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 57
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Mr. Turnbull was united in marriage Jan- uary 1, 1868, to Miss Maria A. Martin, a na-
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
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tive of Pennsylvania, born May 1, 1852. Soon after his marriage lie began the erection of a dwelling on the land in Lincoln Town- ship; it was an humble but comfortable home, and in it lie and his wife spent many happy years. As their means increased and success crowned their efforts, the surplus was invested in real estate, and to-day they own 240 acres in one body in Page County. In 1887 Mr. Turnbull erected his handsomne two-story res- idence, which occupies a very attractive situ- ation in the center of the farm. He lias also built subtantial barns for stock and grain, and planted five acres of grove and two acres in a fine assortment of fruit trees. Everything bespeaks the thrift and wise management . of the owner. He is a self-made man in every sense of the word. Politically he casts his vote with the Republican party and is a strong supporter of its principles. In addition to liis possessions in Page County he owns 480 acres in Otoe County, Nebraska.
Mr. and Mrs. Turnbull are the parents of ten children: Anna, William, Alexander, Samuel, Charles, Archibald, Nettie, Rutlı, Thomas H., and Lillie M. (deceased). The father is the trustee of the United Presbyter- ian Church, to which the inother also belongs. Mr. Turnbull is a strong advocate of prohibi- tion and was a delegate to the Prohibition State convention held at Des Moines in 1890.
RED BOLES, a leading farmer of East River Township, is a native of Trumbull County, Ohio. His father, Cyrus Boles, was also a native of Trumbull County, and his mother, Sarah A. (Boston) Boles, was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
The date of our subject's birth is February 22, 1838, and when he was one year old liis parents removed to Michigan, remaining there
four years; they then went to Wisconsin where they made their home for three years; the five following years we find them in Illi- nois, and after that in Pennsylvania, where they remained until 1854.
Mr. Boles' early life was spent in various pursuits, turning his hand to anything that would bring him an honest dollar; at the age of fourteen years he took up the responsibil- ity of caring for himself, so that his educa- tion was very limited; he has acquired mnuch practical information, however, which has served him well in the duties that have fallen to him.
In 1854 he came as far west as Illinois, where lie staid until the spring of 1855, wlien he pushed on through Iowa to Minnesota; he spent about two years in Iowa and Minnesota and then returned to Illinois, settling in Cass County. Three years after he enlisted in the Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company G, and served his country faithfully for three years. After leaving the service he engaged in farming in Cass County.
Mr. Boles was united in marriage Marclı 10, 1869, to Miss Rebecca Lacy, a daughter of John and Mary W. (Emerson) Lacy, natives of England, who came to America about the year 1844 and settled in Illinois. Mrs. Boles was born in Morgan County, Illi- nois, October 17, 1847. Five children are the result of this union: Alma, born Febril- ary 2, 1872; Hulda, born January 20, 1874; Ned D., born December 24, 1876; Archie, born July 20, 1877, and Anna R., born May 11, 1882.
Shortly after his marriage Mr. Boles caine to Page County and purchased a tract of eighty acres of raw prairie land; this lie iin- proved and placed under good cultivation. In 1882 he disposed of this property and bought his present farm of 120 acres in East River Township.
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Politically he has always adhered to the principles of the Republicau party, and has willingly borne his share of responsibility as a citizen of a free and self-governed country.
OUGLAS BAILEY was born in Butler Connty, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1847, and is a son of Samnel and Isa- belle (McMurry) Bailey. When he was ten years old his parents removed to Washington County, Iowa, where he spent the remainder of his youth; he was trained in the pursuits of agriculture and received a common-school education.
On the 10th day of February, 1869, oc- curred the marriage of Douglas Bailey and Mary McOmas. Mrs. Bailey is a daughter of Daniel and Catherine McOmas, natives of the State of Ohio; she was born in Athens County, Ohio, and came with her parents to Van Buren County, Iowa, in 1856.
After his marriage Mr. Bailey continued to reside in Washington County until 1873, when he came to Page County and settled in Harlan Township; there he engaged in gen- eral farming uutil 1881, when he settled on his farm in East River Township; he has forty acres of laud and devotes himself to small-fruit culture exclusively. In 1889 he built a fine frame residence, which adds very much to the appearance of his place.
The people of East River Township have shown the confidence they feel in their neigh- bor by calling him to fill various positions of trust and responsibility; he has served as school director, as secretary of the school board, as road supervisor, and as constable; the last named office he lias filled for the past seven years. Politically he votes with the Democratic party. He is committee-man for
his township, and is also a member of the county central committee.
