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 69
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 69
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YRUS KERR, farmer, section 19, Independence Township, has been identified with Appanoose County since 1867. He was born in Venango County, Pennsylvania, July 14, 1818, a son of Jonathan and Mary (Bredin) Kerr, also natives of Pennsylvania, of Scotch, English and Irish descent, the former died in Indi- ana County and the latter in Mercer Coun- ty, Pennsylvania. Of their eight children our subject is the youngest. But three are
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now living-Jonathan is in Washington County, Iowa, and Mary lives with Mr. Kerr. He was reared to the life of a farmer, educating himself by his own ex- ertion. He became qualified to teach, a vocation he followed about eight years. He studied surveying, and for two years was deputy surveyor of Butler County, in the State of Pennsylvania. In 1878 he was elected surveyor of Appanoose County, and has held the position six years. Mr. Kerr was married in December, 1847, to Miss Isabella V. Porter, who was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, in 1824, a daughter of Joseph Porter. Four children were born to them-Mary C. died in 1858, aged ten years ; Joseph C. lives in Rock- well City, Iowa ; John L., of Wright Town- ship. Wayne County, and Thomas B. died in February, 1885, aged thirty-two years. Mrs. Kerr died in Pennsylvania in 1858, and Mr. Kerr has never married again, his sister Mary being his housekeeper. He has a good farm of 160 acres, all well im- proved, where he has lived since his first settlement in the county. He and his sister are members of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is an ardent supporter of the Republican party, and has held many local offices of trust since living in Appanoose County.
UGUST RICHARD was born in France, October 13, 1825. In his fifteenth year he began to learn the trade of a stone-cutter, at which he worked till nearly twenty-one, when he was con- scripted into the French army, and served about seven years, participating in the Revolution of 1848. On leaving the army, in October, 1852, he returned to his home and the following March came to the United States. In 1855 he moved to Iowa, and worked for a short time at Keosauqua, and subsequently was employed on the
asylum at Mt. Pleasant. In April, 1860, he located at Centerville, where he took con- tracts on stone work until 1868, when he became established in his present business -manufacturing in marble and granite ware. In 1863 he became a stock-holder in the First National Bank of Centerville, and in 1870 was one of the incorporators of the Campbell Banking Company, which in 1873 was merged into the Farmers' Na- tional Bank, and he was chosen one of its directors. November 16, 1854, he was mar- ried at Sandusky, Ohio, to Lizzie Philpolt. They have three children-Julia, Joseph- ine and Benjamin F. Mr. Richard and his family are members of the Presbyterian church.
OBERT HENDERSON, Mayor of Centerville, Iowa, was born in Rus- sellville, Putnam County, Indiana, in 1836. His parents, William S. and Sarah (Miller) Henderson, were natives of Kentucky, his father of Scotch and his mother of Irish ancestry. In 1849 they came to Iowa and lived in Ottumwa till the spring of 1850, when they removed to Ap- panoose County. W. S. Henderson was a mechanic and carried on blacksmithing in Centerville several years, and subsequently kept a hotel and also dealt in stock. Giving up the hotel he devoted his attention to farming and stock-dealing till his death in 1873, aged seventy years. The mother is living and divides her time with her chil- dren in Centerville and Kansas, going and coming at will. Robert Henderson re- mained with his parents till manhood, as- sisting his father in the various occupations in which he was engaged. The spring he became of age he was elected constable of Center Township, and held the office by re-election a number of years. In 1870 he was elected chief marshal of Centerville, and held the same by re-election nine years.
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In the fall of 1882 he was elected justice of the peace, and was re-elected in 1884, the term being two years. In the spring of 1884 he was elected mayor of Centerville, and was re-elected in 1885, now serving his second term. He has been an efficient public officer, and has won the confidence of the people who have trusted him, always serving them in a careful and praiseworthy manner. In 1881 Mr. Henderson fell from a trestle over the bridge of the Wabash Railroad and received serious injuries, from the effects of which he has never re- covered. In politics he adheres to the principles of the Republican party, and during the war was a staunch Union man. He was married at Blakesburg, lowa, to Eliza A. Grimes. They have a family of three sons-Edward E., manufacturer of cigars at Centerville; Frank M. and Harry Howard.
