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 60
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W.J. Farnham
Alors My My Farnham
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
where he grew to maturity, receiving his education in the district school. In his youth he began clerking at Afton, Union County, where he remained until liis twenty-fiftlı year. He began business for himself at Mt. Ayr in 1879, and after a very successful career there he came to Shenandoah in 1882.
Mr. Needham was married at Afton, Iowa, December 31, 1879, to Miss Laura A. Mell, who was born in Summit County, Ohio, April 19, 1858. One child, Earl D., born January 7, 1881, blesses this union.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Needham are promi- nently connected with the Methodist Epis- copal 'Church and are active workers in all religious matters. For some years Mr. Need- ham has been and is at present superintend- ent of the Sabbath-school; he is a man of strong social inclinations and has hosts of warın friends; he is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.
ILLARD THOMPSON FARN- HAM, who is one of Page County's most respected citizens, has been prominently identified with its interests for twenty years. In 1870, in partnership with and old friend, Adam Poe, he purchased 4,000 acres of choice land, mainly in Grant and Tarkio Townships. Selecting a portion of the land as his share of the purchase, he settled upon it and began making a home. It so happened, that in this piece of land is the first forty-acre tract entered from the Government in Grant township: the entry was made in 1855 by a Mr. Miller. It is one of the most highly attractive spots in the country, being covered by a splendid growth of natural timber, in the midst of which Mr. Farnham has erected a fine dwelling, which is commodious and conveniently arranged. 40
His farm now consists of 320 acres, all in a good state of cultivation, to which he devotes his entire attention.
In 1872 he became connected with Mr. Read in conducting a bank at Clarinda, under the firm naine of Read & Farnham; this in- stitution was inoved to Shenandoah, and Mr. Farnham was one of the principal stockhold- ers in organizing the First National Bank, of which he has since been a director.
Willard T. Farnham was born at Starks- borough, Addison County, Vermont, June 10, 1824, and is a son of Amnasa and Polly (Thompson) Farnham, natives of New Eng- land. He is the fifth of a large family of children, of whoin five are now living. When he was but thirteen years old he was thrown upon his own responsibility by the death of his father; his mother had died some years previous. He engaged as an apprentice to a millwright, and served four years. In 1855 he became interested in the Cleveland Pow- der Company, having charge of the construc- tion of their mills and fitting machinery. This connection was continued fifteen years, but it was attended with so much danger that he yielded to the persuasions of friends and family and disposed of his interest.
Mr. Farnham was united in marriage in Grundy County, Illinois, May 17, 1850, to Miss Eliza Marks. She was born in Seneca County, New York, December 22, 1824, and is a daughter of David and Sarah (Atwater) Marks. The Rev. David Marks, who did so much in the cause of the Freewill Baptist Church, is a brother of Mrs. Farnham. She was educated at Rochester, New York, and at Oberlin, Ohio, and was engaged in teach- ing school both in New York and Ohio.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Farnham: Frank Engene, Ernestine, Willie Augustus and Hattie Adelaide. Oc- tober 21, 1874, their hearts were wrong with
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
bitter anguishı when their loved boy Willie was called from earth, and their cup of sorrow overflowed a week later, November 1, when their eldest son, Frank Eugene, joined his brother in the unknown realm. They were young men of great promise, in whom the hopes of the family were largely centered. Ernestine is the wife of Levi Baker, and Hattie is at home.
AURICE SYLVESTER MELL, of the firm of Needham & Mell, was born at Greensburg, Summit Coun- ty, Ohio, July 19, 1856, and is the son of the Rev. Eli and Catherine (Ream) Mell, natives of Ohio, and resdents of Des Moines, Iowa. Rev. Eli Mell is a prominent minis- ter of the Evangelical Association. He is the father of four children, of whom Maurice is the eldest; the second is Laura, wife of Mr. Needham, the popular partner of Mr. Mell; another son, Aaron Wesley, has fol- lowed his father's calling; the fourth child is Lillie, wife of Prof. R. A. Kletzing, princi- pal of the public schools of Dexter.
