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 25
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 25
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He was married September 8, 1872, to Mary E. Clapinger, who was born in Lee county, Iowa, and reared in Taylor county, the daugliter of William and Elizabeth (McVey) Clapinger, who were early settlers of Taylor county. They have two sons- George Leroy and Ross Hurd.
AMES GARRETT, who resides on a farm of 160 acres in section 19, Carl township, Adams county, is one of the well-known citizens of this community.
Mr. Garrett was born at Paterson, New Jersey, in 1837, son of John Garrett, who was born in county Tyrone, Ireland. His father was a weaver by trade, and after com- ing to America established the looms at Paterson, New Jersey. He was a man of education and marked business ability, and for some years was successfully engaged in business at Paterson. Owing, however, to a combination of circumstances over which he had no control, he failed. He then moved to Ohio and settled on the St. Mary's river, at St. Mary's, where he engaged in the gen- eral merchandise business, selling goods to the laborers who were at work on the great reservoir. He subsequently moved to In-
dianapolis, Indiana, where his death occurred, at the age of forty-six years. The mother of our subject was before her marriage a Miss Margaret McCristell. She, too, was a native of county Tyrone, Ireland. Her death oc- curred at St. Mary's, Ohio, when James was eight years old.
Mr. Garrett was reared in Ohio and Indi- ana, and received his education in those States. In early boyhood he assisted his father in tlie store, and later worked on a farm. During the war he enlisted, in Janu- uary, 1865, in the One Hundred and Forty- Nintlı Indiana (Park county) Infantry Vol- unteers, Company I. After a service of six months he was honorably discharged on account of disability. He contracted a se- vere cold, whichi settled in his throat and lungs, and from the effects of which he has never recovered. He now receives a pension. After the war he came to Adams county, Iowa, and purchased the farm on which he has ever since lived. This land was all wild then, and Mr. Garrett states that deer would frequently come to his barn-yard and eat corn and hay. He is now comfortably fixed and liis farm is well improved.
February 22, 1860, Mr. Garrett married Miss Martha Ann Harlan, daughter of Joshua Harlan, a native of Ohio, and a second cousin of Senator Harlan. Her mother was Sarah Maddock. She was a native of Virginia, and died at Mrs. Garrett's in 1888, aged seventy-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Garrett have seven children, viz .: Ed- ward Grant, who is married and lives in Carl township, this county; Oliver P., Sarah, Margaret M., Oscar, Nancy E. and Daisy Willard. Margaret M. is a successful and popular teacher. Two of their children died in infancy. July 31, 1862, Mr. Garrett enlisted in Company D, Seventy-Eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, and was cap-
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tured at Uniontown, Kentucky. He is a member of the G. A. R., Post No. 334, of Mount Etna, and is Quartermaster of the Post. He and his wife and children are members of the Baptist Church.
OSEPHI HIOUCK is a native of Marion county, Iowa, born Octeber 27, 1852, son of Jolin Houck, deceased, a promi- nent pioneer of this county, and Ernestine (Amdor) Houck.
Josephi was not yet a year old when his parents moved to Adams county. Here on the old homestead he grew to manhood. He received his education in the old schoolhouse that stood on the farm he now owns. At the age of seventeen he entered his father's store in Quincy, and there received the benefit of a practical business education. In 1874 he commenced farming on eighty acres of land. By industry and judicious management he has been successful in his operations. He was soon enabled to purchase other lands and is now the owner of 565 acres. His home place, in section 1, Douglas township, con- sists of 390 acres and is one of the best farms in the county. He has 160 acres in Lincoln township, section 34, and fifteen acres in timber.
Mr. Houck has one among the best rural homes in the county. His residence was erected in 1887, at a cost of $2,000; is 30 x 30 feet, two stories, with cellar under the whole, and is built on a wall of solid rock. On the west are a pantry and poarch, 8 x 24 feet. It is situated on a natural pla- teau and is surrounded by a beautiful lawn, dotted over withi evergreens and shrubs and flowers, and both the interior and exterior surroundings indicate the taste and refine- ment of the family. Two large barns, other
outbuildings, stock scales, a beautiful grove of twelve acres and a five-acre orchard make the farm complete in all its appoint- ments. The place is well watered by springs and streams and is particularly adapted to stock purposes. Mr. Houck has given much attention to stock-raising, and during the past twelve months sold $6,000 worth of stock.
