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 66
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 66
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father having died in Missouri, and the mother dying in this county. The mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Callen has been blessed with eight children-John A., Will- iam H. (married), Christopher S., Albert S., Jonathan E., Eliza E., Frances M. and Mary L. After his marriage Mr. Callen lived a short time in Taylor Township, when he removed to Douglas Township, where he made his home for twelve years. He then settled on the farm where he has since resided, which contains eighty acres of good land fairly improved. He has made farming his principal avocation through life, although for two years he worked at the carpenter's trade. He was bereaved by the death of his wife, who died in July, I 880. Mr. Callen served two years as trustee of his township. He was elected justice of the peace, but refused to qualify. Mr. Callen and his daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is class-leader. His wife was a member of the same church. Henry Cal- len, father of our subject, was a soldier in General Jackson's army in the war of 1812, and his son, Albert H., served in the war of the Rebellion, being a member of Com- pany D, Sixth Iowa Infantry. He was killed at the battle of Resaca in 1864, after serving nearly three years.
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CAMPBELL BRADLEY is a na- tive of Centerville, born August 13, 1858, the eldest of three sons of William and Amanda (Campbell) Bradley. He was reared in his native city, and after receiving a fair education in the common and high schools he attended Monmouth, Illinois, College, from which he graduated in 1879. After his graduation he returned home, and became the proprietor of the Dennis flouring mill, near Centerville, which he owned till 1881, when, selling out,
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AS OL' > AND TILD N FOUNDATIONS.
Franklin Tells
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he engaged in the mercantile business at Centerville until 1883. Discontinuing that he began dealing in and shipping live stock to Eastern markets, which has proved a suc- cessful undertaking. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Centerville, and January 1, 1886, was chosen one of its directors. In politics he casts his suffrage with the Democratic party. He is a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows order, Lodge No. 76, and Encampment No. 24, and also of Lodge No. 64, K. of P. He was married December 9, 1885, to Cora, daughter of Hon. D. P. Stubbs, of Fairfield, Iowa. He and his wife are members of the Presbyte- rian church.
RANKLIN EELLS, M. D., deceased, was one of the earliest practitioners of Appanoose County, the year of his location in Centerville being 1855. He was a sturdy son of Maine, and was born near Belfast, February 5, 1830, his parents, Dr. Seth W. and Patience (Merriam) Eells, being also natives of the Pine Tree State. In 1837 the family moved to Belleville, Ohio, where Dr. S. W. Eells practiced medicine several years, and later removed to Mansfield, the same State, where he en- gaged largely in the manufacture of ink and subsequently became interested in com- pounding and patenting family medicines. He lived in Mansfield until !874, when he moved to Centerville, lowa, where he died in January, 1876. His wife died Novem- ber, 1875, and both are buried at Center- ville. Franklin Eells was a studious boy, and was given the privilege of obtaining a good education, attending first the schools of Belleville and Mansfield, and later Ober- lin College. Having early a desire to be- come a physician he commenced studying with his father, who was a very thorough instructor, wishing his son, if he took up the profession, to stand at its head. In 1855 he
left home and came to Iowa, beginning his practice in Centerville, with Dr. McCoy. In February, 1859, he was married to Miss Chloe A. McCaffrey, who was born in Mon- roe County, Ohio, a daughter of Washing- ton and Maria (Miller) McCaffrey, her father a native of Virginia, and her mother of Pennsylvania. They located in Center- ville in 1855, and made it their home as long as they lived. After his marriage Dr. Eells attended Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois, taking a full course of lectures, and receiving his diploma from that institution January 7, 1864. Soon after his graduation he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he engaged in the drug business and in the manufacture of druggists' specialties. Re- turning to Centerville in 1871, he devoted his attention to his practice for about a year, and then began the manufacture of staple family medicines, many of which, patented by him, have become familiar names in thousands of Western homes. His enterprise was attended with the most gratifying success, the efficacy of his medi- cines in the diseases for which they were made being recognized and acknowleged by all who used them, and they soon be- came widely known, and their sales brought him in a good revenue. Dr. Eells was one whose genial, sympathetic nature found a responsive chord in the hearts of all who knew him, and few men of his ability ever lived who had more friends and at their death left less enemies. As a practitioner among children and young people his popu- larity was unbounded, readily gaining their confidence, making them his friends and making himself a welcome visitor to their homes. In his political affiliations Dr. Eells was a Republican, and although in no way a politician was a firm adherent to the prin- cipals of his party. He was in an early day made an Odd Fellow and continued a member of the lodge in Centerville until his death. In 1879 he built the handsome
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
brick residence which is now the home of his family. This, with the beautiful park- like grounds environing it, is a most effect- ive monument to his skill and carefulness. Early in 1884 his health failed and he was obliged to give up his business, gradually growing worse until death relieved his sufferings August 5, 1884. His only son and descendant, Albert H. Eells, early in life became associated in business with his father and has succeeded him, now carrying on the same business at Centerville.
