Biographical history of Page County, Iowa, containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, 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 Page County, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families; and a concise history of the county, the cities, and the townships, Part 44

Author: Lewis and Dunbar, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis & Dunbar
Number of Pages: 946

USA > Iowa > Page County > Biographical history of Page County, Iowa, containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, 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 Page County, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families; and a concise history of the county, the cities, and the townships > Part 44

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

in Wayne County, Indiana, September 13, 1827. He is the third son and sixth child of a family of eight children. His parents were Samuel and Mary (Davenport) Butler. The father was a native of Georgia, born in 1793, and came with his father's family to Wayne County, Indiana, in 1806, when he was thir- teen years of age. The grandfather's name was Beal Butler, who married Mary Stubbs, who was the first white woman to make a home on the west side of the Whitewater River, in Wayne County, Indiana. The But- ler family, of English origin, have oscillated between the pulpit and the forum, both in England and America. Now pleading in one, then thundering from the other, but in each becoming potent factors for public good.

Our subject's father, Samuel Butler, was reared on a frontier farm in the wilds of Wayne County, Indiana, and when grown to manhood was united in marriage to Miss Mary, daughter of Jesse and Rebecca (Hoo- ver) Davenport, whose family connections were of Quaker extraction. Her father was a native of North Carolina. The mother of our our subject was born in Wayne County and died when William was but four years old, just when a boy needs the tender watcli-care of a kind, loving mother.

In the spring of 1843, his father removed to Whitley County, Indiana, then the home of the numerous Indian tribes, and all one vast wilderness. Here he again became a pioneer and began the no easy task of devel. oping a farm, which, in that State, and at that day, signified great hardship and much work. Perhaps no part of the Union was settled under greater difficulties than the " Hoosier " State. Amid the frontier scenes, surrounded with naught but the wilds of an undeveloped country, were the first and perhaps most val- nable lessons of Mr. Butler's life, taught by the great teacher, experience. With him,

as with so inany inen who have inade life a success, it would seem that the labor per- formed and hardships endured in a new coun - try, all tended to make strong his character.

Indeed but few men of note liave been reared from infancy, midst the surroundings of cultivation and luxury. It requires the tempest to strengthen even the hardy oak.

When Mr. Butler was sixteen years of age he set forth in life's race to achieve something for himself. He possessed no means, save the strong body and active mind bestowed upon him by his parentage. He went to Wayne County and followed teaming for three years. The first winter, however, he was engaged as weighmaster in a packing honse. After the third year he, in company with his brother, rented a farm which they cultivated for two years. He was married, February 2, 1851, to Miss Margaret McCowen, a native of Penn - sylvania, the daughter of William McCowen. Soon after his marriage Mr. Butler removed to Whitley County, Indiana, where he rented land and farmed until the winter of 1855, when, by horse-team, he moved to Henry County, Iowa. He stood on the bank of the Mississippi River and looked upon the first locomotive that crossed the river, over into Iowa, at Burlington, now so famous as a railway center. He occupied a rented farm, near New London, Iowa, for one year, and April, 1856, removed to Page County, with which he has since been closely identified and instrumental in making it, in many respects, one of Iowa's banner counties. He at once saw value in the virgin soil, of what was then a new county and pre-empted the northeast quarter of section 30, in what is now known as Harlem Township. He improved this tract of land and remained there until the spring of 1865, when he extended his landed estate by the purchase of 305 acres on which now stands the State Hospital for the Insane. From the

435

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

autumn of 1861 until after the Rebellion he was more or less engaged in buying and sell- ing live-stock. In 1871 he became an exten- sive dealer in grain, and erected the first grain elevator in Clarinda. The firm of which he was a member was Butler Brothers, which partnership existed from 1876 to 1882. Dur- ing the years 1879-'80 they shipped 1,700 car-loads of stock. Our subject was a member of a syndicate which handled over two mill- ion bushels of grain. Like nearly all of our successful business men, who have secured large fortnnes, Mr. Butler has ventured much and finally made for himself and family a handsome competency; and to his credit be it said he uses it with a liberal hand, the means he has secured by honest toil and business sagacity for the comfort of his family, and has never yet been the man to refuse to con- tribute lavishly to every praiseworthy object, whether public or private in its demand. In this he has became a true benefactor to Cla- rinda and l'age County in general.

