USA > Iowa > Adams County > Biographical history of Montgomery and Adams counties, Iowa : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with accompanying biographies of each ; a condensed history of Iowa, with portraits and biographies of the governors of the state, engravings of prominent citizens of the counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 22
USA > Iowa > Montgomery County > Biographical history of Montgomery and Adams counties, Iowa : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with accompanying biographies of each ; a condensed history of Iowa, with portraits and biographies of the governors of the state, engravings of prominent citizens of the counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51
241
MONTGOMERY AND ADAMS COUNTIES.
Pntnam county, Illinois, where he remained until the spring of 1875. In that year he came to this county and settled on his pres- ent farm of 605 acres, where he has made all the improvements, there being then but a little log hut and a few willow sprouts. He raises graded short horns, full blooded Clydes- dale and English Shires, and also Poland- Chinas. Mr. Dougherty is now president of the State Savings Bank at Creston.
He was married, September 4, 1866, to Isabella Barr, a daughter of Jeremiah and Abigail (Wise) Barr, of Cromwell, Iowa. Her parents had eight children: Henry, Madison H., Thornton N. (deceased), Han- nah M., Isabella, Lawrence C. and two who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Dougherty have four children: Dora E., Ernest N., Es- tella M. and Evelyn Isabelle. Dora married Adelbert F. Bayles, a merchant of Crom- well, Iowa; Ernest is a graduate of the busi- ness and normal department of Shenandoah College, Shenandoah, Iowa. He is engaged in the hardware busines in Creston. Mr Dougherty has been Justice of the Peace, Town Clerk, School Clerk, School Treasurer several years, and is now president of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Adams county. He was one of the organ- izers of that company, which now has a membership of over 700. They are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Cromwell.
HOMAS GRIFFITH, who is engaged in banking and negotiating bonds, was born in Radnorshire, Wales, near the English border, in 1840, the son of John Griffith, a wealthy farmer and land-owner of that country. The former is the fourth in a family of thirteen brothers, and is the only one of this numerous family who resides in
America. Three others, however, lived for a time in the United States, but have re- turned, and all are now residents of Wales, or just over the borderland in England. Though the father of Mr. Griffithi was a gen- tleman of considerable wealth, having been quite an extensive land-owner, and was able to do well financially by all his sons should they prefer to remain at home, yet Thomas, on attaining manhood, decided to leave his native land and seek a home across the sea. Acting upon this resolution he came to the United States in 1864, going first to Dane connty, Wisconsin, where he remained until 1869. In that year lie came to Red Oak, which has since been his home. He engaged first in farming. but soon became a dealer in real-estate, and soon afterward engaged in the loan and banking business, which he has followed since that time. Mr. Griffith has by good management and judicious invest ments become one of the wealthy citizens of Red Oak. He has been largely interested in farm property, and has been instrumental in improving a large number of farms. He founded the town of Griffithville, and also platted an addition to Red Oak, known as Griffith's addition.
In December, 1880, he was married to Miss Mary C. Negus, at Fairfield, Iowa, a daughter of Judge Negus, a prominent and well-known early citizen of Iowa. They have one daughter, Blanche. Mr. Griffith has visited his old home in Wales several times since he has made his home in the United States. The last time, in 1889, he made with his wife an extensive tour of Europe, occupying over five months. They visited England, Ireland, France, Swit- zerland, Germany, Russia, Holland and Bel- gium, also the great Paris exposition. They went to the top of Eiffel tower, and visited many places of interest during their tour. On
242
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
their return they encountered one of the great- est Atlantic storms which has occurred, thus witnessing old ocean in its wrath. The tour was highly interesting and instructive one. Mr. Griffith is esteemed for his strict integ- rity, and for his liberal progressive spirit. Ilis energy is proverbial. He has perhaps been instrumental in improving a greater unmber of farms than any other man in Montgomery county.
ENERAL W. W. ELLIS was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, Marclı 18, 1840, a son of Qnaker parents, Einmor K. and Susan (Metz) Ellis, natives of Pennsylvania. His father was a hatter by trade and for years kept a hat store; later, he had charge of a warehouse on the canal, where all kinds of goods were sold at whole- sale, and occupied this position up to the time of his death, which occurred about 1880. During the late war he enlisted in 1862 and served as a private in Company D, Sixty-first Pennsylvania Regiment Volun- teer Infantry. He took part in the battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, and others; was never wounded or taken prisoner; was honor- ably dischared on account of disability in 1863. He had two sons in the service, the subject of this sketch and Thomas C. The latter enlisted Angust 18, 1861, in Company L, Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry. He took part in all the battles of the army of the Potomac until the battle of the Wilderness. May 10, 1864, when he with five others was instantly killed by the burst- ing of a shell. His age at death was twenty- two years. He had served three years, had veteranized, and had discharged his duty faithfully as a brave soldier.
