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 32
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 32
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
his second wife he married Mary J. Ritchie, a native of Tennessee, and daughter of John C. Ritchie. Of the three children born to this union two are yet living-John and Carrie B. Their eldest child, Gracie May, died in infancy. Mr. Jenison has never fully recovered from the effects of the exposure to which he was subjected while in the army. Politically he casts his suffrage with the Republican party.
HOMAS REYNOLDS is a native of Ohio, where he was born August 6, 1830, a son of John and Nancy A. (McConnell) Reynolds, natives of Pennsyl- vania, the father born in Westmoreland, of Scotch descent, and the mother in Alleghe- ny County, of Irish descent. They were the parents of ten children, eight of whom grew to maturity. Their names are as fol- lows: Joseph, James, William, Robert, John, Thomas (our subject), Elijah, Sarah, Elizabeth and Martha. Thomas Reynolds was reared in Adams County, Ohio, his parents having settled there when he was two years old. His youth was passed on a farm and his education received in the sub- scription schools of that early day. At the age of sixteen years he went with his par- ents to Henderson County, Illinois, where he made his home until 1868. Novem- ber 12, 1857, he was married to Mary E. Brown, of Henderson County, a daughter of Thomas Brown. She died October 18, 1864, leaving one daughter-Ethalinda. Mr. Reynolds was again married July 19, 1866, to Miss D. A. Peeper, a daughter of James Peeper, of Henderson County, Illi- nois. July 1, 1861, Mr. Reynolds enlisted in Company A, First Iowa Cavalry, and was sworn in August 9, and for a time was engaged with his regiment in fighting bush- whackers, about one-third of the regiment capturing 1,150 rebels. This was the first
capture of note in Missouri. He served with his regiment till February, 1865, when he received an honorable discharge and re- turned home. He came to Wayne County, Iowa, in the spring of 1868, when he bought his present farm on section 15, Wright Township, which now contains 160 acres of choice land, all under a high state of culti- vation. His fine residence is comfortably furnished, the house being nicely situated and surrounded by an extensive grove of soft maples. His orchard contains eighty choice trees. In his general farming and stock-raising he is meeting with good success. As a citizen he is much respected in the township where he has lived so many years, and has served his township satis- factorily as clerk. He has also served as treasurer of the School Board. He is a worthy member of the United Presbyterian church. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party.
K. COMBS, dealer in real estate, re- siding at Allerton, is a native of Ohio, in which State he was born in November, 1831, his parents living there till their death. He was reared and edu- cated in his native. State, and was there united in marriage to Miss Sarah Byers, and to this union have been born six chil- dren-Anna Maggie, Mary Alice, E. L., J. B., Clara Lizzie and Llew Ella. Mr. Combs has been a resident of Iowa since the spring. of 1865, when he located in Cedar County, living there till he came to Wayne County in 1868. On coming to Wayne County he settled on unimproved land, in Warren Township, which he improved and culti- vated. In 1880 he sold his farm, purchasing another near Allerton. In 1885 he became resident of Allerton, having sold his a second farm, since which time he has been engaged in the real-estate business. During
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a residence of about eighteen years in Wayne County he has become well and favorably known, and by his many manly qualities has gained many friends.
YLVESTER GREENLEE, of Prom- ise City, is one of the pioneers of Benton Township, Wayne County, only about a dozen families having pre- ceded him when he settled there. He was born in West Virginia, March 10, 18!7, and was reared in Mason, his native county. He was the son of Robert and Margaret (Aleshire) Greenlee, his father being a na- tive of Virginia. He died in Mason County in 1865, his wife having died about ten years before her husband. They had but two children-Susan, who never married, lived at the homestead till her death, which occurred a number of years after the death of her parents, and Sylvester, our subject, who married Esther H. Barnett, a sister of William Barnett, who settled in Benton Township prior to the coming here of our subject. Mr. Greenlee, like all pioneers, came to Iowa for the purpose of making a home for his family. In the spring of 1850 he settled in Jefferson County where he rented land for two seasons, while looking about for a permanent location. He came to Wayne County in 1851, and entered eighty acres of land on section 15, Benton Township, on which he settled April I of the following year. Here Mr. Greenlee im- proved a farm, and made a home for him- self and family, adding to his original pur- chase till he had 177 acres, of which he is still the owner. In the fall of 1879 he rented the farm in Benton Township and came to Promise City where he has since been engaged in the mercantile business. Mr. and Mrs. Greenlee are among the few pioneers who are living to tell of the pleas- ures and privations incident to pioneer
life. They have been blessed with eleven children-Elizabeth, wife of John Robin- son, of Benton Township; Levi T., a phy- sician and druggist of Weldon, Decatur County, Iowa ; Adeline, wife of James Ams- berry, died in 1883 ; Martha, wife of H. T. Peck; Ira A., in Lineville; Virginia, wife of Nathan Brown, of Kansas; Eliza S., wife of William Harris, died in 1885 ; Emaline, wife of D. M. Amsberry, of Nebraska; Ra- chel, wife of D. H. Newman, of Nebraska ; Lewis V., of Promise City, and Belle, at home. The parents and all of the children but one are members of the Baptist church. In politics Mr. Greenlee is a Democrat, casting his first presidential vote for Martin Van Buren in 1840. Mr. Greenlee was a member of the first Board of Commis sioners in Wayne County, and was a jus- tice of the peace for eight years.
