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 68
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 68
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OAH M. SCOTT was born in Morgan County, Indiana, May 25, 1841, a son of David B. and Nancy (Ray) Scott, his father a native of Indiana and his moth- er of Kentucky. In 1853 his parents moved to Iowa and made their home in Walnut Township, Appanoose County, where the father improved a farm on which he lived the rest of his life. At his death he owned 800 acres of valuable land. He died at
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Barnesville, Kansas, in January, 1862, where he had gone to visit Noah M., who was sick with the measles. The mother is still living on a part of the homestead. They had a family of eight children, Noah being the eldest. The others are Calvin R., who served in the Fifth Kansas Cavalry and died of consumption in 1868, leaving a wife and two children, the former dying the next year ; Bedford enlisted in the Forty- third Iowa, 100 days' service and died at Davenport, when on his way home ; Thom- as lives in Stafford County, Kansas ; Clay- ton and Milton, in Walnut Township, and Hettie died aged seven years. Noah M. Scott enlisted August 12, 1861, in Company D, Fifth Kansas Infantry, and in January, 1862, was transferred to the Sixth Kansas Cavalry. In the fall of 1861 he served in the Fremont campaign, and the next eight- een months was on detached duty on the Missouri borders, scouting and hunting bushwhackers. In the fall of 1863 he went South with General Blunt, and in the win- ter of 1863-'4 was stationed at Forts Gib- son and Smith. July 27, 1864, while on outpost duty, he was captured by the rebels near Fort Smith, and was confined at Ty- ler, Texas, ten months. May 25, 1865, he was exchanged, and July 17, 1865, was hon- orably discharged at Fort Leavenworth. He was a gallant soldier and his service was creditable and honorable. The hardships he endured, especially while in prison, so undermined his health that he now justly receives a pension from the Government. Mr. Scott was married April 17, 1860, to Miss Persis Stark, who was born in Indiana, August 20, 1843, a daughter of Jeremiah and Sarah A. Stark, who settled in Walnut Township, on section 8, in 1848. The father died the same year and the mother after- ward married Elijah Bartlett, and lives in Stafford County, Kansas. After the war Mr. Scott lived on a farm of eighty acres on section 8, Walnut Township, until 1879,
when he moved to Wayne County, where he lived five years, the last year being spent in Promise City. In 1884 he moved to the farm where he now lives, which is a part of his father's homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have one daughter-Minnie, wife of J. R. Luce, of section 4, Walnut Township. She has three children-Claude, Clay and Ray. Mr. and Mrs. Scott are members of the Christian church. He is a member of Jackson Lodge, No. 42, F. and A. M., at Centerville. In politics he is a Republican and has served in several local positions of trust and responsibility.
HOMAS LEONARD WALES, pho- tographer at Centerville, was born near Columbus, Indiana, January 14, 1852, a son of John P. and Mary Lydia (Kingsbury) Wales, his father being a na- tive of Kentucky, of German descent, and his mother a native of Ireland. He was brought by his parents to Appanoose Coun- ty, Iowa, in 1853, they locating in Johns Township, where he lived on a farm till nineteen years of age. He then began learning the carpenter's trade at Centerville, but not caring for it he returned to the home farm at the end of a year. After at- tending a select school for several months, he began to learn photography, and build- ing a car, traveled through Iowa from place to place for two years. In 1872 he came to Centerville, and was employed in the photograph galleries of G. C. Goodenough and R. F. Lyman until 1874, when he suc- ceeded Mr. Lyman and established his present gallery at Centerville, where, by his fine work and strict attention to his business, he has built up a large and lucra- tive trade. In connection with his gallery he opened a millinery establishment in 1875, which is managed by his wife. He was married at Centerville, November 13, 1875,
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to Miss Marietta Weaver, daughter of John WV. and Elizabeth (Leonard) Weaver, both natives of Ohio, and now residing in Terre Haute, that State. Her father was of Irish and her mother of German ancestry. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wales, named Lawrence D., who died August 13, 1885, aged almost six years. Mrs. Wales is a member of the Christian church at Cen- terville. Mr. Wales is a member of the Odd Fellows order, belonging to the lodge at Centerville.