W. W. Ellis began business for himself by
clerking in a store, in which he was engaged when the war came on. April 18, 1861, he enlisted as a private, but served as such only one day. Previous to this he had been a member of the Wyoming Artillerists four years. This company had served in the Mexican war under General E. L. Dana, and in 1861 became Company F, Eighth Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, under com- mand of Captain A. H. Emily. When the regiment was organized Captain Emily was made Colonel and Ed. Finch occupied his place as Captain of Company F. The second day after entering the service Mr. Ellis was employed in drilling companies and officers, and rendered most efficient service in this as will be seen when it is known he was one of the best drill masters in the regiment. Later lie was elected Captain of Company H, same regiment. He, however, refused to be captain because of an ill feeling engendered be- tween the former captain and the company itself. He was made Acting Quartermaster, which position he held until the three months' service had expired. He then went home, organized a company and became Captain of Company L, of Berney's Zonaves, Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry. In 1862 he, with his company, was transferred to Company D, Sixty-first Regi- ment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He served in this company until May 3, 1863. At that time he was severely wounded while storming Mary's Heights at Fredericks- burg, Virginia. He was shot, receiving a compound fracture below the knee; also re- ceived a gun-shot wonnd in the right side. This ended his field service as a soldier. He was present and carried General O. (). How- ard from the field when he had his arm shot at the battle of Fair Oaks; later, the arm was amputated. He resigned from the cap- taincy to accept a position in the Veteran
243
MONTGOMERY AND ADAMS COUNTIES.
Reserve Corps. He was offered the captaincy of the Veteran Reserve Corps by President Lincoln in person, but did not accept for rea- sons that were satisfactory to himself. He was in the hospital at Washington about sixty days, and was subsequently on court- martial duty in that city six months. After- ward he was sent to Newark, New Jersey, where, for six months, he had charge of con- valescent soldiers in the hospital. From there he was sent to Trenton, New Jersey, and served as commanding officer a portion of the time for nineteen months. After that he was ap- pointed additional Quartermaster of the United States Army for the State of New Jersey. The war closing, he was sent home to await orders and received instruction from the War Department to report to General O. O. Howard at Washington, District of Co- lumbia. The General ordered him to report at Vicksburg to Colonel Samuel Thomas, Commissioner of the State of Mississippi. General Ellis was then made Sub-Commis- sioner of the Freedinan's Bureau at Vicks- burg, where he served six months and then resigned.
The war over, he embarked in the mercan- tile business in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, continuing that with the lumber business and the manufacturing of lime. In 1870 he came West and settled in Montgomery county, Iowa, where he has since resided. Here he has met with good success. For the past eighteen years he has been in part- nership with David Whitmyer, raising stock on their farm and dealing in grain in Vil- lisca. They own 160 acres of Montgomery county's richest soil, which is well suited for stock-raising, and where they are especially interested in the breeding of fine draft horses. He is also engaged in the Paulus railroad drill-making, and driving a good business.
General Ellis has been twice married. In
the spring of 1861 he wedded Miss Tamzen Spry, who died in 1868, leaving four chil- dren, viz .: Arthur W .; Eminor K., who is married and lives in Dallas, Texas; Walter S., a bookkeeper for Keys Bros., of Council Bluffs; and Maud S., who has been engaged in teaching in the public schools of Beatrice, Nebraska, two years. In 1869 the General married Miss Margaret Sleppy, daughter of Christian Sleppy, of Wilkes Barre, Pennsyl- vania. His first wife was associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he and his present companion are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was a trustee for many years.
