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 41
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 41
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Mr. Lovejoy, the subject of this notice, was the fourth child in the above family, and was brought up on a farm, as his father was a farmer all his life. He began life for him-' self at the early age of eleven years, in the pursuit of agriculture. When still a youth, however, he began clerking in the city of New York, and continued there fifteen years. The great civil war then breaking out, he three times offered his services as a soldier before he was accepted, and he was then admitted into Company C, One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
as First Lieutenant. In Nashville he was Assistant Chief Patrol, doing provost duty. He has in his possession letters like the fol- lowing.
" HEADQUARTERS, POST OF NASIIVILLE, TENN. " June 13, 1865. " CAPTAIN LOVEJOY, Dear Sir :- Allow me to express to you my thanks for your dili- gence, promptness and personal kindness during the period of your services as Assist -. ant Chief Patrol of this city. I have had nine officers in the same position since I have acted as Provost-Marshal of this post, and I take great pleasure in assuring you that the duty has never been done with more effi- ciency or popularity than during your term. I again express my gratitude to you for your able assistance in the work of my office, and also my regret that your term of office has expired. I am yours very truly, " HUNTER BROOKE."
Mr. Lovejoy had many exciting experi- ences during his service in the war, but his record as Provost-Marshal is unexcelled. June 18, 1865, he was honorably discharged, when he had a Captain's commission.
After the war he was at Fayette, Iowa, for a time, and then in Illinois, meanwhile study- ing theology, and finally, in 1871, he located at Corning, as pastor of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. He continued as a minister of the gospel until 1880, when he became bookkeeper in the Bank of Corning. In the fall of 1888 he was elected county Recorder of Deeds; was re-elected in the autumn of 1890, by a majority four times as large as the first, and is now serving in that capacity with satisfaction to the public.
In 1840 he married Eliza A. Palmer, a native of New York, and they have three daughters living and one son dead. The daughters are married, and Mr. Lovejoy las
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six grandchildren. His first wife died, and he, in 1871, married Martha Pratt. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for fifty years; belongs to the Masonic order, and has been Chaplain of Llewellyn Post, G. A. R., ever since its or- ganization. Politically le was originally a Whig, and since the organization of the new party, he has been a Republican, taking an efficient part in its formation and in the pro- mulgation of its principles.
W. WEED, editor and proprietor of the Free Press, at Corning, since October, 1890, was born in the State of New York, in 1854, of American parents, whose ancestors were English. At the age of eigh- teen years he began to work at the saddler's trade, and continued it until July, 1890, and October following purchased the Free Press. He has lived in Adams county for the last fourteen years. In his politics he is a Dem- ocrat. In, May, 1875, at Clarinda, Iowa, he married Miss Maggie Jones, and they have three children living, one son and two daugh- ters, besides having buried one child, at the age of three years.
REDERICK KENNON, an enterprising young hardware merchant of Corning, was born in Clinton county, New York, in 1857, a son of Albert G. and Elizabeth (Garrett) Kennon, natives also of that State. The father, a farmer, came to Iowa in 1872, settling in Nodaway township, Adams coun- ty. His wife died in 1887, and this year (1891) he retired to a neat little farm in the suburbs of Corning. He has two children
living-the daughter, Clara, is now Mrs. Worley, a widow.
Mr. Kennon, whose name heads this sketch, was brought up on a farm. At the age of twenty-three he took a brief course in the Indiana Normal University, then learned telegraphy, and was an operator in the em- ploy of the Pittsburg & Ft. Wayne Railroad Company for a time, and then in that of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, at Pacific Junction, and finally at Corning. In 1890 he established himself at his present business as hardware merchant at Corning. In this line he carries a complete stock. His industry, integrity and shrewd judgment are bringing him to the front. He is a member of the Masonic order and of King Arthur Lodge, K. of P. He was mar- ried in 1887, to Edith La Rue, sister of Frank La Rue, the cashier of the Corning Savings Bank. The two children are Edith and Fred.
ILBERT G. WILLIAMS was born in Muskingum county. Ohio, in January, 1855. His father, George M. Wil- liams, was a native of Virginia, and a farmer, who moved to Ohio at an early day. In 1863 he came further west, and located in Adams county, Iowa, where he is still living. Mr. Williams, whose name heads this sketch, was reared to farin life. At the age of twenty- two years he struck out in the world for him- self, first taking a clerkship in a store in Corning, in which he continued until he was elected, on the Democratic ticket, to his present position of Clerk of the District Court, in the fall of 1890.