EV. JAMES BRACEWELL, of Aller- ton, is one of a large and well-known family of Wayne County's early set- tlers. He was born in Yorkshire, England, May 24, 1836, where his father, John Brace- well, died. After his father's death his mother, accompanied by her family, came to America, landing in this country in 1850. James Bracewell came to Warren Town- ship, Wayne County, Iowa, in 1854, and during the years 1866, '67 and '68 he was a traveling preacher in Des Moines Confer- ence, when his health failing him he re- tired from active labor in the ministry. August 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry, being mustered into the service as a Sergeant. He served three years, and two and a half years of that time was acting Chaplain of the regiment, the Colonel of his regiment once remarking that he made too good a soldier to devote all his time to the duties of Chaplain. He participated in many im-
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portant events of the war, including Sher- man's attack on Vicksburg, and General Grant's siege and capture of that strong- hold, and in the Texas and Red River expe- ditions. He was at the siege and capture of Forts Gaines and Morgan, which consti- tuted the defenses of Mobile, and during the following fall and winter his regiment operated on the Lower Mississippi in a marine division. He also participated in the siege and capture of Fort Blakely, Ala- bama, after which his regiment moved to Texas, where he was discharged at Hous- ton, August 15, 1865, just three years from the date of his enlistment. Mr. Bracewell escaped bullet wounds but returned from the army with his health much impaired. While on board steamer with his regiment, going from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Barrancas, Florida, to take part in the Mo- bile expedition, he took a severe cold from the effects of which he has never recovered, and is unable to pursue any active busi- ness, but still preaches occasionally when his health permits. Mr. Bracewell is an able and forcible speaker, and a sincere, earnest Christian gentleman, and is much respected by all who know him. He was married in November, 1866, to Rosa Cone, a native of Massachusetts. Her parents, Ira and Sarah Cone, died in that State when Mrs. Bracewell was a child. She came to Wayne County from Ohio, where she had lived several years. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bracewell -Howard, died aged thirteen months; Florence N., Della G. and Zell.
County, after which he engaged in teach- ing school, which he followed successfully for three terms. He began the study of medicine with Dr. J. L. Sawyers, at Union- ville, Appanoose County, which he contin- ued with the same physician at Centerville, after the removal of the latter to that city. Doctor Brooks graduated from the medi- cal department of the Iowa State Univer- sity in 1886, and soon after located at Seymour, where he is engaged in the prac- tice of his profession. He is well skilled in the knowledge of his profession, and is a young man possessing those qualities neces- sary to success in his chosen profession, and the success to which he has already attained promises well for the future.
AMES CALDWELL, farmer, residing on section 17, Clay Township, was born in Portage County, Ohio, Janu- ary 28, 1829, a son of John Caldwell, and a grandson of John Caldwell, a native of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The latter was one of three sons of Joseph Caldwell, and was the father of thirteen children, most of whom were sons, whose descendants are scattered over various parts of the United States. John Caldwell, father of our subject, was also a native of Westmoreland County, but when quite young he removed with his parents to Ohio, where he was reared and married, remaining there till his death. James Cald- well, whose name heads this sketch, was reared on a farm in his native State, receiv ing his education in the rude log-cabin sub- scription schools. He was married July 4, 1851, to Miriam Downs, daughter of William Downs, deccased. Nine children have been born to them, of whom eight survive-G. Clinton, Lillian E., Willard W., Barbara L., Clara Belle, Eveline M., James L. and Cora E. Mr. Caldwell came to this county with
ZRA BROOKS, M. D., is a native of Walnut Township, Wayne County, lowa, where he was born June 12, 1861, his father, J. H. Brooks, being one of the early settlers of that township. He re- ceived good educational advantages, at- tending the high school at Seymour, Wayne , his wife in the spring of 1855, settling on
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Mouse Respy R. R. Awreck.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
the section where he has since resided. For several weeks after coming here they lived in their wagon. They then moved into their house, which consisted of forks driven into the ground, and sided up with rough boards, the roof being covered over with prairie hay, the floor of earth being carpeted with prairie grass. Their furni- ture was of the rudest kind, it principally consisting of a bench, trunk, packing box and a bedstead fastened to the wall. Here they experienced many hardships incident to pioneer life, but are to-day in comfort- able circumstances, which has been ac- quired by their combined industry and frugality. Both Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell are members of the Christian church at Humeston.