He is a member of the Masonic order, the I. O. O. F., the K. of P., and the G. A. R. of Villisca. Of the last organization he was the first commander at this place. In politics he is an ardent Republican. While in Pennsylvania, and after returning from the war, he was made Captain of the Wyoming Veteran Zouaves. He organized a company of inilitia in Villisca. He was elected Colonel of the Fifth Regiment in 1880, and was re-elected in 1885-6, but after serving awhile resigned. Governor Larrabee then appointed him on his staff, with the rank of Brigadier-General. He was re ap- pointed by Governor Larrabee on his re-elec- tion, and had charge of the escort to the Governor on his inauguration. In organizing the Blue-Grass League of Iowa, he was made its first treasurer, and the following year was elected its president. Two terms be was commander of the Veteran Associa- tion of Southwestern Iowa and Northwestern Missouri, and afterward was president of that organization. He is now president of the Creamery Company, president of the Paulus Railroad Drill Company, and vice- president of the Anchor Fire Insurance Com- pany of Creston.
241
BIOGRAPHIICAL HISTORY OF
Such is a mere ontline of the life of this prominent man: to give an extended account of his useful and eventful career wonld be to fill the pages of an entire volume.
ANUEL S. LEWELLEN, a farmer of section 16, Jasper township, was born in Wapello county, Iowa, in 1850, th. son of Pleasant Lewellen, a native of Kentucky and a playmate of Abraham Lincoln in their boyhood. He went to Har- rison county, Indiana, when a young man, where he married the widow of John Van Fossen : her maiden name was Nancy Schoon- over, and she was a native of Harrison county, Indiana. Some time after their marriage she and her husband moved to Wapello county, Iowa, as pioneers there. She died in 1856. In 1861 hc enlisted in the army and served two and a half years, as a member of the Fifteenth Iowa Infantry. Then return- ing to Iowa he joined the "Graybeard" regi- ment, and was on the western frontier two years, freezing his feet on one occasion and losing some of his toes.
When but five years old his mother died, and yonng Manuel started out in the world for himself at the early age of ten years. In 1883 he left Wapello county and came to Jasper township, Adams county, locating on section 21, where he improved a farm of eighty acres of wild prairie land. This he sold in 1888 and for two years rented his present farm, known then as tlie J. S. Mc- Canley farm; and then he purchased it. There are 160 acres, all good land and well improved. On it there is a good frame house, barn, orchard, etc. The orchard is a specially fine one, containing as it does 300 bearing trees. Besides, there are plats of all kinds of small fruit. Mr. Lewellen is en-
gaged in general farming and stock- raising. He is a member of Instruction Lodge, No. 275, F. & A. M., at Corning, Iowa; was made a Mason in Martinsburg Lodge at Martinsburg, Kcokuk county, Iowa, in 1876. Hc is also a zealous member of Emblem Chapter, No. 64, O. E. S., at Corning, Iowa, as is Mrs. Lewellen. In his politics he is a Republican.
February, 1875, he was married to Miss Clara E. Clapp, an intelligent lady who was born in Franklin county, Ohio, near Colnm- bus. She was a child when her father, Ar- nold Clapp, moved with his family to Wa- pello connty, this State. Her mother's name before marriage was Adeline Leonard. Her father died in 1855, and her mother in 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Lewellen have three children: Merton E., Frank N. and Lovisa E. They lost one child by death,-Carrie, in 1882.
M ATT. LEACH, proprietor of the Lone-Tree stock farm in Red Oak township, is one of the well known, successful and popular citizens of the county, arriving here in 1871. He was born in Niagara county, New York, Jannary 26, 1849, a son of Hiram Leach, a native of Con- necticut. His mother's maiden name was Maria Farnhanı; she was a native of Can- ada but was reared in New York State, moving there in 1851. The Leach family moved to Lee county, Illinois, near Dixon, and there the father's father resided until death, which accidentally occurred in Rock river. Mr. Leach, our present subject, was bronght up on a farm. At the age of fifteen years he ran away from home and enlisted in the Seventh Illinois Cavalry; he afterward was transferred in turn to the Sixth and Ninth Illinois Cavalry and Second Iowa Cavalry;
245
MONTGOMERY AND ADAMS COUNTIES.
was under General Grierson, and did some gallant service for his country; was also for a time under Gencral Hatch, and made a brilliant record. His regiment was under fire at Memphis, and was on the Smith cam- paign, and for awhile guarded a railroad sta- tion at Nashville. At one time he was sixty-five days in the saddle without change. He was honorably discharged November 14, 1865, and returned to Lee county, Illinois.
In 1866-68 he spent two years in North- ern Iowa; in 1869-70 one year in Hardin county, Iowa; then a year in Marshall county, also in this State; and finally, in company with his brother, Ed Leach, came to Mont- gomery county, where he first bought eighty acres of land; but he now owns 360 acres of well improved land, whereon he has a good residence on a pleasant site, witlı well or- dered premises. Barns and other farm buildings are sufficient and in good order. Mr. Leach and family seem to be well sup- plied with the comforts of domestic life. The farm is stocked with high grades and thoroughbreds, short horn cattle and fifty Herefords. The fences and all improvements exhibit the good taste, shrewd judgment and thrift of the proprietor.