On July 4, 1877, he married Miss Frances A. Taylor. Of their four children three are living, namely: Maud, Howard and Walter. Mabel died at the age of eighteen months.
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Mr. Williams is a member of Nodaway Lodge, No. 206, I. O. O. F., and politically he is a straight Democrat.
AMES WALKER, of Brooks, Adams county, is a well-known pioneer. He first came here in 1857, and located perman- ently in 1859. Ile was born in Adams county, Ohio, January 3, 1821, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Whitley) Walker. His father, a native of Rockbridge county, Virginia, was a son of James Walker, a na- tive also of that State and a soldier of the Revolution, drawing a pension of $96 a year during the remainder of his life. Mrs. Eliza- beth Walker also was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, of an old Virginia family. The Walkers and Whitleys mnoved from Vir- ginia to Highland county, Ohio, in 1812. Joseph Walker had five sons and four dangh- ters, and died at the age of eighty-three years, and his wife also died at about the same age. The father was a farmer all his life, in politics a Whig and Republican, and in religion a member of the United Presby- terian Churchi.
Mr. James Walker, whose name introduces this sketch, was reared a farmer's boy. In 1859 he emigrated West, coming down the Ohio river and up the Mississippi to St. Louis and Keokuk, thence by railroad to Mt. Pleasant, and thence by stage and private team to Brooks, where he engaged in mer- cantile business, the pioneer merchant at that point,-at least the first of any prominence. He started in business in a small way, of course, but his diligence and honesty enabled him to increase his stock and trade until 1875, when he sold ont and engaged in farm- ing. He has 240 acres adjoining the town plat of Brooks, well improved. He built a
dwelling on the place in 1879 a story and a half high, now occupied by his son James L., who works the farmn. In 1891 he built a cottage of modern style and southern pattern, twenty-eight feet square, with nine-foot posts. Altogether he owns 480 acres of land.
In his views of State policy he is a radical prohibition Republican. He was postmas- ter for fifteen years. Both himself and wife are members of the Metliodist Episcopal Church at Brooks. They are zealous for the best interests of the community.
They were married in this county February 19, 1861. Her name before marriage was Rachel Vining, and she was a daughter of Robert Vining. Her mother, whose maiden name was Mary Waters, was also a native of Greene county, New York, and .pent her life in New York. Mrs. Walker was one of the pioneer teachers in Harrison county. Iowa, and also in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have two children: James L., on the home farm, married, and has one son; and Amelia, wife of Charles White, has two sons and one daughter. Mr. and Mrs James Walker lost their second child, Lusina M., by death, at the age of nine months and four- teen days.
ESSE L. TWINING, druggist at Corn- ing, was born in Washington county, Iowa, in 1850, the son of Rev. E. W. Twining, one of the most noted pioneer Methodist ininisters of Iowa, who was in the service for more than half a century, enter- ing it before Iowa was a State. He held meetings in log cabins and under trees, and endured innumerable hardships in his travels; but he had a successful career. He is yet living, at the age of three score and ten years, still zealous in the holy work, though long since retired from severe labors. He was a de-
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scendant from the old Puritan stock that set- tled in Massachusetts. Later he lived in Licking county, Ohio, studied theology at the Lane Theological Seminary under Dr. Beecher, and began preaching in 1840; was the founder of Cornell (Iowa) College, and i was for years its main supporter.
The subject of this sketch was educated at the college at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, then took a regular medical course at the Chicago Medical College, gradnating in 1872. After practicing in Iowa for a time he began the drug business at Corning, which he still conducts. He is a member of the Presby- terian Church, is a Knight of Pythias, a Knight Templar, a member of the School Board, the present Mayor of the city, and one of the most popular men in the county.
He was married in 1876, to Miss Flora D. Rowley, also a member of the Presbyterian Church, and they have four children.
E. WHITAKER, of section 10, Red Oak township, is one of the well- known and enterprising citizens of Montgomery connty. He came to this county in 1869, before the railroad came to Red Oak. He was born in Henry county, Illinois, April 19, 1851, a son of William H. Whit- aker, a native of Pennsylvania, who died when our subject was but three and a half years of age. The mother was Margaret (Loyheed) Whitaker, who was also a native of Pennsylvania, and died when our subject was young. The father was an early settler and pioneer of Henry county, Illinois, having settled at Geneseo. He was a land speculator.
