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 46
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The first investment that Mr. Bently made in real estate was in Hawleyville, where he bought a honse and lot which he disposed of and purchased sixty acres of land, which form a part of the old homestead of 180 acres. The place now has two dwellings, one of which Mrs. Bently occupies.
Mr. and Mrs. Bentley have had born to them six children : William, deceased ; Hannah, wife of Miles Holland; Salina, wife of S. B. Higgins; Lizzie, wife of Charles B --- , John and Sherman; the two sons are married and live on the home farm. January 23, 1880, the family were deeply afflicted in the death of the husband and father, who passed to his last rest after an ill- ness of one week. He was a man greatly
respected by all who knew him. He affiliated with the Republican party, but would never accept of any official position; he was fre- quently offered the nomination of different township offices, which in his case meant election, but he firmly declined all such honor. He took a deep interest in religious and edu- cational affairs, and was among the most pro- gressive citizens of the township.
Mrs. Bently and lier children are members of the Christian Church. She is a woman well-known for her kind and hospitable dis- position, and has the confidence and respect of all who meet her.
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MMANUEL McVAY is one of the early settlers and among the most prominent agriculturists of Nebraska Township. He was born December 10, 1821. His par- ents, John and Elizabeth (Miller) McVay, were natives of Rockingham County, Vir- ginia, and had a family of thirteen children: Thomas and Henry, both deceased; James, John, Jason, Aaron, Miller, Mary and Eliza- betli, both deceased; Martha, widow of John Millenger; Hannah, widow of R. C. Russell; Minerva, widow of William McDonald, and Emmanuel, who is the subject of this brief biography. He was reared to the occupation of a farmer and remained at home assisting his parents until he was twenty-five years of age. He thien rented fifty acres of land, which he cultivated for two years, boarding with his brother, who lived in a village near his land.
Mr. Mc Vay was united in marriage Febru- ary 26, 1850, to Miss Margaret L. Cretcher, who was born September 29, 1823, in Cham- paign County, Ohio. Her father was a native of Germany. Nathan Cretcher by name; her mother was Sarah Polk, a niece of Presi-
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dent Polk. After their marriage they rented a farm for three years, and then bought 160 acres of timber in Shelby County, Ohio; after living on this for six months they disposed of it and bonght an improved farm in the same county, where they lived for eight years. This was then sold and a farm was rented for two years and a half. During this period Mr. Mc Vay was collecting notes and getting his business in shape to emigrate to the West, which he did in March, 1865. The family landed in Clarinda, Page County, Iowa, March 23 of that year, and the first invest- ment he made was in a half interest in a drug store, which he held one year; he next bought an improved farm one mile east of the public square of Clarinda; for three years he continued to reside there, and then traded for a house and lot in Clarinda; he also bought ninety acres of land, which form a part of his present farm of 1922 acres in Nebraska Township; this place had some improvements, to which Mr. McVay has added many others, and now has one of the best farms in the county.
Mr. and Mrs. McVay are the parents of four children: John and Edward, both de- ceased; Miller C. married Miss Carrie Strong, and Sarah A., wife of Charles Oates.
Politically Mr. McVay is identified with the Republican party. He is a man of ex- cellent judgment and fine business qualifica- tions, and through pluck, energy and perse- verance, has made his way to the front rank of Page County's best citizens.
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ANIEL McCOY, one of the early set- tlers of Valley Township, was born September 16, 1826, on a farm in Mus- kingnm County, Ohio, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Slaughter) McCoy, natives of the State of Virginia. They were the par-
ents of eight children: Sarah Ann, deceased; Louisa, deceased; Daniel, of whom this notice is written; Joseph; Nancy, wife of Henry Worry; Maria, widow of Alexander Buckles; Samuel, deceased, and Lebanon.
In 1840, when Daniel was fourteen years of age, his parents removed to Van Buren County, Iowa, and located on a farm within two miles of Farmington. He was brought np to farm work, and obtained his education in the common schools. When he was twenty- two years old, he was married, March 11, 1838 to Miss Saralı Jane Barrier, a daughter of Jolın and M. J. (Weakly) Burrier, natives of Pennsylvania.