He was married January 7, 1875, to Miss Mary A. Stuart, a lady of culture and refine- ment, who was born in Virginia and reared in Mercer county, Illinois. Her father, Thomas Stuart, died in Virginia, and lier mother, nee Eliza Martin, is now Mrs. John- son and resides in Omaha. Mr. and Mrs. Houck have six children, Edith, Homer, Jessie, Arthur, Grace and Floyd. He is a Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Such, in brief, is a sketch of one of Dong- las township's best citizens.
RVIN POLSON, one of the prominent and wealthy citizens, of Adams county, Iowa, was born in Garrett county, Ken- tncky, Jannary 23, 1814. His father, John Polson, was a native of Maryland and a minute-man during the Revolutionary war. The Polsons trace their ancestry back to the first Norwegians that settled in the United States. John Polson married Martha Briant, who was born in Virginia, daugh- ter of Benjamin Briant, also of the Old Dominion. When Irvin, their son, was a lad of ten years they moved to Harrison county, Indiana, and later to Washington county, same State. They had a family of seven sons and one daughter. The mother died at the age of eighty years and subseqent to her death the father came to Iowa. The latter
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passed away in Marion county, aged ninety- five years, eleven months and six days ..
Irvin Polson spent his youth on a farm in the Hoosier State, receiving a limited ednca- tion in the primitive log schoolhouse of that period. In 1852 he came to Marion county, Iowa, and settled on what was then the fron- tier. Crossing the Mississippi river at Keo- kuk, he remained for a short time in Salem, Henry county, before locating in Marion county. His has been a useful and active life. For many years he was engaged in buying and selling lands and dealing exten- sively in stock. He was also engaged in the general merchandise business for years. Long before the advent of the railroad in these parts he bought cattle and hogs and fre- quently drove them 100 miles to a shipping point. At one time lie drove 1,000 liogs to Ottumwa, a distance of sixty-five miles. At another time, by virtue of his being one of the most extensive shippers in that part of the State, he received from the railroad con- pany a rebate of $750. Mr. Polson con- tinued to reside in Marion county until 1879, when he sold his interests there, came to Adams county and purchased 400 acres of land in Carl township, where he has since made his home.
He was married, at the age of twenty-two years, to Miss Polly Radcliff, who has proved herself a most worthy companion and help- mate. She was born in Washington county, Indiana, danghter of David and Rachel Eliza- beth (Brown) Radcliff, both natives of Chris- tian county, Kentucky. Her parents died in Washington county, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Polson have had ten children, as follows: Martha Jane, wife of John Davis, of Buffalo county, Nebraska; Cyrus, of Marion county, Iowa; John T., Marion county, Iowa; Nancy, wife of William H. H. Brown, of Adams county, Iowa; Clarra, wife of James Swim,
of Prescott, Iowa; David of Carl township, this county; Irvin, Jr., of Marion county, Iowa; Wike P., Marion county; Stephen, at home. One son, Charles V., was killed by an accident, aged thirty-five years. He left a widow and children. Mr. Polson and his wife have about twenty-five grand- children. Politically he is a Republican, as also are his seven sons, one of whom, John T., served as a member of Company G, Fortieth Iowa Infantry, during the late war.
- OHN H. McCUNE, an old settler resid- ing near Mount Etna, Adams county, Iowa, was born in Morgan county, Ohio, in 1836. His parents, Samuel and Nancy McCune, were native: of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively. Samuel McCune left Pennsylvania with his father's family when a young man and settled on a farm in Mor- gan county, Ohio. There he spent his life, engaged in agricultural pursuits, and died in 1869, aged sixty-six years. He was a prom- inent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as is also his wife. The latter is now eighty-three years of age, and, with the exception of having lost her eye-sight, is well preserved.
Mr. McCune began life for himself at the age of twenty-five years. In November, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Seventy- eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was with the army of the Tennessee and participated in many important engagements, including the memorable march with Sherman to the sea. His discharge dates July, 1865, after a service of three years, eight months and eleven days. During that time he was never wounded or taken prisoner.
The war over, he engaged in farming, and has ever since followed that occupation. He
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moved to his present location, half a mile north of Mount Etna, in 1867. Here he owns sixty acres of land and has a pleasant home. His chief product is corn, although his land is well adapted to anything that grows in this latitude.
