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 67
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
ately located at Snow Hill, Page County, one mile north of the present site of Coin. There he engaged in practice, but in the fall of the same year when Coin was laid out he removed to this point, being the first physician in the town. Here he has built up an extensive practice, and has won for himself an enviable reputation.
Dr. King was united in marriage in Taylor County, Iowa, November 27, 1873, to Miss Clara C. Whitney, a daughter of B. F. and Lucinda Whitney. She is a native of the State of Illinois, and was born in the year 1850. Six children have been born to the Doctor and his wife: Elton H., Don R., Myra F., Theron H., Herman A. and Nella F.
Politically our subject is non-partisan, but usually casts his vote with the Republican party. He is a member of Bethna Lodge, No. 305, A. F. & A. M., and of Coin Lodge, No. 455, I. O. O. F.
The Doctor is a live, energetic man, and both in his profession and out of it he has won a large circle of friends.
RTHUR ROZELLE, proprietor and editor of the Coin Eagle, was born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, No- vember 28, 1859, and is the son of Jonathan and Theresa (Rosenkrans) Rozelle, natives of Pennsylvania, of French and German ances- try. In his childhood the family removed to Wood County, Ohio, where they remained three years, and emigrated thence to Iowa, locating in Tama County. About the year 1867 they removed to Page County and set- tled on a farm four miles north of Clarinda; this was their home for three years, and then they went to their farm in Morton Township, which the father had purchased some time previously. There onr subject was trained to
agricultural pursuits and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his twen- tieth year. He received a good education in the common schools, and in addition to these opportunities he attended Amity College at College Springs for two years. He began teaching school at the age of twenty years and followed the profession for some time. Abandoning this work he secured an interest in the Riverton Enterprise, which he re- tained only a short time.
In 1881 Mr. Rozelle founded the Coin Eagle, which he has since conducted, evinc- ing a special fitness for the work he has un- dertaken. In connection with the duties of his newspaper he is engaged in the real-es- tate and insurance business. Politically he is independent, a tariff reformer, an anti- monopolist, and a Prohibitionist. Holding these radical views his paper must indeed be a spicy, interesting sheet.
His wife was appointed Postmistress of Coin under the Cleveland administration and held the office for more than two years, dis- charging the duties thereof witli ability.
Mr. Rozelle was united in marriage June 20, 1881, to Miss Kit Kile, a daughter of Caleb and Lydia (Dynes) Kile, natives of the State of Ohio. Mrs. Rozelle was born in Clarinda, Page County Iowa. They are the parents of one child, Etliel.
Mr. Rozelle is identified with Coin Lodge, No. 455, I. O. O. F .; with Encampment, No. 267, and also with the Grand Lodge of Iowa.
A. DELK was born in Albany, Dela- ware County, Indiana, December 15, 1849, and is the son of William and Lovisa (Kenedy) Delk, natives of Ohio. The father is now a resident of Michigan; the
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
mother died in 1862. There was a family of eight children, of whom our subject is the oldest. He spent his earlier youth in his na- tive county, and passed his time in attending to dnties that usually fall to the lot of a farmer-boy. He was but thirteen years of age when his mother died, and he then went ont to face the world and make his own way; he worked by the month and year at farming.
In February, 1871, he emigrated to Iowa, believing that better opportunities were open to young men in the West. He first located in Mills County, where he remained until 1878, engaged in stock-raising and farming; he purchased a farm of eighty acres, whichi was raw prairie; this he placed nnder good cultivation and disposed of it previous to his removal to Page County. For two years he rented the farm of Samuel Phifer in Lincoln Township, and then came to the present site of Coin and erected the first business building in the place. It was ready for occupancy January 1, 1880, and he opened a well assorted stock of groceries and confectionery, with a restaurant in connection.
In 1884 Mr. Delk erected the present hotel in the town of Coin, which he manages in connection with his other business enterprise. The building is a two-story frame, with twenty-three rooms for guests and large sample rooms; it is well-kept, and has a repu- tation reflecting much credit upon the pro prietor. Coin may well congratulate herself upon having such a comfortable retreat for the weary traveler.
