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 60
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 60
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this happy home-James Allen, born May 10, 1856: Willie Edgar, July 8, 1858; Pleas- ant Lee, October 12, 1860; Mary Emily, April 14, 1868, and Ida B., September 5, 1870. All are highly esteemed and are members with the parents of the Method- ist Episcopal church. It is also a pleasant duty to add that through all the lives of these children there has never been a single act of any member of the family that has in any way marred or clouded the happi- ness of any, either a member of the family or otherwise. The parents have always had faith in the children and the children in the parents, and each has been happy in the consciousness of having the love of the others, and thus a most happy, trusting and confiding family has grown up, the bonds of true Christian devotion growing and strengthening as the years roll on. Walter S. Johnson always intuitively de- spised oppression in every form. The only trouble he ever had with boys was when some big boy would undertake to impose on a little one. Then his indignation was aroused and he was ready to avenge the younger's wrongs. He was therefore naturally an Abolitionist, hating oppression with a perfect hatred, and holding that any man who would hold in bondage a man of another color would enslave one of his own if he had the power, claiming that color was only a pretext for the slavery system. Hav- ing imbibed this love of liberty from his par- ents and the Quaker influences of his rela- tives during his young life, he naturally cast his first vote for President, in 1856, for John C. Fremont, the great standard-bearer of the Free-Soil party at that time, and in 1860, when the country was shaking from center to circumference, on account of the agita- tion of the gigantic evil, slavery, Mr. John- son entered into the campaign with all the ardor of his soul, taking active part in the meetings in which the organization known as the " Wideawakes " were a conspicuous
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factor. At this time he was living on a small farm a mile and a half south of Cin- cinnati, lowa. Following the election of Lincoln war was proclaimed, and on the 8th day of July, 1861, Mr. Johnson enlisted as a private in Company D, Sixth Iowa Infantry, for three years or during the war, and the following fall marched from Jeffer- son City, Missouri, to Springfield under his venerable leader, General John C. Fre- mont. While at Jefferson City, working on the fortifications of the city, he was taken sick with the measles from which he had not fully recovered when the army moved from that place, but being desirous of doing something for his country he started with the army, when yet too weak to carry his accoutrements, and during the entire march to Springfield he kept his postion in the ranks; but the fatigue of the hard, toilsome march in his weakened con- dition so overcame him and broke him down as to disable him for future duty, and he was discharged the 6th day of Janu- ary, 1862, at La Mine Crossing, Missouri. Returning home he remained quiet until the following June and had begun to feel himself again, when, July 3, 1862, rumors and messengers came from Missouri saying that the rebels had burned Unionville and were moving north, intending to invade Iowa and burn Cincinnati. Under these circumstances the people of that neighbor- hood hurriedly assembled and soon organ- ized a company and made preparations to defend the town. Of this company Mr. Johnson was unanimously elected Captain, receiving his commission from Governor Kirkwood. He immediately determined on reconnoitering to find out if possible the position and strength of the enemy. Hay- ing learned from John Probasco, of Putnam . County, Missouri, a truly oyal and very reliable man, that the enemy was en- camped and fortified at Shawneetown, Missouri, he selected four trusty men from
his company and at 9 P. M. started to find out if possible the facts in the case. Shaw- neetown being about seven miles from Cincinnati, with a very rough wooded country between, the scouting party made the journey on foot reaching the outskirts of the village about 11 o'clock without in- terruption. They encountered two Union scouts who lived in the neighborhood and, supposing them to be rebel pickets, Cap- tain Johnson captured them. Upon in- vestigation it was found that they were on the same business as their captors and that they had found no armed body of the rebels anywhere in the vicinity of Shawneetown, but that they were scouring the country in squads, breaking into stores and recruit- ing volunteers for Price's army. Captain Johnson being well acquainted with one of the scouts, Mr. Dillon, and knowing him to be loyal; he accepted the information as reliable and returned