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 69

Author: Lewis and Dunbar, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis & Dunbar
Number of Pages: 946

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 69

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December 23, 1884, Mr. Hastings was united in marriage to Miss Luella B. Sidell, a daughter of the the Hon. John and Ada B. (Ransom) Sidell. He is a member of the blue lodge, chapter and cominandery of the Masonic order. Although he was reared in a large city he takes naturally to the occupa- tions of rural life and enjoys the many comforts only possible to a life of out-door pursuits. He is a man of broad and liberal education, wide culture and superior busi- ness qualifications. Mrs. Hastings was edu- cated at the Chicago Female College, being

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

graduated from the scientific course and vo- cal music; she is a person more devoted to literary pursuits than to society, and devotes a large portion of her time to study and read- ing. Their home is one of refinement and their surroundings are indicative of the cul- tivated and literary tastes of the owners. Mrs. Hastings' mother died at the age of thirty-one years. Her father was a inan of large means. He owned 7,000 acres of land and was one of the cattle kings of Illinois. At the time of the excitement in Illinois in regard to the Texan cattle fever, Jolin Sidell was the owner of the infected drove. Lewis R. Hastings had collected the drove of Texas steers, numbering 2,200, in the State of Texas, and had driven then to Illinois; when the lierd reached Cairo, Illinois, the native cattle began to die; twenty miles each side of the trail they died like sleep. Many of the men who had bought cattle and many of those whose cattle had become infected were poor men; they became greatly excited and brought suit against Mr. Sidell, but he won the case at last and proved himself an honorable man and an observer of the Golden Rule, for he settled with all the men who had lost through his misfortune; he had a large herd of cows on his farm and he gave the whole of this herd to the poor who had lost cows. He had a just sense of human rights and responsi- bility, and was possessed of great kindness of heart. He had himself been left an orphan and adopted and reared children besides his own. He was a member of the State Legis- lature for a period of two terms. As lie liad vast business interests to look after the Gov- ernor allowed him every other week, that being a condition of his accepting the nomination.

We append the following notice published at the time of his death:

" Died at Sidell, Vermilion County, Illi- nois, January 29, 1889, the Honorable John

Sidell, founder of the town which bears liis name. His physician pronounced his dis- ease Bright's disease of the kidneys, from which he has suffered inany years. In the death of Mr. Sidell the town which he founded, the community in which he lived, and the en- tire country mourn the loss of a friend and benefactor, and his family the inexpressible loss of a beloved husband and father. His funeral was conducted at his family inansion, three-quarters of a mile from Sidell, by the Masonic order. A very impressive sermon was delivered by Rev. G. B. Goldsmith, a personal friend of the deceased, and also a biographical sketch of his life. His funeral was largely attended by relatives, friends and neighbors and many citizens of surrounding townships. He was buried at Danville, Illi- nois. The funeral train was crowded with sympathizing friends, and it was met at Dan- ville and under the auspices of the combined Masonic lodges of Indianola and Olive Branch. He was carried to his last resting place withi great solemnity. Mr. Sidell was seventy- two years, seven months and two days of age.

BIOGRAPHY OF . HON. JOHN SIDELL, CATTLE KING OF ILLINOIS.

', John Sidell was born in Washington Coun- ty, Maryland, June 27, 1816. He was left an orphan at the age of eight years. He worked on a farm until he was nineteen years old in his native county, and received but one dollar and a half per month, He became dissatisfied with his wages and started West. He arrived in Green County, Ohio, witlı nineteen dollars in his pocket and a limited supply of clothing. He soon secured work on a farm at twelve dollars per month, and as soon as he liad saved money enough he started further west on horseback, passing through Illinois into Iowa. Not finding a situation that suited him he returned to Ohio,

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

and took a contract to cut a certain number of cords of wood at thirty-three and a third cents a cord. This was his start in life as a successful business man. From that time on he became a stock-dealer. He settled in Ver- milion County, Illinois, in 1862, and has been one of the most successful stock-dealers in the State of Illinois. He owned at one time about 9,000 acres of land, and at one time he sold a large tract for which he received $115,000.

" Mr. Sidell was twice married. His first wife, Elizabeth Cline, he married January 26, 1847. She was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1823, and died May 1, 1854. He was married the second time to Ada B. Ransom, January 20, 1857. She died October 4, 1868. He had one son and one daughter by his first wife: George and Allie E. By his second wife he had three children: Jennie H., Jo- seph J. and Luella B. In politics Mr. Sidell was a Whig and later a Republican. But of late years he took little interest in politics. He was a friend of religion but not a church member. He was liberal in his views and with his purse. He gave to the support of the church and Sabbath-school and contributed largely to the building of churches. He was kind and liberal to the needy and never pressed a poor man for money. He was a very public- spirited man and ready to aid in any enter- prise for the public good. His home was a paradise of comfort and he was always hos- pitable. He was pure in his life and a man of clean lips. He had no respect for a morally corrupt man. All told he was a perfect gen- tleman and a noble man."