Mr. McCune was married January 1, 1862, to Miss Hannah Roberts, danghter of John A. and Margaret (Steele) Roberts, of Mus- kingum county, Ohio. Both parents are deceased. The father died in 1863, at the age of sixty-five years, and the mother in 1857, aged forty-seven. They had nine chil- dren, seven of whom are yet living. The father was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Mr. and Mrs. McCnne have four children, namely: Anna L., Gertie, Charles and Frank. Anna L. is the wife of James Leach, of Creston, Iowa, and Gertie is the wife of Enoch E. Burrus, of Corning. Mr. and Mrs. Burrus have two children, Bessie and Milo.
Mrs. McCune and her younger daughter are members of the Evangelical Church. Mr. McCune is a member of the G. A. R. Post.
B. GERARD, an agriculturist of sec- tion 5, Mercer township, was born February 22, 1823, in Lorraine, France, and learned and followed the cabinet trade there. In 1848 he emigrated to America, landing at New Orleans with the Icarian community. Then for twelve years he was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois, where in 1856 he married Théodorine Othello, who joined the community that year. She was a native of Geneva, Switzerland. After a connection with the community of Iowa for three years, Mr. Gérard, in 1863, withdrew from it and engaged in farming, which he has followed ever since. In that year he purchased sixty-
five acres in Adams county where he now re- sides, and by the industry and good judg- ment of himself and wife and the help of good children he has made a comfortable home, and even laid the foundation for a small fortune. His place is three and a half iniles east of Corning.
He has had eight children, all boys and living, who have received an average farmer's education. Six of them are farmers (five on their father's farm of 600 acres); one is a miner in the Black Hills, and the youngest is a pupil of the Corning high school.
EORGE W. IDEN, a farmer of Pres- cott, Iowa, was born July 20, 1846, in Owen county, Indiana, the son of Sam- uel and Tabitha Iden, both natives of Ohio. They were the parents of six children, five of whom survive. George received his early education in the common schools of Indiana, and also in the academy at Bourbon, Mar- shall county. At the age of twenty one years he began teaching, his first school being in Tippecanoe township, that county, and since then he has been engaged in the same vocation in Indiana and Iowa. He ar- rived in this State March 13, 1875, locating first in Prescott township, Adams county, where he bought a tract of eighty acres of land on section 9, threefourths of a mile north of Prescott, which he subsequently sold. He now owns an eightyacre farm in Prescott township, but lives inthe village.
Politically Mr. Iden affiliates with the Re- publican party.
He was married August 20, 1874, to Miss Eva Burch, who was born in Whitley county, Indiana, November 7, 1853, the daughter of Henry and Susan Burch, natives of Ohio. They have one child.
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The ancestors of Mr. Iden were English, who emigrated to America in 1682, coming to this country in the same vessel that brought William Penn. The Idens and the Browns being related by marriage, the Browns remained in Penn colony, while the Idens removed to Loudoun connty, Virginia, where many of the family still remain. The great-grandfather of George Iden served as an officer in the American Revolution, losing his life in the service of his country. He also saw service with Daniel Boone. His grandparents were married in 1812, and moved to Ohio in February, 1814, crossing the Ohio river on the ice, on the same day that the battle of New Orleans was being fought. They settled where Hanover now stands, by building a log cabin in the then wilderness. Ten years afterward they re- moved a few miles from their first location, where they continued to reside until their deatlı, at a rather advanced age: tlie wife outliving her husband, dying at the age of ninety-three years.
H. BEVINS, Treasurer of Adams county, was born in Warren county,
0 New York, in 1840. His father, Alva Bevins, a native of Vermont, was a lumber merchant and came to Iowa in the early '50s, and was killed in the army when a member of Company E, Ninth Iowa Vol- unteer Infantry, at Pea Ridge, Arkansas. Mr. Bevins, of this sketch, grew up to man- hood in New York, completing his education at McGregor Academy. After following the milling business in Illinois until 1870, he came to Corning and entered the mercan- tile trade. Was for a long period postmas- ter at this point, and then in 1882 resumed business as a flour and feed merchant. In
November, 1889, he was elected on the Democratic ticket as County Treasurer, and the duties of this office he is now fulfilling witli entire satisfaction to the public.
