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 65
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 65
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ENRY GOSS, dealer in boots and shoes, Centerville, Iowa, was born in Eddyville, Iowa, March 14, 1857, a son of Joseph and Clara (Brough) Goss. When he was an infant his parents moved to Centerville, where he was reared and educated. In his youth he began clerking in his father's store, and on attaining his majority became associated with him in the mercantile business, under the firm name of Goss & Son. This firm continued until 1881 when he became established in his present business. Mr. Goss was mar- ried October 27, 1881, to Eva, daughter of General Francis M. and Mary Drake. In politics he is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Christian church. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity.
ILLIAM SPEER GAY was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsyl- vania, September 10, 1842, a son of William and Martha (Speer) Gay. In 1862 he enlisted in the Union service, and was appointed Second Sergeant of Com- pany K, Eleventh Pennsylvania Infantry, and was discharged July 3, 1865. His regi- ment served in the Army of the Potomac, and participated in the battles at Fred- ericksburg, Petersburg, and Antietam, and 63
in several skirmishes in front of Richmond. After his discharge he returned to his father's home in Pennsylvania, and in 1870 came West, locating in March of that year near Centerville, Iowa, where he engaged in farming until October, 1881, when he was elected sheriff of Appanoose County, and was re-elected in 1883, serving two terms of two years each. Previous to his election as sheriff he served as marshal of Centerville a year. December 17, 1861, he married Irene Stewart, of Donegal, Penn- sylvania, who died February 8, 1885. Two of their six children are living-Erma and Erla. Mr. Gay is a member of the Masonic fraternity, lodge, chapter and command- ery.
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DDISON PENDERGAST, farmer, Lincoln Township, Appanoose Coun- ty, was born in Ripley County, In- diana, in 1840, and when eight years of age accompanied his parents to Lee County, Iowa, and ten years later to Lincoln Town- ship, Appanoose County. He was reared a farmer, remaining with his parents till the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, when, in 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Fifth Kansas Infantry, and the latter part of the year was transferred to the Sixth Kansas Cavalry. The regiment was on scouting duty the most of the time and when in an engagement in Missouri was captured and sent to Tyler, Texas. In December he, with three others, John Miller, J. M. Asher and David Stanton, escaped by pass- ing forged passes on the guard. After seventeen days of traveling at night and hiding in the day they were recaptured and were confined in various prisons, until 1865, when they were exchanged and sent to New Orleans and thence to Leavenworth, Kansas, where they were discharged. Just previous to his capture he was wounded, and received no medical aid until he
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
reached Paris, Texas. He is still a sufferer from his wound, having only a partial use of his right arm. In politics Mr. Pender- gast is a Republican. He is a comrade of John L. Bashore Post, No. 122, G. A. R. He was married in 1865 to Miss Elmira Snedeker. They have two children-Frank and Clinton.
AMES M. STONE, one of the early settlers of Johns Township, was born near New Haven, in Hartford County, Connecticut, August 27, 1809, a son of Christopher and Esther (Jerome) Stone, his father being a native of the State of Connecticut. His grandfather, Joseph Stone, was of English ancestry, and four of his brothers were soldiers in the Revo- lutionary war. Our subject's parents died in Connecticut, his father dying when he was sixteen years of age. They were the parents of ten children of whom our sub- ject was the youngest. He and a sister are the only survivors of his father's family. He was reared on the home farm, remain- ing there till reaching maturity, and in his youth attended the common schools of his neighborhood. While on a visit to his brothers in New Jersey he was married to Eliza A. Wilcox, of that State. He then went to Ashtabula County, Ohio, where he settled on a farm and engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. He removed with his family to Appanoose County, lowa, in the spring of 1859, and settled near his present farm in Johns Township, where he bought 160 acres of land, residing on the farm until 1873, when his wife died, leaving six chil- dren-Mary (wife of O. M. Powers, of Ohio), James L., Harriet J. (wife of Am- brose Curtis), John J., Alfred C. and Alber- tus W. The third child, Aurelius, was a member of a Wisconsin cavalry regiment, and died in the service. Mr. Stone began
life poor, but by his untiring industry and strict economy he has become one of the well-to-do citizens of his township. His farm, which now belongs to his son, Alfred C., contains 200 acres, and is located on sections 14 and 15, Johns Town- ship. Alfred C. Stone was married in 1865 to Anna H. Thurman, a native of Indiana, but at the time of her marriage living in Appanoose County, Iowa. She is a daugh- ter of Senator Thurman, of Ohio. This union was blessed with four children-Eliza A., Walter J., Cora B. and Essa M. Al- fred C. Stone makes a specialty of raising short-horn cattle, and is one of the enter- prising farmers of his neighborhood, his farm showing thorough cultivation. James M. Stone, our subject, served as justice of the peace while living in Ohio. He is now seventy-seven years of age. He is an earn- est member of the Methodist Episcopal church, all of his children becoming mem- bers of the same denomination at the age of sixteen years. Four of his sons served in the late civil war-James L., Aurelius L., John J. and Alfred C. The latter was a member of Company I, Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry.