ATHAN M. JONES, a prominent farmer and early settler of Johns Township, Appanoose County, was born near Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana, June 25, 1831, the sixth child of William and Abigail (Davis) Jones, his parents being natives of Kentucky. They had a family of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, ten of whom still sur- vive, our subject being the fourth son. The paternal great-grandfather of our subject was a Welshman. The father was among the early settlers of Indiana, where he fol- lowed agricultural pursuits many years. He left Putnam County, Indiana, in the spring of 1851 and settled with his family in Johns Township, Appanoose County, lowa, where he made his home till his death, in 1872, his wife having died in this township in 1870. He was one of the or- ganizers of Johns Township, and in all en- terprises for its advancement he was always ready to give his support. Nathan M. was about twenty years of age when he came with his parents to Appanoose County, and here he was married in 1855, to Eliza Fer- ren, the second daughter of William and Mary Ferren, of Johns Township. Three children have been born to this union- William J., John L., and one who died in infancy. Mr. Jones has lived on his pres-
ent farm since his marriage, which at the time of his settlement was entirely unim- proved. He has made farming his princi- pal occupation through life, in which he has been uniformly successful, his farm now containing 300 acres of land in a good state of cultivation, and is located on sec- tion 9. He has devoted considerable at- tention to the raising of cattle, having at present on his farm seventy-seven head. He has lately turned his attention to rais- ing a high grade of cattle, in which he is meeting with success. Mr. Jones has served his township one term as trustee and two terms as assessor. He is a mem- ber of the Old School Baptist church, in which he holds the office of clerk.
G. ASHBY, Superintendent of the schools of Appanoose County, was born in Knox County, Illinois, Octo- ber 4, 1840, a son of Daniel C. and Nancy F. (Gaddis) Ashby, the former a native of Kentucky, of English descent, and the lat- ter of Pennsylvania, of Irish descent. When he was four years of age his parents moved to Parke County, Indiana, and there he was reared. In 1857 they moved to the vicinity of Centerville, Iowa, and here he has since made his home. In 1861 he en- listed in Company D, Sixth Iowa Infantry, and served until July 20, 1864. He partici- pated in the battles of Shiloh, Vicksburg, Black River, Jackson, Mission Ridge and Atlanta campaign, his last battle being Kenesaw Mountain. At the battle of Mission Ridge he was slightly wounded. After his return home he resumed farming, teaching school in the winter until Novem- ber, 1885, when he was elected superin- tendent of schools of Appanoose County. In 1883 he went to Pierre, Dakota, with the intention of settling, but a cyclone swept away his property, and he returned
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to Iowa, after being gone only one season. August 31, 1865, he married Sarah E., daughter of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Pol- lard) Hollingsworth. They have seven children-John C., Flora E., Melville S., Clara, Willie, Eva and Bessie. Mr. and Mrs. Ashby are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
EORGE WASHINGTON STRICK- LER, of the firm of Israel Brothers & Co., Centerville, Iowa, was born in Centerville, September 2, 1861, a son of David L. and Margaret Jane (McCreary) Strickler, natives of Pennsylvania, of Eng- lish ancestry. He was educated in his native town, and when fourteen years of age began clerking. In 1883 he opened a restaurant, which he conducted until 1885, when he became associated with the Israel Brothers and his brother John J., forming the present firm. September 16, 1885, he was married to Miss Olive M. Biddle, a daughter of William M. and Eunice Bid- dle, old residents of Appanoose County. He is a member of Centerville Lodge, No. 64, K. of P.