ILLIAM EVANS, cashier of the First National Bank, Centerville, Iowa, was born near Salem, Wash- inton County, Indiana, May 12, 1829. The year of his birth his parents removed to Greencastle, Putnam County, the same State, where he was reared, spending his youth on his father's farm. In 1849 he ac- companied his parents to Monroe County, Iowa, where he lived until February, 1864, when he moved to Iconium, Appanoose County, and engaged in the mercantile business until December, 1871, when, hav- ing been elected treasurer of Appanoose County, he removed to Centerville, to as- sume the duties of his office, which he filled by re-election four terms of two years each. He was an efficient and popular of- ficer, and won many friends by his strict in- tegrity and careful oversight of the duties of his office, and at the expiration of his last term was offered the position of cashier in the First National Bank, which he ac- cepted and 'has since held to the perfect satisfaction of his employers. While in Iconium he was postmaster eight years, and has also held the offices of township clerk and assessor several terms each. In pol- itics he adheres to the principles of the Democratic party. Mr. Evans was married November 25, 1852, to Margaret J. Vestle,
of Monroe County, Iowa. They have had eight children,two of whom died in infancy, and a daughter, Margaret E., wife J. C. Bevington, died in April, 1884, aged twenty- seven years. The living are-Sarah, wife Dr. W. H. Everson, of Promise City, Iowa ; Lucy A., widow of Richard Stewart, of Centerville ; William F., an attorney, of Centerville ; Belle, wife of Hubbard Cy- phers, of Pawnee Rock, Kansas, and Ida, wife of William Walton, also of Pawnee Rock. Mr. and Mrs. Evans are members of the Baptist church, of which he is a deacon and trustee. He is a member of the Odd Fellows order, Lodge No. 76, and Encamp- ment No. 24, and is past grand of his lodge.
TONATHAN LANTZ, deceased, was one of the pioneers of Bellair Town- ship, making his home on section 9 in the autumn of 1851, there being at that time but four families in the township. He was born in Lebanon County, Pennsyl- vania, January 7, 1807, a son of- John Lantz, who was of German descent. In 1824 our subject accompanied his parents to Montgomery County, Ohio, and was there married in 1827 to Margaret Myers, a native of that county, born May 13, 1810, daughter of Michael Myers. Mr. Lantz was by trade a cooper, and worked at his trade for several years. In 1844 he moved to Wayne County, Indiana, where he operated a saw and grist mill seven years, when he came to Iowa and bought 320 acres in Appa- noose County. His capital at that time was sufficient to pay for his land and mal- tain his family until he could raise a crop. They made their home in a log cabin until a better house could be built, and all went bravely to work to make a home in the new country. He was rewarded for his energy and frugality, and lived many years to enjoy the fruits of his years of toil. He
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died June. 4, 1880, leaving a wife and chil- dren and many friends to mourn his de- parture. Mr. Lantz was an earnest Chris- tian, and in early life was a member of the German Baptist church, but later united with the Christian denomination. He was known as one of the most worthy of the pioneers, his honorable life winning for him the respect and confidence of the en- tire community. His widow lives at the old home in the enjoyment of a good degree of health. She is also a member of the Christian church. Their family con- sisted of thirteen children-John, who came to Iowa before his parents, settling in Appanoose County in 1849, and in 1852 went to California, where he now lives ; Emanuel, now deceased, remained in In- diana ; Isaac, now of Tennessee; Levi, in California ; Noah, of Bellair Township, was a soldier for his country in the war of the Rebellion, and lost an arm in the ser- vice ; Phœbe, deceased, was the wife of William Spear; Lavinia, widow of William Thatcher, of Missouri ; Henry and Paulina are deceased, the latter was the wife of John Carson ; Simeon lives in Kansas ; Sophia is the wife of Jefferson Poole, of Unionville, Iowa ; Mary Ann is the wife of John Hoover, of Fremont County, Iowa ; Elbert M., the youngest, lives on the old homestead, his mother making her home with him. Elbert M. Lantz was born and has always lived on the farm which is now his home, with the exception of seven months spent in California in 1875, and has now succeeded to the ownership of the · pioneer homestead of his father. He was born January 12, 1855. December 9, 1880, he was married to Miss Minnie Talbot, a native of Belmont County, Ohio, born March 31, 1853, daughter of Samuel Tal- bot. Mr. Lantz is a young man of unswerv- ing integrity, a worthy representative of a worthy father, and is one of the popular young men of his township, taking an act-
ive interest in all enterprises of a social character, as well as those calculated to in- crease the material welfare of the township. In politics he follows in the footsteps of his father and is a staunch Republican.