O. E. Whitaker was reared in Illinois, and received a good education at Cambridge, that State. When eighteen years of age he came
to Montgomery county, and for a time was engaged at farm work, but afterward in the livery business at Red Oak, with W. C. Lockart. Later he worked at farm work for two years. He then bought an interest of John Shattock, and went into business with Mr. Lockart. He afterward sold his in- terest and bought out Mr. Roach, who was in the livery business with H. H. Palmer, and Mr. Whitaker was in business with the latter some three or four years, when he sold out to J. L. Bake. He then bought the Red Oak House, which he operated with W. C. Lockart, and at the same time was also en- gaged in the livery business. He subse- quently sold the the hotel to John Shattock, but continued the livery business for some time. He afterward sold again and bonghit out Mr. Bake, who was in business with Mr. Palmer, and Mr. Whitaker remained witlı Mr. Palmer some five or six years, when lie sold out to him and later bought his present farm of Thomas Lytle, which was then partly improved. Mr. Whitaker has since further improved it, having spent $2,500 for that purpose. The farm is well watered by living springs and running streams, and is well adapted for stock purposes. He is engaged in general farming, stock-raising and feeding. He has some high grades of short-horn cattle and also a herd of Hereford cattle. He has a good two-story house, also barns, yards, crib ; and other improvements. Lowland, as the farm is called, is situated three and a half miles from Red Oak.
Mr. Whitaker was married in Red Oak, in 1877, to Miss Adelia Boyd, a woman of in- telligence, who was born in Henry county, Illinois, where she was reared and educated. She was a daughter of S. G. Boyd, of Cam- bridge, Illinois.
Politically Mr. Whitaker is a Republican. He is a man yet in the prime of life and is a
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popular and successful citizen of Montgom- ery county.
ILLIAM T. PARK, one of the in- telligent and enterprising farmers of section 27, Grant township, came to Iowa in 1884. He was born at Mt. Vernon, Knox county, Ohio, October 25, 1853, a son of John and Mary (Marquis) Park. The father was born in Ohio, of Scotch parents, and the mother in Pennsylvania, of Scotch parents. The parents were married in Logan county, Ohio, and reared a family of eight children, six sons and two daughters, of whom our subject was the seventh child. An older brother, Madison, served in the late war, in an Ohio regiment. The father, a farmer all his life, died in 1884, at the age of seventy- six years; he was a Democrat in his political views. His widow now lives in Logan county, Ohio, at the age of seventy-seven years.
William T., our subject, was ten years of age when he went to McLean county, Illinois, where he was reared to farm life and educated in the public schools. In 1875 he removed to Mercer county, same State, remaining four years; then he returned to McLean county, after which he came to lowa. He bought his present farm of D. R. Irvin, which consists of 120 acres of well improved land, and on which is a good frame house, 16 x 20 feet, one and a half stories high, situated on a natural building site. He has also good stables, yards, cribs, sheds, a good tenant house, and all the necessary farm improvements. He is a member of the firm of W. T. Park & Co., owners of a Percheron horse, which was imported by L. Banks Wil- son, in February, 1888.
Mr. Park was married in Mercer county, Illinois, January 1, 1880, to Miss Belle Hen-
derson, who was born and reared in that county, a daughter of William and Rose Ann (Dool) Henderson, of Scotch-Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Park have four children: Laura Jennie, John Henderson, Helen M., and Mary Ann. Mr. Park is Democrat in his political views, and religiously both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church at Lenox. Mr. Park is yet in the prime of life, and is an enterprising and successful agri- culturist.
OHN D. BALLANTYNE, of section 27, Prescott township (postoffice Corn- ing), is one of the intelligent, enterpris- ind and successful farmers of that township, and has made his home there since the spring of 1876. He was born near Glasgow, Scot- land, February 4, 1840, the son of James Ballantyne, a native of Scotland, who married Ellen Douglas. In 1843 the family settled at Smith's Falls, Canada.
Mr. Ballantyne, whose name introduces this sketch, was reared a farmer's boy. In 1861 he came to Davenport, Iowa, and two years later he moved to Poweshiek county, this State, where he finally died at the age of eighty-two years. He was a farmer all his life and in religious sentiment a Presbyterian. His widow, who survives him, lives in Brook- lyn and is now eighty-three years old. They reared four sons and five daughters. One son, Andrew, lives in Quincy township. In 1876 Mr. Ballantyne came to Adams county and purchased wild prairie land at $10 per acre; he now owns one of the best farms in Prescott township, consisting of 180 acres. His dwelling is 16 x 30 feet in ground area and one and a half stories high, with an L fourteen feet square. The residence is located on a natural building site, surrounded by a grove and orchard of two or three acres of
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small fruits, and there are good stables and other improvements all in good order. His cattle are of the Polled Angus breed, and his horses are of a high-grade draft.