HARLES M. CROFT, proprietor of the Western Mills and woolen manu- factory, Moulton, Iowa, is a native of Appanoose County, born near Moulton, in Wells Township, April 6, 1863, a son of John and Martha Croft. He was reared and educated in his native county, and after leaving school taught for a time. He then began working at the miller's trade, and in 1885 .bought a half interest in the mill which henow owns, having purchased his partner's interest in January, 1886. He does a general milling business, and also has a large custom trade. The mill was built in 1869 by Silas Harter and operated
by him about six years. He then sold to a company that sold it five years later to John Johnson, who conducted it alone until 1885, when he sold a half interest to Mr. Croft. Mr. Croft was married in 1885 to Miss Gertie Matthews, a native of Van Buren County, Iowa. He is a member of Lodge No. 365, I. O. O. F. Mr. Croft is a young man of more than average ability, . and his business tact and genial manners have made him popular with all with whom he has had any dealings. Thus far he has been successful, and he has the prospect of a prosperous future in his business life. In social life he is affable and courteous and his friends are legion, his young associates regarding him as a leader in all the enter- prises that promise to be of social or men- tal benefit.
HOMAS OSCAR WILSON, con- tractor and builder, of Centerville, is a native of Virginia, born near Manchester, Frederick County, January 9, 1821, a son of William A. and Catherine (Hotzenpillar) Wilson, the former being a native of Maryland, and the latter of Vir- ginia. At the age of sixteen years our sub- ject began learning the cabinet-maker's trade at Winchester, Virginia, which he followed in connection with the carpenter's trade at that place and in various places in Ohio until 1856. He then came to Iowa, and located in Centerville in 1857, where he followed the cabinet-maker's trade until 1860, since which time he has been engaged in contracting and building, He was mar- ried in Fairfield County, Ohio, October 17, 1844, to Miss Mary Cupp, and of the seven children born to this union only five are living-Mrs. Harriet Udel, George W., Thomas A., Ivy May, a teacher in the Centerville grammar school, and Mary Inez. A daughter, Louisa, died January I, 1865, aged seventeen years, and John Oscar
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
died at the age of twenty-eight years, March 18. 18So. Mr. Wilson has served several years on the council of Centerville as alderman, and for six years held the office of assessor of Center Township. In poli- tics he affiliated with the Democratic par- ty. He is a Master, Royal Arch and Knight Templar Mason, and a member of the lodge, chapter and commandery at Centerville. He is held in high esteem by his lodge, which he has served ten years as master, and for six years was high priest of his chapter. During an installation in June, IS70, Mr. Wilson was presented with a handsome silver watch, on the inside case of which was inscribed the following : " Pre- sented to T. O. Wilson by the members of Jackson Lodge, No. 42, A. F. & A. M., June 24. 1870."
ARON LUSE, deceased, was a prom- inent farmer and early settler of Taylor Township. He was born in the State of Ohio, near the city of Cleve- land, March 12, 1819, a son of William and Sarah (Burnett) Luse, early settlers of Ohio. He remained in his native State until nineteen years of age, and in 1838 came West and lived in Missouri about a year. From there he went to Van Buren County, Iowa, where he married Martha Smith, a daughter of Jesse and Esther (Frier) Smith. After his marriage he moved to Appanoose County, and settled on section 17, Taylor Township, where his widow now lives. He had a fine farm of 500 acres, and was an enterprising stock- raiser, a man of excellent judgment, and was well and favorably known in the county. He died August 5, 1881. Seven of the family of eight children are living- Rosette, wife of John A. Cline ; Sarah J., wife of John Skinner ; Martha, wife of E. Foster ; Laura M., wife of George Andrew;
William J .; Jackson; Mary, wife of T. J. Turner, and Douglas; the latter is de- ceased. Mr. Luse was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He held several local offices of trust, among others justice of the peace and assessor.