APTAIN THOMAS MILTON FEE, attorney at law, Centerville, Iowa, was born at Feesburg, Brown Coun- ty, Ohio, April 18, 1839. His parents were Thomas J. and Sarah (Hastings) Fee, his father a native of Virginia, of English an- cestry, and his mother of Pennsylvania, of Irish descent. His father settled at an early day in Clermont County, Ohio, and later in Brown County, where he laid out the town of Feesburg, and engaged in the mercan- tile business, living there until 1848, when he removed to Perry, Pike County, Illinois. He died in 1866 at Kirksville, Missouri. The mother died at Bloomington, Illinois, in 1882. Thomas M. Fee remained with his parents till nineteen years of age, receiv- ing a good education in the public schools and the academy at Perry. In 1868 he be- gan teaching and taught six months at Shibbley's Point, Missouri. He then went to Ottumwa, Iowa, and read law in the office of Colonel S. W. Summers, and in 1862 he was admitted to the bar, and the following May he located in Centerville, and began the practice of his profession. For two years he was principal of the city schools of Ottumwa. In August, 1862, he en- listed as private in Company G, Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry, and in October was promoted to Captain, being the choice of his company, and received his commission from Govern- or Stone. His regiment was assigned to the Trans-Mississippi Department, serving in Missouri, Arkansas and Mississippi. He participated in the battles of Helena, Shell Mound, Little Rock, Jenkin's Ferry, El- kin's Ford, Prairie de Ann, Camden and Mark's Mills. The whole brigade was
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captured at Mark's Mills, and was impris- oned at Tyler, Texas, ten months. From there they were sent to New Orleans, where, in March, 1865, they were exchanged and were ordered to report at St. Charles, Arkansas. Subsequently he was on de- tached service, first as Assistant Inspector- General of the Trans-Mississippi Depart- ment, on the staff of General J. J. Reynolds, and afterward as Inspector-General of the Seventh Army Corps, with headquarters at Duvall's Bluffs, Arkansas, General Scha- ler commanding. He was discharged at the close of the war, in August, 1865, and returned to Centerville and entered upon the practice of law, which he has since con- tinued, and has built up a large and lucra- tive practice. In 1874 he was elected dis- trict attorney of the Second Judicial District of Iowa, for a term of four years, and in 1878 was the nominee of the Repub- lican party for the office of district judge, but that being the year the Greenback wave swept over lowa, he, with all the Re- publican candidates in his district, was de- feated. Mr. Fee is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a Master, Royal Arch and Knight Templar Mason, and also a member of both lodge and encampment in the Odd Fellows order. He has been eminent commander of his commandery three years. He is a comrade of John L. Bashore Post, No. 122, G. A. R. He has four children living-John A., Martha E., Thomas G. and Mabel E. Fee. His present wife was a graduate of Waynes- burg College, Pennsylvania, an estimable lady of culture and learning.
AMES S. HAMILTON, farmer, Cen- ter Township, Appanoose County, and a resident of Centerville, was born in Hendricks County, Indiana, May 24, 1833. When nineteen years of age, in 1852, he came to Iowa and entered 120
acres of land in the vicinity of Centerville, Appanoose County, which he improved, and which is a part of what is now known as the Coon Hollingsworth farm. In 1858 he sold his farm and moved to Centerville, his present farm lying partly within the corporation. In August, 1861, he enlisted in the Union service as a private, in Com- pany I, Third lowa Cavalry, and served nearly two years, when he was discharged on account of disability. He served in Missouri and Arkansas, in the Army of the Southwest with General Curtiss, mostly engaged in scouting duty. After his dis- charge he returned to Centerville and re- sumed farming. In 1866 he, in connection with farming, began dealing in agricultural implements, which he continued till 1877, but since the latter year has given his entire attention to his farm. In politics he is a strict adherent to the principles of the Republican party. He has been twice married. His first wife, Ann E. Paris, to whom he was married December 11, 1850, died July 25, 1878. They had a family of ten children, but three of whom are living- Sarah Jane, Ann and John. July 19, 1881, Mr. Hamilton married Mrs. Harriet M. Wilson, of Appanoose County.