In politics Mr. Ballantyne is a Republican, zealous and able in the defense of his party. He, and his wife and two daughters are members of the Presbyterian Church of Corning.
Mr. Ballantyne was first married to Miss Caroline, daughter of Elihn and Henrietta Adams, and had one child, Anna, who died in childhood. He afterward married Hester De Pencier, March 6, 1871. She was a daughter of Urialı and Hannah (Eastman) De Pencier, natives of Leeds county, Canada. By the present marriage there are four chil- dren; Nettie, a successful school teacher; Ella D., Edson and Harry.
H. DAVIS, a general merchant at Mt. Etna, was born in Indiana, No- vember 2, 1851, the son of T. H. and Anna (Fees) Davis, bothı natives of that state. His father, a farmer, came to Iowa in 1852 and settled in Eureka, and several years af- terward located where he now resides, a mile and a half sonthwest of Etna. He and his wife are both living, honored and respected residents. He has never aspired to public office, but has ever given his best attention to farming interests and the general welfare of his community. His farm comprises 240 acres, conveniently located, well stocked and well watered. It is mostly "second-bottom" land.
Mr. Davis, our subject, the eldest in the above family of ten children, set out in life for himself when of legal age, teaching school during the winter and breaking prairie and farming during the summer. After contin-
uing thus for nearly ten years he embarked in 1884, in the mercantile business in Mt. Etna, and now carries the heaviest stock in the city,-dry-goods, notions, boots and shoes, queensware, glassware, hardware, gro- ceries and school books. He takes a com- mendable pride in the enterprises of his neighborhood, and is a responsible and wor- thy business man. Several times has he been elected to office, but has refused to serve, except a term or two as Clerk of his township. As to the nominations made by the political parties he votes independently, but generally with the Republicans, especial- ly where they favor prohibition. He is a highly esteemned and worthy citizen. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Church at Mt. Etna, in which body lie is a prominent trustee and assistant Superintend- ent of the Sunday-school.
He was married November 1, 1881, to Miss M. A. Black, daughter of W. B. and Margaret M. Black, of Adams county, both of whom are still living, well-known and highly respected citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have two children, viz .: Alvin Roy and Lora Elma.
OSEPH WOOD, of section 16, Grant township, came to this county in March, 1879, where he is one of the well known and popular citizens. He was born in Dur- hamn, England, July 5, 1832, a son of John and Isabella (Cook) Wood, the former a na- tive of Edinburgh, Scotland, and the latter of England. When Joseph was one year old his father died, and the mother afterward married and lived in England until her death, which occurred at the age of eighty-three years. Our subject, the only son of his father, lived in England until twenty years
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of age, and for several years worked in the coal-mines for the Marquis of Londonderry. At the age of twenty years lie sailed from Liverpool, and landed at Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania. He worked in the coal-mines at Schuylkill, that State, eight years, and then went to Rock Island county, Illinois, where for abont twenty years he worked for P. L. Cable, a well-known railroad man. Dnring the war he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company HI, under Colonel Richmond and Lientenant-Colonel A. M. Beardsley, of Rock Island, Illinois. Mr. Wood was first under fire at Humboldt, Tennessee, then at Vicks- bnrg, Haines' Bluff, Helena, Little Rock, Pine Bluff and Dnval's Bluff. He was hon- orably discharged at the close of the war at Camp Butler, Springfield, Illinois. He then returned to Rock Island, and in 1879 came to this connty, and bonght his present farm of John Phillips, which consisted of 140 acres of rich land, well improved. He has a good frame honse, 24 x 26 feet, one and a half stories high, and also a grove and or- chard of three acres, stables, cribs and feed lots. There is also a schoolhouse on one corner of the farm.