When Maurice was nine years old the fam- ily removed to Joliet, Illinois; at that time the father worked at the carpenter's trade, and in a year or two they moved to Iowa and engaged in farming in Benton County; it was at this place that he took up ministerial work. At the age of sixteen years Maurice attended the Northwestern College at Naper- ville, Illinois, for one year, after which he en- tered Cornell College at Mt. Vernon and took a two years' course, after which he entered a grocery store at Afton, where he remained four years. This occupation proving to his liking he decided to embark in the same trade; so from 1879 to 1881 he was in the grocery business in Afton. He was very
successful and was induced to become a part- ner with his brother-in-law at Mt. Ayr, but after two months they removed to Shenan- doah as that place gave promise of being a much better town; their expectations have been far surpassed and their most sanguine hopes realized; they have nothing but words of praise for Shenandoah and vicinity.
Mr. Mell was united in marriage Novem- ber 7, 1883, to Miss Emma Park, daughter of Colonel F. M. Park, who was at that time proprietor of the leading hotel of Shenandoah. Mrs. Mell was born October 19, 1859. Mr. Mell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is an active worker in social cir- cles and has passed the chairs in the Odd Fellows. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party. He is a careful business inan and his ability is recognized by lis as- sociates, as he is president of the Mutual Loan Association of Shenandoah, also vice president of the Citizens' Building Associa- tion, positions requiring the exercise of the best talent. No more popular firm exists in Page County than that of Needham & Mell
M. COLLIER, one of the early settlers of Page County, was born in West Virginia, May 21, 1827, and is the son of John B. and Joanna (Robinson) Collier. There were ten children in the family, six sons and four dangliters; he grew to boyhood in his native State, and when he had attained his tenth year he removed with his parents to Platte County, Missouri. There they spent several years, opening up a timbered farm. In 1843 they went to Andrew County, Mis- souri, residing there seven years, engaged in farıning.
In February, 1849, Mr. Collier was mar- ried to Miss Nancy McAlpin, daughter of
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Henry and Betsey (Farnsworth) McAlpin, natives of Tennessee. She was born March 24, 1827. After his marriage Mr. Collier remained in Missouri until 1850, when he made a trip to California; he spent one year in the mines, but finding the returns from his labors insufficient he turned his attention to teaming, which he continued until the fall of 1851, when he gladly and safely returned to Missouri. He immediately removed to Page County.
Mr. McAlpin had removed to Page Connty and had purchased a tract of land on which was the frame-work of a grist and saw mill; some work liad been done in the saw-mill; Unt no grists had been turned out of the hop- per when Mr. Collier arrived upon the scene. He bought an interest in the mill, and he and his father-in-law operated the mill and opened up a farın of 160 acres. The partnership existed for three years, at the end of which time they sold the mill and divided the land equally, Mr. McAlpin taking the portion on which Hawleyville was afterward platted.
Mr. Collier continued to farm until 1857, when he opened a general store in Hawley ville, which he conducted until 1863; he then closed out the stock, and again in 1866 he formed a partnership in the same business with John Buckingham; he soon bought out his partner, and continued the business until 1876, when he disposed of the stock to his oldest son, George W., who carried on the business until his death, which occurred in 1884. After severing his connection with the dry-goods trade Mr. Collier turned his attention to the milling business and stock- farming. He has a good grist and saw mill combined; the capacity of the former is fifty barrels; he does an exchange business with the farmers, inannfacturing three grades of flour.
In 1875 he erected a frame residence at a
cost of $3,000, which is one of the finest in the eastern part of the county. He lias assisted largely in the building up of Hawleyville, and has owned at different times considerable real estate in the place. He now owns 400 acres of land in Nebraska Township, and has given to eacli of his three children a tract of forty acres.
Politically he adheres to the principles of the Democratic party, and has held the offices of Township Assessor, Justice of the Peace, and Constable. He is a member of Clarinda Lodge, No. 140, A. F. & A. M. Mrs. Collier is a worthy member of Cumberland Presby- terian Church. They are the parents of nine children: George W., deceased; Matilda J., wife of D. B. Goodman; John H., Arabella S., wife of Dr. Elliott; Elizabeth, dedeased; Mary, Charles M., Sadie, wife of Ernest Strong, and a daughter who died in infancy. The family is one of the most highly respected in the county.
EUBEN S. ABBOTT, a member of the city council of Clarinda, was born in Wabash County, Indiana, July 22, 1853, and is a son of David and Francisca (Hank- erson) Abbott. In November, 1859, the family arrived in Page County, having made the journey from Indiana in a covered wagon with a yoke of oxen. It was a severe winter and they suffered greatly. Reuben had no opportunity to attend school until after he was ten years old, but by faithful application and hard study at home he has qualified him- self for the duties of life.
