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 26
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 26
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In February, 1886, the firm of Frank & Elmendorf was dissolved, and in April fol- lowing Mr. Elmendorf removed to Kearney, Nebraska, where he engaged in the real-estate business, negotiating many transactions of magnitude and importance. He has also en- gaged in stock-raising on a large scale, his well-known herd of fine-bred Herefords rank- ing among the best in the land.
During his residence in Adams county he materially aided in starting and maintaining the Adams County Agricultural Fair As- sociatian, of which he was President for the first and second years. The existence and present healthy condition of this association are largely due to his energy, enterprise and executive ability.
Mr. Elmendorf married Jeanie Frank, only daughter of George W. Frank, in September, 1880, and has four living children: George Frank, Edward, Eleanor and Margaret. At present the family make their home in Kear- ney, Nebraska; but as Mr. Elmendorf still has land interests in Adams county, it is pos-
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sible that they will at some future time resume their residence in Corning.
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ILLIAM THOMAS SHAFER, mar- ble cutter at Corning, was born in Marion, Ohio, in 1860, the son of Charles B. and Lydia A. Shafer. His father, a native of Ohio, moved to Kansas in 1869, where he spent the remainder of his life; Mrs. Lydia Shafer is still living. Mr. W. T. Shafer, our subject, was reared on a farm and educated in the Peru (Kansas) high school; and spent five years teaching and caring for the home, then mastered the art of inarble cutting. In 1889 he came to Corning and continued his vocation, as a member of the firm of Shafer Bros. Not content with the old designs and ideas, of which the people become weary, this firm is constantly discovering something new. It was by their observation and develop- ment that the possibilities of the Corning stone were discovered. What had been deemed worthless by all others for their pur- pose was shown to be a stone of the very finest quality. It was first. brought into prominence at the Blue Grass Exposition of 1890, where their display attracted the atten- tion of all visitors. Their skill and square dealing are bearing their legitimate fruits in a constantly growing trade. Mr. W. T. Shafer is still unmarried, is a member of the Con- gregational Church and of the order of Odd Fellows.
LLEN H. CHAFFEE, contractor and builder of Corning, was born in Ver- mont, in 1834, a son of Harry and Annie (Allen) Chaffee, natives also of the Green Mountain State; the mother was a de- scendant of Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary
fame. Harry Chaffee was a farmer, as well as contractor and builder, and died in 1888; but his wife preceded him to the spirit land a short time. Allen, the fourth of five chil- dren, finished his school days in Hinesburg Academy, and then learned the carpenter's trade, probably inheriting from his father his mechanical genius. In 1852 he settled in Henry county, Illinois, and in 1874 came to Adams county, Iowa. Among his works here are the First National Bank building, probably the finest in the county; the City Hall, the water works and the Edgewood, the beautiful suburban home of F. M. Widner, and the courthouse, the last of which is probably the grandest testimonial to his skill. It is on a commanding eminence, built of pressed brick, with granite columns and fin- ished in hardwood; the walls are fire-proof; the offices and furnishings are in harmony with the beautiful exterior; while the vaults are fitted with the newest and best equip- ments. On the whole the courthouse seems to be perfect in construction, proportion and adaptation to the uses for which it is in- tended. Mr. Chaffee occupies a commodious residence on a farm just west of Corning, where the premises show that the proprietor is a man of culture. In his political princi- ples he is a Republican, conservative and in- dependent.
In 1857 he married Miss Isabel Duncan, and they are the parents of seven children.
OSEPH PROBASCO first came to Adams county in 1872, since which time he has been an honored citizen, with the exception of a few years spent in the State of New York. He was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, March 6, 1823, and is the oldest of a family of twelve chil-
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dren born to Jacob and Mary (Shay) Pro- basco, also natives of the State of New Jersey. Jacob Probasco was a son of Joseph Probasco, Sr., who was born in New Jersey ; the great-grandfather was a native of Paris, France, of Polish descent; he came to Amer- ica previons to the Revolutionary war, and the grandfather of our subject served during that great conflict. The mother of Joseph Probasco, Jr., was a dangliter of Jolin Shay, whose father, Timothy Shay, came from the North of Ireland, and settled in New Jersey, where he died at the advanced age of ninety- eight years.