Mr. Bntler is an honored member of the various divisions of the Masonic fraternity, and is now up to the thirty-second degree of that order, having been a member of the blue lodge for many years, and one of the charter members of both chapter and commandery. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and Odd Fellow fraternities.

While the years have, one by one, been slipping by, and silvery streaks been making their appearance in his once dark locks, his property has been steadily increasing. Yet it should not be understood that this inan of business, during all those years ignored poli- tics and the general public good in the " Kingdom of Page;" for even the early records of the county, as well as every polit- cal campaign document, have nnmistakable evidence as to his activity in this direction. He is of that practical temperament which

prefers to " wear out rather than rust out," as was said of statesman Zach Chandler in Congress.

In his political belief he is thoroughly Re- publican, aggressive and ever to be counted on as reliable and a stanch supporter of our National and State constitutions. He has the good-will of all parties, by reason of his hon- orable fair-minded course in the rightful vin- dication of what to him seems the proper course. Again, by reference to the many public measures he has espoused, as champion and leader, it will be found that in eaclı case (proven by final outcome) he has worked for the good of his county and State.

Being vigorous and progressive, at times he has seemed to be too far in advance, but finally, the same men who thonght thus have admitted to him that they themselves should have been standing on the same plane he stood upon at the time.

In the Fremont campaign of 1856, he wrote ballots half the day, and, by good work in the afternoon of the election, assisted in coming within three votes of carrying his county Republican.

Practically speaking, Mr. Butler's political and public career dates from January 7, 1861, at which time the first board of county super- visors assembled, the old county judge system being abandoned at that time, and one super- visor elected from each civil township. Mr. Butler was the first representative from Har- lin township.

In 1862-'63-'64, we.find him still an honored member of the board, which had many respon- sibilities during the period of the civil war.

In 1869, we find him again a member of the board from Nodaway Township, and using every effort to obtain a railway.

In 1869 he was elected the Representative of his district in the Iowa Legislature, that being for the XIIIth General Assembly.

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

The next campaign lie was re-elected as member of the House to the XIVth General Assembly and was made chairman of the ap- propriation committee, and was one of the prime movers in starting the present State house at Des Moines, second only to one, in point of grandeur, of all in the United States. When the question arose whether wine and beer should be classed among intoxicants, he voted "YES," and had more inembers voted likewise much of the long train of legislative litigation which came about through the pass- age of the prohibitory amendment, might have been averted.

When the " prohibition amendment " vote was taken in the Legislature he was one of the fifty-two members who voted for the law. The greatest good to the greatest number, lias ever been his theory. During the special session of the Legislature, in 1873, when the " Code of 1873" was enacted, Mr. Butler did noble service. Many laws had become dead letters and were at that time revised and amended for the better. At that session he served as chairman of the committee on police regulations, and many important laws were submitted to him. Through correct voting on various sections by Mr. Butler and his colleagnes, who possessed cool, level-headed deliberation, the code of to-day is looked upon by the courts as among the best of the nation.

In the autumn of 1883 Mr. Butler was again elected to the House of the XXth Gen- eral Assembly, and re-elected to the XXIst General Assembly in 1885. It was during 1884 that he achieved for himself and Page County his greatest victory, but only after a long, hotly contested, and also very spirited struggle, which arose over the location and erection of Iowa's third Hospital for the Insane.

In this legislative fight all the powers of his manhood had to be brought into action;

legal understanding, parliamentary rules, po- litical " wire-pulling," yet the maintenance of strict integrity, all must needs be employ- ed; and when the testing time came, he was found complete master of the situation. These words are no idle fancy-threads with which to weave a mantle of flattery around him of whom this sketch is written, but they are inat- ters of public record, the same being heralded by the city and local press throughout the State, many of which the writer has in his possession.

That to the Hon. William Butler belongs the honor (for such it is) of securing the lo- cation of this great State institution at Clar- inda, none have questioned. It may be called his crowning triumph in the role of a legis- lator, giving him such a marked individuality as no other act could possibly have done; for it should be remembered that Atlantic, Cres- ton, Red Oak and many other cities in this portion of Iowa, all had experienced and able men representing their interests in the same matter. As the home glee club sang it at the reception given him over that event:

" Butler thought it, fought it, won it; When twice 'twas lost he won; He has been a faithful servant, Let us say, " Well done."

