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 55
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After his marriage Mr. Goodinan removed to his present farm, which was a gift to his wife from her parents; he has since added eighty acres to the original forty acres, and has one of the best improved places in the county.
Politically he affiliates with the Republi- can party. He is a member of Warren Post, No. 11, G. A. R., and also of Orphans' Hope
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Lodge, No. 254, I. O. O. F. In the latter fraternity he has filled all the chairs, and is its present treasurer. He is a man of excel- lent business qualifications, and is numbered among the successful men of the county.
L. COKENOWER, physician and surgeon at Clarinda, Iowa, was born in Shelby County, Illinois, September 23, 1854, and is the son of Michael and Cussila (Thompson) Cokenower, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. His grandfather Cokenower was a native of Ger- many, and his grandmother was a native of Pennsylvania, of German ancestry. His maternal grandparents were of English origin, and removed to Ohio at a very early day; in 1845 they went to Illinois and located in Shelby County. The mother of our subject died when he was but four years old; his father is still living, a resident of Shelby County, Illinois. He was a soldier in the civil war, enlisting in 1861 in Company H, Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, which became a part of the Fourteenth Regiment. He served two years and two months and was discharged on account of disability.
Dr. Cokenower is the fourth of a family of six children, three of whom died in their in- fancy: J. W. Cokenower, M. D., practices at Des Moines, Iowa; and H. M. is a farmer in Fayette County, Illinois. H. L. attended the common schools of Illinois, the Normal Academy under the management of the Lu- theran Church, and the Shelbyville graded schools; he taught and studied until he was nineteen years old, and then began the study of medicine under the tutorship of Drs. Har- nett and Catherwood, of Shelbyville, Illinois. He entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, from which lie
was graduated in 1877. He began his prac- tice at Pleasant Plains, Illinois, where he re- mained until February, 1880; he then located at Clarinda, Iowa, where he enjoys a large, successful, and lucrative practice, second to none in Page County:
Dr. Cokenower was united in marriage February 11, 1880, to Miss Clara M. Hamil- ton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Hamil . ton of Pleasant Plains, Illinois. One child has been born of this union, William Lloyd. The parents are members of the Presbyterian Church. The Doctor belongs to Nodaway Lodge, No. 140, A. F. & A. M. He is a member in good standing of the National Association of Railway Surgeons, and of the International Medical Congress; he is also secretary of the United States Examining Surgeons. Politically he is a stanch radical Republican, and is at present a member of the Clarinda School Board. For two years he served as city and county physician.
When one remembers that the Doctor was bereft of a mother's tender care at an early age, and that he had to work his way through school and college, and that he is now come to be a skillful practitioner in the medical profession, much credit attaches to his name. He is a self-made man, and is a highly prized citizen of Page County.
M. FLEMING was born in Platte County, Missouri, September 22, 1852, and is the son of Thomas and Jane (McFarland) Fleming. The Flemings are of an old family of Scotch-Irish descent, their ancestors coming to Pennsylvania at a very early day and residing there many genera- tions. Thomas Fleming removed from the vicinity of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, to Mis- souri, when quite a young man, and followed -
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the carpenter's trade for some titne. Later on he came to Buchanan Township and pur. chased a tract of 120 acres, which he im- proved and sold; he then bought the farm in Harlan Township, on which he now lives. He was married after coming to Iowa, and reared a family of five children, four of whom are living.
Our subject, C. M., is the oldest child; he spent his early years in assisting his father in carrying on the work of the farm in the sum- mer season and attending the district school 'in the winter time. Upon arriving at the age of manhood he engaged in farming on his own account, and continued in this indus- try for a few years.
In 1882 he came to Clarinda and embarked in the livery business, being a member of the firm of Butler & Fleming. They are doing the largest business of any livery firm in the city, and are well equipped to satisfy the needs and wishes of the public.
Mr. Fleming was united in marriage Oc- tober 10, 1889, to Miss Maggie J. McCunn, a daughter of Jolin McCunn, deceased. Her father came to this section at an early day and secured a homestead on which his widow still resides.
Politically Mr. Fleming is a strong be- liever in the principles of the Republicau party, and gives it his undivided support.