IILLIAM HARRISON HOXIE, ed- itor and proprietor of the Adams coun- ty Gazette, was born in Lee county, Iowa, in 1840, of New England stock; his parents, Benjamin T. and Ruth (Peck) Hoxie, were natives of New York and remotely of English ancestry. At an early age he re- turned East and was fairly educated in the seminaries of Vermont and later in the Bap- tist College of Des Moines, Iowa. He began life for himself as a clerk and later as a rews- boy; he learned the printer's trade, and at length became editor of the Commonwealth at Des Moines. During the war he enlisted first with the Fremont men, then for three years in Company D, Second Iowa, Colonel Crocker. This was the first regular regiment to leave the State for active service. He was first assigned for duty in Fremont's expedi- tion to Bird's Point and afterward was at various places in Missouri, Kentucky, etc. At the siege of Fort Donelson his regiment was accorded a distinction enjoyed by no other. He was also at the siege of Corinth and in the rest of that campaign; was pro- moted Captain of Company B, Seventeenth Iowa Infantry, and served with distinction. Afterward, on the organization, he was ap- pointed Captain of Company M, Eighth Iowa Cavalry, and took part in the services of that regiment. At Altoona Pass a ball struck his eye, and he received altogether seven wounds, but he stuck to his post to the end of the war. Few soldiers can show a better record for bravery and devotion to the flag. In 1875 he was honorably discharged,
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but he continued in the Quartermaster's de- partment of the regular army at Fort Leav- enworth until 1868, and since then he has been at his present post. IIe is also Pension Agent, is a prominent member of the G. A. R. and F. & A. M. He has reared a family of children and is spending the evening of life in content.
He was married to Ellen M. Peck, of Nashville, Tennessee. Hischildren are: Ruth M., Herbert Oscar, William L. and Clay E.
RNEST A. SCHOLZ, a prominent mer- chant at Corning, was born in Germany, in 1848, a son of Frederick E. Scholz, and was brought to America at the age of six years, when his parents located in Racine, Wisconsin. At an early age he began life as a clerk. In 1870 he commenced business in Chicago, but was burned out in the great fire of October, 1871. In 1879 he came to Corning and engaged in business as a dry-goods mer- chant, becoming a member of the firm of Scholz Bros. In 1883 he succeeded to the business alone; but it is now conducted under the firm name of E. A. Scholz & Co., they having recently admitted as a partner Ed- ward E. Ellsworth, a brother-in-law, who is a native of New York and has been engaged in mercantile pursuits ever since lie was a youth. In 1884 he married Miss Lydia M. Scholz, and they have one son, named Ernest Elmer. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is also a member of the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Scholz was married, in 1878, to Miss Mary C. Schneider, a native of Chicago, Illi- nois. He is vice-president of the Corning State Savings Bank. Mr. and Mrs. Scholz are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. On national questions Mr. Scholz
is a decided Republican. He owns an elegant residence, which he occupies on Fifth and Groves streets. He enjoys great prosperity in his business.
RANK II. SCRANTON, D. D. S., a prominent member of professional cír- cles in Adams county, Iowa, is a native of Perry, Wyoming county, New York, born in the year 1854. He is the oldest of three sons of Ilugh M. and Lucy B. (Hicks) Scran- ton, who are also natives of the " Empire " State. The paternal grandparents emigrated from Vermont to New York at an early day, and were among the pioneers of the western portion of the State, locating in Wyoming county; the grandfather's name was Orrin Scranton, and he was a farmer by occupation ; he died about the year 1872. Hugh M. Scranton was born in Wyoming county, New York, received his education in the common schools, and in 1849 began the study of den- tistry; he finished his course, and since that time has been in practice in Perry, New York. In 1871 he was appointed postmas- ter of Perry and is the present incumbent of that office, discharging his duties to the en- tire satisfaction of the public. Mrs. Scranton is an honored member of the Presbyterian Church of Perry.
Dr. Frank H. Scranton passed his boyhood and youth amid the scenes of his birth at Perry, New York, and choosing the profes- sion of his father, began the study under his direction. In 1872 he entered into practice with his father, which he continued success- fully until 1878, when he came to Corning; here he has won a large patronage, the result of careful and conscientious labor; he has never given up the studious habits of his earlier days, and but recently took a post-
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graduate course in Chicago at the Chicage Post-Graduate School of Prosthetic Dentis- try; he lias also done some special study under Dr. E. F. Wilson, a noted dentist of Rochester, New York.
In December, 1878, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Saralı J. Chapin, a native of Perry, New York. She was at that time visiting friends in Adams county.
Dr. Scranton was for two years chief of the fire department of Corning. He owns a nice residence in the city, which he lias re- cently remodeled, and where lie and his fam- ily are surrounded with all the comforts of modern civilization.