Upon receipt of the news of the final out- come of the contest the following telegram was forwarded to Mr. Butler at Des Moines : " Hon. William Butler: Five hundred assem- bled citizens, hoarse from enthusiastic cheer- ing, send you congratulations."

The public reception given himself and family upon his return home, was one of the most spirited and brilliant receptions tendered to a representative. While Mr. Butler was leader and champion in all this affair of se- curing the hospital, it is here due Senator T. E. Clark and ex-Senator Lewellen, to state that they supported his every effort and should receive inuch credit.

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

During the month of February, 1885, Mr. Butler was awarded the contract of building the magnificent "Temple of Justice," the present court-house. His bid was $71,000, the lowest of all the many bids presented. He gave it special and personal attention from the foundation stone to the very dome, and all citizens agree, regardless of opinions advanced at the time, that no more honest work was ever superintended in Page County. It stands a solid monument to the work he so faitlifully performed: no money withheld, but all expended as per terms of his contract, thus giving the taxpayer full value received.

No man has accomplished more for the county in the way of securing railway lines than Mr. Butler, as well as assisting in en- acting State laws for the management of the same on behalf of the people. What Allison and Kirkwood have been to Iowa, Hon. Will- iam Butler has been to the people living in the southwestern portion of this great com- monwealth. We now come to his more per- sonal and domestic relations, wherein man's true virtues are best tested. He who forgets not wife and child, but fondly cherishes both, even as he does his own life, though pressed on every hand with the busy cares of an event- ful life, is truly a good man.

As previously stated, Mr. Butler married Miss Margaret McCowen, in 1851; this was a happy union, only broken by the beloved wife's death, July 8, 1871. He was again united in marriage, March 3, 1873, to Miss Eleanor D. McCartey, a native of Ohio. Mrs. Butler was born in Geauga County, Ohio, July 6, 1828. She is the daughter of Russell G. McCartey, who was a native of Colchester, Connecticut, born August 12, 1792. During his youth his parents removed to Martins- burg, Jefferson County, New York, where he was reared to farm life, receiving a good school education, which enabled him to teach

when grown to manhood. His parents both died in one week, when he was nineteen years of age. He then came West and located in Geauga County, Ohio, where he formed a partnership with G. H. Kent, in the manu- facture of pearl-ash, and in connection with which he followed agricultural pursuits. He was married, March 23, 1820, to Miss Delia Kent, who was born April 30, 1795, at Suf- field, Connecticut. She was the daughter of G. H. Kent, above mentioned, who was born August 9, 1765, at Suffield, Connecticut. His wife, grandmother of Mrs. Butler, was Deborah Huntington, also a native of Con- necticut, born November 21, 1762. She was of English extraction. Mrs. Butler's grand- parents were the second family to settle in Geauga County, Ohio. They entered a large tract of land owned by the Government, and figured among the leading families of that county. Her grandfather took an active part in all the political issues of the day and was rewarded by seeing his oldest son elected to a seat in the Legislature. Mrs. Butler was the third in a family of six children: Henry, Deborah, Eleanor, Salmon, Minerva and Ed- son.

Mrs. Butler (Eleanor) is the only surviving child. She was educated at that most excel- lent institution, Oberlin College, as were the remainder of the family. She taught in the public schools of Cleveland one year, when she resigned on account of her father's fail- ing health. She and her sister, Minerva, accompanied him on an extended visit to his old home in the East, visiting in Canada and New York. The father died July 5, of that year, 1857, and her sister Minerva, March 17, the following year. Her mother died June 8, 1880, at the home of Mrs. Butler, at Clarinda, Iowa. Her remains were taken to Ohio for burial, where she rests by the side of her beloved companion and five children.

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Mr. and Mrs. Butler are the parents of one child, a bright, intelligent danghter, Nellie McCartey Butler, born August 26, 1875, at Denver, Colorado. The Butler family are respected and admired by an unusually large circle of friends, which is the result of numer- ous canses. In the first instance, Mr. But- ler is numbered among Page County's pioneer band, and has taken active part in all the gi- ant enterprises which have furthered the de- velopment of a section of Iowa in which it is an honor for any person to reside. By his untiring efforts in the Legislature for four sessions, he has assisted in building up the public schools and at the same time voted the saloon down. In all his undertakings, im- proving his frontier farm, transacting a large amount of business in grain, stock and real estate; as member of the county board, mem- ber of the State Legislature, with all the com- plicated features of such a place of trust and responsibility, it is not to be wondered at that he is widely known; also, that after having accomplished so much of public good that he should have such a legion of friends.