OBERT McCAMPBELL EVANS was born near Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1826. His father died in 1827, and when he was five years old his mother moved to Putnam County, and in 1843 he ac- companied her to Davis County, Iowa, where he lived with her until his marriage, September 8, 1848, to Nancy King. In 1853 he removed to Appanoose County, and settled on a farm in Bellair Township, where he lived until 1871, when he rented his farm and has since lived In Centerville. His wife died in December, 1850, and he subsequently married Cordelia Rose. They have two children-Matthew and William. Mr. Evans is in politics a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Presbyte- rian church. His father, William Evans, was a native of Tennessee, of Scotch de- scent. He died in April. 1827, aged twen- ty-eight years, and left his widow with three children-Eliza, now of Kansas, is the widow of Arthur Logan; Mary, wife of
Flower Swift, of Putnam County, Indiana, and our subject. The mother, Mary Ev- ans, was also a native of Tennessee, of Scotch ancestry. In 1829 she married Wesley Swanson, who also left her a wid- ow. She died at the home of her son, Samuel Swanson, a farmer of Appanoose County, in 1880, aged eighty-one years.
EV. ELIJAH COZAD was born in Lewis County, West Virginia, April 10, 1821, a son of Jacob and Rubia (Beman) Cozad, his father a native of Lewis County, and his mother a native of the State of New Jersey. His father was twice married, and had a family of nine children, of whom our subject was the sixth, and the eldest of his second marriage. In his childhood his parents moved to Greene County, Ohio, returning, however, to their old home in Virginia in 1833. He was reared to the life of a farmer, receiv- ing a fair education in his boyhood. Au- gust 27, 1841, he was married to Miss Martha Law, who was born in Harrison County, West Virginia, November 26, 1818, daughter of William F. and Elizabeth Law. When he was twenty-five years of age he united with the Methodist Protestant church, and in 1847 was licensed to preach, and in 1851 was ordained a minister. In 1856 he visited lowa, moving his family to the State in 1857. He bought 230 acres of unimproved land on section 32, Independ- ence Township, Appanoose County. For fifteen years after coming to Iowa he was in the itinerant ministry, and then took a local relation, still devoting a great part of his time, however, to the work of a minis- ter until 1881. In 1883, while at work in the hay-field, he fell from his mowing ma- chine and received injuries which resulted in partial paralysis. January 23, 1879, the wife and companion of his youth was
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
called to her heavenly home, leaving six children-Rubia, wife of William H. Nico- demus, of Centerville ; Enoch, of Independ- ence Township : David, of Smith County, Kansas ; Elizabeth, wife of Enoch Law, of Independence Township : Ruhama, wife of John White, of Monroe County, Iowa, and Jacob W., at home. July 5, 1882, he mar- ried Miss Martha Thornhill, a native of Harrison County, West Virginia, born No- vember 2, 1847, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Thornhill. Her father is deceased, and her mother still lives on the old home- stead in West Virginia. Mr. Cozad has been active in promoting all good works, and has been earnest in the building up of Christ's kingdom. In the war against the whisky traffic, he has been an active and efficient worker, and has never been back- ward in denouncing gambling, profanity, Sabbath-breaking, etc. Although at pres- ent his physical condition is weakened, his mind is active and vigorous, and with true Christian resignation and fortitude, believ- ing that the Master " doeth all things well," he is cheerful and uncomplaining.
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AHLON R. WORTHINGTON, of the firm of Worthington & Main, proprietors of livery and feed stable, is a native of Morgan County, Ohio, born August 30, 1847, the eldest son of Thomas and Anna (McCain) Worthing- ton, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. The father immigrated to Appanoose County, Iowa, with his fam- ily in 1856 and located in Chariton Town- ship, where he lived many years. He then moved to the State of Nebraska, where he and his wife still reside. They have a fam- ily of three children, two sons and one daughter. Mahlon R., our subject, passed his youth on a farm in Appanoose County, where he attended the common schools. |
He was married in 1868 to Huldah J. Cas- ter, the eldest daughter living of Robert and Mary Caster, who came from Indiana to Appanoose County, Iowa, in the fall of 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Worthington have four children-Mary M., Hattie J., Willis I. and James R. Mr. Worthington con- tinued to reside in this county until 1872 when he went to Nebraska, in which State he has a farm containing 240 acres of good land. He returned to Appanoose County in the fall of 1884 and engaged in his pres- ent business, in which he has met with ex- cellent success, his partner, Z. L. Main, be- ing a good business manager. Thomas Worthington, father of our subject, served in the Union army in the war of the Rebell- ion, being a member of Company F, Thirty- sixth Iowa Infantry, and was honorably dis- charged in September, 1865.
