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 43
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 43
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section 7, Lincoln towuship. He bought a half section of land, then all wild, now under a high state of cultivation. His cottage home is nicely located and overlooks a most beanti- ful stretch of fertile country. He lias a new barn, other good buildings and all necessary conveniences for successfully carrying on gen- eral farming and stock-raising. An orchard of four acres is among other improvements on his farm.
Mr. Egan was married in Lee county, Illi- nois, in 1857, to Miss Bridget McGinnis, a native of Ireland. Following is the issue from their nnion: Edward, who died when a year and a half old; John, who only lived ten months; Thomas, at home, engaged in farming for himself; William, who has been a teacher for some time, is now working on a farm in Lee county, Illinois; Mary, also a teacher; James, Patrick, deceased; and Peter.
Mr. Egan and his wife and some of their children are members of the Catholic church. Politically he is a Republican.
W. DAY, a merchant of Prescott, lowa, was born August 1, 1854, at Jackson- ville, Kentucky, a son of Hon. E. Day, now a resident of Muscatine county, this
State. In 1863 the family, consisting of parents and five children, emigrated to this State, settling in Muscatine county, where J. W., the second child, grew up and received his education. At the age of twenty-two years he started out for himself, working for L. M. Morris for three months; then, com- mencing in 1876, he was employed in a gro- cery for a time, gaining some knowledge of mercantile business. In 1877 he came to Corning, engaging in the grocery trade, in a small way, and by industry and good judg- ment he has prospered in his trade and cor-
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respondingly enlarged his business. In coll- nection with his grocery he has also a meat market. He is cordial in manner, accommoda- ting in disposition and a gentleman of integ- rity in all his dealings, and accordingly has made many friends in Adams connty.
In February, 1888, he married Miss Mary E. Clark, a daughter of Mr. E. Clark, of Prescott, who was born four and a half iniles from Quincy, Illinois. She received a good education at Greenfield. By this marriage there is one child, named Irina M., who has considerable musical talent. Being now only eleven years of age, she surprises every one with lier skill at the piano, and she is making rapid progress in lessons on the violin.
HOMAS HARDEN, a prosperous farmer of section 16, Prescott town- shio, was born November 15, 1821. in Guernsey county, Ohio. His ancestors on his father's side were from New Jersey and those on his mother's from England. He obtained his education in the primitive log schoolhouse, Morrow county, Ohio, and at the age of twenty-four years left his parental home, and for twelve years cultivated a rented farm. In 1844 he married Miss Rice, a native of New York. He continued on the farm a short time after her death, and in 1875 located in Adams county, Iowa. In 1860 he was again married, this time to Miss Lockwood, of Vermont ancestry, and by this marriage there have been seven children, all of whom are living and have obtained a good education.
Mr. Harden is one of the oldest settlers in Adams county. At first his nearest post- office was St. Joseph, 113 miles distant. At the time he located near Quincy there were only seven settlers in the neighborhood, and
the wolves were so plentiful and bold that they would sometimes. approach to the very door of his cabin. Of deer he has seen as many as twenty-four at one time from his dwelling. Mrs. Harden, although having suffered much and long from pioneer priva- tions, has a remarkably good memory. Her parents settled here about two years previous to Mr. Harden's arrival, coming in 1855, by emigrant wagon, from Washington county, New York, and being six weeks on the journey. Her father died but a few years ago.
Mr. Harden's home is abont four miles from Corning, where he has by diligence, perseverance and economy accumulated an ample fortune, owning now over 500 acres of choice land. His beantiful barn is conspic- nous for miles around. His three sons con- dnct the farmn, and three of his children are married and reside elsewhere. In his polit- ical views Mr. Harden has been a life-long Democrat.
ZRA R. FOSMIRE, of section 11, Union township, Adams connty, was born in Monroe county, New York, January 8, 1835, the son of John Fosmire, deceased, a native of Rensselaer county, New York. The latter emigrated to Knox county, Illinois, in 1844, settling on a farm near Galesburg, when it was yet a new country. Ezra R., our subjeat, was reared to farm life and received his education in the common schools of Illinois, and also in the Knox- ville public schools. He subsequently learned the wagon-maker's trade, which he followed several years, having previously worked at tailoring. He was engaged at carpentering for the United States for a time during the war, and was at Chattanooga when Hood's army threatened the place and cut off our
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communication with Nashville. Mr. Fos- inire was engaged in a wagon and carriage shop several years in Oneida, Illinois, and in the spring of 1879 came to this county, set- tling on his present farm of 160 acres, where he is engaged in general farming and stock- raising. He raises graded short-horn cattle, English Shire horses and Poland-China hogs. He has served as Justice of the Peace six years, and was secretary of the Board of School Directors a few years. He is a inem- ber of the I. O. O. F. and Farmers' Alliance.