the same night to Cincinnati and the following morning, July 4, 1862, moved south with his com- pany and invaded the sovereign State of Missouri for the purpose of aiding the loyal people of Putnam County to resist the devastations of the rebels. About two miles from the Iowa line they came to' Gault Mill, on Shaw Creek, where about fifty loyal sons of Missouri were congre- gated, and they at once joined Captain Johnson's forces, with rifles and shot-guns, eager to meet the enemy. Thus re-inforced, the company, now 110 strong, marched until within about three miles of Hartford, Mis- souri, when they met a company of Union State militia, which also fell in the rear, swelling the battalion to nearly 200 men. At Hartford they encamped for the night, throwing out a strong picket guard as they were now in the center of a rebel com- munity. The next morning they were joined by Captain Wycoff's State militia cavalry, 100 strong, and Captain Wycoff took command of the entire force, and
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moved on south, the next night encamping on Brassfield's farm on the Chariton River. The following day scouting parties were sent out in every direction, and resulted in the capture of about thirty rebels. Thus ridding the country of the devastators they returned to their homes after being out a week. At this time the Government was calling for more troops, and there was a company enlisted in the southwestern part of Appanoose County, with headquarters at Bellair. This company Mr. Johnson joined and August 11, 1862, it organized by elect- ing J. B. Gedney, Captain; G. R. Huston, First Lieutenant, and W. S. Johnson, Sec- ond Lieutenant. The company was at once ordered to rendezvous at Keokuk, and were there assigned to the Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry. In this organization Lieu- tenant Johnson served over three years, participating in every engagement of the company and marching in every campaign, the history of the regiment being his, whether in camp, battle or prison. His most important battles were Fort Pember- ton, Helena, Little Rock, Camden and Mark's Mill. At the latter place, April 25, 1864, they were captured and he was also wounded. They were incarcerated at Tyler, Texas, from which, on the night of August 17, 1864, he with five others es- caped, but fourteen days later, after getting 175 miles away, they were recaptured. February 25, 1865, they were marched to Shrevesport, Louisiana, and from there were taken by transport to the mouth of the Red River, where they were exchanged. They then went to New Orleans and were there granted a furlough, returning to the field in April. He was then on detached service at Duvall's Bluff, as aid-de-camp, on the staff of Colonel Graves, and subse- quently was on the staff of General F. M. Drake until mustered out, August 23, 1865. On his return home he resumed farming, contracting and building at Cincinnati. In
the fall of 1870 he was elected clerk of the Circuit and District courts of Appanoose County and assumed the duties of his office in January, 1871, at that time becoming a resident of Centerville. He was twice re- elected, serving six years. In the spring of 1877 he was elected mayor of Center- ville, and filled the office one term. While clerk of the courts he read law to better qualify himself to perform the duties of the office, and at the expiration of his term was admitted to the bar. In February, 1878, he became associated with J. W. Cal- vert in the clothing business, and in 1880 Waring bought the interest of Mr. Calvert. He is a Master, Royal Arch and Knight Templar Mason, a member of the Odd Fellows order and of John L. Bashore Post, No. 122, G. A. R. It will not be out of place to here add a few lines relative to Mr. Johnson's brother and sister. He claims for them that they were by nature far more affectionate, confiding and tal- ented than he. So naturally pure and good in their lives that with the divine spirit, which also filled their hearts and controlled their lives, they were better fit- ted for the habitation of the saints than to grapple with the selfishness of this life. Yet they were possessed of the material of which heroes and heroines are made, for when conscious that they were in the right, were invincible in their adherence to their views, but when still in early life the Mas- ter said, " It is enough, come up higher." Matilda E. was married to Charles R. Crowder November 10, 1853, and died Feb- ruary 7, 1873. She was so pure, loving and retiring in her nature that the cold blasts of unkindness and lack of sympathy chilled her warm life and trusting nature, as the Northern frosts do the tropical plant, and she was laid to rest in the ceme- tery at Cincinnati, lowa. She left five children, all of whom are living-Rosa, Stephen A., Elza, Emma and Everet.
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY."