Mr. Abbott was united in marriage Jann- ary 1, 1877, to Miss Isabelle Gordon, a na- tive of Illinois and a daughter of Samuel Gordon. Her parents were married in their native land, England, and came to Page
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
County about the year 1873. The father died in August, 1884, and the mother still lives, making her home in Kansas.
Mr. and Mrs. Abbott are the parents of seven children: Mary Catherine, Albert Fur- man, Eva Maggie, Samuel Gordon, William James, Ruby Eleanor and Renben Sanford. In April, 1875, Mr. Abbott started to Cali- fornia and resided there eleven months, at the end of which time he returned to take charge of his father's farm. In 1878 he went to Colarado and remained there eight months, and November 3, 1879, he removed with his family to Clarinda, where he has since made his home. He was in the employ of Dunlap & Alexander for eighteen months and then purchased the dray business from Elijah Cal- hoon. He has won a large patronage and does most of the dray and transfer business of the place.
Our worthy subject is a member of the Odd Fellows and is one of the supporters of the Universalist Church. In politics he is identified with the Republican party. At the city election in the spring of 1890 he was elected a member of the council from the second ward, after a hotly contested race.
LEXANDER McCORMICK is one of the leading dry-goods merchants of Shenandoah, and in his establishment one finds an approximation to some of the more select stocks of goods in our leading cities; his store room is 24 x 80 feet, and is well stocked with a choice selection of goods in his line. Mrs. McCormick gives hier per- sonal supervision to the millinery department and all work is done under her direction.
The genial proprietor, Alexander McCor-
mick, was born at Warrenton, Jefferson County, Ohio, February 7, 1852, and is a son of Marcus and Sarah Jane (Mossgrove) McCormick, natives of Ohio. The father is an old steamboat captain, and for years trav- ersed the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. He removed his family to Allegheny City, where Alexander grew to maturity. His education was acquired before his thirteenth year, when he entered the store of James Carr in Alle- glieny City, and began liis training as a mer- chant. He continued with the firm of Boggs & Buhl until 1876, when he decided to em- bark in trade for himself. After visiting a large number of places he concluded that Shenandoah presented many advantages, and he accordingly established himself there in business. The stock carried at first was necessarily limited, but his trade has so in- creased that $12,000 is the amount invested in the business, and the average annual sales will not fall short of $25,000.
Mr. McCormick was united in marriage October 15, 1875, to Miss Maud McCourt, who was born in Ellicottville, New York, November 1, 1856. Her parents were John and Jane (Hamilton) McConrt. Mrs. Mc- Cormick is a person of rare attainments, and her tact and courteous manner liave contrib- uted in no little degree to the popularity of the bazaar. In their convenient and attrac- tive home Mr. and Mrs. McCormick are sur- ronnded with the comforts and Inxuries of life, and are enjoying the fruits of their labors. Mrs. McCormick is a devout member of the Roman Catholic Church. The Knights of Pythias find in Mr. McCormick an honored member and a consistent brother. Politically he is a Democrat, but is conservative in this as in all other matters. He has proven him- self to be one of Shenandoah's shrewdest and most careful business men, and his judgment on financial matters is highly esteemed by
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
his neighbors, even when differing from him upon other important questions.
ACOB LOY, ex-Sheriff of Page Coun- ty, may well be claimed as a veteran pioneer of this goodly " kingdom." He came here in the beautiful month of May, 1854, when all was yet wild and new. He has lived to see the virgin prairie converted into a well tilled garden spot, while comfort and luxury abound on every hand. It is indeed, a pleasure to hear this old settler relate the incidents of the first settlement of the county, and to hear him describe the spot on which Clarinda now stands when only one house broke the monotony of the view and gave evidence that inan had visited the place be- fore him.