ALLACE H. YOUNG, of the firm of Bashore & Young, general blacksmiths and wagon-makers, was born in Gossport, Indiana, February 23, 1831. When he was four years of age his parents went to South Hanover, Indi- ana, where he lived till 1845, and there at- tended the Hanover College into the Soph- omore year. In 1845 he came with his parents to Iowa, they locating in Keokuk, where he began to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he worked till 1851. He then went East and worked at his trade in New York City and at Newburg, New York, until 1858, when he returned to Keokuk, Iowa. In 1859 he came to Centerville, Ap- panoose County, and for over a year took charge of the store of his brother-in-law, William Wittemyer, when he became as- sociated with him in the mercantile busi- ness at St. Johns, Putnam County, Missouri. Mr. Wittemyer retired from the firm in 1861 being succeeded by Joseph Barrows,
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
who remained with Mr. Young till 1863, when he conducted the business alone till 1867. From 1862 till 1867 Mr. Young served at times in the Union service, being employed in various positions on the staff of Generals Sullivan and Brayman, and Colonel Young. He was present at the battles of Parker's Cross Roads, Franklin, Nashville, Ebenezer Church and Selma. In the fall of 1868 he removed from St. Johns to Newton, Missouri, where he en- gaged in farming till 1873. He was then engaged to superintend a mine in Oronogo, Jasper County, Missouri, where he re- mained till 1879, when he returned to Centerville, Iowa, and engaged in the mer- cantile business. In 1882 he discontinued his mercantile trade and formed a partner- ship with J. W. Bashore, with whom he has since been associated in his present business. Mr. Young was married in March, 1857, to Sallie A. Wittemyer, at Ke- okuk, Iowa. Five children have been born to this union-Stella, Birdie (wife of Loyal Pallida, of Wayne County, Missouri), Fred, Jessie and Roy. Mr. Young is a Master and Royal Arch Mason, and also belongs to the orders of the Sons of Temperance and Good Templars.
ILLIAM D. TURNER, one of the prominent and early settlers of Taylor Township, was born in Guilford County, North Carolina, Febru- ary 20, 1827, the fourth of eight children of Thomas and Mary Tucker, natives of Con- necticut, who moved to North Carolina in carly life. He remained with his parents until his marriage, in 1850, to Jemima E., eldest daughter of George and Mary Par- sons. In the fall of 1855 he came to lowa, and settled in Appanoose County, on the farm where he now lives, on section 28, Taylor Township. He first purchased 120 67
acres, but to this has added until he now owns 320 acres of choice land. He has been an extensive stock-raiser and dealer, buying and shipping to the Chicago mar- ket. He came to Appanoose County with a team, and when he reached his destina- tion had only $300. His land was a tract of unbroken prairie, but with characteristic energy he went bravely to work and now has one of the finest farms in the county. His large two-story frame residence and other farm buildings are models of con- venience, and his other improvements arc noticeably good. He has one of the largest apple orchards in the county, which con- tains some choice and well-selected vari- eties. Mr. Turner has a family of eleven children-Thomas J., Charles, Francis S., Hugh Seigel, B. Ellsworth, Mary B. (wife of William Hicks), Ella R., Adella F., Me- lissa Grant, Effie L. and Eldora E. In poli- tics he was an old-line Whig, but now affil- iates with the Republican party. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
EORGE LAWRENCE STEVENS, Moravia, was born near Corydon, in Harrison County, Indiana, Sep- tember 9, 1814, a son of Benjamin and Nancy (Arnold) Stevens, the father born in Wythe County, Virginia, and the mother a native of Kentucky. They immigrated to Indiana in an early day, where the father died. Of the twelve children born to them six are still living. George L., our subject, was reared on a farm, his education being obtained in the common school. learned the carpenter's, shoemaker's and blacksmith's trade, turning his attention principally to the blacksmith's trade, which . he followed a number of years. He was united in marriage, in 1836, to Maria Fletch- er,of Harrison County, Indiana, and reared a
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
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family of four sons and two daughters, five of the family still living, all of whom are mar- ried. Mr. Stevens removed with his family to Monroe County, Iowa, in the fall of 1850, locating four miles south of Albia, where he resided four years. IIc then came to Appanoose County, and settled three miles south of Moravia, where he carried on general farming and blacksmithing. He continued to reside on the farm till 1862, when he moved to Moravia, where he still followed farming in connection with his blacksmithing. He is now living retired from active life, taking that rest which he has so well carned by a life of industry. When Mr. Stevens settled in Monroe County the houses were few and those were made of sod. His customers came from Appanoose, Wayne and Decatur counties. He has served two terms as justice of the peace, and was supervisor of Taylor Township for two years, and has also held the position of township trustee. He is a member of the Predestinarian Bap- tist denomination. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, a member of Moravia Lodge.