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AVID G. BURLESON is a native of Cão Seneca County, New York, born De- cember 10, 1842. His parents, Charles and Phœbe (Gardner) Burleson, were natives of Vermont and Ohio respectively. He is the fourth of a family of seven children, and is the only surviving member. Charles Burle- son removed with his family to Michigan in 1853, and located in Branch County, where
he followed agriculture until his death, which occurred in 1854. His wife died in Steuben County, Indiana, in 1869.
David G. received his education in the common schools, and just as he arrived at man's estate, in 1861, there was a call for men to leave home, family, and friends, and lay down all business interests, and go to the de- fence of their country. Mr. Burleson was not behind his countrymen, enlisting in Com- pany D, Eleventh Michigan Volunteer In- fantry. He was mustered in at White Pigeon, Michigan, and participated in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged: the most important are Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Peach-tree Creek and Kenesaw Mountain; he was also with Sherman on his march to Atlanta, August 7, 1864. He was appointed First Sergeant of his com- pany, and was mustered out of the service at Sturgis, Michigan, September 30, 1864. In all the hotly contested battles in which he was engaged he received but one wound.
The first two years after his return from the battle-fields he was employed in farming. In the spring of 1867 he made a trip to the West, and decided to remain in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he embarked in the grain business; at the end of two years he removed to Villisca, Iowa, and continued in the same business, which he has followed continuously ever since. He came to Clarinda in August, 1885, and formed a partnership with William Butler, for the purpose of engaging in the grain business at that place. He has been very successful in his enterprise, being a tan of unusual business qualifications.
Mr. Burleson was married March 24, 1869, at Three Rivers, Michigan, to Miss Mary A. Shoemaker, a native of Bellevne, Huron County, Ohio. Her parents were na- tives of the old " Keystone" State, and remov- ed to Micltigan in 1861; the father is a car-
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penter by occupation, and now resides in Phillips County, Kansas; the mother died in Michigan in 1878.
Mr. and Mrs. Burleson are the parents of four children : two sons died in infancy; Clara I. was born September 23, 1880, and Florence C. was born June 12, 1887. The father and mother are worthy and consistent members of the Presbyterian Church. Politically our subject is identified with the Republican party. He is a member of Warren Post, No. 11, G. A. R.
OHN McLEAN, a retired farmer and carpenter and one of the early settlers of Page County, was born in North Caro- lina, March 18, 1820, and is a son of Angus and Nancy (McDonald) McLean, natives of Scotland. The grandfather came to America at the close of the eighteenth century and set- tled in North Carolina. John McLean is the fourth of his father's family, which consisted of ten children, and he is the only surviving member. His education was obtained in the subscription schools held in the rude log school-honse, characteristic of pioneer days, both in the North and the South. Five months covered the period of his school days, the remainder had to be learned in life's great school-room. His youth was spent in helping his father subdue the forest and claim from the earth sustenance for her children. The father died in 1863, and three months later the inother followed.
In 1841 Mr. McLean emigrated to Indiana, where he served an apprenticeship of two years as carpenter and joiner, and for thirty years he followed this occupation. About June, 1846, he enlisted in the United States service during the war with Mexico and served one year. He was discharged at New Orleans,
and in 1847 he returned to Indiana, where he took up his old trade again. In the spring of 1855 he came to Iowa, locating in Page County, and entered 120 acres of Government land, which was on the Taylor County line. He resided at Hawleyville a number of years, and in 1861 he removed to liis farm where he remained till 1864; in that year he sold out and bought land in Nebraska Township. In 1874 he removed to Clarinda, lived there one year, and then moved to Williamson County, Texas, where he engaged in agriculture for fourteen years. In October he came back to Clarinda, and will probably spend the remain- der of his days there.
Mr. McLean was united in marriage, July . 4, 1848, to Miss Catherine Melissa McAl- pine, daughter of one of Page County's pio- neers, David McAlpine. By this union eight children were born: David Angus (deceased), Malcolm (deceased), Jemima Alice, Mary Eliza, William Marshall, Lizzie Jane, John Ulysses and Robert Burder.
At one time Mr. McLean belonged to the Masonic fraternity. He and his wife are ac- ceptable members of the Presbyterian Church. Politically he believes in the principles of the Republican party, but reserves the right to vote for men and principle rather than for party name. During his long residence here Mr. McLean has won a host of friends who are able to appreciate true merit.