AMUEL STEWART, proprietor of the Tremont Hotel, at Centerville, lowa, was born at Grange Corner, County Antrim, Ireland, January 1, 1830. He was reared a farmer in his native country, remaining there until 1865, when he came to the United States. He first located at Fulton, Iowa, where he was employed by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company until 1873. He then removed to Centerville, still, however, remaining in the employ of the railroad company until 1879, and at the same time kept a boarding house near the railroad de-
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pot. From 1875 until 1885 he was the proprietor of a saloon in Centerville, which was a paying enterprise until the passage of the Iowa prohibition law, under which he was frequently arrested and fined for violating a law which he, like many others, believed could not be enforced. Since embarking in his present business he has been successful, and has now a large patronage. He is well known in Appa- noose and adjoining counties, and has many friends who familiarly call him " Uncle Samuel." In politics he has always ad- hered to the principles of the Republican party, but in the Presidential election of 1884 cast his suffrage for Grover Cleve- land. In 1855 he was married at his birth- place to Miss Margaret Clark, who died at Centerville, May 24, 1884, leaving three children-Lizzie, Anna and Robert. One daughter, Maggie, died in Ireland, aged eighteen months, and another, also named Maggie, in Centerville, in 1874, aged five years. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were both reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church.
LBERT HERBERT EELLS, proprie- tor of Eells's Laboratory of Proprie- tary Medicines, at Centerville, is a native of Centerville, Iowa, where he was born January 12, 1860, a son of Dr. F. and Chloe A. (McCaffrey ) Eells, natives of Maine and Ohio respectively, the former of Welsh and the latter of German and Irish ancestry. Albert H. was reared and edu- cated in the schools of Centerville and St. Louis, his parents removing to the latter city in 1873. He returned with his par- ents to Centerville in 1873, when his father established the Eells laboratory, where he manufactured the Eells patent medicines, which are so well and favorably known through the country. Our subject became associated with his father the same year
under the firm name of Dr. F. Eells & Son, and since his father's death, which occurred at Centerville in 1884, he has since conduct- ed the business alone under the old name of Dr. F. Eells & Son. The father was a prominent physician and very popular as a citizen, and was always ready to assist in any enterprise which tended to the ad- vancement of Centerville. Mr. Eells, our subject, is a charter member of Centerville Lodge, No. 64, K. of P., and has served his lodge as inside guard and prelate. In July, 1883, he was commissioned Adjutant of the Second Iowa National Guards by Governor Sherman, and in 1885 was commissioned by the same Governor aide de camp on the staff of General H. H. Wright.
EWIS HIATT, a representative of one of the oldest families of Taylor Town- ship, was born in Davidson County, North Carolina, July 17, 1837, a son of William Sewell and Mahala Hayworth (Hittale) Hiatt, natives of North Carolina, the father born in 1811 and the mother in 1808. The family consisted of seven chil- dren-Riley, Lewis, Israel, W. A., Nancy (wife of James Meadows), Elijah and Mary E. (wife of Eli Tucker). Lewis Hiatt was reared in Appanoose County, and obtained the greater part of his education under the tutorship of George W. Taylor, well known in Appanoose County. He re- mained with his parents until the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, when, in August, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry, and served three years, participating in many severe battles, including Helena, Duval's Bluffs, White River, Little Rock, Mark's Mills. At the latter battle his regiment was cap- tured, but he being a teamster at that time escaped. He was mustered out in July, 1865, and returned to Appanoose County to his
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father's home, where he remained until his marriage in 1867, to Nancy E., daugh- ter of Wiley Tucker, of Appanoose Coun- ty. After his marriage he settled on his present farm, which contains ninety acres of good land, and has since devoted his attention to agriculture and stock-raising. His residence and farm buildings are com- fortable and in good repair, and his land is all under cultivation. He has served as trustee and school director of his township. He and his wife are members of the Mis- sionary Baptist church. They have four children-Luella J., Effie C., H. S. and James Verna.
ILLIAM FRANKLIN EVANS, attorney at law, and junior mem- ber of the firm Vermillion & Evans, Centerville, Iowa, was born near Confidence, Monroe County, Iowa, October II, 1859, the only son of William and Mar- garet J. (Vestle) Evans. He was five years of age when his parents moved to Appanoose County, and here he grew to manhood, ob- taining a good education in the public schools of Iconium and Centerville, his parents removing to the latter place when he was twelve years old. During the years 1877 and 1878 he was deputy treasurer of Appanoose County under his father. In 1880 he began the study of law in the office of Vermillion & Vermillion, of Centerville, and was admitted to the bar in 1883. He, however, did not at once enter upon the practice of his profession, but the year of his admission became assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Centerville, and in 1884 held the same position in the First National Bank of Milan, Missouri. In 1885 he returned to Centerville and be- gan the practice of law, becoming associat- ed with Mr. Vermillion, and in March of the same year was elected city solicitor, being re-elected to the same position in
1886. Mr. Evans is a young man of fine ability, and is one of the promising young attorneys of the county, standing well both with his brother practitioners and the busi- ness men of Centerville.