OBERT R. ARNOLD, M. D., is a na- tive of the State of Iowa, and was born in Davis County, February 9, 1847, a son of D. F. and Frances (Robinson) Arnold. In 1846 his father removed with his family from Indiana, although he by birth was a Kentuckian. Shortly after the birth of Robert the family moved to Monroe County, where he was reared to manhood, receiving his elementary education at the district schools of that county, and later attending Oskaloosa College. For some years after leaving school he taught in Monroe and Appanoose counties, but in the year 1874 began the study of medicine with Dr. Gutch, then of Blakesburg, Wa- pello. County, but now of Albia, and the following year with Dr. Glenny, of Albia. During all this time and the succeeding year he attended lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk, and at the medical department of the Iowa State University, graduating from the latter in the spring of 1876, with the degree of M. D. On leaving college he took up his life's work and located in Humeston, 31
where he has built up a good practice. In December, 1883, the drug firm of Arnold & Gelpin was formed, and it now carries on an extensive business, carrying a full line of drugs, medicines, jewelry, station- ery, etc. In September, 1885, Dr. Arnold was appointed postmaster at Humeston, being the first Democrat to hold the posi- tion. He was married September 10, 1877, to Rhoda Jay. They have had two chil- dren-Jay and one that died in infancy.
M ARCELLUS BROWN, an enter- prising farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 17, Jefferson Township, Wayne County, was born in Lewis County, West Virginia, December 5, 1838, a son of John and Rebecca (Nutt) Brown, the father a native of the same county as our subject and now a resident of Livingston County, Missouri, and the mother now deceased, she dying in Han- cock County, Illinois, in 1864. They were the parents of nine children of whom seven still survive, our subject being the eldest child. He came with his parents to Han- cock County, Illinois, in 1850, where he lived till October, 1866, when he came to Wayne County and settled on his present farm. Very little improvements had been made on his land at the time of his settle- ment, but fifty acres being fenced and a small log house built. He now has 200 acres under fine cultivation, with good res- idence and farm buildings. He has followed farming and stock-raising with success since coming to this county, and is at present de- voting much attention to the raising of graded Holstein and Hereford cattle. March 30, 1862, he was married to Rebecca J. Lilly, daughter of Elijah and Nancy (Cul- lumber) Lilly, the father born in Fluvanna County, Virginia, October 30, 1808, and the mother a native of Madison County,
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Ohio, born November 15, 1815. Mrs. Brown's father went with his parents to Ross County, Ohio, in 1817, making part of the distance in a cart drawn by two horses, tandem style, completing the jour- ney by boat. The Lilly family lived in Ross County twenty years, then moved to Madison County, Ohio, where Mrs. Brown was born July 3, 1840. She came with her parents to Lagrange County, Indiana, in 1844, and to Hancock County, Illinois, when thirteen years of age, where she lived till her marriage. Her mother died in Hancock County, December 8, 1864, and her father is now making his home with our subject. Mrs. Brown is the only one living of a family of seven children, she be- ing the only daughter. Two of her brothers, Allen and Wesley, died in the Union army while serving their country in the late war. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born eight children, of whom seven are still liv- ing-William C., Perry A., Wesley O., Ira P., Hattie E., Della M. and Dora O. A daughter, Mary, died at the age of four years. Mr. Brown has served his township as trustee for many years, and also as road supervisor, besides holding other offices of trust in his township. Both he and his wife and Mr. Lilly are members of the United Brethren church.
ing the most of the time at farming. In 1855 he came to Iowa and has since lived in Wayne County, where he has one of the best farms in Washington Township, which contains 535 acres of land, both timber and prairie, with a good residence, large barn and other farm buildings, a fine orchard and also small fruit of various kinds. Mr. Thomas was married October 23, 1863, to Mrs. Elizabeth Hart, widow of K. M. Hart, and daughter of John and Mary (Woods) Fitzer, who located in Wayne County in 1855. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have been born five children-Henry, Laura, Joseph- ine, Lizzie and Minor.