minnel
APTAIN JOSEPH B. GEDNEY, a farmer, living near Centerville, was born near Lawrenceburg, Dearborn County, Indiana, December 10, 1825. He is a son of James D. and Nancy (Blauvelt) Gedney, natives of New York, the former of English and the latter of German ances- try. When he was thirteen years of age his parents came to Iowa and settled on the Black Hawk Purchase, near Fort Madison, Lec County, where the father died in April, 1864, aged sixty-four years, and the mother still lives. Joseph B. Gedney was reared on the frontier farm, and upon reaching manhood began farming for himself on land given him by his father, where he lived
until 1853, when he removed to Appanoose County, and settled on a farm in Pleasant Township. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in the service of his country, but on the organization of his company was elected Captain and was commissioned by Governor Kirkwood, his company being assigned as Company I, Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry. He served mostly in the West- ern department and was stationed at and near Helena and Little Rock, Arkansas. He participated in the battles at Fort Pem- berton, Helena, Little Missouri, Camden and Mark's Mills. At the latter battle his brigade was captured by the Confederate forces and they were imprisoned at Camp Ford, Tyler, Texas, ten months. His com pany went into the engagement with forty two men, and twenty-one were either killed or wounded, he escaping with bullet holes in his cap and clothing, and his sword belt shot in two. February, 1865, he was pa- roled and sent to a camp of distribution at New Orleans, and in March was granted a furlough and returned home on a visit to his family, having heard nothing from them for thirteen months. He rejoined his regi- ment at St. Charles, Arkansas, in April, but on the 23d of the following August was discharged at Duvall's Bluffs, the war being ended. After returning home he sold his farm in Pleasant Township, and bought the one where he now lives, ncar Centerville. In politics Mr. Gedney is a Republican. He has held nearly all the township offices and was for seven years a member of the County Board of Supervis- ors, being elected three successive terms. He has been president of the Appanoose County Agricultural Society ten years, and for three years has been president of the District Agricultural Society, com- posed of Appanoose, Davis and Monroc counties. He is a member of Jackson Lodge, No. 42, F. & A. M. Mr. Gedney was married February 1, 1848, to Miss
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
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Sarah Liņch. They have five children- Julius E., of Centerville; Charles H., of Independence, Iowa; John J., proprietor of a flouring mill in Plymouth County, Iowa; Samuel H. and Maggie Izella, at home.
K. RINARD was born June 20, 1826, in Washington County, Ohio, near the bank of the Little Muskingum
River. His grandfather, Isaac Rinard, was born east of the Allegheny Mountains and lived to the age of ninety-seven years. He was bound out when a boy to learn the tanner's trade, but before his appren- ticeship expired ran away from his master and made his way across the mountains, and settled on the Allegheny River, near the present site of Oil City, Pennsylvania, and became, no doubt, the owner of millions of gallons of oil, although he never knew it, as he sold his farm in 1814 and with his family and mill machinery floated on a lumber raft down the river to Washington County, Ohio. His mill burrs were quar- ried out of the Laurel Hill Mountains and are still in use, being until within a few years owned by some member of the family. The grandfather never learned to read English, and his old German Bible is still in the family, although none of them are able to read it. He served in the Indian war of 1792, being a scout under General Anthony Wayne. He was an expert hunt- er, and the woods and mountains of his native State furnished him plenty of sport of this kind. He was twice married, the father of our subject, John Rinard, being a son of his first wife. John Rinard was born near Oil City, Pennsylvania, June 1, 1801. He was also a miller, following the business over fifty years. He had no educational advantages and was never able to read. He was married when twenty-two years old to Nancy Rea, who was born in County
Down, Ireland, in 1802, and came to Ameri- ca with her parents when thirteen years old. They commenced their married life poor, but by economy accumulated enough to help each of their children procure a comfortable home. The father died aged eighty-two years, and the mother aged eighty-one, after a married life of sixty years, dying within eight months of each other. They had a family of seven sons and five daughters, all but one living to years of maturity. S. K. Rinard was reared as was common with boys in his day, receiving only a limited education in the subscription schools. His youth was spent in his fa- ther's mill, and he continued his father's as- sistant until twenty-six years old. In 1850 he wanted to go to California with the gold hunters, but the entreatics of his mother kept him at home. In 1855 he came West, and after visiting Iowa and Missouri, re- turned to Illinois and entered eighty acres in Henderson County. He then returned home, but in 1857 went to Kansas and en- tered a homestead, and lived among the Indians and border ruffians. He enlisted in the Kansas State militia, under Jim Lane, but was never called into active service. He was taken sick with Kansas ague and in May, 1858, sold his land and located in what is now Cambria, Iowa. This town he laid out, and has been instrumental in build- ing up its material interests. He was mar- ried in October, 1858, to Anna Greenlee, and to them were born four children. The mother died when the youngest was but a few days old. In 1868 he married Mrs. Matilda Shell. They have three children.