When our subject was seven years old his parents removed to Geneva, Ontario county, New York, where the father engaged in farming until his death which occurred in his eighty-fourth year; the mother died ten years earlier at the age of sixty-nine years. Joseph was reared amid the scenes of farm life, and remained under the rule of his par- ents until he attained his majority.
He was married, September, 1848, to Miss Mary A. Myers, a daughter of Isaac and Lydia (Craiger) Myers, natives of New Jer- sey and Maryland respectively. Mrs. Pro- basco was born and reared in the State of New York.
After his marriage Mr. Probasco bought fifty acres of land in Ontario county, New York, which he cultivated until 1855; he then removed to Knox county, Iilinois, and purchased 100 acres of wild land ou which he lived until 1872. In that year, as before stated, he came to Adams county, Iowa, and bonght the farm on which he now resides. It consists of 160 acres, is well improved, and under cultivation. The chief industry of this farm is the raising of Poland-China hogs, in which Mr. Probasco has been remarkably successful. In 1880 he rented his farm and returned to the State of New York, where
he lived for a period of eight years; it was during this time that his wife died, February 23, 1887, at the age of sixty-four years. She was a consistent . member of the Baptist Church, and was deeply mourned by all who knew her.
Mr. and Mrs. Probasco had born to them two children: Jacob was born December 14, 1854; he lias always remained with his father, and is now connected with him in business; he was married, September 14, 1884, to Miss Lizzie Hays, a native of On- tario county, New York. They have three children: Susie, Katie and Joseph. The second child of our subject, Catherine, is the wife of Martin Cramer, of Corning.
In his political opinions Mr. Probasco affiliates with the Republican party. He is a member of Construction Lodge, No. 275, A. F. & A. M.
M. WIDNER, Vice-President of the First National Bank, is one of Corn- ° ing's young business men.
ANIEL JONES, a farmer by occupation and a resident of Jasper township, will be given the following space in this history of Adams county, Iowa. He is a native of Wales, born in Corriganshire, in 1849, and is the only living son of Reese D. and Mary (Jones) Jones. The father fol- lowed agricultural pursuits in the old coun- try; in 1863 he emigrated to the United States, and located in Sank county, Wisconsin, where he rented a farm ou which he resided until 1870; in that year he came to Adams county and purchased eighty acres of land in Jasper township which was in a wild, uncul- tivated condition; he improved this, placed
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it under cultivation, and made a comfortable home where he passed the last days of his life. He and his wife had four children, two of whom survive: Daniel, the subject of this notice, and Elizabeth, the wife of John Thomas; Janie died in Wales at the age of six years, and David died in Iowa at the age of twenty-one years. The father of these children died February 2, 1885, at the age of seventy-six years, and the mother passed away April 13, 1884, aged sixty-six years; both were consistent members of the Epis- copal Church.
Daniel Jones resided with his father until his death, at which time lie took charge of the home farm.
He was married, November 6, 1884, to Miss Maggie C. Douglas, a native of Prince Edward's Island, and a daughter of Matthew and Christina (Campbell) Douglas, natives of England and Scotland respectively. When Mrs. Jones was a child of four years her parents removed to the Province of Ontario, and settled in the town of Cayuga, Haldinand county, where she grew to womanhood. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of two chil- dren: Henry Reese and Walter Earl. They are honored members of the Episcopal Church. Politically our subject is identified with the Republican party.
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OEL N. WOODWARD, of section 7, Grant township, was born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, November 7, 1844, a son of John and Keziah (Henry) Wood- ward. Joel was bnt two years of age when his mother died, and eight years later he was left an orphan by the death of his father. He was reared by older brothers, and was eleven years of age when taken to Mercer county, Illinois, where he grew to manhood on a |
farm and received his education in the public schools. During the late war he responded to his country's call, and at the age of seven- teen years enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company G, and was first under fire at Farmington, near Corinth. He was with Rosecrans at Stone River, where he was wounded, having been struck in the left side of the face, near the nose; the ball was taken out at the back of his neck. He was left on the field as dead, but was afterward taken to the field hospital, remaining sixteen days, and then by ambu- lance to Nashville, where he suffered from erysipelas. He was honorably discharged on account of disability, after which he returned home to Illinois; but again, June 9, 1864, re-enlisted and was assigned to the same regiment. He was at Jonesboro, the capture of Atlanta, Georgia, the Atlanta campaign, Franklin, Springfield, Nashville, and was at the grand review at Washington, District of Columbia, He returned to Louisville, Ken- tucky, and thence to Springfield, Illinois, where he received his final discharge.