ETER NIES, of sections 29 and 32, Grant Township, Page County, was born in Darmstadt, Germany, April 6, 1824, and is the son of Fred and Margaret (Analt)

Nies. Peter and his brother John came to the United States in the winter of 1849-'50, sailing from Havre, France, to New Orleans; thence they came up the river to St. Louis, and soon after settled in St. Clair County, Illinois. Peter worked by the month for two years, when he repaired to St. Jo., Missouri, remaining there three months. Being desir- ous of securing a home he came to Fremont County, Iowa, and made a pre-emption of 160 acres of land on a corner-section that cor- nered with the quarter that the court-house of Sidney stood upon. There he built a home and lived for thirty years. In 1882 he came to his present place in Page County, having sold his farm in Fremont County. He is ad- mirably located one mile south of the college, and has 160 acres of land. His improve- ments cost $3,000, and are of a first-class character. He is largely engaged in raising and feeding stock, handling the improved breeds of Holstein cattle and Poland-China hogs.

Mr. Nies was united in marriage at Savall- nah, Missouri, November 17, 1854, to Miss Agnes Graff, also a native of Germany. Eleven children have been born of this union, two of whom died in childhood: Mrs. Agues Nies was born near Bingen on the Rhine, Germany, on February 15, 1834, and was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Graff. John was born October 7, 1855; Bettie, April 12, 1857, died October 23, 1857; Hen- ry was born August 26, 1858; Louis, May 8, 1860; Gus, June 28, 1862, died, April 24, 1864; Fred was born December 15, 1863; Voll, August 28, 1865; Daniel, June 16, 1867; Agnes, September 24, 1869; Kate, January 22, 1872, and Lizzie, January 28, 1875.

Mr. Nies is a Lutheran in religious belief. Politically he is independent, voting for the man he deems best fitted for the position sought. He is considered one of the solid

Im Sidele.

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

agriculturists of the county and his farm is certainly a inodel one. He has been a favorite in both Page and Fremont counties with those with whom he has had business relations. His training of his family has resulted in his rearing a number of sturdy and respected citizens. He is an authority upon all mat- ters pertaining to agriculture and stock-breed- ing and growing, and has had more than nsnal success in his farming operations. He has become thoroughly Americanized and is an ardent supporter of the institutions of his adopted country.

AMES BOSLEY CARTER was born in Cumberland County, Kentucky, October 15, 1836, and is the son of Greene and Frances (Hawkins) Carter. His father was a native of Kentucky, and was the son of pioneers who settled there at an early day, coming from Virginia. The mother was a native of Virginia. Her ancestors were extensive slave owners, and of the estate which fell to her father a large portion con- sisted of slaves; these, however, he refused to accept, preferring the loss of his share in the property to being connected with the institu- tion of slavery. Greene Carter and wife had born to them four children: James, John W., Joseph, and Sarah, widow of Patrick O'Neill, who died from injuries received while a sol- dier in the war of the Rebellion.

When James was five years of age the family removed to New Madrid, Missouri, where the father died. In a short time the mother went with her children back to Ken- tncky, and in 1851, when James was fifteen years old, they settled in Warrick County, Indiana; he was the oldest child, and upon him fell the burden of support, as his mother was an invalid. With the assistance of liis

younger brothers he succeeded in clearing a farm.

April 27, 1859, he was married to Miss Nannie E. Brown, who was born in Warrick County, September 20, 1842. When the dark war clond hung threateningly over this land he felt it his duty to render what aid he could to perpetuate this nation. August 12, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Sixty-fifth Indi- ana Volunteer Infantry, leaving his young wife and two children in the care of relatives. The command was stationed at Henderson, Kentucky, to gnard the border and suppress the guerrilla warfare that prevailed to an alarm- ing extent along the Ohio River. At the time of Morgan's raid, July, 1863, his command was sent in pursuit, going as far as Louis- ville, Kentucky. After their return to Hen- derson they were ordered to Glasgow, where they joined Burnside's army and marclied across the mountains to Knoxville, Tennessee. In July, 1863, Mr. Carter was promoted to the position of Orderly-Sergeant, and the fol- lowing December he was made Second-Lieu- tenant. He participated in all of the battles in East Tennessee during the winter of 1863- '64, and in the battle of Resaca, and was at the siege and capture of Dallas; there he was taken ill and sent to the officers' hos- pital at Lookout Mountain. After remaining in the hospital two months he rejoined his regiment near Atlanta, Georgia, but not hav- ing gained sufficient strength he took a re- lapse and was sent to the hospital at Marietta. Chafing under the enforced inaction, he re- quested permission to return to his regiment for treatment by his regimental surgeon. This was granted him and he continued with it until September 21, when the board of surgeons ordered his discharge, deeming it the only possible means of saving his life. He reached home a physical wreck and has never fully recovered. He remained in Indi-