In connection with his other business interests he is master of the art of anction- eering, and is frequently called to serve in this capacity.
Mr. and Mrs. Bailey . have had four chil- dren: Frank B., born September 27, 1871; Isabelle M., born August 11, 1872; Charles D., born December 24, 1881, and Edna B. born October 31, 1886; she died July 22, 1887.
Mr. Bailey's parents were natives of Ire- land, and came to America in their youth; they had ten children born to them: Albert, Douglas, Robert, Perry, Gibson, Cynthia, the wife of D. Fishburn; James L., Elizabeth A., Willian M. and Ida M. The father is still living, and resides in Washington County, Iowa, at the age of sixty-three years; the mother died in July, 1872, at the age of forty- five years.
Mrs. Bailey's parents were natives of Amer- ica; her father, who still survives at the age of seventy years, was born in Pennsylvania; he resides in Van Buren County, Iowa; her mother died in 1859, at the age of thirty-nine years. There were six children in the family, four of whom are living: William N., Anna, wife of A. Campbell; Frances M. and Mary E. Mr. McOmas was married a second time, to Amanda Thomas, by whom two children were born: Clara M., wife of Mr. Coons, and Owen W.
OBERT DOUGHERTY, the third child of Gideon and Elizabeth (Mahan) Dongh- erty, was born in Orange County, Indi- ana, September 28, 1845, coming to Iowa with his parents in his childhood. He passed his youth in Page County, receiving the
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
training of a practical farmer's son. His education was obtained in the primitive log school-house, and was necessarily somewhat limited; he has not neglected to cultivate his faculties of observation and has picked np much information of a practical nature. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-five years of age, assisting in the cultivation of the farnı.
Mr. Dougherty was united in marriage, November 17, 1870, to Miss Nora Snodgrass, daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Long) Snod- grass, natives of Indiana, who came to Iowa in the '60s. He then began farming for him- self, settling on a tract of sixty acres in East River Township, which he made his home for two years; he then removed one mile south to his present home on section 26. He owns eighty acres, improved with a fine two-story frame residence and barns for stock and grain. All the surroundings betoken the thrift and prosperity of the owner. He also owns 120 acres in section 24, 160 acres in section 25, forty acres in section 14, and eighty acres in section 23. He is one of the most successful farmers of the township, and has seen the country develop from the almost uninhabited prairie to one of pros- perity and plenty. He has largely assisted in this growth, and is deserving of the esteemn and regard in which he is held. In politics he is a stanch Democrat.
Mr. and Mrs. Dougherty are the parents of three children: Thomas M., Ona E. and Eva Maud. Mrs. Dougherty is a member of the Christian Church.
E. SCOTT, an enterprising farmer of East River Township, is a native of the " Hoosier " State, born in Shelby County, April 18, 1836. Ilis parents, N. F.
and Elizabeth (Gunn) Scott, were natives of Indiana and Kentucky respectively; four children were born to them, of whom J. E. is the youngest and the only one surviving. He grew to manhood in Indiana, passing the greater portion of his time in Hancock County; he was reared to the life of a farmer, and obtained his education in the common schools.
When Mr. Scott had attained his twenty- second year a new era of his life began, for it was then that he emigrated to the West with his parents. They settled on a tract of sixty acres in Page County, where the land was new and unimproved; one of the first things they did was to erect a residence, 16 x 24 feet, which served as a dwelling for twelve years. The parents then removed to sec- tion 8, East River Township, and there the inother died; the father then settled about five miles north of Clarinda, where he passed the remainder of his days.
Mr. Scott was married April 2, 1865, to Miss Jane Jenks, a native of Piqua, Ohio, who had come to Page County with her par- ents in 1858. Her father, William Jenks, was born in England, and her mother, Mar- garet (Bercaw) Jenks, was born in the State of Pennsylvania. Her parents are both de- ceased.
After his marriage Mr. Scott settled on a farm of 160 acres, which he had purchased in East River Township, where he has resided up to the present time, with the exception of one year spent in California. He has done much toward the improvement of the county, and has brought his farm to an advanced state of cultivation. In connection with his farm- ing industries he has paid some attention to carpen tering.
The Democratic party has always had his support, and he has held the offices of town- ship trustee and clerk, and is the present
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
assessor. He is a member of Clarinda Lodge, No. 140, A. F. and A. M.