After the war Mr. Woodward returned to Mercer county, Illinois, and in 1870 came to Grant township, Adams county, where lie was among the early settlers. He bought forty acres of wild land, paying $7.50 per acre, and here he has since made his liome. He now owns 200 acres of land, where lie has a good frame house, stables, yards, feed lots, groves and orchards. He was married in Mercer county, March 24, 1868, to Miss Sarah Ann Pratt, who was born in that county, a daughter of John and May (Fur- geson) Pratt. They have nine children: May, Jehu, Allie, Alonzo, Lewis, Frank, Homer, Ray and Edna. Allie is the wife of Harry Mitchell, of Grant township. Mr. Wood- ward is a Republican politically; has served as Constable, and is the present Township
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
Trustee. Hle is a member of the Presby- terian Church, in which he is one of the trustees. The great loss of his life was in the death of his wife, who died October 31, 1888. She was an affectionate wife and mother, and her death was a great loss to the community in which she resided. She was a worthy and consistent member of the Presby- terian Church.
FOIIN S. MITCHELL, a popular and enterprising farmer of Mercer township, Adams county, since he settled here in 1873, was born in Henderson county, Illi- nois, May 12, 1843, a son of Matthew Mitchell, who was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish extraction. Mr. Mitchell's great-grandfather was one of three brothers, "Covenanters," who emi- grated to the United States before the Revo- lution. His mother, whose maiden name was Jane Stevenson, was born in Knox county, Ohio, the daughter of John Steven- son, who was a native of Pennsylvania; and her mother, whose name before marriage was Ann Lee, was a native of Ireland. Matthew Mitchell moved to Illinois in 1839, and in the autumn of 1840 purchased a piece of land. The day on which William Henry Harrison was elected President of the United States, he arrived with his family at Mon- mouth, Illinois, where he is still living, at the age of eighty-four years; and his wife is seventy-two. They reared six sons and three daughters, one of whom is deceased.
The subject of this sketch, Mr. John S. Mitchell, the second child in the above fam- ily, was reared to farm life. In 1873 he came to Quincy township, Adams county, where he lived three years, and in 1876 he settled on his present farm, which was then
wild land, excepting that seventy acres had been broken. IIe has made this one of the best farms in the neighborhood. He lias a comfortable frame house, a barn forty-eight feet square, and all other farm appurtenances in good order. The premises indicate that their proprietor is a man of thrift and good judgment.
In Henderson county, Illinois, December 22, 1869, Mr. Mitchell married Miss Mary Morton, a native of Ripley county, Indiana, who at the age of sixteen years moved into Illinois. Her parents, George and Janette (Culberson) Morton, were from Scotland. They have three children: George O., Arthur M. and Cora W.
Mr. Mitchell is a Republican in his politi- cal principles. He has served his township as trustee, and has held minor offices. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and the superintendent of its Sun- day-school, etc. Mrs. Mitchell and the two sons are also members of the same church.
EROME SMITH has been a successful farmer and stock-raiser in Adams connty since the year 1872. He was born in Steuben county, New York, October 19, 1848, and is a son of William and Jane (Jones) Smith, also natives of the great "Empire State." The paternal grandparents were natives of Scotland. Our subject was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and re- ceived his education in the Genese Wesleyan Seminary. He resided with his parents un- til his marriage, which occurred November 4, 1868, to Miss Lydia Jane Bellinger, also a native of Steuben county, New York, and a daughter or William Bellinger, who was de- scended from Dutch ancestors. After his marriage Mr. Smith resided upon the farm
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which had been his father's and which his grandfather had pre-empted from the Gov- ernment in 1808. In 1872 he removed to the West and settled on his present farm in Jasper township, Adams county, Iowa; he first purchased eighty acres of wild land, on section 13, on which stood a small log cabin; for three years this furnished shelter, and in fact made a very comfortable home; the land was im- proved, and later on eighty acres were added to the first purchase; the farm is now one of the best in the township in point of quality of land and improvements. Mr. Smith makes a specialty of the raising of live-stock, and has gone into the dairy business quite exten- sively. The shade trees which add so much to the appearance of the place were planted by Mr. Smith, and the ornamental trees were set ont by him when they were quite small. The Smith family consists of four children: Ethel Algy, Jerome, Minnie L., and La Verne B .; Edith died at the age of thirteen years, in 1887; William was nine years old when he died in the same year.