JEORGE W. SMITH, harness-maker, is a son of John M. Smith, who set- tled in Jefferson Township, Wayne County, Iowa, in 1857. The father was born and reared in Kentucky, and was there married to Elizabeth Pierce, by whom he had nine children, five of whom died in childhood. Those living are-George W., our subject ; a daughter, C. A., now wife of Charles A. Booth ; Mary F., wife of L. C. Jordon, and Zula. John M. Smith left Ken- tucky in March, 1857, coming with his family to Wayne County. He entered land in Jefferson Township which he par- tially improved, living there a number of years. He then removed to Benton Township, of this county, and engaged in farming till about 1863 when he went to Corydon where he engaged in harness- making and the furniture business, and also bought a farm near Corydon. He came to Seymour in the summer of 1874 and en- gaged in the grocery and boot and shoe business. He subsequently removed to Missouri, where he was again united in marriage, his first wife having died March 30, 1870, at Seymour. Mr. Smith died
JONATHAN THOMAS, section 8, Washington Township, postoffice, Derby, Iowa, is among the pioneers of Washington Township worthy of a place in the history of Wayne County. He was born in South Wales, March 12, 1822, and was a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Jones) Thomas. He was the third of a family of nine children. He was reared and edu- cated in his native country, spending his youth on a farm. He came to America in 1843, and first settled in Pennsylvania, where he lived about twelve years, work- 1 March 7, 1875, while on a visit to his chil-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
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dren. . His second wife survives him. George W. Smith, whose name heads this sketch, is a native of Kentucky, born in August, 1850, being in his seventh year when he was brought by his parents to Wayne County. He learned his trade as harness-maker at Corydon, and in 1883 suc- ceeded D. J. Stipe in his harness shop, Mr. Stipe having established the first harness shop in Seymour. George W. Smith was married September 26, 1878, to Nannie J. Fox, a daughter of J. C. Fox, of Seymour. They have two children-Ed- gar and Eva.
RODERICK, farmer and stock- raiser, Wright Township, postoffice Confidence, is a native of Sackett's Harbor, New York, born April 10, 1841, the fourth of seven children of Lewis and Mary R. Roderick, natives of Canada. When he was three years old his parents moved to Michigan where they lived three years, and in 1847 to Buchanan County, lowa, where he lived until manhood. July 15, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Fifth Iowa Infantry, and served four years, par- ticipating in many hard-fought battles, in- cluding Iuka, Corinth, Vicksburg, Cham- pion Hills, Jackson, and the second battle at Nashville. He was discharged at Nash- ville, Tennessee, August 11, 1865, and re- turned to Buchanan County. Out of 100 who enlisted in his company only sixteen lived to return. In 1866 Mr. Roderick went to Hamilton County, Iowa, and from there to Osborn County, Kansas, where he took up a claim and lived three years. In 1875 he returned to lowa and located in Wayne County, where he has since lived. He bought the farm where he now lives in 1882. It contains eighty acres of good land, and the improvements are all in good repair. Mr. Roderick was married Febru- ary 22, 1866, to Mrs. Sarah (Sayre) Hayes, [ ka ; Fanny, wife of George Wright, farmer
widow of E. Hayes, who died while in the service of his country, a member of Com- pany H, Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry. Mr. and Mrs. Roderick are the parents of four children-Emma, Eddie, Elmer and William. They are members of the Evan- gelical church.