RINEHART, a native of Perry Coun- ty, Ohio, was born April 28, 1836, and is the son of Thomas and Hannalı Rinehart, natives of the State of Pennsylva- nia, of Gerinan ancestry. He is the ninth of a family of ten children, five of whomn sur- vive. He was reared to the life of a farmer in his native county and received his educa-
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
tion in the common schools. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, and then started out in life for himself to win the fortune which every young man believes the world has in store for him.
Mr. Rinehart was united in marriage Au- gust 5, 1858, to Miss Malinda A. Hammond, a danghter of W. G. and Mary E. (Hatcher) Hammond, natives of Maryland and Ohio respectively. She was born in Perry County, Ohio, Jannary 25, 1838. After their mar- riage they remained for seven years in Perry County engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1865, caught in the tide of western emigra- tion, they removed to McDonougli County, Illinois, and resided there until 1871. In the fall of that year he pushed still further west and located in Nodaway County, Missouri, where they staid almost a year. In the fall of 1872 they came to Page County, Iowa, set- tling in Lincoln Township on ninety acres of partially improved land. For three years they labored here, making valuable improve- ments, and when a good opportunity pre- sented itself Mr. Rinehart sold this place and bought 160 acres in Morton Township; this had been broken out when he secured posses- sion and he has since brought it to an ad- vanced state of cultivation. His improve- ments are first-class in every respect; tlie buildings are of a most substantial character, large and well arranged, and a fine orchard adds not a little to the value of the place.
Mr. Rinehart has devoted his time exclu- sively to farming, and he has done much to- ward developing and improving this section of the county. He is ever ready and willing to assist in any enterprise that has for its ob- ject the advancement of the community. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party; he has represented his township as treasurer, as a. member of the school board and is its present trustee.
Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rinehart: Carrie F., the wife of Jaines F. Whitmore; Matilda B., the wife of R. H. Wade; James T., Byron M. (deceased), Frank- lin A., Ollie M., Ida E. and Flossie P. The parents are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church at Coin, of which Mr. Rinehart is a trustee. They have a wide circle of friends whom they have won by honesty, in- tegrity and upright conduct.
EORGE T. PAUL has been a resident of Page County since 1881, and is de- serving of space in a work of this char- acter. He is a son of J. M. and Nancy (Hare) Paul, natives of West Virginia and Pennsylvania, of German ancestry. The father was reared to the life of a farmer un- til his sixteenth year, when he went to learn the harness-inakers' trade; he followed this occupation for a number of years in North- umberland and Petersburg, Pennsylvania, and Arcadia, Illinois. He also devoted a portion of his later years to farmning. He was married to Miss Nancy Hare about the year 1836 and they had a family of six children.
George T. was born in Huntingdon Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, Jannary 5, 1847, and after his thirteenth year passed his youth on a farın. He obtained his education in the com- inon schools, and at the age of seventeen years started out in life on his own responsibility. His steadiness and integrity of character are shown by this one fact that he worked for one man seven years.
Mr. Paul was married February 17, 1870, to Melissa J. Hanes, who was born in Morgan County, Illinois, December 6, 1852. After his marriage he located in Shelby County, Illinois, on a farm which he rented for one
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
year; at the end of this time he returned to Morgan County, Illinois, and remained there for ten years, engaged in agriculture. In the spring of 1881 he came to Iowa, and lo- cated on land which he had purchased in 1880; it consisted of eighty-five acres in Morton Township, to which he has since added eighty acres lying in Grant Township. He has made a specialty of Poland China hogs, and strives to improve the grade of all classes of stock. He is a man who endeav- ors to advance any enterprise that will be a benefit to the community, and by his public spirit and progressive habits has won a place in the front ranks of Page County's most suc- cessful farmers. Politically he is rather con- servative, and casts his vote for the man best fitted in his estimation to fill the office. He is one of the trustees of Morton Township, now serving his sixth year; he is a member of the School Board and of the Farmers' Al- liance, and also belongs to the A. H. T. A., of which he is president, and to Shenandoah Lodge, No. 261, I. O. O. F.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul are the parents of three children: George Leroy, born April 20, 1884, and Grace Loren, born March 15, 1886, and one boy dead. Mrs. Panl is a consistent member of the Christian Church.