Mr. Loy was born in Preble County, Ohio, August 18, 1823. His father, Jacob Loy, Sr., was a native of North Carolina, and when a mere lad removed to Tennessee; there he was married to Phebe Tillman, who was also a native of North Carolina, but who was reared in Tennessee. Some time after their marriage, in 1806, Mr. and Mrs. Loy re- inoved to Ohio, locating in Preble County, where they were early settlers. Mr. Loy was reared on a farm, and like many another boy of that day received a limited education. He served in the war of 1812. He and his wife had born to them eleven children, five sons and six daughters. In 1853, three brothers and two sisters, Job, John, Henry, Elizabeth (wife of David Loy), and Sarah (wife of Mr. Pfander) camne by teams to Page County, lowa; the spring fol- lowing, 1854, the parents of our subject came with the other children, Jacob, Rachel (wife of Robert Stafford), and Catherine, deceased (wife of David Abbott): they came via the
Ohio, Mississippi and Missonri rivers to St. Joe, Missouri, and the remainder of the jour- ney was made by team. The father located on land on which he lived until his death, which ocenred two years later, at the age of seventy- five years; the mother survived until 1873.
Jacob Loy, Jr., was married October 30, 1858, to Mary A. Reasoner, who was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, and is the daugh- ter of Stephen and Catherine (Hardy) Rea- soner. When she was six years old her par ents removed to Blackford County, Indiana, where they lived until 1856, when they start- ed West. They came over a vast expanse of wild country only to find it still wilder in Page County, where they settled and spent the remainder of their days. The father died in August, 1873, and the mother died some years later at Rock Bluff, Nebraska. In this family there were ten children, seven daughters and three sons.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Loy lived east of Clarinda where the fair ground is located for one year. From that point they moved one and a half miles east of town, where they improved a farm and lived seven or eight years. Thinking to better their circumstances they sold out and removed to Missouri. They soon tired of that location and returned to Page County, purchased land three miles west of Clarinda, and resided there until 1872, when they sold and went to Kansas; there they staid eighteen months, in Cloud County. In the fall of 1874 they came back and bought their present farm, which was then wild land. Mr. Loy now owns a quarter section of land as good as can be found in Iowa, and it is well improved in every particular. He does a general farming business, and finds stock-raising quite profit- able.
Mr. and Mrs. Loy are the parents of seven
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
sons and two daughters: John Gurley, Laura J. and Charles live in Colorado; Frank N., Beecher, Carroll, Riley, Clyde and Nellie are at home.
Every true American must have some political faitli, and Mr. Loy affiliates with the Republican party. In the fall of 1857 he was elected by the people of Page County as Sheriff, and served for two and a half years with much credit to himself and the county he represented. He has never been ambitious for office, but the citizens have called him to fill positions of trust and re- sponsibility. In religious matters Mr. Loy is of the Universalist faitlı. He is plain of speech and manner, firin in his convictions, and is not afraid to express his opinions. His thirty-five years' residence here have made him acquainted with the county and have won for him hundreds of warm friends.
EVI H. HOOPER has been a resident of Page County, Iowa, since 1859. He was born in Athens County, Ohio, February 13, 1840, and is a son of Stephen and Rosa (Parker) Hooper natives of New Jersey and Ohio respectively. The father was a farmer and followed his occupation in Athens County, Ohio, where Levi H. grew to manhood. Until he was nineteen years old he assisted his father on the farm, and during the winter season he attended the district school. He believed that the great West was the place for him to carve his fortune and future, and so he started out "afoot and alone." He arrived in Page County in 1859, as before stated, and the first few years lie followed farming and prairie breaking.
Mr. Hooper was united in marriage in 1862, to Miss Mary E. Tucker, a native of Des Moines County, Iowa. By this union
ten children have been born, eight of whom are still living: Celestia, Richard, Belle, Calvin, Scott, Cora, Carrie and Pearly.
By industry and economical management Mr. Hooper saved enough money to purchase a farın on section 13, Nodaway Township, where he carried on agriculture for fourteen years. In order to give his children better school privileges lie removed to Clarinda in 1881, and still resides there. He has served as councilman from the third ward for five years.
Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party, to which he has belonged all his life. He relates that he used to attend Democratic conventions in Page County when eight members constituted the convention. It is safe to say that Mr. Hopper is a self-made man, having by his own unaided exertions accumulated all the property which he now owns, consisting of business houses and resi- dences in Clarinda.