Politically Mr. Delk is identified with the Republican party, and is a strong adherent to its principles. He lias been a member of the Board of Education for three years, and is interested in the educational affairs of the county. He is a member of Silver Urn Lodge, No. 234, A. F. & A. M., and of Coin Lodge, No. 455, I. O. O. F., having
passed all the chairs of the order; he also be- longs to the Grand Lodge of Iowa.
Mr. Delk was united in marriage Decem- ber 17, 1874, to Miss Martha J. Phifer, a daughter of Samuel and Nancy A. (Roberts) Phifer. She is a native of Missouri, born May 2, 1849. Three children have been born of this nnion: Oscar L., Ona M. and an infant, deceased. Tlie parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are among the most highly respected citizens of the county.
EORGE M. MCCLELLAND .- This re- liable farmer resides in Harlan Town- ship, Page County, Iowa, and has been a resident of the State since 1849. He was born in Washington County, Indiana, May 26, 1848, and when one year of age was brought to Iowa by his parents, William J. and Elizabeth McClelland; they settled in the eastern part of the State, but in October, 1854, they came to Page County, where they have since resided.
George M. was brought up to the avoca- tion of a farmer, and obtained his education in the common schools. He remained at home with his father until he had attained his twenty-seventh year, assisting him in all his undertakings.
May 13, 1875, he was united in marriage with Nancy J. Dugan, daughter of Alexan- der and Jane (Braham) Dugan, natives of the State of Pennsylvania. Mrs. McClelland was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, May 13, 1850. Shortly after their marriage they settled on their farm of eighty acres in Har- lan Township, and there they spent the first years of their wedded life in agricultural pur- suits. The farm had but fifteen acres broken out, and there were no other improvements.
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Mr. McClelland and his wife went to work with a will, determined to make it win in the end, and they continued to reside on this farın, erecting necessary buildings and mnak- ing other improvements as circumstances would permit, until January 5, 1886, when their house was destroyed by fire, and most of their household effects were consumed. They found shelter with Mr. McClelland's father, with whom they remained until the following March, when he removed to another farm in Harlan Township. Mr. Mc- Clelland is of a philosophical turn of mind, and meets his adversities as only a philoso- pher can. He has pluck and perseverance, and a better capital can not be found.
There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Clelland six children: William B., Samuel A., who died September 14, 1878; James Ira, Hugh B., Henry W. and Frank M. The parents are members of the Reformed Pres- byterian Church, and are highly respected throughout the county.
ILLIAM M. BLACK, an enterprising agriculturist of Harlan Township, Page County, is a son of James C. and Martha J. (Graham) Black, whose bio- graphical sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. He was born in Hancock County, Illinois, March 19, 1859, and when he was eight years old his parents came to Page County, Iowa; here he was reared to the life of a farmer, and obtained his education in the common schools. At the age of nineteen years he engaged in the carpenter's trade, which he followed for five years. He then returned to his former' avocation, and since that time has been employed in the different branches of agriculture. He has dealt quite extensively in live-stock, and in 1889 he
turned his attention especially to the propa- gation of the higher grades, choosing the Galloway cattle and Poland-China hogs.
Mr. Black controls 120 acres of land in section 26, Harlan Township. He is a stanch adherent to the principles of the Republican party. He has taken an active interest in the welfare and development of the county, and ranks among the leading citizens.
September 28, 1882, occurred the marriage of William M. Black and Maggie M. McKee, daughter of David and Mary E. (Gregg) McKee. Mrs. Black was born in the city of Philadelphia, November 28, 1859. The re- sult of this union is three children: Pearl A., born November 28, 1883; Eda M., born June 24, 1886, and James G., born April 1, 1889.
The parents are worthy and consistent mem- bers of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and are numbered among the most respected citizens of the county.
A. YOUNG, a rising young farmer of Harlan Township, was born in 0 Page County, Iowa, November 14, 1857, and is the son of Robert and Sarah (Whitehill) Young, pioneers of the county, a full history of whom will be found on another page in this volume.
Our subject is the oldest child of a family of six children, and was reared to the life of a farmer. He was born in Harlan Township, and obtained his education in the common schools.
When Mr. Young had attained his majori- ty he engaged in farming for himself, and since the year 1884 he has been cultivating a portion of the old home farm. He devoted himself to farming exclusively, and such are his ability and application that he is bound to make it win.