In his political opinions Mr. Smith adheres to the principles of the Republican party ; the people of his township have elected him Justice of the Peace for several terms, and he has discharged the duties of the office very satisfactorily.
RANKLIN H. CRESSWELL, of sec. tion 27, Grant township, is the owner of Pleasant View stock farın, and a breeder of and dealer in thoroughbred short- horn cattle and Poland-China hogs. He is one of the well-known and reliable stock men in the Blue Grass region, and one of Adams county's reliable citizens. He was born in the Hawkeye State, in Van Buren county, December 31, 1846, just three days after Iowa was admitted into the Union.
His father, Matthew Cresswell, a native of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, was one of the early settlers of this county, having come here in 1840. Our subject's mother, Catherine (Stuart) Cresswell, was born in Pennsylvania. The parents still live in Vau Buren county, Iowa, where the father is one of the pioneer stock men of the county, and a member of the firm of M. Cresswell & Son, dealers in short-horn cattle.
Our subject was reared on a farm in Van Buren county, and received his education in the common schools. In 1871 he came to this county, and bought 160 acres of wild land, which he has since improved. He has a good frame house situated on a natural building site, and surrounded by a fine grove and orchard of eight or nine acres. He also has good barns, stables, sheds, yards, feed lots, stock scales, and all the modern con- veniences necessary for a good stock-farm. For twelve years Mr. Cresswell has been en- gaged in raising blooded stock, and at his home can be found some of the best speci- mens of stock in the Blue Grass region. He also is one of three who own an imported Percheron horse, being a member of the firm of W. T. Park & Co. Mr. Cresswell owns 160 acres of land, where he resides, and 120 acres in Union county, Iowa.
He was married in Van Buren county, Iowa, February 16, 1874, to Miss Mary E. Cornell, who was born and reared in that county, a daughter of William and Hannah Cornell. Mr. and Mrs. Cresswell have two sons: Hugh M. and Byron C. The greatest loss of Mr. Cresswell's life was in the death of his wife, June 26, 1880. She was a kind and estimable lady, and her death was a great loss to the husband and sons. She was buried in Fairview cemetery, Van Buren county. Politically he is a Greenback or In- dependent, and has served in most of the
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township offices with credit. He is a man yet in the prime of life, intelligent and well informed on general topics, frank and cor- dial in his manner, reliable in business, and is one of Grant township's popular citizens.
ESLEY HOMAN, a farmer of section 20, Carl township, was born in Jef- ferson county, Kentucky, fifteen iniles from Lonisville, June 29, 1820, a son of Mark IIoman. The latter was born in Virginia, a son of Jolin Homan, of Welsh ancestry, and a soldier in the war of 1812. John Homan married a Miss Oxley, and Mark married Nancy Burson, who was born in Virginia. Wesley's parents, after their marriage in Virginia, moved to Kentucky, and afterward, in 1827, to Putnam county, Indiana, where they lived until death. They brought up six sons to the age of manliood. The mother died at the age of thirty-seven years, and the father at the age of eighty- fonr. He was a farmer all his life, was a Whig in politics, and afterward a Republican; was a Justice of the Peace for many years, and in religion was a Baptist, being for a time clerk in the church.
Wesley, the second child in the above family, grew up to manhood on the farm in Putnam county, receiving a good common- school education, taught school, and then engaged in merchandising. In 1855 he em- igrated West, with a team, locating in Adams connty, Iowa, on section 26, Washington township. He improved a farm there, and afterward sold it and removed into Carl township, where at the time he was one of only five voters in that township. In that township he has improved four different farms. In September, 1865, he settled upon lnis present farm, which was then entirely
wild. It is now one of the best in the neigh- borhood. The home farm comprises 220 acres, and there are forty acres on section 30, Carl township, and forty acres on section 24, Washington township. Total, 300 acres. Mr. Homan has a good frame house. The part first built is 16 x 28, feet and one and a half stories high. The main portion, 16 x 32 feet, was built in 1878, and is two stories high. It is in modern style, with bay window and porches, and well furnished. The surround- ing premises are tastefully ornamented with trees and shrubbery, etc. The orchard con- tains 300 good trees. There are also a fine grove, barn, stables, etc. The hedges are in good trim.