Mr. and Mrs. McCoy are the parents of five children: William, Monroe, Alvah, Heu- rietta, wife of Squire Hedda, and Ella, wife of S. Edwards. After his marriage Mr. McCoy rented a portion of the old homestead for one year, and then bought a tract of forty acres in Van Buren County, on which he resided two years; he disposed of this and bought 120 acres in Lee County; there Mrs. McCoy died October 20, 1865, beloved and respected by all who knew her. Mr. McCoy was again married in Lee County, June 11, 1866, to Mrs. Mary Young. Six children have been born of this union: Bert, Jessie, Charles, Fred, Curtis and Myrtle.
In 1868 Mr. McCoy disposed of his Lee County farm and removed to Page County, Iowa, where he purchased his present farm of 120 acres; he has made many improvements in the way of fencing, building a large barn and a comfortable dwelling; he has an orchard of 100 bearing trees, which adds materially to the value of the place. In politics he is identified with the Republican party, and has served his district as school director. He has never sought public office, but lias pre- ferred to devote his time to his farming in- terests; lie is a man of practical ideas and
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
sound judgment, and has made a success of his undertakings. The family are members of the township Christian Church.
ATHAN ORME, one of the pioneer settlers and wealthy agriculturists of Page County, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, June 24, 1836, and is the son of William and Elizabeth (Dunn) Orine, na- tives of Maryland and Ohio respectively. They reared a family of eight children, of whom Nathan was the second. He was trained to the occupation of a farmer and received a common-school education. When he was eighteen years of age the family removed to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where the father was en- gaged in mercantile trade for two years. He then removed to Page County and bought 200 acres of partially improved land, and homesteaded eighty acres, all on section 36, Valley Township. This place he improved and made his home until his death, which occurred November 20, 1874; his wife died May 16, 1888.
Nathan remained with his parents in Os- kaloosa about one year and then returned to Ohio, where he suffered from an illness of six months' duration. When he was strong enough he entered the University at Dela- ware, Ohio, and pursued his studies for six months. He was married April 23, 1857, to Miss Lucina Sharp, a daughter of Cornelius and Eveline (Marshall) Sharp. She was born August 12, 1837. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Orme went to Page County, Iowa, and lived with Mr. Orme's parents for two years, during which time he taught school in the winter and cultivated a portion of the home farmn in the summer. He then bought a tract of eighty acres of partially improved land, now a part of his farm, whichi he has
increased by the addition of 524 acres, mak- ing one of the largest farms in the county. In 1872 he erected a handsome dwelling in the place of the old log one which had been a shelter for so many years. He has one of the largest and best arranged barns in the county, and all of his improvements are of first-class style; an orchard of four acres con- tains 300 bearing trees, and there are eighty acres of timber in different tracts.
Mr. and Mrs. Orme are the parents of seven children: Lorne Edwin, deceased; an infant, deceased; Eva E., deceased; William Marshall, who married Miss Mary E. Wise, and resides upon a portion of the farm; Emma B., a successful teacher at the time of her marriage to Joseph Rucker; Louie May, wife of Charles Spilman, and Bertie N.
Politically Mr. Orme affiliates with the Republican party. For five terms he has served as Township Assessor, and during a pe- riod of twelve years he has been treasurer and clerk of the School Board; at present he is also school director. He has fulfilled the duties of these offices with ability and to the satisfaction of the public. He has always taken an active interest in religious and edu- cational matters, and has striven to elevate the standing of his community. The family are members of the North Grove Methodist Episcopal Church.
ILLIAM M. ROBERTS, one of the early settlers and leading agricultu- rists of Nebraska Township, was born in Virginia, April 3, 1828, and is a son of Gaius and Sarah (Barton) Roberts, natives of New Jersey. The parents located in Vir- ginia on a farm in 1800, and had a family of thirteen children: Rebecca and Louisa died in infancy; Nelson, Sarah, George M., So-
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
phia and David died after reaching matu- rity; John B., Gaius, Reuben S., Elizabeth and Mary are still living
William M. was reared on a farm and edu- cated in the common schools. He remained at home until he was thirteen years old, when the parents discontinued honse-keeping on account of their advanced age and went to live with their children. He went to live with one of his brothers who was a shoe- maker, and entered his shop as an appren- tice, serving three years; he then abandoned his trade and went to work on a farm for two years.