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
In political thought and action he stands with the Republican party, in the success of which he takes an active interest. He is ready and willing to assist in the promotion of any measures that will be of benefit to the community, and is counted among the most promising young farmers of the county.
IRAM LARRABEE has been a member of the farming community of Tarkio Township since 1867. He was born in Cattaraugus County, New York, February 5, 1830, and is the son of Thomas Larrabee, a native of Onondaga County, New York, and a soldier in the war of 1812. The Larrabees were a family of early settlers in the Empire State, and were of French extraction. Thomas Larrabee married Esther Babcock, a native of the State of New York. They had born to them a family of nine children, who grew to maturity. Hiram was the fourth son and eighth child, and when he was eleven years old his mother died. His youth was passed after the manner of a farmer's son, and he obtained his education in the common schools. In 1844 the father removed to Lake County, Illinois, where he passed the remainder of liis days; there the son grew to manhood, and was married May 22, 1855, to Miss Elmira Cone, a native of Chittenden County, Ver- mont, and a daughter of Buel and Miranda (Morgan) Cone. Her father was a native of Vermont and was of an old Scotch family whose name was originally McComb; the first syllable was dropped and finally it was changed to Cone. Miranda Morgan was a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Clark) Mor- gan. The Morgans were early settlers on the Connecticut River.
In 1865 Mr. Larrabee removed to Taylor County, Iowa, where he spent two years; he
then came to Page County and settled on his present farm, where he was one of the prairie settlers; there was no house north of his place for ten miles, and only two houses to the west for many miles. He and his family were obliged to undergo all the privations of pio- neer life. They have 160 acres in a high state of cultivation, a good house, a large, conven- iently arranged barn, a grove and an orchard, and many modern contrivances for saving labor and adding to comfort.
Mr. and Mrs. Larrabee are the parents of three children : May, wife of J. B. Harlan ; Thomas Grant and Truman B .; one son; De- Loss E., died at the age of thirteen years and six months.
Politically Mr. Larrabee is independent; he has represented the township of Tarkio as trustee, filling the office with credit to him- self and the best interests of the public. He is a man of an affable, genial disposition, and has won a host of friends in the county.
ILLIAM J. MCCLELLAND, one of the pioneer farmers of Page County, Iowa, was born December 26, 1821, and is a son of Benjamin and Sarah (Nichol- son) McClelland, natives of Tennessee and Indiana respectively. William J. is of direct Scotch descent, and is the first-born of a famn- ily of eight children. He was reared to the calling which he has since followed, and has supplemented his limited school facilities by hard study and extensive reading. He was about sixteen years of age when his father's house and all its contents were consumed by fire. He then took up the responsibilities of life and began providing for himself; he hired to a farmer at $6 per month, and continued to work for wages for six years. He then started west on foot, going via Terre Haute,
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Indiana, St. Louis and Springfield, Missouri, into the Indian territory, Colorado, Kansas, and returning via Vincennes, Indiana. He started ont in October and made the trip by the following May, traversing the entire dis- tance on foot. The following summer and winter he worked on a farm.
It was abont this time that Mr. McClelland met his wife; they were married December 10, 1846. She was Elizabeth M. Tippin, a daughter of George and Terzah (Rals) Tip- pin, and was born in South Carolina, Febru- ary 16, 1815. In August, 1849, they emi- grated to Iowa, having secured a team of oxen and a wagon; they came overland all the way with this team. They settled in Des Moines County, remaining there until 1854; there Mr. McClelland has succeded in paying for forty acres of land, which he sold when they started still further west. They landed in Page County October 17, 1854, and at once settled on a pre-emption claim of eighty acres in Harlan Township. They lived in a tent six weeks while a house was being built; this house was a log cabin, but for many years it furnished a comfortable shelter. The husband also took a pre-emption claim of eighty acres of swamp lands, and has since devoted his time and energies to the cultiva- tion and development of his farm. He has met with more than ordinary success, and is now able to enjoy the fruits of his labors. Hei s one of three now living who assisted in the organ- ization of the Refor ned Presbyterian Church, of which he has since been a stanch supporter.
Mr. and Mrs. McClelland had born to them five children: George M., Sarah, wife of John H. Walkinshaw; Terzah J., wife of J. H. Du- gan; Martha M., wife of L. A. DeWitt, and William A., deceased.