R. CHARLES A. HILLWEG, of Corn- ing, was born in Muscatine, Iowa, June 26, 1856, the son of Rev. P. and Martha (Danker) Hillweg. His father was a German Methodist Episcopal minister, who is now retired after thirty-two years of ser- vice, and his mother is also still living; they are residing in this State. Mr. Hillweg finished his education at the Platteville Wis- consin State Normal School, then taught school one year, began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. H. T. Snyder, and finally graduated, in 1878, at the Hahnemann Medi- cal College of Chicago. He began practice in Iowa, then followed his profession in Mil- waukee, Wisconsin, and in 1886 established himself in Corning. His thoroughness and conscientiousness soon brought him a large patronage, as he is one of the best representa- tives of his school in this part of the State. Of course he is recognized as a sufficiently well qualified physician by the State Board of Health. He is also a practicing surgeon.
In Chicago, in 1878, he married Miss A. E. Hastings, a native of Canada, and they
have three children. One daughter, M. Irene, died at the age of eight years: Charles M. U. and Aileen I. are living.
In his political views Dr. Hillweg is a stalwart Republican. At present he is chair- man of the County Central Committee.
W. BAINTER, one of the enterpris- ing citizens of Corning, Adams county, Iowa, was born in Hancock county, Illinois, in 1861, and is the third of a family of five children. His parents, T. J. and Panina (Moore) Bainter, are natives of the Buckeye State, and in 1889 they removed to Kansas, and now reside in Osborne county. Both the paternal and maternal grandparents were pioneer settlers of Ohio; but in later life removed to Illinois, where they again endured the privations inci lent to the settle- ment of the frontier. They located in Han- cock county, aud were among the most ex- tensive agriculturists of that section, where they passed the remainder of their days. The parents of our subject were reared in Illinois, receiving their education in the common schools, and were married there. They now reside in Kansas, the father being engaged in farming.
C. W. Bainter passed his youth in Illinois, dividing his time between the duties of liis father's farm and attending the public schools. Upon attaining his majority in 1880 he came to Iowa, and spent one year in Washington county. He then went to Kan- sas, and at the end of two years he returned to Illinois, remaining in his childhood home for five years. He then made another trip to Kansas, and after a short stay there, lo- cated permanently in Corning, Iowa. In No- vember, 1891, he purchased his present liv- ery stable, which is one of the best equipped
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in the county. Ile has good horses and first- class vehicles, and is able to accommodate all classes of custom.
Mr. Bainter was married at Corning, Iowa, in May, 1891, to Miss Laura Denison, a na- tive of Iowa, and a daughter of McDowell Denison, an early settler of this State, but at present a citizen of Kansas.
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H. ELMENDORF, dealer in real estate, Corning, was born in Brooklyn, New York, the youngest son of Rev. Anthony Elmendorf, D. D., and Sarah (Clark) Elmendorf. Dr. Elmendorf was of Holland-Dutch parentage, was born and reared in Kingston, Ulster county, New York, and graduated at both Rutgers College and and Rutgers Theological Seminary. While pursning his studies at New Brunswick he made the acquaintance of, and married, Sarah Clark, of English extraction and a descendant of the famous Drake family. Dr. Elmendorf was a prominent minister of the Reformed Dutch Church, and during the last twelve years of his life founded, and was the pastor of the North Reformed Dutch Church of Brooklyn, New York, one of the largest and prosperous congregations in the "City of Churches."
On the death of Dr. Elmendorf in 1865, the surviving members of the family removed to New Brunswick, New Jersey, to the old Clark homestead. The subject of our sketch re- mained in New Brunswick for seven years, during which time he received his education at Rutgers College Grammar School. In 1873 he was obliged to abandon his chosen profession, his eyes having failed from over- study, and he determined upon a business life. For four years and a half he engaged in the wholesale paper trade in New York
City, receiving a valuable businesse ducation,. in the house of J. F. Anderson, Jr., & Co., one of the best and strongest in the city. At this time he made tlie acquaintance of George W. Frank, of the firm of George W. Frank & Darrow, bankers and negotiators of western loans, 167 Broadway, New York, and Corn- ing, Iowa, and this acquaintance led to an engagement with them in their New York city office. After nine months in this ca- pacity Mr. Elmendorf came to Corning to enter into a partnership with Mr. George W. Frank's son, Augustus (Second), as a dealer in real estate, under the firm name of Frank & Elmendorf. The firm were placed in charge of a large amount of property in Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska, and conducted the business with profit to themselves and to the advantage of their many patrons.
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