ILLIAM K. HARRELL is one of the industrious mechanics of Clarin- da, and has been a resident of the place since 1859. He is a blacksmith by occupation and is well known to all the old pioneers as well as later settlers. He is a native of Decatur, Macon County, Illinois, born June 1, 1831. His parents, Landy and Elizabeth (Gray) Harrell, were natives of the State of Virginia. The father was born in 1800 and the mother in 1802; they were married in 1821 and reared a family of eleven children, of whom William K. is the fourth. In 1826 the family removed to Illinois, where the father and mother passed the remainder of their days. Six of the eleven children are living; three in Illinois, one in California, and one in Missouri. Our subject served an
1
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade at Peoria, Illinois, for three years. In 1849 he opened a shop of his own, which he operated previous to his coming to Clarinda in 1859.
Mr. Harrell was married in 1853 to Miss Martha M. Chamberlain, a native of Troy, Ohio, and a daughter of Abraham O. and Martha (Brown) Chamberlain, natives of the State of New Jersey. The maternal ances- tors were from Ireland, while those of the father came from England. Mrs. IIarrell died in September, 1875, leaving a family of five children: Clara B., Della, William C., L. E. (deceased), and Charles L. Mr. Harrell was married the second time April 4, 1878, to Miss Julia M. Hutton, a native of In- diana and a daughter of B. B. Hutton, who was one of Page County's early pioneers. Mrs. Harrell belongs to the Presbyterian Church.
Our subject is an honored member of the Masonic and A. O. U. W. lodges at Clarinda. Politically lie is opposed to a high protective tariff .. He is a man whom all respect for his noble traits of character and industry.
OBERT CREE, a retired farmer from Nodaway Township, now residing at Clarinda, came to Page County in 1868, and settled on section 1, Nodaway Township, where he owns 141 acres of land well im- proved. He was born February 29, 1826, in Warren County, Ohio, and is a son of Robert and Eleanor (Barclay) Cree. The father was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, of Irish ancestry; he was a soldier in the war of 1812 and died in Ohio in 1869. The mother was born in the State of Kentucky and died September 23, 1845.
Robert, Jr., was reared on his father's farm and received his education in the pioneer log school-house. He was married February 20,
1862, to Mary E. Piper, of Henry County, Illinois, the daughter of Daniel and Annie (Bair) Piper. Her parents were born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and came to Illinois in 1858. They finally removed to Page County, Iowa, and settled in Douglas Township, where they passed the remainder of their days.
Mr. and Mrs. Cree are the parents of five children: Anna M., born November 11, 1862, is the wife of W. W. Kirby, of Valley Township; Daniel R., born April 29, 1864, resides in Chase County, Nebraska; le mar- ried Ada Claybaugh, the daughter of an early settler of Valley Township; Olepha E. was born April 27, 1868, and is now the wife of William Pfander; Lindora, born March 3 1872, is now deceased, and also Eliza, born June 17, 1875.
In June, 1889, Mr. Cree removed to Clar- inda, purchasing a home in the northern part of the town. He and his family belong to the United Brethren Church. He has been one of the church trustees for the past ten years and takes an active interest in church work. In politics he is a radical Republi- can, having voted for Henry Clay before the Republican party was formed.
BNER S. BOGGS, one of Clarinda's highly esteemed citizens, was born in West Virginia, October 20, 1837, and is the son of James and Jerusha (La Master) Boggs. His grandparents were pioneers in West Virginia and his parents removed from tliat State to Iowa in 1839 and settled in Van Buren County; later they went to Monroe County while the Indians were yet there; they were the fourth white family to settle in that section. The father died in August, 1848, and the mother still resides in Monroe
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County, Iowa. Abner S. received his educa- tion in the old-time log school-house. In 1856 he came to Taylor County and worked on a farm for a year and then came to Cla- rinda and followed farming four years. In the fall of 1860 lie erected a shop and workcd at the blacksmith's trade until 1862, when he quit the shop and put in a crop on the farm. August 9, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Twenty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into the service at Des Moines. He was sent to St. Louis, Missouri, and during the following winter he was in Camp Patter- son, Missouri. He was placed in the Thir- teenth Army Corps. Soon after the siege of Vicksburg he was taken ill and was con- fined in the hospital six months, He par- ticipated in the engagements of Grand Gulf, Champion Hill and Black River Bridge; he was also at Fort Esperanza, Spanish Fort and the Mobile campaign. His regiment was mustered out at Harrisburg, Texas, but he was on detached service and was not then discharged but received his papers at Daven- port, Iowa. Upon his return from the war he again engaged in blacksmithing and con- tinned to work at the trade until 1886.
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