Pleasant W. Johnson attended the Howe School at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and paid his own way, and at the same time learned the trade of a printer, working in the office of the Loyal Citizen, in Centerville, and after- ward learned telegraphing, which he made the business of his life. He was one of the most proficient operators of his time, and was entrusted by President Stebbins, of the Western Union Telegraph Company, with the construction and operation of the overland line from Omaha, Nebraska, west, although he was but twenty-four years of age and had been an operator only four years. After superintending the construction of the line to Fort Bridger, Wyoming Territory, keeping up communi- cation from the terminal point, he returned home and married Miss Lizzie Cavanaugh, an estimable and brilliant young lady, to whom he had been long attached. Imme- diately after their marriage they went to St. Louis, combining a business trip with a pleasant wedding tour, and from there they started to Fort Bridger, where they expected to remain a time. They went overland as far as Julesburg, now Denver Junction, Colorado, where he was taken sick and after a painful illness of several weeks in that desert place, without proper medical attendance, it being before the railroad was built, he died, September 20, 1863, and was buried by a few comparative strangers, who had, however, in their brief acquaintance learned to love him. The shock to his wife and the care and anxiety while watching at his bedside and minister- ing to his wants during these long, dreary weeks, added to the sense of loneliness and wretchedness that came to her after his death, was more than she could endure, and in one short month they laid her to rest beside her husband, near the old site of what was the little military post named Julesburg. Thus went out a life that, had it been prolonged, must have been one of
the most useful, as it was one of the noblest works of God's creation. He was peculiarly gifted mentally, and was possessed of a soul so pure and cheerful that wherever he went he drew everybody to him, and wherever you may find an old overland freighter, or others who were out on the Great Ameri- can Desert, and speak of P. W. Johnson, the "telegraph man," their eyes will sparkle 'with kind remembrances as they say, "I knew him well, and a kinder, truer-hearted man never lived." One of them once said to his brother after recounting his many virtues and amiable qualities, "The only fault we ever found against him was, we never could prevail on him to drink with us." Before closing this sketch we wish to say a word in regard to Mrs. Johnson's brother, George W. Gibson. When eight- een years of age, early in the spring of 1864, he enlisted as a recruit in Lieutenant Johnson's company, and the third day after he reached the regiment, April 25, 1864, he fell at the battle of Mark's Mills, Ar- kansas. He went out with all the heroic courage of a truly patriotic heart, bared his breast to the storm of leaden hail, in that terrible slaughter, and fell against the Lieutenant, pierced with a minie-ball just above the heart, and died in a few min- utes. When asked if he had any message for loved ones at home, he said, "Tell them I died fighting for my country." Thus died another of the brave boys who loved and revered their country's honor.
HARLES FREDERICK HOWELL, attorney at law, Centerville, is the youngest of two sons of Charles H. and Lavinia (Ward) Howell, pioneers of Appanoose County. He was born in Cen- terville, March 24, 1860, and received his early education in the common schools. When eighteen years of age he entered
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Iowa College, at Grinnell, and in January, 1881, began the study of law in the office of Tannehill & Fee. He was admitted to the bar in March, 1882, and at once located in Centerville. November 27, 1883, he was married at Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, to Miss Anna Maddox. They have one child -Winnifred. In politics Mr. Howell is a Republican. He is a member of Jackson Lodge, No. 42, F. & A. M., of which he is junior warden, and Centerville Lodge, No. 64. K. of P., of which he is past chan- cellor. He is a member of the Presbyterian and his wife of the Christian church.
EV. JOHN M. LOUGHRIDGE, pas- tor of the Plano Methodist Episcopal church, is a native of the State of Ohio, born in Richland County, near Mans- field, April 14, 1828, the eldest of a family of eight children of Poultney and Maria A. (Mitchell) Loughridge, the former a native of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, born May 25, 1800, and the latter a native of Ohio, born March 15, 1810. When he was fourteen years of age his parents moved to Mahaska County, lowa, and he spent his youth in attending the schools of Oska- loosa, and when eighteen years old be- gan teaching, an avocation he followed three or four winters. He was married March 1, 1853, to Miss Emily Bean, daugh- ter of William and Nancy Bean, her father a native of Missouri, and her mother of Kentucky. After his marriage he engaged in agricultural pursuits, living near Oska- loosa until 1865, when he moved to Ap- panoose County and settled on his present farm, on sections 29 and 32, Johns Town- ship. His farm contains 175 acres of choice land, all under cultivation, and well stocked. In 1860 Mr. Loughridge was given an ex- horter's license in the Methodist Episcopal church, and in 1863 was ordained a preacher by Bishop Ames, at Albia. His
first charge was Jerome Circuit, and was afterward changed to Plano. He spent two years in Colorado, and while there re- ceived his ordination às elder by Bishop R. S. Foster. Since coming to Appanoose County he has preached at Walnut City, Brazil, Jerome and Plano, in addition to attending to the cultivation of his farm. Mr. and Mrs. Loughridge have had twelve children; seven are living, six sons and one daughter.