Mrs. McClelland died in May, 1888, be- loved and mourned by her family and a wide circle of acquaintances.
Mr. McClelland is still strong and active, and has always had nnusual powers of endur- ance; at one time he walked thirty miles from 1 o'clock, P. M., until sundown. He has had twenty-five grand-children, seven dead, and lie and his family are highly respected.
AL. GRAFF, one of the well-known business men of Clarinda, has been prominently indentified with her liis- tory and mercantile interests since 1869. The first stock of clothing was opened for sale in a sınall frame building which occu- pied the site of the present National Bank building. Two years of successful dealing warranted him in moving to his present place of business; his store room is 22 x 100 feet, and it is well filled with a fine line of all goods demanded by his trade. His annual sales aggregate $40,000, and he has ever held the most honorable relations in the business cir- cles of Page County.
In order to learn something of the early life of our esteemed subject, we will ask the reader to go back with us in thought to the " Fatherland," where Val. Graff, the son of Valentine Graff, first saw the light of day Oc- tober 4, 1843. When he was a lad nine years of age he bade farewell to Germany and the scenes of his childhood and emigrated with his parents to America. The family located in Andrew County, Missouri, and there lie grew to manhood. He was nnited in mar- riage October 25, 1870, to Nancy E. Fairley at Hillsboro, Ohio. Six children have been born of this union: Walter, Gerald, Everett, Myra and Mary, living; and Rosa, born August 16, 1871, died August 6, 1872.
Politically Mr. Graff affiliates with the Republican party. He has served on the city council, and was a member of that body
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
when the excellent system of water-works was put in at Clarinda. He was a Union volunteer in the late war. He first enlisted September 5, 1861, in the State service for six months, but did not get out under a year and a half; he then re-enlisted, October 20, 1863, in the United States army and served until July 1, 1865, being promoted from the ranks to the position of First Sergeant, in Company G., Twelfth Missouri Cavalry. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and has been an elder of that society. He has ever taken on active interest in religious and educational affairs, and has been a liberal sup- porter of all enterprises having for their object the advancement of the community. He has acquired a solid popularity in Cla- rinda, based on actual merit, and ranks among the very first citizens of the place. And thus it is again illustrated that America is deeply indebted to the foreign countries for some of her best brain and brawn.
LEXANDER DAVIS, the oldest set- tler of East River Township now liv- ing, is a gennine type of the western pioneer, and as such commands our hearty respect, alinost our reverence, for it is to snch sturdy characters that we are indebted for the present advanced state of development in which we find western Iowa to-day. He was born in Sussex County, Delaware, Septem- ber 7, 1807, and is a son of Henry and Edith (Townsend) Davis. He is the oldest of a family of eleven children, and, his father be- ing a farmer, he was trained in that industry. He was married January 3, 1829, to Miss Mary Conwell, a daughter of George and Hannah Conwell. She was born January 3, 1810. Their union was blessed with seven children: George H., Eliza, deceased, Hester,
wife of Samuel Nixon, Mary, deceased, Jo- seph A., Amelia, wife of Chauncey Carpenter and John W. In May, 1834, they emigrated to Shelby County, Indiana, where Mrs. Davis died March 8, 1845. Mr. Davis was again married January 13, 1846, to Naomi Banks, who was a faithful wife and a good mother to the family of small children who had been bereft of their own mother's care. They re- moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where they spent one winter, and thence to the comparatively new county of Page; this was in May, 1851. Mr. Davis purchased a claim for which he paid $100, the number of acres not being specified; the improvements were meager enough, and only twenty acres had been bro- ken; the log cabin was sixteen by eighteen feet, and in this they began life in the new country. They were not afraid of privations and hardships but set to work to claim from Nature all she would yield them. After a residence of six years in this place Mrs. Da- vis died, January 29, 1857, and her husband and the young children were again left alone. Mr. Davis went on improving his claim, and making every effort to induce people to set- tle in the county. He still retains 240 acres, lying on sections 19, 20 and 29. He has given largely to his children, and has assisted them very generously in getting a start in the world.
In the early days of his settlement in the county the Indians were numerous, and the deer and wolf roamed at will over the vast prairie; produce was carried a distance of thirty miles to the nearest market place, and they were sometimes compelled to make bread from corn that had been boiled and grated on a common grater.