As to national questions Mr. Homan takes Republican views. He has held most of tlie township offices: has been county Super- visor; county Treasurer four years, 1874-'77, serving with credit to himself and satisfac- tion to his constituents. He has been urged by many friends for the Legislature, but he has always refused to be a candidate. In re- ligion he is a Baptist. He is seventy-one years of age, but appears much younger.
He was first married at the age of twenty- nine years, in Parke county, Indiana, to Melissa A. Ramsay, a native of that county and a daughter of Joseph and Jane (Stephen- son) Ramsay. By that marriage there were six children, namely: Robert S., who is married, has five children and resides in Carl township; Edward W., married, has two children, and is in business in Des Moines; Nancy Jane, now the wife of Reuben Fal- coner, of Carl township, and has two chil- dren; Joseph N., married, lives in Carl township, and has three children; Willianı M., married, living in Chicago, and has two children, and Oliver Morton, who is with his brother, Edward W., at Des Moines. Mrs. Homan died in November, 1864. In Sep-
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tember, 1865, Mr. Homan married Mrs. Mary E., widow of John Deer, having three children, who are now living, namely: J. N., a merchant of Massena, Iowa, and William B. and Simeon, farmers in Washington town- ship. Mrs. Homan was born in Indiana, a daughter of James and Mary (Mitchell) Van Cleave. By the present marriage there are three children: Martha Eva, Flora A. and Frank W.
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SAAC BROKAW, a farmer and stock- raiser of section 15, Mercer township, has been identified with the interests of Adams county since 1869. He is a native of Ohio, born in Belmont county, January 21, 1840, a son of John and Elizabeth (Scott) Brokaw. The former was a native of Ohio, and a son of Abraham Brokaw, who was born in New Jersey and a decendant of Hollanders; the latter was a native of Pennsylvania, a daughter of James Scott, and of Irish and German descent. The parents were among the pioneers of Belmont county, and the father still lives at Mt. Vernon, Linn county, Iowa, at the age of eighty-four years.
When our subject was five years of age his parents moved to Crawford county, Ohio, where he was reared on a farm, receiving a common-school education, and resided with his parents until he grew to manhood. In 1862 he came to Iowa and located in Linn county, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1869, when he came to Adams county and purchased 160 acres of wild land, which he improved and planted shade and ornamental trees. His improvements are among the best in the county, and his resi- dence one of the best in the township. He does g neral farming, and by close attention to his usiness he has been successful, and 23
now owns 240 acres of improred land, in a high state of cultivation.
He was married January 26, 1865, to Miss Frances Learned, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Horace Learned, a native of Penn- sylvania, and Nancy (Curtis) Learned, a na- tive of Virginia. Mrs. Learned died in Ohio. In 1853 Mr. Learned with his family came to Iowa and settled in Mahaska county, where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Brokaw are the par- ents of seven children, six of whom still sur- vive: Samuel E., Willis E., Oran C., Frank A., Wintah May, Christie A., and Presley, who died in infancy. Mr. Brokaw has served as Justice of the Peace for many years and in nearly all the local offices. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and is President of the Sub-Alliance. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party.
P. CURTIS, a farmer and stock-raiser of section 29, Jasper township, was born in Washington county, Ohio, July 30, 1833, and is the son of Elisha and Frances (Scott) Curtis, natives of Virginia and Penn- sylvania respectively. He received his edu- cation in the common schools and was reared to the occupation of a farmer. In the fall of 1850 he emigrated to Linn county, Iowa, where his father entered 200 acres of Gov- ernment land; this was improved and was his father's home the balance of his days; his death occurred in 1881, at the age of seventy- seven years; the mother survived until 1887, being eighty years of age.
April 12, 1860, Mr. Curtis was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Ab- ner Lacock. After his marriage he settled on eighty acres of unimproved land in Jones county, Iowa, which he entered from the Government; he resided there until Febru-
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ary, 1870, when he sold out and removed to Page county, Iowa, renting land there for one year; at the end of that time he bought 160 acres of land in a wild state in Taylor county, and a third time began the task of developing a farm in the western frontier. In 1883 he came to Adams county and set- tled on his present farm.
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