AMES R. WRIGHT, a resident of Bellair Township, is one of the pio- neers of Appanoose County. He was born in Smith County, Tennessee, July 29, 1828. His father, Crispin Wright, died before his birth, and his mother, Mary (Recordson) Wright, died in Kentucky, is 1845. He was the youngest of two sons. His brother, Edward R., came with him to Iowa in 1847, and made his home on section 10, Bellair Township, where he died in 1875, leaving a widow and six children. From early life Mr. Wright has been obliged to rely on himself and thus has acquired independ- ence of action and has learned lessons that have made him the prosperous man we now find him to be. The first land he ever owned is still his home and is located on section 3, Bellair Township. His farm con- tains 120 acres of land under cultivation, and his residences and farm buildings are comfortable and convenient. He is one of the county's most reliable and enterprising citizens and is worthy of the confidence and esteem he enjoys. August 2, 1861, Mr. Wright enlisted in the defense of his coun- try and was assigned to Company B, Sixth Kansas Cavalry, most of his service being on the frontiers of Arkansas, Missouri and Texas, guarding property and hunting bush whackers and guerrillas. He served creditably over three years and was honor- ably discharged November 24, 1864, and re-
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
turned to his home in Bellair Township. Mr. Wright was married November 29, 1849, to Miss Melissa Glass, a native of Monroe County, Michigan, born July 29, 1835, daughter of John and Eliza Glass. Her father died in 1841 and her mother, now Mrs. Riggs, lives in LaSalle County, Illi- nois. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have had thir- teen children, viz .- Mrs. Eliza Fuller, of Walnut Township ; Mrs. Emma Richardson, of California ; Edward and Mrs. Jane Ban- ta, of Bellair Township ; Asher, died aged twenty-one years ; William, in California ; David, Olive and Carl, at home; Crispen, Owen, Walter and James, died in infancy. Mr. Wright in politics is an ardent Repub- lican. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church.
OHN DAILY, a member of the Board of Supervisors of Appanoose County, from Pleasant Valley Township, is a native of Ireland, born in County Kerry. January 7, 1836. When he was ten years of age he accompanied his father, Patrick Daily, to the United States and was reared in the State of Ohio. When fourteen years of age he began to work for his own main- tenance and was variously employed until after the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion. In 1856 he came to Iowa and lived in Appanoose County, where he enlist- ed in 1862, in Company G, Thirty-sixth lowa Infantry, and served about seven months, when he was discharged on account of ill health. After his return home he engaged in farming in Caldwell Township and in 1871 located in Pleasant Township, where he now has a fine farm of 246 acres. In politics Mr. Daily is a Democrat. He has served as school director and road supervisor sev- en years each, and in November, 1885, was elected to his present position. Mr. Daily was married in 1861 to Miss Mary Jane
Clinkenbaird. They have eight children- Alveretta, wife of M. Shanks; Alonzo F., James L., Thurman, Fannie May, Anna, Emma Jane and Charles. The family are members of the Catholic church.
ETER SIDLES, one of the pioneers and a representative farmer of Lin- coln Township, Appanoose County, was born near Blanchester, Clinton County, Ohio, June 4, 1823, the eldest son of Israel Sidles, who was a native of Pennsylvania. The father went to Ohio when a boy, and was married in that State to Nancy Morri- son, who was also a native of Pennsylvania, born November 30, 1801. They had a fam- ily of eleven children, eight of whom are yet living, our subject being the third child of this marriage. The father died during the late war, in January, 1865, and his widow still resides on the old homestead in Ohio. Our subject's grandfather, Peter Sidles, was a native of Germany, coming to Amer- ica when about fifteen years of age. He served as a soldier in the war of the Revo- lution. Peter Sidles, the subject of this sketch, passed his youth on the old home- stead, receiving his education at the dis- trict schools. At the age of twenty-three years he was married to Susan Crossan, a native of Clinton County, Ohio, she and her husband being playmates in that county. They have had seven children born to them -Maria, wife of James Pendergast; Mary M., wife of Rev. Andrew Kershaw, now of Nebraska; Hannah E., wife of George B. Sagerty, of Concordia, Kansas; John A. is married, has four children, and a home near the homestead ; Nancy J. died when about eighteen years of age; George I. and Susan A., at home. After his marriage Mr. Sidles settled on 112 acres of land where he continued to reside till the fall of 1854. He then came to Appanoose Coun-
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ty, Iowa, locating on his present farm on section 3, where he purchased a tract of land containing 430 acres of which but forty acres had been broken. A small log cabin had been erected on this land in which he lived several years, when it was moved back and an addition built to it. Mr. Sidles's chief occupation has been general farming and stock-raising, being very suc- cessful, especially in hog and cattle raising, and has also devoted some attention to sheep-raising. He has at present some very fine cattle and horses on his farm. In Au- gust, 1861, Mr. Sidles enlisted in Company B, Sixth Kansas Cavalry and served in the western army. He spent two years on the borders between Kansas and Missouri, tak- ing part in several skirmishes. He was wounded near Fort Smith, Arkansas, and was taken prisoner. He was confined in a stockade at Tyler, Texas, with some 4,000 men for about seven months. He received an honorable discharge at Leavenworth, Kansas, in April, 1865, when he returned to his home in Lincoln Township, where he has since followed agricultural pursuits. Mr. Sidles served his township as trustee and treasurer, and assessor for one term, beside holding the office of justice of the peace for eleven years. He and his wife and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he holds sev- eral official positions. In early life he was a Democrat, but since the organization of the Republicans he has affiliated with that party.