Mr. Fosmire was married July 5, 1857, to Ellen Randall, a daughter of Ralph Randall, of Knoxville, Illinois. They had five chil- dren: Adelaide, Seth H., Fannie, Frederick R. and James. The mother died in 1874, and August 30, 1876, Mr. Fosmire married Mrs. Mary McDonald; she had one clrild, Jennie, by a former marriage, who married A. Mayne, and resides in Salt Lake City, Utah.
RTHUR M. BEYMER, hardware mer- chant, Corning, was born in Seneca county, Ohio, in May, 1844, a son of Arthur S. and Rutlı (Skinner) Beymer, na- tives of Ohio. The mother was of English ancestry, and the father was a farmer brought up in the Western Reserve, came to Union connty, Iowa, in 1870, and died in 1872. His mother is still living, at Afton, Iowa, at the age of ninety years. They reared ten children.
Mr. Beymer was educated at the Seneca Academy and spent one year at the Ohio Wes- leyan University at Delaware; then returned to farming for a time; next was a year in commercial business at Clyde, Ohio, and then, in 1869, he came to Corning, Iowa, where he engaged in the lumber trade fifteen years, selling lumber for nearly all the fine houses
in the vicinity ; and he was one of the prime movers of the Blue Grass League, organized to produce blue grass in one of the finest regions in the world, he being one of the early discoverers of the elements required in a good blue grass soil. Quitting the lumber trade, he engaged in the hardware business, in which he still continues. He has acquired some good pieces of land in the vicinity of town. He was a member of the City Board of Trustees when the electric lights and water-works were established; was also a member of the School Board thirteen years, during which time the public school build- ings and the academy were erected; and he has been a trustee of the Corning Academy.
He was married, in 1865, to Miss Amine L. Strickland, of Clyde, Ohio, and they have had four children, including one daughter, who died when young. He is a member of Instruction Lodge, No. 275, F. and A. M .; of Eureka Chapter, R. A. M., and of the Presbyterian Church, as is also his wife. In politics he is a Republican.
LBERT DOWNING, proprietor of a meat inarket at Corning, was born in Indiana, in 1848, a son of Albert and Saralı (Moore) Downing, natives of Virginia, who were noted for their piety and strict ad- herence to the teachings of the Christian Church. His father died in 1862, and his mother is still living, in Cedar county, this State, whither she emigrated after the death of her husband.
Mr. Downing, the subject of this sketch, ·is the third-born of six sons. Coming to Iowa thirty-seven years ago, he grew up in Cedar county. After twenty-two years of farm life he came to Corning and began his present business, in which he is prospering,
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being well-known for liis faithfulness. In 1889-90 he was Mayor of Corning, and has always been an earnest and practical sup- porter of all improvements, including electric lights, etc. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and a liberal thinker on all subjects.
In 1871 he married Miss Mary Brown, a native of Iowa, and they have four children, named Albert, Lulu Adell, Clyde Leroy and Nora May.
NTHONY D. JONES, one of the vener- able citizens of Montgomrey county and a carpenter and joiner of Villisca, was born in Greene county, New York, July 14, 1821. His parents were Lora and Nancy (Smith) Jones, and both died in New York State, the former in 1867, at the age of sixty- seven years, and the latter in 1870, aged seventy-eight. Of their thirteen children, twelve grew to maturity and seven are still living, Anthony being the fourthi born and the oldest now living. He was reared in the Empire State. At the age of fifteen he com- menced to learn the trade of carpenter and joiner. That trade he has followed througlı life, although at various times he has been engaged at farming and other work.
In May, 1846, Mr. Jones enlisted in Com- pany I, First Regiment of New York Vol- unteers, for three years or during the war. The regiment went from Bath to Governor's Island, New York, and there our subject, and indeed one-third of the company, were sick, caused by bad water. By permission from his colonel, he went to the house of a friend and while there and before he had recovered, the vessel with his regiment on board left' New York harbor for the seat of war. The war closed, however, before they were one- half way to Mexico.