RA J. DUFFIELD, of the drug firm of Duffield Brothers, of Centerville, is a son of John and Jane (McGib- bin) Duffield, his parents being natives of the State of Ohio, and early settlers of Van Buren County, Iowa. Ora J. Duffield was born near Keosauqua, Iowa, December 27, 1860, receiving his primary education in the district school, and completing it at the Keosauqua High School. He remained on the home farm in Van Buren County until nineteen years of age, when, in 1880, he came to Appanoose County, and located in Centerville where he clerked in the drug store of Duffield & Harlan for one year. He then returned to the home farm on
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account of sickness, remaining there till the following fall. He was then engaged in clerking in various places until October, 1884, when he formed his present partner- ship with his brother, George William Duffield, and both being live young busi- ness men and excellent managers have built up a good trade. Mr. Ora J. Duffield is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is a highly respected citizen of Centerville, and has, during his residence here, made a host of friends.
C. BARROWS, of the firm of W. O. Crosby & Co., publishers of the Cen- terville Citizen, was born February 16, 1845, at Prescott, Ontario, the son of Earl and Margaret (Adams) Barrows. He came to Iowa with his parents in 1856, when eleven years old. From July, 1863, until the close of the war he served in the Eighth Iowa Cavalry, and since then he has been a resident of Appanoose County. In 1881 he purchased the Times office of B. S. Spooner, and in 1882 he consolidated that paper with the Citizen, taking the po- sition of associate editor and business man- ager of that paper. Mr. Barrows was mar- ried December 28, 1870, at Centerville, to Miss O. A. Swearingen. His children are- Blanche, aged fourteen; Earl, aged twelve, and Flossie, aged four. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the G. A. R.
ENJAMIN WELLS, farmer and auc. tioneer, was born in Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana, October 20, 1840, a son of Henry and Rebecca (Hill) Wells. His parents came to Iowa in 1848, and located near Ottumwa, and from there moved to Appanoose County in 1851. The mother died in 1854, and the father in 1874. Mr. Wells was reared a farmer, a
vocation he has always followed, and since 1874 has also engaged in auctioneering, having his headquarters at Centerville. In 1862 he was one of the organizers of the Cincinnati Home Guards, and was elected First Lieutenant, and served until the close of the war, the people being constantly on the alert for surprise from Confederate forces and guerrillas on the Missouri bor- ders. In 1859 he was married to Mary Beamer, a daughter of Philip and Sarah (Morris) Beamer. They have four children -Serrissa E., Rebecca A., William H. and and Philip. Mr. and Mrs. Wells are mem- bers of Methodist Episcopal church.
OHN DUVALL, deceased, was one of the prominent and enterprising citi- zens of Taylor Township, Appanoose County. He was a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, born July 22, 1817, a son of Eli and Elizabeth (Richey) Duvall. He received a fair education in the schools of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, to which county his parents had removed when he was six years old. After finishing his ed- ucation he taught school for several years. He then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed a number of years. In 1843 he was married to Miss Sarah Craw- ford, the eldest daughter of John and Eliz- abeth Crawford, who were natives of Maryland and Virginia respectively. Af- ter his marriage Mr. Duvall settled on a farm in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, where he followed agricultural pursuits during the summer months, teaching school in the winter terms. In April, 1857, he came with his family to Appanoose County, Iowa, settling on the farm which is still occupied by his widow. He im- proved his land, adding to it by subsequent purchases till he owned 320 acres, and the log cabin, into which he first moved his
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
family, has given place to a good substan- tial brick residence, and the barns and other farm buildings are noticeably good. Mr. Duvall made a specialty of raising a fine grade of hogs, and from this enterprise derived quite an income. He was a good financier, and at his death, which occurred September 27, 1884, he left a handsome property which he had acquired by his in- dustrious habits and excellent management. At his death he left his widow and three children-Henry C., Elizabeth R. and Eli H. He was an active member of the Masonic fraternity, being treasurer of his lodge, besides having held many subordi- nate offices. He was a great reader and was well versed in general subjects, and was a strong advocate of the free-school system. He was a man highly esteemed by all who knew him, and was active in all enterprises which tended to the good of his township, and for a number of years served Taylor Township as trustee and assessor.