AMES R. UBIL, an energetic and suc- cessful farmer of Morton Township, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1850, and is the son of Peter and Elizabeth B. (Seymour) Ubil, natives of Vir- ginia and Pennsylvania respectively, and of German extraction. When he was one year old the family removed to Juniata County, Pennsylvania, where the father still resides; the mother died in March, 1885. They reared a family of four children: James R., of whom
this notice is written; John L., Thomas K., and David H., also a resident of Page Coun- ty. In early life the father was engaged in contracting and building, and afterward was interested in the manufacture of wagons. When the war broke out he enlisted in the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, under Cap- tain Robinson, and served three years, being discharged as Sergeant. After the close of the war he returned to his home to take up the more peaceful pursuit of agriculture, which he still follows.
James R. was trained to the duties of a farmer after his thirteenth year; previous to that time he had lived in Johnstown. He obtained a good education in the common schools, and remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. He then undertook to steer his own craft, and chose the occupation of farming as one for which he was best fitted and which he considered most independent; he worked by the month for a year and then rented land for two years. In March, 1876, he was canght in the tide of western emigration, and landed in Page Conn- ty, Iowa. The first three years of his resi- dence here he worked by the month on a farm, and then for two years he rented land. At the end of this time he removed to a farm which he had bought in 1877; it consisted of eighty acres of wild land. From time to time he has erected the necessary buildings, and has made various valuable improvements. Ile bought the farm for $975, and January, 1889, he sold it for $3,000. He is a man well calculated to advance the standing of the community in which he lives, and he has certainly done his share in making Morton Township one of the most desirable in the county. He has purchased 160 acres of land on sections 16 and 17, Morton Township, at a cost of $6,100, and will make that his future home.
9.E. anderson
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Mr. Ubil was united in marriage March 11, 1880, to Miss Mary E. Drake, a daughter of Braden and Eliza (McNeal) Drake. She was born in La Salle County, Illinois, All- gust 6, 1859. They are the parents of two children : Myrtle, born January 2, 1882, and Verna M., born September 26, 1887.
Mr. and Mrs. Ubil are members of the Presbyterian Church. Politically he is a stanch Republican, and has represented the people of his township as a member of the school board.
E. ANDERSON, a resident of Nod- away Township, has been identified with the interests of Page County since 1872. He was born in the land of pine trees, Sweden, October 27, 1856. He is the second son of Andrew and Lottie (An- derson) Anderson. At the tender age of seven years he was left an orphan, and is the only one of his father's family surviving. At the age of eleven years he came to America, and located in l'age County, Iowa, where he grew to manhood. He settled on his present farm in January, 1884, and is now the owner of 1,260 acres of Page County's land, all of which is finely improved. The home place is what is known as the " B. F. Runnels Homestead," and is considered one of the best in the county; there are excellent build- ings, and the place is well calculated for stock- raising, which branch of farming is most profitable at the present time. In addition to his home-grown stock Mr. Anderson buys large numbers of cattle, which he feeds; his annual opt-pnt of cattle is 200 head, and he also sells large numbers of hogs.
On Christmas day, 1883, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Janie Runnels, only daughter of B. F. Runnels, a pioneer 38
settler of Montgomery County, Iowa. Mr. Runnels first located in Page County in 1858, and resided there until 1870, when he re- moved to Montgomery County, where he still lives. Mrs. Anderson was born in Page County, Iowa, but was reared in Montgomery County; she attended the common-schools of her own county, and afterward entered the schools of Iowa City, Iowa, and finished her education at the Wesleyan University, Dela- ware, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of three children: Walter Edward, Lncy May and Ethel.
Politically our subject is a Republican. His time and thought are wholly occupied with his private business affairs. He is one of Page County's wealthiest farmers and may be counted as one of the most substantial citizens of western Iowa. His estimable wife is a woman of more than ordinary culture and attainment; she has been a student of art and has done a considerable amount of decorating.
OSEPH R. CORTRIGHT was born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, March 19, 1841, and is the son of Isaac and Mollie (Pollock) Cortright, natives of the old " Keystone" State, and descendants of Scotch- Irish and German ancestors. The parents removed from Pennsylvania to Illinois in 1862 and settled in Lee County, where they lived the remainder of their days. The father was a farmer by occupation and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until the time of liis death. There were ten children in the family, six of whom survive.