Mr. Roberts was married March 25, 1849, to Miss Caroline Holmes, wlio was born in Virginia, April 17, 1830. Her parents were James and Ruth (Head) Holmes, natives of Maryland. Eight children have been born of this union: James M. died March 17, 1883, in the prime of young inanhood; Frank- lin E. died July 3, 1869, in his infancy ; George H., Marion, Emily M., wife of George M. Calhoun, Henry Clay, Thomas Oliver, and Bertie D, After his marriage Mr. Rob- erts rented a farm in Virginia and lived on it for two years, He then engaged in the shoe-making business, which lie followed for two years. In 1855 he removed to New London, Henry County, Iowa, and worked at his trade until 1856, when he went to Bona- parte, Van Buren County, Iowa; there he was still engaged at his trade when there was a call for men to defend this nation. He en- listed August, 1862, in Company E., Fifteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was elected Colonel of the Thirtieth Iowa, and Captain of Company A., both of which offices he refused to accept. He participated in the battle of Peachtree Creek, and in a number of skir- mishes, and although he was frequently in the thickest of the fight he was never wounded or taken prisoner. He was honorably dis-
charged April 4, 1865, and returned to his home in Van Buren County, Iowa, engaging in the more peaceful occupation of shoe-mak- ing. In 1868 hie removed to Page County and continued to follow his trade nntil 1883, when he bought eiglity acres of partially im- proved land, his present home in Nebraska Township. He has made many improvements of much valne; he has an orchard of fifty trees, and fifteen acres of good timber.
Politically Mr. Roberts is indentified with the Republican party; he has served as con- stable and school director with much credit to himself and the satisfaction of the public. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of the township, which they joined in 1851. Mr. Roberts is a member of the G. A. R., Warren Post, No. 11, Cla- rinda, Iowa, and also of Bonaparte Lodge, I. O. O. F., Bonaparte, Iowa, which he joined in 1856. He is a man of good, practical ideas, and of upright methods: he has many warm friends and enjoys the confidence of all who know him.
D. FARRENS is one of the oldest pio- neers of Page County and is numbered with the few who first trod the virgin soil of one of the most thoroughly developed sections of Iowa. When he came to the county in 1842 the deer stalked at will over the prairie, the wolf roamed in perfect free- dom and the Indians had been unmolested by the encroachments of civilization. He and his brother Wesley came together and settled in what is now Buchanan Township on Bu- chanan Creek, where they made their home for several years.
Mr. Farrens was born in Greene County, Tennessee, June 3, 1814, and is a son of Samuel and Cynthia (McCauley) Farrens, natives of
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively. The parents were married in Tennessee, and H. D. was seven years old when the family removed to Wayne County, Indiana; thence they went to Randolph County, Indiana, where the fath- er and mother passed the remainder of their days. The son of whom we write this notice was reared to the occupation of a farmer and attended the subscription school but a short time. In 1841, in company with his brother Wesley, he went to Missouri, making the trip down the Ohio River to the Mississippi and thence to St. Lonis; they then walked to Clay County, Mo., and went to work on a farm by the month. Not yet satisfied with what they had seen of the West, which was then the frontier, they bought a yoke of oxen and a wagon the following spring and made a trip to Page County, Iowa, locating as before stated on Buchanan Creek; he built a log cabin, in which he lived for ten or eleven years, and then sold his land and came to Clarinda, purchasing his present farm, which is adjoin- ing the town on the north. He owns 256 acres, which he has improved and which has come to be very valuable property.
Mr. Farrens has been twice married; his first wife was Miss Levina Stafford, a daugh- ter of Major Robert Stafford, one of the early settlers of Page County; seven children were born of this union who lived to maturity: Robert A, John W, Marion W., Josephine Rohana, Julia and Rena; two children died in infancy.
In 1858 Mr. Farrens was married to his present wife, Mrs. Margaret Showen, widow of Miles Showen. She is a daughter of Da- vid and Mary (Alexander) McAlpin; she came to Davis County, Iowa, in 1852, and in 1853 her husband died, leaving two children, Edward D. and Miles A. By the last mar- riage three children have been born: Wilbert T., Albert H. and Russel D.
This worthy pioneer is a member of the Presbyterian Church, with which he has been prominently indentified. Politically he affil- iates with the Democratic party. He is a man plain of manner and speech, firm in liis convictions of right and wrong, a citizen of whoin Page County may well be proud.
Russell D. Farrens, who resides near his father's farm, was born in May, 1866, in Page County, Iowa; there he passed his youth, and received his education in the schools of Cla- rinda. He was married March 14, 1888, to Miss Jennie Orth, a daughter of John Orth, a resident of Clarinda. One child has been born of this union, Mary Ethel.