OUIS LEROY TAYLOR, clerk of the courts of Appanoose County, is a native of Kentucky, and was born near Munfordville, the county seat of Hart County, March 27, 1839, a son of John M. and Nancy (Wilson) Taylor. When he was ten years of age his parents moved to Appanoose County, Iowa, and settled in Washington Township, where he grew to manhood. From 1860 to 1878 he taught in the schools of Appanoose and Davis counties. In 1879 he was elected · clerk of the courts of Appanoose County for a term of two years and has been thrice re elected. He has also held the offices of township assessor, clerk and justice of the peace, and for fifteen years was secretary of the Board of Directors of Washington Township. May 26, 1864, he was married to Miriam, daughter of B. H. Siler, of Davis
County. They have two children-Henri- etta and John B. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor and their daughter are members of the Christian church.
'AMES HAMILTON, an enterprising and intelligent citizen of Taylor Township. is a native of Brown County, Ohio, born near the town of Rip- ley, June 12, 1828, a son of Hugh and Martha (Woods) Hamilton, his father born in Pennsylvania in 1799, and his mother in Kentucky in 1805. The father was reared in Pennsylvania till twenty-one years old, and the mother reared in Ohio and they were there married in 1825. In 1831 they removed to the State of Indiana, and arc now residents of Ripley County. James was reared in Indiana, receiving a good education in the common schools. He remained with his parents until manhood, assisting his father, who was a farmer. He was married in 1853 to Miss Elizabeth Hukill, a native of Ripley County, and in the spring of 1854 they moved to Iowa, stopping in Lee County two years. From there they moved to Guthrie County, and in 1861 located in Appanoose County, set- tling in Douglas Township. In 1880 he removed to Taylor Township, where they now own one of the model farms of the county, situated four and a half miles south of Moravia, on section 28. He owns 200 acres of choice land, which is adapted to all kinds of general farming. He pays special attention to stock-raising, having a fine herd of Durham cattle and several Clydesdale, Percheron and Kentucky thoroughbred horses. His wife died in 1873, leaving one daughter-Sarah V. In 1874 he married Amanda C. Hays, daugh- ter of Alexander and Priscilla Hays. They have four children-Bessie L., Leota, Hugh A. and Mary. Mr. Hamilton has
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
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served his fellow-townsmen in several of- ficial capacities. He was a Democrat until 1860, when he voted for Abraham Lincoln and has since affiliated with the Republican party. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church twenty- seven years.
OHN CROFT, a prominent and suc- cessful cattle-raiser and dealer of Washington Township, Appanoose County, is a man who has contributed largely to the agricultural interests of his township. Mr. Croft is a native of Vir- ginia, born near Newcastle, September 4, 1835, and is the only son now living of John and Margaret Croft, his mother being a native of the same State as himself. His father was born in Germany, he coming to America when a small boy. In 1838 his parents moved to Missouri, where his father died shortly after. His mother sub- sequently married again, and came to Ap- panoose County, Iowa, locating in Cald- well Township, where she died in 1854. After the death of his mother, John Croft agreed to work on a farm and pay his board for two years for eighty acres of land, after which he worked at different places till he had earned enough to pur- chase a team, when he commenced the im- provement of his eighty-acre farm, his sister keeping house for him till his mar- riage. He then married and settled on his little farm where he remained twenty-one years, and added to his land till he had 280 acres, and during this time he was exten- sively engaged in raising stock which he shipped to different markets. His father dying when he was quite young, he was almost entirely thrown upon his own re- sources, receiving but a limited education in the schools of his neighborhood. He began life for himself with a determination
to succeed, and by his persevering energy coupled with his good management he has been successful in all his undertakings. He removed to his present farm in 1880, where he has 320 acres of land under a high state of cultivation. His residence is large and commodious, and his barns and outbuildings are in good condition. He has now a landed estate of Soo acres. He is still extensively engaged in raising cattle for the fall markets. He was married April 25, 1858, to Martha Bond, daughter of John and Ann Bond. His wife died in 1879 leaving seven children -Andrew C., Charles M., James F., Viola F., Emma R., John E. and Laura Alma. He was again married April 12, 1886, taking for his second wife Mrs. Sarah Mullenix, formerly of Putnam County, Missouri, but a native of Appanoose County, Iowa, and a daughter of Elisha Beard. Mr. Croft is an active member of the Christian church at Moulton, and one of its most liberal sup- porters, and is one of the public-spirited citizens of Washington Township.