Joseph R. grew to manhood in his native county, and at the age of twenty-one years removed with his family to Illinois. When
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
this nation was in peril and there was a call for men to defend the old flag, he enlisted in Company A, Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served until June 13, 1865, a period of nearly three years. He partici- pated in twenty-two engagements, and was with Sherman on his famous campaign, being under constant fire 100 days of the 108 days he was out. He was confined to the hospital at New Albany, Indiana, from October, 1862, until March, 1863, on account of ill health, and rejoined his regiment at Murfrees- borough, Tennessee. He was never wounded or taken prisoner, and did valiant duty in the cause of his country. After receiving his discharge he returned to his home in Illinois and engaged in the more peaceful and con- genial occupation of farming.
Mr. Cortright was united in marriage Oc- tober 12, 1870. to Miss Elizabeth J. Burket, a daughter of Jolin N. and Mary (Fleck) Burket. Her parents were natives of Penn- sylvania, but in later years removed to Dixon, Illinois, where they both passed to their eter- nal rest. There was a family of eleven chil- dren, of whom Elizabeth J. is the sixth; she was born at Dixon, Illinois, August 26, 1849. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Cortright remained near Dixon and were engaged in farming for a period of two years. They concluded that their fortunes might be bet- tered by removing farther west, and they ac- cordingly came to Iowa. They first located upon a farm of 160 acres in Morton Town- ship, Page County, which had been purchased previous to their coming to the State; this was a tract of raw prairie with no improve- inents. Mr. Cortright built a house, and broke 115 acres; fenced the entire piece of land and erected buildings for stock and grain within a period of two years. In the spring of 1874 he sold his farm and bought eiglity acres on section 18, Morton Township, where
he spent one year making improvements. In the spring of 1875 he disposed of this and invested in 160 acres on section 20, Mor- ton Township, which had been improved; there he made his home until the spring of 1877, when he again sold out and bought eighty acres on section 28, Morton Town- ship; there he resided until 1883, when he sold that piece and an additional eighty acres which he had bought in 1882. He then in- vested in the farm which he now makes his home; this consists of eighty acres in a high state of cultivation; he has erected a good frame house, put up other necessary build- ings, has planted 100 fruit trees, and has set out an abundance of small fruits.
Mr. Cortright is a live, energetic man, and has surrounded himself and family with inany of the comforts of life. In political thought and action lie is a Republican, and has rep- resented his township as assessor and as a inember of the school board.
Mr. and Mrs. Cortriglit are the parents of five children : Mollie J., Fannie F., Grace K., Maud B. and Josie B. They are associated with the Lutheran Church, and are among the most respected families in the county.
UFUS S. CROSBY .- The Crosby fam- ily, of Page County, Iowa, are direct descendants of oue of that name who came from England at an early day and set- tled at Torrington, Connecticut. There David Crosby, whose father was a minister in the New Light Church, was born; he married Grace Stevenson, and their son, John Crosby, is father to Rufus S. Crosby, the subject of this notice. John Crosby was born in Bland- ford, Hampden County, Massachusetts, in 1794. He learned the tanner's trade, which he followed until his removal to Pennsyl-
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
vania; he then engaged in farming and was occupied with agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in February, 1872. He was married to Wealthy Sınitli in Massachu- setts; she was born in Chester, Hampshire Connty, Massachusetts, January 19, 1802, and. died in February, 1877. They had a family of six children: Delilah S., Pamele, deceased, wife of E. K. Gorton; Edward E., Charles B., Rufus S., Fidelia S., wife of Nicholas M. Haynes.
Rufus S. Crosby was born in Meadville, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, April 27, 1834. He grew to manhood in his native county, and received more than ordinary advantages in the common and select schools. When he had attained his majority the family removed to Illinois and purchased eighty acres of land, on which they lived fourteen years. In the meantime the father died, and in March, 1875, Rufus Crosby, accompanied by his mother, removed to Page County, Iowa. He bought the farm lie now makes his home; it consisted of 160 acres and had some im- provements, but was comparatively new. Mr. Crosby at once went to work with a will, and has accomplished no small amount in the time he has resided here. He has given his entire attention to farming and stock-raising, and in these industries have been very suc- cessful. Politically he is a strong adherent of the principles of the Republican party, and takes an active interest in the political work of the county. He has been called upon by the people of his township to represent them on various occasions.
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