Again, it should be remembered that it is not alone to him that this meed of praise is due, but his companion has exerted an influ- ence upon her husband that only comes as a heaven born blessing, vouchsafed in the at- tributes of a loving and devoted wife. Pos- sessing, as Mrs. Butler does, so many priceless yet rare accomplishments, she calls forth the admiration of the best type of society where- ever she goes. She is at once intelligent, womanly and modest in all her ways. While Mr. Butler ranks as leader among men, his estimable lady is none the less a leader among her sex. In closing this sketch it may be added that Mr. Butler and family have thus far in life anade a record well worthy to be patterned after by the rising generation, who may from their lives better know what plain,

working, thinking men and women may achieve for themselves.

MBROSE B. ROBINSON, editor and proprietor of the Page County Demo- crat, published at Clarinda, Iowa, came to Page County in April, 1868, from Spring- field, Massachusetts. He was born August 7, 1850, at Hamden, Delaware County, New York, and is a son of Edward and Paulina (Pettis) Robinson, of Puritan ancestry. They reared a family of six children,-Anna, George W., Frank F., Miles H., Alice A. and the subject of this sketch,-five of whom survive; one daughter, Anna, died at the age of nine years. The father died in 1863, at Hancock, New York; the good inother passed away at Sidney Plains, New York, in 1873. The family removed from Hamden to Han- cock, New York, when Ambrose B. was a mere lad. In the autumn of 1866 he went with his mother to Springfield, Massachusetts, and engaged in farm work with his uncle, Erastus King, in the vicinity of that city. His educational advantages were quite lim- ited, attending the common schools of Dela- ware Connty, New York, until twelve years of age, and one term of grammar school in the city of Springfield. In 1868 he came to Iowa. He had no ready money, which at that time could have been invested to much advantage in the new West. But, full of pluck and industry, he set abont finding em- ployment, his first work being herding cat- tle on the prairies, but he soon went into the Ilerald printing office to learn the "art preservative," and in the spring of 1869 en- gaged with N. C. Ridenour, of the Democrat, of Clarinda, and before he had set type two years was made foreman of the office, which position he filled for several years. His health

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

failed him in 1880, and he traveled in Col- orado for eight months. After returning to lowa he worked at his trade in Bedford for nearly two years, and then embarked in the jewelry business with T. H. Bedwell, at Clarinda, and continued in the business about four years. In the fall of 1886 he disposed of his interest in that business and purchased a half interest in the Page County Democrat with Mr. Ridenour. The following March he bought the remainder of the plant and has since operated it successfully. It is the pioneer and only Democratic journal in Page County. (See press chapter.)

Mr. Robinson was married October 1, 1884, to Miss Mary E. Clement, a native of Bosco- bel, Wisconsin, who was born December 7, 1857. Her parents are A. T. and Eliza A. Clement, natives of the State of New York and Ireland, respectively. (See sketch.)

Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are the parents of two sons: Frank C., born September 15, 1885, and Harry B., born December 7, 1888, at Cla- rinda, Iowa.

Mr. Robinson belongs to the Masonic fra- ternity, Nodaway Lodge, No. 140, and to the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 109, and the En- campment, No. 29. He is also one of the charter members of the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Clarinda. Politically he is an avowed and life-long Democrat.

ON. T. E. CLARK, attorney at law, Clarinda, Iowa, has been prominently identified with the interests of Page County since the year 1867. He was born October 18, 1845, in Jessamine County, Ken- tucky. His father, the Rev. James W. Clark, was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and was a son of James Clark, also a native of Kentucky. The family is of Scotch-Irish descent. 33

James Clark, Jr., received his education at Transylvania University, Kentucky, with a view of becoming an attorney. He was ad- initted to the bar, and practiced in Lexington during the time that Thomas F. Marshall was at the Lexington bar. During the Black- hawk war he was a valiant soldier, and he also raised a company to participate in the Mexican war. In later years he turned his attention to theological studies and prepared himself for the ministry, following this calling until his death. Ile was married to Miss Martha Embry, a native of Richmond, Ken- tucky. She is a daughter of Talton Embry, a native of North Carolina, and the son of Granda Embry, who came to this country from France and lived to the advanced age of 112 years.