DWARD BROSHAR is a native of Indiana, born near Napoleon, Ripley County, September 26, 1838, a son of Zachariah and Mary (Linebaugh) Bro- shar, the former a native of Indiana, of French descent, and the latter of Kentucky, of German descent. His parents came to Iowa in 1855, and located on a farm in Chariton Township, Appanoose County, where the mother died in the spring of 1862, aged about fifty-one years. The father still lives on the old homestead with his son Levi, at the advanced age of eighty- two years. They had a family of six chil- dren, of whom one died in infancy and five are living. The living are-Sarah, Mary Elizabeth, wife of Lewis Main, of Chariton Township; Edward, Levi, and Nancy Ellen, wife of George Funkhouser, of Ringgold County, Iowa. Edward Broshar remained with his parents till maturity, and when he began life for himself engaged in farming on rented land. August 15, 1861, he en- listed in the Union service as a private in Company M, Third lowa Cavalry, and in the spring of 1864 re-enlisted as a veteran and served four years. Soon after his en- listment he was appointed Duty-Sergeant, and served as such till mustered out. He participated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Hartsville, Little Rock, Guntown, Tupelo, Mount Valley, Ebenezer Church, Selma, Columbus, and many others, numbering in all sixteen. Hc was discharged at Atlanta, Georgia, August 9, 1865, and returned to Appanoose County, and resumed farming. In politics he was a Republican till the
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organization of the Greenback party, and since then has cast his suffrage with that party. In 1881 he was elected assessor of Walnut Township, and also held the same office in 1883 and 1884. In 1882 he was elected to fill a vacancy on the county board and was elected to the same office in 1884, for a term of three years, expiring January 1, 1888. He has also held several minor offices in the township and on the school board. In July, 1859, he was mar- ried to Miss Minerva J. Funkhouser, of Chariton Township. They have had ten children, of whom nine are living -- Alfer- etta, wife of Lemly Hiner, of Kansas; James E., Ella, Alice, Louis, Anna, Winnie, Willie and John. A daughter, Gertrude, died in 1878, aged fourteen months. Mr. Broshar is a member of John L. Bashore Post, No. 122, G. A. R. He was reared in the faith of the United Brethren church, of which both his parents were members, and he and his wife are both identified with that denomination.
RESLEY W. SEARS, one of the early settlers of Appanoose County, was born in Fairfax County, Virginia, April 29, 1806, a son of Charles Lee and Elizabeth (Wooster) Sears, natives of the same State, of English descent. His grandfather, Barnard Sears, came to America in 1727, and settled in Virginia. He was one of the workmen employed in building General Washington's residence, at Mt. Vernon. His maternal grandfather, John Wooster, was born in London, and came to America as a soldier during the Revolutionary war. In 1836 our subject removed from Virginia to Ohio, and set- tled near Zanesville, Muskingum County, where he lived about twenty years, and in 1856 removed with his family to Appanoose County, Iowa, entering 320 acres of land
three miles west of Moravia, where he lived until 1870, when he retired from the busy cares of life, and moved to the village of Moravia. Mr. Sears was married in 1831 to Ann M. Caton, a native of Fairfax County, Virginia. Shedied in September, 1863, leaving seven children. He subse- quently married Mrs. Orlensa Wright, a native of Pennsylvania, daughter of Robert Johnston. They have one daughter- Flora E. M.
EORGE GALLAHER, one of the pioneers of Appanoose County, was born in Warren County, Indiana, near Williamsport, January 7, 1828, a son John W. and Hannah (Schemerhorn) Gal- laher. When he was quite young his father died, and about the age of nine years he was left motherless, and therefore has little knowledge of his parents. He lived with his guardian until about sixteen years of age, when he started out to commence the battle of life for himself, and worked on farms in his native State until twenty-one years old. Being charmed with the glow- ing descriptions of the West he resolved to visit Iowa, and accordingly, in the fall of 1849, started on his journey. He re- mained in Iowa during the winter, and the following spring returned to Indiana, but soon after came again to Iowa, and entered 160 acres of land near Unionville, Appa- noose County. Three months later he sold it, and in September of the same year bought a claim in the western part of Tay- lor Township. This he also sold and then purchased 160 acres near the present site of the Missouri, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad depot, on section 5. In 1864 he bought the farm where he now lives, on section 6, which contains eighty acres of choice land, making 240 acres, all under improvement. In addition to farming he is quite exten-
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sively engaged in stock-raising, making a specialty of cattle and hogs. He is an en- terprising man, and from a poor orphan boy has come to be one of the prosperous farmers of Appanoose County. He has held various official positions in the township, among others that of supervisor, trustee and assessor. He was the first man in the township to hold the latter office. Mr Gallaher was married in 1856 to Mahala Buck, a native of Missouri. She died No- vember 6, 1883. They had a family of seven children-Thomas J., of Nebraska ; Dora E., wife of D. J. Funkhouse ; Jesse M., of Seward County, Nebraska ; Cora C., Charles E., George E. and John W.