Mr. and Mrs. Scott were reared in the faith of the Christian Church. They have had born to them eight children: Lillie M., wife C. F. Irelan; Margaret E., wife of Jerry Miller; George W., Emma E., Gracie I., William F., Thomas H. P. and Robert N.
FILLIAM S. DOUGHERTY, the eld- est child of Gideon and Elizabeth (Mahan) Dougherty, was born in Lawrence County, Indiana, March 10, 1842. During his infancy his parents removed to Page County, Iowa, and settled in East River Township, where he grew to manhood; he was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and received his education in the primitive log school-house of that early day.
Amid the wild scenes of frontier life Mr. Dougherty grew up, assisting his parents in making and keeping a home. He was mar- ried February 9, 1865, to Miss Sarah J. Ed- wards, who was born in Indiana in 1848, and died in April, 1869. Two children were born of this marriage: Monroe, now living in Colorado, and Mary Alice, residing at home. The father was married a second time, March 10, 1875, to Miss Lodesca F. Cavender, a daughter of John and Martha A. Cavender; she was born in Indiana, November 27, 1855. Six children have been born of this union: Leona, Ora Elbert, Estella, Bertha, Nellie and Cordelia.
After his marriage Mr. Dougherty began farming for himself, renting one of his father's farmns which he occupied for five years. His father then deeded him sixty acres of land in East River Township, where he now resides. He is using for a stable the original dwell- ing that was on the farm. In 1876 he moved
from an adjoining farın a small frame build- ing to take the place of the log cabin which had been his home; he remodeled and en- larged the building, and now has one of the neatest and mnost comfortable homes in this part of the county. As his means increased he invested in land, and now owns 180 acres under good cultivation.
He is energetic and enterprising, and by fair dealing and integrity of character he has won the esteem and confidence of all who know him. In politics he ranks with the Democratic party. Mrs. Dougherty is a member of the Baptist Church.
Gideon Dougherty was born in Orange County, Indiana, February 5, 1816, and is the son of Robert and Sarah (Tanner) Dough- erty. He was one of a family of sixteen children, and was reared in his native county, receiving the advantages offered in the old log school-house He remained with his parents until he had reached man's estate.
June 9, 1840, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Mahan, a daughter of Peter and Mary (Reed) Malian. Mrs. Dougherty was born in Orange County, Indiana, Janu- ary 23, 1818. Nine children were born to them: William S., Samuel, deceased, Robert, Martha E., Peter, Sarah Jane, deceased, John W .. James B. and Caroline M. In 1844 our subject removed with her family to Iowa, making the journey with an ox-team, and being three weeks on the road. The first winter was spent in the section which is now Taylor County; the family lived in a tent while a small house was being erec- ted. In the spring of 1845 they came to Page County, and settled in East River Town- ship, where Mr. Dougherty had purchased a claim of a man by the name of Isaac Stout. Some improvements had been made, and a log cabin had been erected. Indians and wild game of all kinds were to be found in
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
abundance, and privations and hardships were met quite as frequently. But the determi- nation to succeed was strong in the hearts of these worthy pioneers, and their efforts were generously rewarded.
The Dougherty estate at one time covered 500 acres, but the father was desirous of help- ing his children, so he divided a portion of it among them. At the time of his death he owned 370 acres. He was an active farmer, and paid some attention to stock-raising. In his political belief he was allied with the Democratic party.
Gideon Dougherty passed from this life May 6, 1885, leaving a wide circle of friends to mourn his death. His wife is now mak- ing her home with two of her sons, Peter and James, in Taylor County, near New Market.
John W. Dougherty, a native of l'age County, Iowa, was born July 27, 1855. He is the sixth child of Gideon and Elizabeth (Mahan) Dougherty, and was reared to farm life, receiving his education in the common schools. Until he had attained his majority lie remained at home, attending to such duties as usually devolve upon a farmer's son.
September 17, 1873, Mr. Dougherty was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Thompson, a danghter of James and Ruth (Roach) Thompson; she is also a native of Page Coun- ty, Iowa, born May 27, 1856.
After his marriage Mr. Dougherty took charge of his father's farm situated in Mason Township, Taylor Connty, Iowa, and remained there for five years. At the end of that time he removed to Atchison County, Missouri, where he spent the following five years. He then returned to Page County and settled on his present, farm of 200 acres; he has a piece of finely improved land, and being a man of thrift and energy he has made a decided suc- cess in his agricultural pursnits, occupying a
position among the leading fariners of East River Township.