H. FRINK, the present Treasurer of Page County, Iowa, was elected to the office in November, 1889, and assumed the management of the same Janu- ary 1, 1890. He was elected by the hand- some majority of 961 votes over his oppo- nent, a victory of which any man might be proud. He is an able and efficient officer, and is a credit to Page County and his con- stitnents.
Mr: Frink was born in Elkhart County, Indiana, May 26,1848, and is a son of Hanni- bal and Eliza Frink, natives of New York and Michigan respectively. His father died when he was six months old, and when he was five years old the family removed to Stark County, Illinois. A short time after- ward occurred the death of the mother, and thus at the tender age of six years he was de- prived of the fond care of the remaining parent. He was taken to Henry County, Illinois, where he grew to manhood, receiv- ing his early education in the common schools of that county. When a mere lad
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
he obtained a situation as clerk in a mercan- tile establishment at Kewanee, Illinois. Jan- uary 1, 1865, when he was still a youth, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty- fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company A, and started out in the defense of his coun- try, that liad so long been in peril; served with that regiment on its memorable Mobile campaign, and took part in thirteen days' siege of Spanish Fort, Alabama, and in August was transferred to the Thirty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, where he remained until he was honorably discharged. After the declaration of peace he returned to Henry County, Illinois, and remained there until his removal to Page County, Iowa, which occurred in 1871. He located on section 10, Morton Township, and improved a farm of 130 acres; he was engaged in general farm- ing until 1887, when he leased his land and embarked in the mercantile trade in Bing- ham, Iowa; he conducted tliis enterprise until November, 1889, when he disposed of his interests in Bingham and removed to Cla- rinda.
Mr. Frink was married April 12, 1870, to Miss Ellen Minnick, of Kewanee, Illinois. This union has been blessed with seven chil- dren: Nettie, Libbie, Bertha, Grace, Mabel, Harvey and Irene. The parents are consist- ent church members, the mother belonging to the Methodist Episcopal and the father to the Baptist church. Politically Mr. Frink is identified with the Republican party, and is a strong supporter of its principles. He rep. resented the people of his township as Town- ship Clerk for fifteen years, and was a member of the School Board for a number of years. He is a member of Burnside Post, No. 56, G. A. R., of Shenandoah.
Mr. Frink is a man of excellent business qualifications, prompt and reliable, and one whom the people of Page County will not
regret that they have called to a position of honor and trust.
U. McCLENAHAN, the present effi- cient Auditor of Page County, was elected to that responsible position in the fall of 1889 by tlie handsome majority of 905. He has been a resident of the county since 1872, and has made a record here of which any American citizen might well be proud. It will be of interest to the friends of Mr. McClenahan to know something of his early history and family relations, and we will go back to Guernsey County, Ohio, where he was born in 1847. His parents were James and Grisela (Stewart) McClena- han, who were of Scotch-Irish descent; they reared a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters. The father died in 1887, and the mother survived him one month. The oldest son was wounded in the battle of Shiloh and was afterward brought home by his father; but the loving care of friends and family could not restore him to health, and he passed away two days after reaching home. The second son met a simi- lar fate, so that the fond father and mother felt that they had contributed their share to the defense of this country. R. U. McClena- han is the oldest surviving member of the family. He attempted to enlist during the latter days of the war, but was dissuaded by an uncle, who convinced him that his duty was at home with his parents. The youngest son is a professor of theology in Allegheny College, Pennsylvania, and professor of He- brew at Chautauqua, New York. The two older sisters live near the old home in Guern- sey County, Ohio, and the youngest is the wife of a missionary to Egypt, who was sent
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out in 1882 by the United Presbyterian Mis- sionary Society.
Mr. McClenahan spent the first twenty-five years of his life in his native county and then came to Page County and located on a farm in Amity Township, where he resided four years; he tlien removed to the town of Morse- man and assumed charge of the railway sta- tion at that point, and also engaged in buy- ing and selling grain. Ile continued in this business until the summer of 1889, when he removed to Clarinda and took charge of the station on the St. Louis Railroad, in whose employ he had been at Morseman. In Nov- ember, 1889, he was elected to the office of Auditor as before stated. That the people of Page County have chosen well will doubtless be verified at the close of Mr. McClenahan's terni of office.
Our worthy subject was united in marriage December 22, 1869, to Miss Rebecca Tidrick, also a native of Guernsey County, Ohio. This union has been blessed with two chil- dren: Ernest H., born in 1870, and Etta M., born in 1873. Politically he is identified with the Republican party.