Returning home, Mr. Jones worked at his
trade there until the fall of 1862, when he moved to Clinton county, Michigan, and located near Lansing. He worked in and near Lansing till the spring of 1864; moved to Bureau county, Illinois; in 1875 came to Iowa and settled in Taylor county; and since 1883 has been a resident of Villisca. While in Taylor county he served two years as Jus- tice of the Peace. Asa workman he is skill- ful with tools, having few superiors in his trade. He is a remarkably temperate man; never drinks or uses tobacco and never played cards.
He was married, August 8, 1854, to Miss Elma F. Aldrich, daughter of Warner and Phidelia (Eddy) Aldrich. Six children have been born to them: Frank; Addie, wife of W. B. Woods; Charles; Warner, deceased; Eliza- beth, now Mrs. Stephen Matson; and Delia B. The whole family are church members. In politics Mr. Jones is a Republican. .
HARLES W. WINNE, of the firm of Frederick & Winne, dealers in agricul- tural implements at Corning, was born in 1830, a son of Jacob and Ida Winne, na- tives of New York. His father, a inason by trade, moved into Pennsylvania and remained there until his death. Mr. Winne remained in that State until 1854, was engaged in milling in Wisconsin until 1861, and then enlisted in Company D, Twelfth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and saw four years of hard service; was witlı Grant at Vicksburg, and later at Natchez and Meridian, and with Sherman on his grand march to the sea, and finally took part in the grand review at Washington. He was never struck by a Rebel bullet and was never absent from his regiment.
After the war he followed farming for a
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number of years; in 1879 he came to Iowa, and in 1890 moved to Corning, forming his present business relation. He is one of the oldest Odd Fellows in the State, having joined the order in 1854; is also a member of the G. A. R., and he attends worship at the Congregational Church.
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OHN W. ALEXANDER, dealer in fur- niture at Corning, was born in the State of New York, in 1863. His parents, Ephraim (who died in Illinois in 1875) and Helen (Smith) Alexander, were natives also of the Empire State, and had two sons and a daughter; the latter is now the wife of Frank Widener, president of the First National Bank.
Mr. Alexander, our present subject, was a farmer in Jasper township, Adams county, until 1890, when he moved into Corning and engaged in his present business, into whichi he throws his energy, with commensurate success. His stock is the nicest imaginable. In 1886 he married Miss Lee, a native of Wisconsin, and they have two children -- Martha and Frank. Mr. Alexander is a member of the order of the Knights of Pythias.
OHN M. FREDERICK, of the firm of Frederick & Winne, dealers in agricul- tural implements at Corning, was born in 1830, in Pennsylvania, a son of Abraham and Margaret (Mills) Frederick, natives of East Coventry, Chester county, Pennsyl- vania, who lived and died in that State. He came to Wisconsin before the war and en- gaged in farming. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-Third Wisconsin Vol- unteer Infantry, and served to the end of the
war, taking part in a large number of the great sieges and battles; was with Banks on the Red river expedition, Grant at Vicks- burg, and Sherman on his march to the sea. While in the service he was injured by a fall, but returned to be discharged with the rest.
After the war he resided again for a time in Wisconsin. In 1869 he came to Adams county, and settled in Lincoln township, where he improved an estate of 200 acres.
In 1882-3 lie was county Treasurer. In 1889 he moved to Corning and engaged in the sale of agricultural implements, in his present partnership relation. Into his busi- ness, as in all others, he has brought that care and integrity which have won for him an honored place in the estimation of his fellow-citizens. He is a stalwart Republican, and a member of the G. A. R., R. A. M., and I. O. O. F., and also of the Methodist Episcopal Churchi.
He was married in 1857, to Miss Isabella Roberts, and they have had twelve children, eleven of whom are living in Adams county.
ACHARY TAYLOR WIDENER, mer- chant at Corning, was born in Indiana in 1856. His parents were natives of Virginia. One of his ancestors was Peter Widener, the great financier. The father of our subject, a farmer, dicd in 1873, and his inother in 1889. Of this family the elder sons fought bravely for the Union, and their record for faithfulness in the army makes one of the bright pages in the history of Indiana. When a young man Mr. Widener became a merchant at Farmington, Fulton county, Illinois, and afterward came to Corning and engaged as a merchant with Mr. Chapman; but he soon bought his interest and has since
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continned in business alone. There is prob- ably no other man in the Blue Glass region who possesses finer taste or more unerring judgment in the selection of fabrics than Mr. Widener; and his integrity has led all his patrons to rely upon his word as to the qual- ity of goods. Indeed, it is a inark of confi- dence rarely seen in these days. Mr. Widener is a young business man with a bright future. Besides other real estate he owns a cosy resi- dence, embelished with much that indicates his fine culture and taste. He is a member of the Congregational Church and takes an efficient part in the Sunday-school; is also a member of the order of K. of P. In poli . tics he is a stalwart Repulican. He has been a member of the School Board. Mr. Widener is a liberal man, unassuming in manner and yet remarkably efficient as a public-spirited citizen.