In politics Mr. Dougherty affiliates with the Democratic party. He was chosen by the people of liis township in 1889 to act as trustee, and he has also held the office of constable. He has always taken an active interest in promoting the welfare of the com- munity in which he lives, and faithfully dis- charged any duties he has assumed.
Mr. and Mrs. Dougherty are the parents of three children: Carrie, Minnie and Elmer.
Mrs. Dougherty is a member of the Chris- tian Church.
ILLIAM CUNNING, one of the representative men of East River Township, is justly entitled to space in this connection. He was born January 25, 1818, in Columbiana County, Ohio, and is the son of Robert and Margaret Cunning, natives of Pennsylvania. The paternal grand- father, Robert Cunning, Sr., fought in the Revolutionary war under General Washing- ton. When William was six years of age his parents removed to Trumbull County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. At the age of fourteen years he went to learn the trade of bricklaying with Mr. Ledwick Bingham of Cleveland, with whom he served an appren- ticeship of seven years, In 1836 he located in Crawford County, Ohio, where he followed his occupation for eight years. He then emigrated to Page County, Iowa, settling in what is now East River, but was then Buchanan Township. He made the journey overland by teams, and was forty-two days en route. When he arrived at Corning, Adams County, Iowa, he met with a severe loss. He had with him $1,000 in gold, which was secreted in a box or trunk. The precious
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
metal was stolen from its hiding place while he was absent from the wagon by a nian named Alexander Souder, whom he had brought through with him free of charge; he was suspected, arrested, and placed in jail at Glenwood. The money was nearly all given up by the prisoner, and he was finally released on account of the grand jury's being too full of pioneer whisky to look upon the thieft as much of a crime !
In the autumn of 1854 he located on sec- tion 16, East River Township, which he had the honor of naming; he now owns 265 acres on section 16, besides eighty acres on section 15. His farm is one of the best and most valuable in the county. Upon first locating here the family had many hardships to undergo; they had to make the material for most of their clothing, the wife being a good weaver; a distance of seventy-five miles had to be traversed to mill; the first five years they dwelt in a log cabin, but this in 1862 was replaced with their present residence.
Mr. Cunning's life has been of varied ex- perience; he taught twenty-one terms of school in Crawford County, Ohio; at the age of twenty-three years he purchased a house and lot of Dr. Merriman at Bucyrus, Ohio, for $250, and was to pay for the same by erecting a brick building; this he accomplished aided by none save a brick-tender; he inixed his own mortar at night, and toiled along until he finally completed the building; he laid the foundation himself and did his own plastering. It was indeed a triumph of industry and was the corner-stone of his success.
June 3, 1841, Mr. Cunning was united in marriage to Ruth Chandler, a daughter of Joseph and Malinda (Wright) Chandler, na- tives of Vermont.
In 1876 Mr. Cunning was put before the people by the Greenback party for Representa-
tive. He has done much towards the im- provement of the county, and his whole career has been a living example of uprightness and morality. He joined the church of his choice when but sixteen years of age, and has always kept the faith. He was never intoxicated, and never made a bet or gambled. At the time the Oskaloosa College was built he gave $200 toward the endowment fund. In com- pany with W. H. Wilson he laid the founda- tion of the Page County court-house, and had the honor of setting the corner-stone. He built the first brick building at Clarinda, and has erected all but two now found on the west side of the public square.
Mr. and Mrs. Cunning are members of the Christian church at Clarinda. They are the parents of nine children: Joseph W. S., Andrew O., Franklin, Sarah A., wife of James Davidson; Mary M., wife of H. B. Hebbert; Alonzo, Hiramı, and Philena, wife of L. T. Rawlings; Henry Clay sacrificed his life in the cause of his country, being killed at Port Gibson, May 1, 1863. He was a member of Company K, Twenty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry.
AVID WILFLEY, one of the repre- sentative farmers of East River Town- ship, was born in Callaway County, Mis- souri, August 9, 1824, and is a son of John and Mary (Rhoades) Wilfley, natives of Maryland, of German and English ancestry. There were fourteen children in the family, of whom twelve grew to maturity. David was the ninth child, and until he was thirteen years old lived in the county in which he was born. He then removed with his parents to Buchanan County, Missouri, where he spent the remainder of his youth. He was trained in the subscription schools of that day. How-
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William North
b. M. North
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
ever, he has not allowed this lack of oppor- tunity to stand in his way, but has acquired inuch practical information which has enabled him to transact all the business which re- quires his attention.