James and Martha Clark had a family of ten children, eight of whom lived to maturity. In 1854 they removed to Missouri and settled in Saline County, where Mr. Clark labored until 1863, when on account of the war, he . being a Union man, was compelled to aban- don all of his property. In 1866 he came to Clarinda, Iowa, and was pastor of the Pres- byterian church for several years. His death occurred in 1878, and his wife still survives.

T. E. Clark was nine years of age when his parents removed to Missouri, where he spent his youth on a farm and in attending the subscription schools; he also received in. struction from his father until he was fifteen years of age; he then left home and during the war went to the plains, where he was en- gaged in driving freight teams; he followed this business until 1867, when he came to Clarinda, where his first occupation was chop- ping wood; he did this for two years and then entered the law office of Hepburn & Morse- man, where he studied law for two years. He was admitted to the bar under Judge James G. Day, and began the practice of his profes-

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

sion in 1870. Was once a copartner of Captain Morsman. He has since been asso- ciated with several different attorneys, and is at present with J. E. Hill.

In the fall of 1881 he was elected State Senator for the Seventh District, and is now serving his second term. It. was since his election that the Prohibitory amendment was enacted; he was chairman of the committee for the suppression of intemperance, and in- troduced the bill for the suppression of ob- scene literature. It is due to the efforts of Mr. Clark and Mr. William Butler, the rep- resentative at that time, that the hospital for the insane was located at Clarinda. Mr. Clark also introduced a bill for the punisli- ment of trusts, which became a law. He has served for six years with much ability, and has shown a superior fitness for the position. He has given entire satisfaction to his con- stituents and has reflected great credit on his county.

Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Mary H. Burtch, a native of Cadiz, Ohio, and a daughter of William and Sarah (Bennet) Burtch, also natives of Ohio. Four children have been born of this union: Alexander B., Ethel, Jesse and Talton. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Clark is an elder. Politically he affili- ates with the Republican party. He is a member of Clarinda Lodge, No. 109, I. O. O. F., and has filled all the chairs of the order. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the A. O. U. W.

OHN R. GOOD has been identified with the interests of Page County since 1864. He was born in Mercer County, Ohio, January 28, 1850, his parents being Joseph C. and Ruth (Roberts) Good. The

father was a native of Virginia and a son of Joseph Good, a native of Germany. The mother of Joseph Good, Jr., was of Irish an- cestry. The mother of John R. was a native of Sandusky, Ohio, and the daughter of Joshua Roberts, who was born in Virginia in 1795, of Welsh ancestry. The father of our subject was a miller in his earlier days, but later was engaged in farming and stock- growing. He died in 1865, aged forty-eight years. He came to Page County in 1864 and located near Braddyville, where he bought seven hundred acres of land.

John R. is the fifth of a family of six children. His mother married for her second husband Alexander Davis, and after this union he started out in life for himself. He went to Clarinda, where he attended school, working for his board ; after he finished the public schools he attended Bryant & Strat- ton's Business College and was graduated from that institution; the next three years he was engaged in teaching. He then clerked in a general store at Center P. O., and after- ward bought the business out and conducted it for a time. He next purchased a farm of two hundred acres which he still owns. For nine years he was engaged in the mercantile and stock trade and met with uniformn success. He went from Center P. O. to Braddyville and engaged in trade for a year, and then sold out to McKee Brothers, and formed a partnership with the Hon. W. E. Webster and established the Braddyville Bank. Dur- ing that time he read law and was admitted to the bar under Judge R. C. Henry. He removed to Lyons, Kansas, where he prac- ticed law for six months; but not finding that country what he expected he returned to Page County and went into the law office of Judge Moore for six months. At the expira- tion of that time he opened an office of his own at Clarinda, and is still an honored mem-

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Author: Lewis and Dunbar, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis & Dunbar Number of Pages: 946

Author: Lewis and Dunbar, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis & Dunbar
Number of Pages: 946