ILLIAM TISON SWEARNGEN, Marshal and City Clerk, of Center- ville, was born in Morgan County, Indiana, January 17, 1845. His parents were George W. and Jane (Martin) Swearn- gen, the former a native of North Carolina, of German ancestry, and the latter a na- tive of Kentucky. His father located in Indiana in an early day, and in 1849 brought his family to Iowa and settled on a farm near Centerville, where he lived two years, when he sold out and removed to Center- ville, and engaged in the mercantile busi- ness. He was the third sheriff of Appa- noose County, and held the position several terms. He died at St. Louis, Missouri, of cholera, while there to buy goods, his age being forty-four years. The mother died in Centerville in 1864, aged forty-six years. William Tison Swearngen was but four years of age when his parents moved to Appanoose County, and here he was reared and educated. When seventeen years old, in 1862, he enlisted in the de- fense of his country, as a private, in Com- pany A, Seventh Iowa Cavalry, and served three years and six months, being in the meantime promoted to Orderly Sergeant. His regiment was on scouting duty on the frontier, and was in many engagements with the Indians, the most important being Sand Creek, Powder River, Montana, Jules- burgh, Colorado and Plum Creek, Ne- braska. He was discharged at Leaven- worth, Kansas, in May, 1866, at the ex- piration of his term of service, and returned to Centerville. He then engaged in the grocery business with his brother Evan,
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under the name of Swearngen Brothers, till 1869, when he entered the employ of John Zulauf, and remained with him till 1874. He then formed a partnership with his brother, George W., under the firm name W. T. Swearngen & Brother, which continued until 1876, when, being elected marshal of Centerville, he. sold his interest in the business. At the expiration of his term he was employed by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Company to build bridges, and remained with them till the spring of 1883, when he was ap- pointed deputy by Marshal W. S. Stire. In the spring of 1884 he was elected chief marshal of Centerville, and was re-elected in the spring of 1885. He was also elected in the spring of 1885 city clerk of Center- ville. He is an efficient and trustworthy officer, attending to his duties in a satis- factory and painstaking manner. In poli- tics he adheres to the principles of the Republican party. He was married in 1869 to Louisa J., daughter of the late John and Mary A. (Jennings) Ogle, old settlers of Centerville. They have four children- Albert Rolla, Minnie Tison, Hallie and George A. Logan. Mr. Swearngen is a member of the Odd Fellows order, Lodge No. 76, and Encampment No. 24, and has passed the chairs in both. He is a com- rade of John L. Bashore Post, No. 122, G. A. R., and has held the position of senior vice-commander. He was reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, both parents being members of that de- nomination.
AMES MAHER, proprietor of the Elmore House and postmaster of Calhoun, a postoffice in the Third Ward, Centerville, was born in Newtown Forbis, County Longford, Ireland, in 1825, a son of William and Mary (Whalan) Ma- her. When eighteen years of age he ac-
companied his mother to the United States, and settled in Jamaica, Long Island. In his youth he worked for his father, who was a wheelwright and blacksmith, and after coming to America obtained employ- ment on the Harlem Railroad as a track- layer. In the fall of 1853 he came West and located at Warren, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, where he was employed a year as section foreman on the Illinois Central Railroad. In the winter of 1854 he went to Peoria and was employed in the same capacity on the Rock Island Railroad until 1856, when he removed to Iowa, and set- tled at Davenport, continuing in the em- ploy of the Rock Island Company until the fall of 1868. In 1871 he removed to Center -. ville, and was again employed as section foreman by the Rock Island Company until 1880, when he bought the Elmore House, which he has since conducted. In Decem- ber, 1885, he, in addition to superintending the hotel, engaged in the grocery business, and in February, 1886, was appointed post- master. March 11, 1856, he was married to Catherine Doyle, a daughter of Michael and Nannie (Carroll) Doyle. They have nine children - William Henry, James, Mary (wife of Charles Phillips), Kate, Mar- garet Jane, Peter, John, Martin and Frank. Mr. Maher and his family are members of the Catholic church.
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