In December, 1846, Mr. Wilfley enlisted as a soldier in the Mexican war, serving as a guard to convey money to Santa Fe, with which General Price's regiment was to be paid; he remained in the army till the follow- ing June, when he returned to Buchanan County.
Mr. Wilfley was married March 28, 1848, to Miss Martha Anderson, a danghter of Joshna and Sabra (Baker) Anderson, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee respectively. Mrs. Wilfley is one of a family of three chil- dren, and was born in Jackson County, Mis- souri, August 6, 1827. Nine children have been born of this union: Henry, residing in Page County, was born in January 23, 1850; Robert, a resident of Hopkins, Missouri, was born June 18, 1853; Martin was born Janu- ary 31, 1858; Emma, May 11, 1862; Thomas, December 10, 1866; James, May 31, 1869: Carson, August 8, 1855, and died in January, 1858; Elizabeth died in infancy; John was born September 18, 1860, and died October 1, 1889.
After his marriage Mr. Wilfley continued to reside in Buchanan County, Missonri, until 1861, when he removed his family to Page Connty, Iowa, and settled on a farm of 160 acres in East River Township; there he lias since made his home with the exception of two years spent in Missouri.
When he located on this land there were no improvements except a small orchard which liad been planted by a previons resident. He built a log house, which served as a shelter for some time, and when he was able built a frame dwelling. Finally, in 1880, having been prosperous in business, he erected his 39
present substantial brick residence, which is now surrounded with many improvements.
Mr. Wilfley's family showing a disposition to seek professional rather than an agricult- ural life, he has not accumulated mnuch land, but has confined his farming interests to 160 acres, which now surround his comfortable residence. He has given his children supe- rior educational advantages; one son is a law- yer in Hopkins, Missouri, and John, who is deceased, was also an attorney. Three chil- dren have taught in the county, and the faın- ily have been an advantage to the community in which they have resided.
Politically our subject is a stanch Democrat, and has represented his township as Justice of the Peace almost constantly for the past twenty-six years; he has also held the office of township clerk and school treasurer. He is a worthy man and true, and has been faith- ful to all the trusts placed in himn.
ILLIAM NORTH, of section 36, Pierce Township, was born in Cham- paign County, Ohio, October 21, 1821, and is a son of Lyman and Lucy (Cowles), North. His parents were natives of Connecticut, and were early settlers in Ohio, coming to Greene Connty in 1815, and in 1818 to Champaign County. He is one of a family of twelve children. He was first married at the age of twenty-one years, to Miss Wealthy Weed, and settled in Auglaize County, Ohio. There he lived until 1855, when he came to Iowa and settled in John- son County; he improved a new farm, sold it and improved another, on which he lived until the fall of 1868, when he came to Page . County. He bought a section of land, which he began improving in 1869, but did not re- move his family to the place until 1870.
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
The neighbors were few and far between and Miller Station was twelve miles away.
In October, 1869, Mr. North's wife died and he brought his three unmarried dangh- ters to this wild and almost uninhabited sec- tion. He had five daughters in the family, whose names are as follows: Lucy, wife of C. W. W. Dow; Ida, widow of Joseph Moyle; Malissa, wife of John Swank; Hattie, wife of Jerris Lewis, and Neva, residing at home.
Mr. North was again married March 6, 1871, to Mrs. Elizabeth Carwin, widow of James . G. Carwin, M. D. Doctor Carwin was born in Livingston County, New York, July 26, 1827; he was engaged in the prac- tice of his profession the most of his life, but a few years before his death he was interested in agriculture. He died October 22, 1865, leaving two children: Alta Belle, the wife of Fred Chandler, and William B., who married Miss Viola Bannister, a daughter of William Bannister.
Mrs. North was born at Dorset, Benning- ton County, Vermont, September 22, 1834, and is a daughter of Chauncey and Susan (Dunton) Borland, natives of Vermont. The Borland family are from Ireland. James B., father of Chauncey, married Elizabeth Grey; his father was a native of Ireland, and set- tled in New Hampshire in the early colonial days, and there married an Ayres. Mrs North received a superior education for the times, and was a teacher in Vermont for two years. In the spring of 1852 she came to Chicago with her brother James, now a resi- dent of Grant Township, and afterward to Iowa City. After her husband's deathı she lived in Iowa City until her marriage to Mr. North. She had come to Page County in 1869 and bought 680 acres of land in Grant Township, expecting to make it her home.
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