EORGE D. PORTER, attorney at law, Centerville, Iowa, was born in Williamstown, Perry County, Penn- sylvania, September 18, 1846. His parents were Rev. George D. and Sarah J. (Mc-
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Coy) Porter, the former of Irish and the latter of Scotch ancestry. Both are now deceased. In 1851 he accompanied his par- ents to Tipton, Cedar County, Iowa, where his father, who was a Presbyterian clergy- man, was pastor of the church, and there he grew to manhood and was educated in the intermediate and high schools. When eighteen years of age he began teaching school, and taught in Cedar County, Iowa, and Ray County, Missouri, until 1870, when he entered upon the study of law in the office of the Hon. George W. Dunn, at Richmond, Ray County, Missouri, and the same year was admitted to the bar. He soon after located at Moulton, Appanoose County, Iowa, where he practiced till the fall of 1877, when he removed to Center- ville, where he has built up a large and lucrative practice. In politics he was a Republican until 1877, and since then has voted independent of party. In the spring of 1870, while living at Richmond, Missouri, he was elected city solicitor for one term. In March, 1883, he was elected mayor of Centerville and served one term. June 6, 1871, he was married at Richmond, to Han- nah R., daughter of J. H. and Lydia (Jen- nings) Rodman. They have five children -Claud R., Sadie L., Northa I., George McCoy and Anna M.
OHN ULLEM, one of the early set- tlers of Douglas Township, Appa- noose County, was born near Terre Haute, Indiana, March 13, 1826. His par- ents had a family of four sons and one daugh- ter, our subject, who was the eldest child,
being the only one now living. His youth was spent on a farm and in attending the district school. When he was ten years old his father died. He remained with his mother till eleven years of age, after which he lived with Henry Greenwood, a neigh- bor, with whom he made his home till reaching the age of twenty-two years. He then came to Iowa and lived in Van Buren County till March, 1856, when he came to Appanoose County, entering part of his land and purchasing the rest, which land comprises his present farm. He im- proved this land on which he has lived since 1856, and is still engaged in general farming and stock-raising. His farm is lo- cated on section 9, Douglas Township, and contains 360 acres of choice land. In early years he devoted his attention prin- cipally to raising hogs, by which enterprise he has acquired most of his money, he dis- posing of his hogs at good prices. Of later years he raised cattle and horses prin- cipally, making a specialty of raising high grades. Mr. Ullem was first married in Van Buren County, Iowa, to Phobe Cook, who died in Douglas Township, Appa- noose County, leaving eight children. By his second marriage he had one child. For his present wife he married Harriet Vaught, in 1876. No children have been born to this union. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Ullem began life without means, beginning the struggle for his maintenance at a very early age. He had but $150 when he came to Iowa, but by his persevering industry and strict economy he has acquired his fine property.
GENERABY
HISTORY
659
INTRODUCTORY.
INTRODUCTORY
HE fact that Iowa is situated near the geo- graphical center of the United States, be- tween the two great rivers of the conti- nent, and on the line of the great trans-conti- nental railways, presages for her a future in the de- velopment of her resources which, it does not require the prevision of a prophet to see, will at no distant day place her in an emi- nent position among the States of our Union, which nature, assisted by the energy, thrift and enterprise of her citizens, has so abundantly fitted her to occupy.
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