LARK WHITE LANE, a member of the mercantile firm of Drake & Lane, and secretary and treasurer of the Diamond Coal Mining Company, of Cen- terville, was born at Independence, Penn- sylvania, September 18, 1848. He received a common-school education, and his father being a merchant and farmer, he was reared to both avocations. At the age of sixteen years he came to Appanoose County, Iowa, with his parents, and in 1874 he became manager of the mercantile establishment of General F. M. Drake. In 1875 he formed a partnership with Mr. Drake and R. F. Lyman, and engaged in general merchandising at Centerville un- der the firm name of Drake, Lane & Lýman. Mr. Lane subsequently purchased the in-
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
terest of Mr. Lyman when the firm name was changed to Drake & Lane. General F. M. Drake was succeeded in business by his son, F. E. Drake, in 1885, but the firm name of Drake & Lanc was still retained. Mr. Lane was united in marriage, June 23, 1874, to Kate Ella Drake, a daughter of John A. and Harriet J. (O'Neil) Drake, both of whom are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Lane have three children-John Clyde, George Hamilton, and Clark, Jr. Politically Mr. Lane is a Democrat. He is a member of Centerville Lodge, No. 76, I. O.O. F. He was elected to the office of city alderman in the spring of 1886.
OHN WESLEY WILLIAMS, of the firm J. W. Williams & Son, dealers in hardware, agricultural implements, pianos and organs, Centerville, lowa, is a native of Pennsylvania, born at Freeport, Armstrong County, July 12, 1833. His parents were Jacob and Eliza (Bowers) Williams, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Pennsylvania, both of Ger- man descent. When seventeen years of age he began to learn the trade of a silver- smith with his brother-in-law, who a year later died, and he then abandoned that trade and began to learn that of a tinner. When nineteen years of age he went to Pittsburg, and in the fall of 1854 came West and spent the winter in St. Louis, Missouri. The following spring he came to Iowa, and after spending a short time at Keokuk, Oskaloosa and Ottumwa, he located in Centerville in July, 1855, and was employed by Washburn & Farley un- til September, 1856, when he succeeded Mr. Farley, the firm thus becoming Will- iams & Washburn, and in 1860 Mr. Will- iams bought the interest of Mr. Washburn and thus became sole proprietor. To his original stock of tinware he has added
from time to time till he now has a large and increasing patronage in all the various branches of his business. His son, Hem- merle, has been associated with him since 1878. Mr. Williams was married Septem- ber 6, 1856, to Mary E. Bradley, of Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania. They have six chil- dren-Hemmerle, Ella V., Carl C., Albert E., Anna T. and Lenna. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the Odd Fellows order, lodge and encamp- ment.
RYOR LEE CALLEN, one of the early settlers of Taylor Township, Appanoose County, was born near Knoxville, Seneca County, Tennessee, Sep- tember 9, 1826, his parents, Edward and Martha (Cate) Callen, being natives of the same State. They were married in Seneca County, where the father followed farming till the spring of 1843. He then came with his family to Iowa, and after living in Van Buren County three years, he settled in Appanoose County on a farm of 160 acres, which he entered from the Govern- ment. He improved his land, on which he lived till his death, his wife dying on the same farm some time after. Both were devoted members of the Methodist Episco- pal church, which he served as steward and trustee. When they settled in this county they had but two neighbors, Reuben Denny and Lewis Hiatt, and many were the hard- ships and privations which they endured, but by their united efforts they became comfortably settled in life. They were the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters, all living but one son. John R., who was a member of Company G, Iowa Infantry, and died in the service of his country at Helena, Arkansas. Pryor L., the subject of this sketch, received his rudimentary education in the subscription
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
schools of his native State, and after com- ing to Iowa attended the schools of Van Buren County. He was married when twenty-eight years of age to Lementine A. Hays, daughter of Alex. and Priscilla Hays, who were among the early settlers of the county. Of the ten children born to this union, two died in infancy ; eight are still living-Harry J., Preston A., Edward R., John L., Frank H., George P., Luella J. (wife of John B. Kinion), and Lora A., at home. After his marriage Mr. Callen set- tled on his present farm on section 28, which contains 120 acres of valuable land, and engaged in general farming and stock- raising, his stock consisting of cattle, hogs, horses and mules. His horses are of the Norman breed. He devotes considerable attention to the raising of mules, having some very fine ones on his farm at present. Mr. Callen has served his township for many years as trustee. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episco- pal church. In politics he was formerly an old line Whig, but now affiliates with the Republican party.