In 1882 he married Miss Hettie Weter- man, and they have had the following named children: Ethel Vernice, Carl Chester and Fay,-all bright and beantiful children.
EFFERSON PROCTOR, photographer at Corning, was born in Elkhart, Indiana, in 1842, a son of John and Mary (Pow_ ell) Proctor. His father was a merchant and died in 1860, and his mother resides with him, the son. As he grew np he learned the trade of steam engineer. At the beginning of the war he enlisted in Company D, Thirty- third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and during his service had some thrilling experiences. At one time he was captured by gnerrillas and a rope was placed around his neck to hang him when he was fortunately saved by the intervention of a friend. He served with his regiment in Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee, taking part in many of the great
battles and sieges, and being struck four times with Rebel bullets, but at no time was he so severely wounded but that he remained in the ranks.
Returning home after the war he learned photography and located in Ottumwa, this State. He came to Corning when it was a straggling village, being the first artist here, and with the exception of a short interval he has been a resident here ever since. He is the standard photographer of the place. He has occupied his present home twenty years, becoming one of the landmarks of the city. He is a member of the Christian Church and of the I. O. O. F.
In 1866 he was married to Miss Alice Weston, and their children are Amnazilla, now the wife of Owens Eldon; Aretta and May.
ILLARD F. ANDERSON, black- smith at Corning, was born in 1850, in Pennsylvania, the fifth child and eldest son in the family of seven children of Richard and Rnaıma (Kirkpatrick) Anderson, natives also of that State. The father, a blacksmith also by trade, and noted for being an nncompromising temperance man, died in March, 1890, greatly mourned by the com- munity. The mother is still living in Ne- braska. The parents moved to DeKalb county, Illinois, when Millard was but eleven years of age. When still comparatively young the subject of this sketch began to learn the trade of blacksmithing, and fol- lowed it in Illinois until 1879, when he came to Adams county, and has since continued in the business with the exception of two years, when he was in Omaha.
In his politics he is a stalwart Republican. In 1872 he began the study of Freemasonry, and was initiated into the order at Shabbona
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Grove, Illinois, and he has taken successive steps at Creston, this State.
His first wife died in 1879, the mother of three children: Gracie, Willie and Delia. The last mentioned died at the age of two years. In 1880 Mr. Anderson was again married, this time to Miss Electa Wilson.
F. READHEAD, D. V. S., of Corning, was born in Hamilton, Canada, the son of John Readhead, a lumber mer- chant. He was brought up in that city and received an excellent education, completing it in a business college, and in his profes- sion he graduated in the Ontario Vet- erinary College, and since then has en- joyed a successful career in the treatment of animals, having now an extensive and growing practice. He is a man of integrity and courtesy of manner. He graduated with the degree of D. V. S., which was conferred upon him by the Agricultural Art Associa- tion, with a special diploma for high honors and scholarship. After his graduation he returned to Hamilton and practiced with Dr. McTaggert, an eminent veterinary surgeon, for two and a half years. Then, in 1888, he came to Corning, where he is now a favorite in the community.
AMUEL G. JOHNSTON, dealer in agricultural implements, etc., at Corn- ing, was born in Ohio, in 1824, a son of John and Margaret (Carnes) Johnston, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Pennsylvania. He was reared on a farm and received only what education the pioneer days afforded. He began farming in Ohio, but in 1866 he went to New York City, where
he was a wholesale merchant for twenty-three years. In 1878 he came to Adams county, Iowa, and engaged in farming in Prescott township. In March, 1879, he bought the implement stock of Charles Morse, and after- ward added stoves and tinware. He keeps a complete line of farming implements, also wagons and buggies. His goods are exactly as represented, and his trade is constantly growing. In his political principles he is a Jeffersonian Democrat. At his advanced age he is one of the most genial and lively men of the community.
