union. In 1863 Mr. Buoy came to Wright Township, Wayne County, Iowa, when he bought part of his present farm. He has added to his original purchase till his farm now contains 480 acres of as good
land as can be found in the township, all under cultivation. He has a comfortable and commodious residence, which was erected in 1875, and a fine barn, 36 × 51 fect in size with good basement underneath, and other farm buildings all in good con- dition. Since coming here he has devoted his attention to general farming and stock- raising, which he has followed industri- ously, and by his good management has ac- quired his present fine property, he having commenced life without means. He is now classed among the wealthy and influential citizens of Wright Township, and during his residence here has filled acceptably most of the township offices. He has been elected three times justice of the peace but declined to serve. In his political views he is a Democrat. He is a member of Bethlehem Lodge, No. 125, I. O. O. F. Both he and his wife are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
APTAIN JOHN M. DAVIS, de- ceased, who was one of the well- known pioneers of Wayne County, was a native of Rockbridge County, Vir- ginia, born March 20, 1790, a son of James and Florence (Blackwood) Davis, the father of Scotch-Irish descent. and served as a soldier in the war of the Revolution. James Davis removed with his family to Fayette County, Kentucky, and located near Lexington in 1791. John M. Davis, whose name heads this sketch, received a fair education at his home, his mother, who was a good scholar, being his teacher. He began teaching school when quite young, and followed the teacher's profession with success for many years. He served as a soldier during the war of 1812, being clerk in the Commissary Department for a time, and was Captain of a company of scouts in the Northwest in 1814. He was united in
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marriage in 1820 to Jane Hughes, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Peter Hughes. Six children were born to this union-Flora, James, Samuel, Dianna, Jo- siah and John S. In 1851 Mr. Davis came to Wayne County, Iowa, in company with his son Josiah, and entered the east half of section 36, in Wright Township, where he lived till his death, which took place July 29, 1865. He was much respected throughout the township, where he had made many warm friends during his resi- dence herc.
LIJAH R. BELVEL, general mer. chant, Lineville, Iowa, was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, November
18. 1839. In 1849 his father, Henry V. Belvel, moved to Jasper County, Mis- souri, where he died in 1852. In the fall of the same year our subject accompanied his mother to Knox County, Illinois, and in the fall of 1857 came to Wayne County, lowa, locating in Lineville in the spring of 1858. In 1858 and 1859 he carried the mail on horseback from Princeton to Chariton, his headquarters being at Lineville, and received $10 a month for his services. He served a year and a half as an apprentice at the cabinet-maker's trade. After the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, he enlisted and was assigned to Company MI, Third Iowa Cavalry. He participated in the battle at Pea Ridge, but served only nine months, when, on account of ill health, he was discharged and returned home, and for a year had charge of his brother's prop- erty, the latter being in the army. He then went to Chariton, and until the spring of 1864 carried the mail from Chariton to Newton, lowa, on horseback, after which he went to Corydon and clerked in the postoffice until the following fall, when he returned to Lineville and bought the cabi- net shop where he had worked as an ap-
prentice, which he carried on about a year. From 1865 until 1866 he was employed in the store of Saylor & Lovett, and in the summer of the latter year engaged in busi- ness on his own account, buying about $300 worth of groceries. Ten months later he sold his stock and services for a year to J. S. Saylor. In March, 1869, he began clerk- ing for Lovett & Sullivan, and a year later, Mr. Sullivan having died, he became a part- ner of Mr. Lovett. August 15, 1872, they sold their stock to Laughlin & Wasson, and in the fall of 1873 he again engaged in the grocery business. In October, 1874, he bought the stock of general merchandise of the administrators of H. A. Laughlin, and since then has conducted his present business, having a stock valued at $12,000, and an annual business of from $25,000 to $30,000. In the winter of 1881 he built his fine brick block, the lower floor of which he occupies. Mr. Belvel was mar- ried February 21, 1871, to Margaret A. Helton, daughter of Mitchell A. Helton, of Lineville. Buttwo of the children born to them are living-Marlow A. and Annie L. Martha G. Belvel, a niece of Mr. Belvel, makes her home with them, her mother hav- ing died when she was an infant. Mr. Belvel is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Independent Order of Good Templars. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
'OSIAH DAVIS is a son of John M. and Jane (Hughes) Davis, and was born in Montgomery County, Kcn- tucky, April 9, 1832. He spent his carly life on a farm, his father being a farmer by occupation, and also a teacher, our subject attending the school which he taught. He lived in his native county till 1851, when he came to Wayne County, Iowa, with his father, who settled in Wright Township, on
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section 36, where he has since made his home. October 6, 1864, our subject enlist- ed in the late war, a member of Company H, Sixteenth Iowa Infantry, and was with General Sherman on his grand march to the sea. He received an honorable dis- charge at Louisville, Kentucky, July 19, 1865, when he returned to his home in Wright Township. He is now a comrade of the Grand Army Post of Corydon. He has made farming his principal avocation, in which he has met with good success, and is now the owner of a fine farm, containing 240 acres of well-cultivated land. In 1854 he was elected to the office of county sur- veyor, and served as such two years, and in 1874 he was again elected to the same office for a term of two years.
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