AMES ROBERT WOODEN, mer- chant, Centerville, Iowa, was born near Gosport, Owen County, Indiana, December 20, 1826, a son of Robert M. and Malinda (Wilhite) Wooden, the former a native of Kentucky, of Irish descent, and the latter a native of Virginia. When four- teen years of age he began to learn the sad- dle and harness maker's trade, and when twenty years of age began business for himself in his native village. In 1852 he abandoned his trade and engaged in gen- eral merchandising. In the fall of 1856 he removed with his family to Centerville, where he has since carried on general mer- chandising. December 13: 1846, he mar- ried America R. Hartsuck, also a native of
Gosport, Indiana. They have two chil- dren-Albert E. and Charles R. Mr. Wooden is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, Jackson Lodge, No. 42. In poli- tics he was a Democrat until 1860, but since the war has affiliated with the Republican party.
AVID PEUGH was born in Floyd County, Virginia, January 12, 1819, the third of a family of seven chil- dren of Levi and Jane (Watkins) Peugh, natives of Loudoun County, Virginia. When he was about ten years of age his parents moved from Montgomery County, Virginia, to Wayne County, Indiana, and there his father died five years later. He remained with his mother until manhood, and then went to Washington County, and thence to Bartholomew County, Indiana, where he worked on a farm. In the spring of 1854 he removed to Iowa and located in Appanoose County, on the farm where he now lives, on section 15, Johns Township, entering 160 acres from the Government. His land at that time was open prairie, and his first house was a round-log cabin. He began at once to raise grain and fatten hogs, and in this way got a start toward what is now a successful business. For several years he was one of the leading sheep-raisers in the county, but of late has devoted his attention to cattle-raising. From a humble beginning Mr. Peugh has, by hard work and good management, be- come one of the most prosperous citizens of Johns Township. He was married in 1842, in Bartholomew County, Indiana, to Miss Nancy E. Needham, a native of Jen- nings County, Indiana, born May 4, 1824, the eldest daughter of Enoch and Lucretia (Spaulding) Needham, her father a native of Randolph County, North Carolina, and her mother of Woodford County, Ken- tucky. Mr. and Mrs. Peugh have had a
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
family of seven children-Samuel E. en- listed in the war of the Rebellion in Com- pany I, Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry, and was wounded at the battle of Mark's Mills, April 25, 1864, and died the 27th of the same month ; Lucretia J. is the wife of John Baird, of Centerville ; Nancy A. is the wife of Hugh Baker, of Kansas; David P., of Johns Township; William H, of Jewell County, Kansas; Sarah J. is the wife of Maltimore Needham, and Charles A. is at home.
NDERSON D. CALLEN, one of the early settlers of Taylor Township, Appanoose County, residing on sec- tion 20, was born near Knoxville, Jefferson County, Tennessee, November 11, 1826. His father, Henry Callen, was born in Virginia in 1786, and when quite young was brought by his parents to Tennessee, where he was married to Elizabeth Doug- lass, of Jefferson County. Five sons and three daughters were born to them; five children are still living. They lived on a farm in Jefferson County till 1847, in which year Mr. Callen came with his family to Iowa. After living about a year in Van Buren County, he removed to Appanoose County, locating in the southwest corner of Taylor Township in 1849. He soon after sold his farm in this township, and settled in Chariton Township, on the Chariton River, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1853, his wife having died eighteen days before her husband. Anderson D. lived on the homestead with his parents till reaching maturity, his edu- cation being obtained in the subscription schools of his neighborhood. He was married in Appanoose County, in 1854, to Mary J. Chambers, the eldest daughter of John and Nancy Chambers, who came from Indiana to this county in the fall of 1852. Her parents are now deceased, the
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