ANFIELD A. DE SILVA was born in Schoharie County, New York, in 1812, living in his native county till 1835. The next seven years he spent mostly traveling through Kentucky and other States selling clocks. Owing to a severe fit of sickness which left his constitution much impaired, he went to Wisconsin to regain his health, the climate of that State being of much benefit to him. He lived in Wisconsin about twenty-nine years, resid- ing in Iowa County, where he was success- fully engaged in farming and fruit culture. He was married in Wisconsin in February, 1843, to Amanda Thompson, a native of New York State, becoming acquainted with Mr. De Silva while visiting her sister in Wisconsin. To Mr. and Mrs. De Silva have been born thirteen children, four sons and nine daughters, of whom one daughter is deceased. The children living are- Olive A., wife of George W. Barrows, an attorney of Rapid City, Dakota, he and his wife being the publishers and proprietors of the Black Hills Weekly Democrat ; Lou- isa M. Dean, wife of Cassius C. Dean, of Allerton ; Mercy A., married Walter T. Bean, and died May 14, 1884, leaving her husband and one child; Thalia A., wife of Charles S. Litherbery, a farmer of Atchi- son County, Missouri ; Asher C., farmer, of Warren Township; Calla E., wife of John Bradfield, a farmer of Atchison County, Missouri ; Capitola, wife of George Latta, a wealthy farmer of Burt County, Nebras-
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
and fine stock-raiser, of Warren Township ; Lincoln S., farmer, of Warren Township ; Emma, wife of George Prettyman, of Atchi- son County, Missouri ; Mary, Walter and Ulysses J., unmarried, live with their par- ents. Mr. De Silva settled in Wayne Coun- ty, Iowa, in May, 1870, his first purchase being on the northeast quarter of section 20, on which no improvements had been made. The first year of his residence here he broke. 140 acres and fenced the place, and the following year enclosed the entire farm with a rail fence. His first home was a small frame dwelling, which he and his family occupied about five years, when he erected his present large and commodious residence. He has met with much success in his farming operations, and has increased his real estate to 440 acres of land in War- ren Township, all of which is under culti- vation. During the second year of his resi- dence here he set out 600 apple-trees, fifty- four cherry-trees, and about 600 grape-vines. He has a natural taste for fruit raising, and keeps his fine orchard in an excellent con- dition ; his fruit for its general excellence cannot be surpassed. He has been a suc- cessful fruit-grower, and from this enter- prise adds considerable to his annual income. In 1882 he received for his fruit not less than $700, and his income in 1885 amounted to almost as much. Hisorchard comprises principally apple, cherry and plum trees and grape-vines.
W. VAN DER VEER, auditor of Wayne County, Iowa, is a native of Somerset County, New Jersey, where he was born October 10, 1844. Au- gust 9, 1862, he enlisted in the late war at Kingston, New York, a member of Com- pany I, One Hundred and Twentieth New York Infantry, which was commanded by Colonel George H. Sharp. Mr. Van Der
Veer participated in many of the most im- portant engagements of the war from the first battle of Fredericksburg to the surren- der of General Lee at Appomattox, his regi- ment serving during the war in the Army of the Potomac. He was wounded at the bat- tle of Gettysburg, where his regiment was attached to Excelsior ยท Brigade, General Sickle's corps. After the war Mr. Van Der Veer went to Princeton, New Jersey, to which place his father's family had re- moved during his absence in the army. He has been a resident of Wayne County, Iowa, since August, 1875, when he settled in Lineville, and was there engaged in the dry-goods business for eight years. On his election to the office of county auditor in the fall of 1885 he left Lineville, and has since made his home in Corydon. He was married in Lineville to Miss Nevada Wil- son, a daughter of J. H. Wilson, of that place. They have one daughter-Mary Gertrude, born April 20, 1884. While liv- ing in Lineville Mr. Van Der Veer served as postmaster for two years.
'EREMIAH WOODS, one of the enter- prising and successful citizens of Wayne County, residing on section II, Washington Township, is a native of Clarke County, Ohio, where he was born November 11, 1815. His parents, Isaac C. and Sarah (Oliver) Woods, had a family of five sons-Hampton, Jeremiah, Reuben, John and James, the last two being twins. When our subject was quite young his par- ents went to Marion County, Ohio, where he spent his youth in assisting his father with the duties of the farm. He was married June 1, 1848, to Serena Davis, by whom he had' four children - Florence, William. Robert and Flora Allie. Mrs. Woods died December 22, 1856, and Mr. Woods was again united in marriage, March 8, 1859, to
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Eliza Reigle, a native of Coshocton County, Ohio, a daughter of Jacob Reigle. To this union were born five children-Mary E., Isaac M., Ella Estelle, Sarah B. and Clar- ence B. Mr. Woods has met with excel- lent success through life, his persevering industry and energy having been well re- warded. His farm in Washington Town- ship contains 832 acres of choice land which is all under thorough cultivation, and his improvements are among the best in his neighborhood. Mr. Woods in his prime, was a man of great strength and endurance. He at one time cradled 180 dozen wheat sheaves in one day, and he and his brother together cleared an acre of heavy beech and maple timber in Marion County, Ohio, in three days, this being the biggest work in that space of time done in that county.
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