RANK W. PARISH, President of the Clarinda National Bank, has been con- nected with the interests of Page County since 1875, and has been a marked success in business and social circles. He was born in Iowa County, Wisconsin, June 11, 1846, and is a son of Ambrosia I. and Amanda (Key) Parish. The father came from Virginia to Wisconsin in 1832, and settled near the lead mines of the old town of Franklin, where he was among the early settlers. When Frank W. was but six years old the father died, leaving the mother with two young children; he was the older and went to live in different
families until 1858, when he went to work for an uncle, with whom he remained until the breaking out of the civil war in 1861. September 28, of that year, he enlisted in Dillon's Sixth Wisconsin Light Artillery. In March, 1862, he was ordered South to Island No. 10, where he participated in a hard-fought battle; he was also engaged at Corinth, Mis- sion Ridge, Vicksburg campaign, Chatta- nooga, Nashville, and was with General Grant on his Western campaign. He served as a loyal, brave soldier for three years and eleven months, and was with his company on every march and in every campaign and battle. He was honorably discharged and mustered out August 26, 1865. Upon his return home he attended the Commercial College at Madison, Wisconsin, and was graduated in the fall of 1866. He then went to Boscobel and entered the employ of Paliner & Coates, with whom he remained until the spring of 1868, when he came to Iowa and located at Marshalltown, where he was employed as a hotel clerk until the autumn of 1869. He next went to Coun- cil Bluffs, engaging as clerk and manager of the Ogden and Pacific Hotels, and he also operated a railroad hotel in Texas. In the fall of 1875 he came to Clarinda and embarked in the drug business, which he conducted successfully until 1885, when he was elected president of the bank, which position lie still holds.
Mr. Parish was married September 12, 1869, to Miss Jeunie Wicken, the daughter of William and Mary (Osborn) Wicken, natives of London, England, and early settlers in Wisconsin. Two children have been born of this union,-Charles O. and Grace. The parents are both members of the Presbyterian Church at Clarinda.
Mr. Parish is a member of the Masonic order, including the Commandery of the Grand Army Post, and of the A. O. U. W.
Contoing Lorant
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
He has been a member of the School Board for four years, and has served on the City Council for six years. He was one of the projectors of the Linderman Hotel at Cla- rinda, being president of the stock company.
As one reviews the eventful and successful life of Mr. Parish, he is led to believe that such prosperity could be attained only by a thoroughly upright character and in our own liberal, enterprising America.
ON. RAYMOND LORANZ, attorney at law, Clarinda, by reason of his long residence and public career in Page County, very naturally finds space in the his- tory of his county. The greater part of his life has been spent here, coming as he did with his parents in his youth. He was born in Fulton County, Illinois, August 1, 1852, and is the second son and fifth child of An- tony Loranz, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. When he was six years old the family removed to Page County, and he received his education in the public schools of Clarinda; during his youth he assisted his father, who was both a farmer and merchant. When eighteen years of age he entered the law office of the Hon. T. E. Clark, with whom he remained until September, 1873, when he was admitted to the bar. He tanght school one win- ter, and in January, 1875, he opened a law of- office. The following summer he purchased a set of abstracts of land, adding land and loan business to law. Heformed, at the same time, a partnership with his preceptor, which con- tinued one year; he then practiced alone until January, 1884, when he disposed of a half in- terest in the land and loan business to his brother, Henry, the firmn being Loranz Brothers; this partnership still exists.
Mr. Loranz was united in marriage June 5, 34
1876, to Miss Wilma Heald, daughter of Dr. Heald, a sketch of whom will be found on another page of this volume. Two chil- dren were born of this union; Barbara died at the age of seven years, and Albert, also deceased, aged one year. The good wife and kind mother died in a few days after the last child had passed away. The death of his beloved wife and two children was indeed a crushing blow to Mr. Loranz. He and his wife were both members of the Presbyterian Church at Clarinda. Politically he is a rad- ical Republican, and has always taken an active part in politics. He served as chair- man of the county central committee for several years, and in 1884 he was acting member of the State central committee and chairman of the Congressional committee. In 1885 he was honored by being elected Mayor of the city of Clarinda, and was re-elected in 1886. It was during his administration that the excellent system of water-works was pro- vided for the city. He was a member of the city school board for many years, serving as President a great portion of the time. While he was on the board the new school building was erected, which is an ornament to any place.
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