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EVI CLEMMENS, farmer and pro- prietor of a meat market in Center- ville, Iowa, was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, February 8, 1824. In his infancy his parents moved to Montgomery. County, Ohio, and from there to Wayne County, Indiana, when he was about twelve old. When fifteen years old he began to work for his own maintenance by chopping cord wood, and when seventeen began butchering in a country place in Wayne County, continuing it for eleven years. In the spring of 1852 he came to Iowa and located in Bellair Township, Appanoose County, where he engaged in farming and butchering till 1876, when he moved to Cen- terville and opened his present meat mar- ket, where he has built up a good trade. Mr. Clemmens is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, lodge, chapter and ยท commandery, and the lodge and encamp- ment of the Odd Fellows order. He takes a great interest in the temperance move- ment, and is a member of Centerville Lodge, No. 79, 1. O. G. T. Mr. Clemmens was married March 19, 1848, to Miss Leah Switzer, of Wayne County, Indiana. They
have no children, but reared an adopted daughter, Arthela West, now the wife of E. G. Wentworth, of Essex, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Clemmens are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party.
HOMAS WILSON, one of the oldest pioneers of Appanoose County, was born February 3, 1820, in Grant County, Kentucky, where he was reared to agricultural pursuits. He came to Iowa in 1843, living in Lee County until 1845, when he came to Appanoose County, and settled two and a half miles southeast of Centerville, in what is now Vermillion Township. After living on his claim for one year he disposed of it, and entered a claim of a quarter-section, four miles west of Centerville, which he improved and continued living there until 1852. He then exchanged his claim for land, a part of which is now the western part of Center- ville, known as Wilson's addition. When Mr. Wilson first came to Appanoose County no settlements had been made on the west side of Chariton River, and Cen- terville was then nothing but prairie land and hazel brush. He was on the first jury empaneled in this county, the first judge be- ing Hon. Mr. Olney. In 1850 he was elected sheriff, he being the second sheriff in the county, and was also county assessor, his jurisdiction extending to the Missouri Riv- er, no other county being organized. The numbers assessed were seventy-five at that time, but settlements soon began to in- crease. New comers were social and neighborly, and each studied to benefit the other. His first neighbors were Indians, no other settlers being near him for about six months after coming here. His family then consisted of his wife and step-son, John Lanham. His first cabin was built of split
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logs, and on the third day of its occupancy it was blown down in an April storm when he was obliged to camp out with his fam- ily till another was built. To use his own word this was a poor man's country, wild turkey and hogs, deer and other game being here in abundance. Mr. Wilson was married in Lee County, Iowa, July 16, 1843, to Mrs. Mary Ann (Chiddress) Lan- ham. Of the five children born to this union four are living-William Taylor and Perry C., of Centerville; Thomas C., of Montana, and Mary Ann, wife of B. F. Fra- vel, of Centerville. A son, Frank, died at Centerville, December 20, 1880, aged twen- ty-seven years. Politically Mr. Wilson af- filiates with the Democratic party. Mr. Wilson was a son of Samuel and Isabel (Hawkins) Wilson, his parents being na- tives of Kentucky. Both are now de- ceased, the father dying in his native State, and the mother in Wayne County, Ohio.
EORGE ALEXANDER HENRY, M. D., Centerville, Iowa, was born in Bloomington, Illinois, in 1857, a son of Levi McD. and Ellen (Boyd) Henry. He was but five years old when his parents removed to Centerville, Iowa, and there- fore his education was obtained in the pub- lic schools of that city. Choosing the med- ical profession as his lifework he, in 1875, when eighteen years of age, entered the office of Dr. E. M. Reynolds, and read un- der his preceptorship three years. He took three courses of lectures at the Keokuk College of Physicians and Surgeons, grad- uating in March, 1880. After his gradua- tion he went to Montana with the purpose of locating, but returned to Centerville in August of the same year and began his practice, being associated with his precep- tor until 1883, and in that year took a course at Chicago, Illinois, Medical Col-
lege. From 1880 till 1883 he was employed as surgeon for the Wabash Railroad, and in 1883 was health officer for the city of Centerville. In September, 1885, he was ap- pointed United States examining surgeon for pensions, located at Centerville. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party. He was married May 8, 1880, to Miss Jessie Spooner, a native of Centerville, daughter of Deck A. Spooner. They have one child-William, born January 29, 1886. Dr. Henry is a member of Loyalty Lodge, No. 246, A. O. U. W.
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