In 1852 Mr. Davis built a story-and-a- half log house, having spent one year in the little cabin. He married for his third wife Sena Rector, a daughter of Aaron Sincakes,
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
who lived for eight years after her marriage. February 8, 1866, he was again married to Mrs. Ruth Good, a danghter of Joshua and Elizabeth Roberts. She was born near Rush- ville, Ohio, November 12, 1817, and married for her first husband Joseph Good, a native of Ohio. He died Jannary 4, 1865; six chil- dren had been born to themn.
Mr. Davis has always taken an active in- terest in church work and has officiated as class-leader. Politically he is a stanch Re- publican, having been an old-line Whig. He has served as Justice of the Peace in his township for two terms, fulfilling his duties faithfully and to the satisfaction of the people.
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DWIN IANSON LANCEY, one of the leading merchants of Shenandoah, was born in the city of Boston, February 13, 1855, and is the youngest of a family of three children. The oldest child, Frederick L., died in Shenandoah, December 26, 1879, at the age of thirty-three years. He was a soldier in the late war of the Rebellion, enlist- in the 100-day service at the age of sixteen. Later he re-enlisted as a member of Co. A, Thirtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was with Sherman in his famous march to the sea. Was honorably discharged at the close of the war. He was a brilliant and promising young man and was connected with his brother in business at the time of his death. Addie M., the only sister, resides with her mother in Shenandoah. The par- ents were Samuel F., Jr., and Mary K. (Hall) Lancey; the father was also a native of Boston, born January 16, 1818; his father was Samuel F. Lancey, who for many years was a mer- chant in Boston; he was a native of France and a member of the famous DeLancy family, but he decided to drop the French prefix on
becoming a citizen of this country. Mrs. Lancey, the mother of Edwin I., was born in Portland, Maine, Jannary 9, 1822, and was married to Mr. Lancey at Barrington, New Hampshire, September 1, 1845. The family removed from Boston to Macomb, Illinois, in 1858, and there the father became a heavy dealer in agricultural implements; he was also prominently connected with the leading bank, and was a member of the city council and the board of education. In 1879 they removed to Shenandoah but Mr. Lancey did not enter into active commercial life except- ing as a partner with his son, Edwin I., in the grocery trade. His death occurred June 17, 1885.
Edwin I. received his education in the pub- lic schools of Macomb and at the Branch College of that place. Having a strong de- sire to see the world he decided to become a railroad man and secured a situation as brake- man on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, which he held for eight years; for five years he was a conductor on the run from Gales- burg. A part of his train meeting with an accident through tlie carelessness of a brake- man he was " laid off" for a time, and during this period he decided never to re-engage in the railroad business. After remaining at home one year with his father he came to Shenandoah and formed a partnership in the grocery trade with George Trotter, which con- tinued for five years. Since that time he has conducted the business alone and has remained at the original stand.
Mr. Lancey has proven himself worthy of the esteem and confidence of his brother mer- chants, and his liberal dealing and upright conduct have won for him a generous patron- age. He was married in October, 1889, to Miss Emma Carter, a daughter of the hon- ored mayor, James Bosley Carter, and a na- tive of the State of Indiana. Two children
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
have been born of this union: Mary I. and Edwin J. In his political belief Mr. Lancey is Democratic.
ONALD SUTHERLAND came to Page County in May, 1875, and located in East River Township, on a farm of 145 acres, on sections 21 and 28. He was born in Jones County, Iowa, November 23, 1838, and is a son of Donald and Nancy (Livingston) Sutherland. The parents were of Scotch origin; the father was born in Scot- land, and the mother in British America at Selkirk. They removed to Iowa in 1838 and followed farming in Jones County. The
father died in 1888, and the mother still lives on the old homestead in Jones County. There our subject grew to manhood and ob- tained a common-school education. August 14, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Thirty- first Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was mus- tered into service at Davenport, Iowa; he was mustered out at the same place by hon- orable discharge July 3, 1865. He was in the First Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps, and was at the memorable siege of Vicksburg, and participated in all the battles in which his command took part. He is a member of Warren Post, No. 11, G. A. R., at Clarinda.
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