AMUEL JENNINGS, Sheriff of Ap- panoose County, Iowa, was born in Carmichael's, Greene County, Penn- sylvania, February 28, 1839, a son of Jacob P. and Lydia A. (Casey) Jennings, the former of English and the latter of German and Irish extraction. His father was a carpenter but he was reared by an uncle
by the name of James Cree, who was a farmer, and he was reared to that calling, following it in his native State till he came to Iowa. He lived in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, from 1858 to 1869, and in the latter year came West and located in Tay- lor Township, Appanoose County, on a farm, where he lived till 1872, when he moved to Moulton, where he dealt in live- stock and engaged in butchering until 1883. He then clerked in the general store of J. S Barnhart, and his successor, A. M. Lind, until January, 1886, when, hav- ing been elected sheriff of Appanoose County the previous November, he moved to Centerville and assumed the duties of his office. Mr. Jennings was married Jan- uary 23, 1865, to Miss Tirzah Virginia Bower, of Heistersburg, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, who died in Moravia, Ap- panoose County, September 27, 1872, leaving three children-Fannie Virginia, William F. and Myra E. Fannie died October 29, 1872, and William, November 30, 1872. August 27, 1875, Mr. Jennings married Anna C. Berry, of Moulton. They have had two children-Alberta P. and James P. Mr. Jennings is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Sincerity Lodge, No. 317, at Moulton, which he has served two terms as junior warden.
ILLIAM MILLER McCREARY, druggist, Centerville, lowa, was born in Brooke County, Virginia, October 13, 1837, a son of William and Action (Harper) McCreary, both natives of Virginia, of German descent. His parents having a large family he, at the age of ten years, began to work as a chore- boy on the farms in the vicinity of his birthplace. In 1856 he came to Iowa, and located at Centerville and was first employed as a teamster or cattle driver.
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
In October. 1856, he was employed as clerk in the store of William Bradley, with whom he remained until the spring of 1858, when he went to Kansas, return- ing the following winter, and in the spring of 1859 took a trip to the mining regions of Colorado. In the fall of 1859 he re- turned to Centerville and again entered the store of William Bradley, remaining until July, 1862, when he enlisted in Com- pany G, Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry, and on the organization of the company was appointed First Lieutenant. In March, 1863, he was discharged on account of disability and returned to Centerville. After recovering sufficiently he visited his old home in Virginia, in the fall of 1863, and on returning to Centerville was again employed by Mr. Bradley. In September, 1865, he entered the employ of F. M. Drake, and remained until 1867. In 1868 he en- gaged in farming near Centerville, and in 1869 was employed as clerk in the drug store of Dr. S. W. Wright, and in 1873 en- gaged in business for himself. In Decem- ber, 1872, he was married to Julia Lane. They have two children-Harrie and Frank B.
AMES N. MAY has been a resident of Appanoose County since the spring of 1865, his home being on section 18, Walnut Township. He is a native of the Sucker State, born in Scott County, No- vember 19, 1838, a son of James W. and Mary Ann (Forrest) May. His father was born in East Tennessee, August 8, 1805, and his mother in Pike County, Missouri, in August, 1817. They were married in Scott County, Illinois, in 1835, and in 1845 moved to Wapello County, lowa, and thence in 1853 to Van Buren County. The next year they went to Lee County, where on the old plank road, ten miles northwest of Keokuk, they kept tavern
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