April 10, 1876, is the date of Mr. Leacli's marriage to Miss Hannah T. Blatz, a lady of high culture who was born in Guernsey connty, Ohio, and was a child when her par- ents removed with her to Warren county, Illinois, where she was reared; in 1874 they came to Montgomery county. Her parents were John and Mary A. (Porter) Blatz,-the father a native of Guernsey county, Ohio, and the mother of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Before her marriage she was a successful and popular teacher, commencing her profession at the early age of fifteen years. She is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In their family are five children: 21
Earl C., Jesse Boyd, Frank F., Melville C. and Mildred. Mr. Leach is a Democrat in his political sympathies; is a member of Gar- field Post, No. 57, G. A. R., and of the Blue Lodge, No. 62, F. & A. M., having been first initiated at Red Oak in 1886; also a mem- ber of Tormie Lodge, No. 152, K. of P., and of Company K, Fifth Regiment of Iowa, be- ing Captain. He is now in the prime of life, intelligent, well informed on general topics, broad and progressive in his views, frank and cordial in manner, and honorable in business and popular as a citizen.
OBERT A. CHURCH, one of the promi- nent farmers and a leading citizen of Washington township, Adams county, is a native of Green county, Wisconsin, born December 1, 1846. His parents, Edward L. and Kesiah (Millman) Church, were both natives of Indiana. His father moved from Indiana to Wisconsin and settled on a farm in 1842. In 1850 he went to Carroll county, Illinois, and entered a piece of land. He remained there until 1880, when he moved to Adair county, Iowa, where he died in 1886, at the age of seventy-eight years. He was a regularly ordained minister in the United Brethren Church, traveled on circuits for a number of years, and was instrumental in adding many to the church. His wife died abont 1848. She also was an earnest Chris- tian and a member of the United Brethren Church. Three sons were born to them, one dying in infancy. The subject of this sketch is the oldest. His brother, Zeno G., is now a resident of Kansas.
R. A. Church received his education in the public schools, and was eighteen years of age when he entered the service of his country. This was in the spring of 1864, and he en-
216
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
listed in Company D. Forty sixth Iowa Vol- unteers. He was not actively engaged in any of the important battles of the war, but was in several dangerous skirmishes. After a four months' service he re-enlisted and was in Company D, One Hundred and Fifty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, remaining in the same until the close of the war. He stood the army exposure seemingly quite well until they had orders to march home. At this time he reported sick, was taken to the hospital and came from Memphis to Cairo on the hospital boat, thence to Camp Butler near Springfield, Illinois. On returning home he took the fever and ague and after suffering with that disease for six months the rhenmatism set in, and from the effects of the latter he has never recovered.
After the war Mr. Church first engaged in farmning and later in the blacksmith business. At the latter trade he worked five years, after which he was compelled to seek other em- ployment on account of the rheumatism. He came to Adams county in 1869, worked in a shop at Mount Etna two years and then located on a farm he had purchased in 1869. He moved to his present location, in section 16, Washington township, March 1, 1875. His home is located on what was originally the John Henry and Montgomery county road, a mile and a half west of Mount Etna. He owns 160 acres of fine, well improved land, and is comfortably fixed to enjoy life. His residence, located on a truncated cone, commands a magnificent view of the sur- rounding fertile country.
Mr. Church is prominent in local affairs. He has filled varions offices of profit and trust, such as trustee, supervisor and presi- dent of the school board. He is now serving his fifth year as president of the school board. He is progressive in his views and
is second to none in the township in promot- ing its best interests.
In 1868 he was united in marriage with Miss Huldah A. Cummings, daughter of Benjamin and Jane Cummings, of Wisconsin. Lillic Belle Church, an adopted danghter, has made her home with them for three years.
Mr. Church is a member of the I. O. O. F. and has passed all its chairs. He was D. D. G. M. of his district one term; also a mem- ber of the G. A. R., having served two terms as Post Commander and now being Adjutant.