In 1848 he married Miss Sarah Helen Johnston, a native of Ohio, and of their ten children nine are living. Mrs. Jolinston is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
HARLES B. DEWEY, a farmer and. stock-raiser of Quincy township, Adams county, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, in 1830, a son of Thomas I .. and Mary (Morris) Dewy, natives of Pennsylvania, who moved when Charles B. was four years old to Morgan county, that State. He vividly remembers many of the incidents of that journey. The family afterward moved to Athens county, same State, where Charles at length began life for himself, as a farmer. Soon he moved to the vicinity of Columbus, Ohio. In 1853 he emigrated to Iowa, set- tling in Henry county, where he enjoyed the rude but hospitable life of a frontiersman. In 1863 he came to Adams county and set- tled on section 3, Quincy township, where only twenty-eight acres of land had been broken. The rest of his admirable farm of 270 acres he has himself made from virgin soil. In time he became fully engaged in the rearing of live-stock, in which he has excelled. Although sixty years of age, he is
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still hale and active, and personally superin- tends his interests. He has been an efficient member of the School Board. In religion he has been a consistent member of the United Brethren Church ever since he was nineteen years of age, and politically he has been a Republican ever since the formation of the party, aiding in the election of the first Re- publican Governor of this State.
He was married, in 1850, to Miss Mary Gardner, a lady of rare Christian character, and through all the long struggle from pov- erty to affluence she has been a reliable and efficient aid. At marriage their capital was only five dollars, one dollar of which went for the ceremony. They are now enjoying a competence in the evening of life. She also is a member of the United Brethren Church. They have had six children, namely: Sarah, low Mrs. Bristow, of Nebraska, and the mother of seven children; Eliza McCormick, of Quincy township, the mother of three children; Frances M., now the wife of Rev. Surface, a United Brethren minister, and the mother of one child; Mary A., now the wife of Mr. Rodgers, president of the Brother- hood of Locomotive Engineers at Galesburg, Illinois, and has four children; Charles A., an engineer living in Georgia, and Lewis J., who died at the age of sixteen years.
OLLIN J. DEVORE, one of the well- known citizens of Corning, Iowa, has been a resident of Adams county since 1874. He is of French ancestry. His great- grandfather came to America with Marquis de La Fayette, under whom he fought for the freedom of the colonies in the war of the Revolution. After the American colonies had secured their independence, he decided to remain in this country, and settled in
Washington county, Pennsylvania. His son, James Devore, the grandfather of our subject, removed from Washington county to Ohio, when a young man, where he was an early pioneer. Jacob Devore, our subject's father, was born in Champaign county, in 1823, where he spent his entire life. His mother, whose maiden name was Lydia Ann Organ, is now a resident of Corning. Jacob Devore and wife were the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters.
Rollin J. Devore was born in Champaign county, Ohio, in 1847, and was reared to the occupation of a farmer. In June, 1862, when but fifteen years of age, he enlisted for service in the war of the Rebellion, in the Sixty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and served four years, or until in June, 1865. His regiment belonged to the Twelfth Army Corps, and with it he fought at the great battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Soon after the last mentioned battle, the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps were consolidated and became the Twentieth Corps, and placed in command of General Joe Hooker, and took part in all the important engagements of the Atlanta Campaign, was in the siege of the city of Atlanta, and was present at the fall of that stronghold of the Confederates. Mr. Devore was severely wounded at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, and owing to the tronble that his wonnd gave him he was placed on detached duty soon after the fall of Atlanta, where he remained until the close of the war. He has never really recovered from the effects of his wound.
At the close of the war Mr. Devore re- turned to Ohio, and was soon afterward mar- ried to Miss Jennie Miller. In 1874 he removed to Adams county, Iowa, and settled on an unimproved farm on section 27, Jasper township, of which he has since made a beautiful place. It contains 120 acres, and
Of Straw
Sarah B.Shaw
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is now occupied by his son. Mr. Devore resides in the village of Corning. He lost his wife by death, in 1880, she having died at their home in Jasper township. In 1882 he was united in marriage to Miss Angeline McMillan, daughter of Thomas McMillan, who, at an early day, settled in Taylor county, Iowa, just across the line from Adams county. He died in 1880; the wife and mother is still living. The first marriage of Mr. Devore was blessed with three children, and his present marriage by the same number. Mr. Devore is quite largely engaged in the pur . chase of live-stock, and deals especially in horses. By honorable and upright dealings and by his social character, he has secured the confidence and esteem of his fellow citi- zens He was a gallant soldier in the war of the Union, and is an honored meinber of of Llewellyn Post of Corning.
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