Mr. Wood was married in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, in 1855, to Miss Ellen Lockey, a native of Northumberland. Eng- land, and dangliter of William and Ann (Newton) Lockey, natives also of England. Mrs. Wood was but four years of age when her parents came to America, settling in Pennsylvania, where the father died in Schuylkill county at the age of forty years; the mother died in Mahaska county, Iowa, at the age of eighty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have five sons and two daughters, viz .: Isabella, the wife of William Hall, of Oska- loosa, Iowa; William is married and lives at Oskaloosa; Robert, Newrick, Joseplı, John,
Mary Ann, at home. They lost one child, James, by deatlı at the age of nine months. Politically Mr. Wood is a Republican, and is a member of the G. A. R., Lenox Post. Both he and his wife are members of the Meth- odist Church. His parents were Wesleyan Methodists, and Mrs. Wood was brought np in the Protestant Episcopal Church.
JORACE MANN TOWNER, Judge of the District Court of the district com- prising the major portion of the Blue Grass region of Iowa, was born in Belvidere, Boone connty, Illinois, in 1855. His father, John L. Towner, a native of New York, was for many years a minister of the Christian church, preaching in Illinois for a long period, and came to Iowa in 1885, with his wife, who has shared his lot for forty years, and they are spending their declining years in pastoral pursuits. The Judge was grad- uated during his youth at the high school in Belvidere, and then taught school for a nun- ber of years in Illinois and in Adams county, Iowa. Here he was elected connty Snper- intendent of schools, But while he was teacher, especially at intervals from educa- tional work, he was studying law, and he was admitted to the bar by Judge Forey in 1878. After the close of his term of office as School Superintendent, he began the practice of law, and soon gained for himself a prominent position in the legal profession. In No- vember, 1890, he was elected on the Re- publican ticket to his present position, his opponent being Hon. M. A. Campbell. He has already won for himself an excellent reputation as Judge. Having exhibited great ability both as an advocate and as a Judge, he must be considered one of the
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rising young men of the State. He is a member of the orders of F. and A. M. and K. of P.
In 1885 he married Miss Hattie E. Cole, a lady of rare culture, the danghter of Charles T. Cole, who has been for many years cashier of the Corning National Bank, and they have two children.
S. MARTIN .- This aged and promi- nent citizen of Lincoln township, Adamns county, Iowa, dates his birth in Sussex county, New Jersey, October 3. 1816. His parents, Jephtha and Mary (Stuart) Martin, were natives respectively of New Jersey and Orange county, New York. The father was an industrious and enterprising farmer. He was twice married and reared sixteen children. Both he and his wife, the mother of J. S., were inembers of the Baptist Church. They were called from labor to reward, the father at the ripe old age of ninety-four, and the mother at the age of sixty-seven years.
J. S. Martin engaged in farming in his native State and remained there until 1869, when he and his family moved to Adams county, Iowa, and bought 226 acres of Adams county's rich soil. This farin is located about two miles and a half north of Carbon, and here he is pleasantly situated and surrounded with all the comforts of life. His cottage home is so situated as to command a fine view of a rich and beautiful country. Mr. Martin has given much attention to stock- raising. His chief farm products are corn, oats and hay, and he also has an orchard and small fruits.
While a resident of New Jersey Mr. Mar- tin served as Senator from 1861 to 1864, discharging the duties of that important 30
position to the entire satisfaction of liis con - stituents and in a manner that reflected credit on himself. After coming West, he was in 1877 elected county Supervisor of Adams county, and served one terin. At this writ- ing he is filling the same position, having been elected in 1888. His present term will expire in 1892. As a member of the Board of Education he has served five years, and has ever been an important factor in advancing all such measures as had for their object the promotion of good in the community.
In New Jersey, in 1852, Mr. Martin mar- ried Miss Mary Casterline, daughter of Abraham Casterline of New York. She is a lady of culture and refinement, and to their forty years of married life has brought every sweet and noble attribute to be found in the wife and neighbor.
Politically Mr. Martin affiliates with the Democratic party.
S. BOISE, an aged and highly-re- spected citizen of Villisca, and Justice of the Peace of the same, was born in Portland county, New York, February 8, 1824. His parents were Charles and Rox- anna (Todd) Boise, the father a native of Blanford, Massachusetts, and the inother of New York. Charles Boise, soon after his marriage, enlisted in the war of 1812, and participated in a number of important en- gagements, being under General Scott, the Commanding General of Stony Point. For services rendered he in after years received a warrant for land. In 1822 he moved with his brother-in-law from New York to San- dusky, Ohio, taking with them a printing- press, the first one used west of Cleveland. They established the Sandusky Clarion, which paper is still in existence, and has
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