T. COLEMAN, a member of the farm- ing community of Jasper township, was born in Shelby county, Ohio, April 4, 1836, and is the seventh of a family of twelve children of Benjamin F. and Margaret (Tilberry) Coleman, natives of Shelby county, Ohio, and descendants of Scotch and German ancestors. In 1842 the family left Ohio and removed to Allen county, Indiana, where Benjamin F. Coleman purchased a tract of heavily timbered land and began the task of clearing it and making a home. He im- proved this farm and resided there until 1855, when he sold ont and removed to Craw- ford county, Wisconsin, being one of the first settlers of that county. There he again began the task of clearing a farın and redu- cing it from a wild state to one of productive- ness and use, and passed the remainder of his days there. He died in the year 1866, at the age of sixty-six years. His widow survived him until 1882, when she died at the age of sixty-seven years. Ot the twelve children seven lived to maturity, and six now survive.
J. T. Coleman spent his youth in assisting his father to clear up the frontier farmns, and received his education in the primitive log
247
MONTGOMERY AND ADAMS COUNTIES.
schoolhouse of the pioneer days. When he reached his majority he started in life for himself, making a purchase of fifty acres of wild land in Crawford county, Wisconsin, where he resided a number of years. He was married December 16, 1858, to Miss Matilda Mack, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daugh-
ter of Jaines and Catherine Mack.
The
result of this union was four children, two of whom survive: Millard F. is a resident of Wyoming; Volney A. died at the age of twenty-five years; Emmett S. died at the age of two years, and James F. is at home.
Mr. Coleman followed farming in Wiscon- sin until 1864, at which time he sold out and removed to Adams county, Iowa. There he bonght 156 acres of unimproved land, where he now resides. This is the fourth farm he has cleared and developed from a wild state, and he is certainly deserving of great praise for the effort he has put forth in behalf of agriculture.
Mrs. Coleman was called from this life in 1866, aged thirty-three years. Mr. Coleman was married a second time, February 26, 1867‹ to Miss Sarah C. Mack, a sister of his first wife. Two children were born of this inar- riage: William L. and Bina L.
Mr. Coleman has served in many local positions of trust and honor. He was first elected to the office of assessor in 1868, and has assessed his township eleven times. For seven successive years he has served as town- ship clerk. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party.
NDREW J. SALTS, a physician at Corning, was born in Indiana, in 1838. His father, Paul H. Salts, was a far- iner and public-spirited man who helped build the Wabaslı & Erie Canal, and was
among the first settlers in Huntington conn- ty, Indiana. His mother, whose maiden name was Lucy Sanford, was born near Rich- inond, Virginia, a lineal descendant of Fran- cis Lightfoot Lee, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Both parents lived to a good old age; they are now buried near Roanoke, Indiana.
The Doctor, the oldest of eight children, was reared on a farm and completed his school days at Roanoke Seminary, Indiana. After studying medicine with Drs. Richart & Chaffee, of Roanoke, three years le entered the medical department of the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, and from that institution of learning he entered the army, joining the Twenty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was on detached duty in the medical department; saw service in South Carolina, at Branchville and the fall of Charleston, and returned home at the close of the war. Resuming the study of medi- cine, he took his second course of lectures at the Miami Medical College of Cincinnati, in 1865-66. He "hung out his shingle". dur- ing the latter year, in Iowa. He has now been practicing his profession at Corning for eigliteen years; he is progressive and yet safe in his methods; is interested in inany things that are of public benefit, especially to the youth, contributing to their advancement to the best of his ability. He believes that a free press and the free schools are thie bul- warks of this nation. The Doctor is an en- thusiastic Freemason and a member of the order of the Eastern Star. Politically he is a zealous Democrat, being now a member of the Central Committee. As a "thanksgiving day " he usually observes January 8, which, as he says, "recalls the halled memories of 'The Hermitage' and the hero of New Orleans."
In 1876, at Carbon, Iowa, the Doctor mar-
248
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
ried Miss Orry H. Shinn, an accomplished young lady and successful school teacher, who also devotes innch attention to music and art, and is a zealous member of the Women's Relief Corps and the order of the Eastern Star; she has held important offices in the subordinate bodies of both societies as well as in the State organizations of these two im- portant guilds. Her ancestors were noted as pioneers and soldiers. The Shinns were among the first settlers of the two Newarks, -in New Jersey and Ohio,-and freely gave their loved ones in defense of their country in three wars. Cornelins Van Dyke, one of her forefathers, fell in the war of 1812, and Lieutenant Darwin Chase, another of her ancestors, was killed at the battle of Bear river, in the great Rebellion.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.