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

ana until the spring of 1866, when he came to Fremont County, Iowa, settling on a farm near Sidney; this he cultivated until January, 1875. His health had been so nndermined that he abandoned any hope of being any bet- ter, sold out and returned to Indiana to close np all his earthly affairs. Regaining a certain degree of health conrage came too, and he resolved to return to Iowa, where some of his children were living. In 1882 he located in Shenandoah, but afterward spent six months in California trying to recuperate his health. When he came back to his home he became the editor of the Shenandoah Republican, a position he filled until the affairs of that sheet terminated in 1886. As a writer he is terse and forcible, and during the campaign of 1884 did effective political work. The spring of that year he was elected Mayor of Shenan- doah, and has been re-elected five times. In addition to his duties as Mayor lie serves as Justice of the Peace and Pension Agent; he also does a general fire insurance and real- estate business, and has recently been ap- pointed notary public. No man who has served Shenandoah in an official capacity has been more faithful to her interests than has Mr. Carter. With more than ordinary executive and financial ability he has piloted the municipality from the rocks and break- ers, of municipal indebtedness, to a safe an- chorage in the peaceful harbor of low taxes and economical management.

To Mr. and Mrs. Carter have been born five children: Robert B., Fannie, wife of M. Hor- ton ; Albert S., Edwin A., and Emma M., wife of E. I. Lancey. The parents are members of the Congregational Church. Mr. Carter affiliates with the I. O. O. F., with whom he is an active worker; he has passed all the chairs and is the present district deputy and representative to the Grand Lodge. He has served three terms as Commander of the Burn-

side Post, No. 56, G. A. R., and represented the post in the Grand Encampment since 1883.

Mr. Carter cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln in 1860, and has ever since been an earnest supporter of the principles of the Republican party.

LIVER HENRY LONGWELL, A. M., President of the Highland Park Nor- mal College at Des Moines, Iowa. One of the noblest professions in which a man can engage is that of teaching, and the efforts of a true man or woman in leading the young and aiding in the expansion of their minds arc not to be over-estimated. Some of the greatest and grandest men are those whose lives have been devoted to the cause of edu- cation; among thiem Socrates, Plato, New- ton, Franklin and Bacon, nien whose influ- ence will never die. To him who has occu- pied the teacher's chair but a short time, the years thus spent are numbercd among the best and proudest of his career, and to him who has devoted his whole life to the cause, what must the satisfaction be ? This review is intended to notice a few of the principal events in the life of one of those educators. Oliver Henry Longwell first saw the light of day at Bentonville, Fayette County, Indiana, December 22, 1855,and is the youngest of a family of three children. His parents were Lewis and Mary A. (Pattison) Longwell, both of whom came to Indiana with their parents as early as 1826. The father is still living on the old homestead where his father, Ira Longwell, settled in 1827. The mother passed from earth in 1871. The Longwell family is of Irish ancestry. Ira Longwell was a noted character in the last war with Great Britain. The maternal ancestry of

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Lewis Longwell is traccd back through many generations to that historic Puritan, John Carver.

The parents of our subject were thrifty and enterprising and made their home in the thick- ly timbered portion of Indiana. The school advantages of the neighborhood were meagre, but in the Longwell home was always a sup- ply of good books and newspapers, and many were the long winter evenings spent in their perusal. By the time O. H. Longwell had rcached his sixteenth year he had acquired a fair knowledge of the common branchies. Hc had the good fortune to have one teacher who awakened in him a desire to obtain a better education than could be had in the common schools. Encouraged by his father he began a course of training which gave him excellent preparation and fitness for the educational work he has undertaken. He first entered the New Castle High School and later the Spiceland Academy, and then pursued a four years' course at the Northern Indiana Nor- mal School, from which he was graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1880. His class consisted of T. B. Swartz, superintendent of Elkhart, Indiana, public schools; H. C. Stright, deceased; H. C. Faber, superintend- ent of city schools in Illinois, and A. D. Kyle, a teacher at Delaware, Ohio. In Indi- ana he had experience as a teacher in the country schools from 1873, and later as super- intendent of the Goodland public schools. In 1880 he was called to the chair of lan- guages and literature in the Southern Iowa Normal School, at Bloomfield, Iowa. After two years' service in that capacity Professor Longwell was elected principal of the insti- tution, and became owner and proprietor. His work there was highly gratifying, as he brought the attendance from seventy-five to two hundred students. He went from this successful field to accept the chair of languages

and literature in the Western Normal College at Shenandoalı, where his worth was readily appreciated by students and faculty. In 1885 he was elected principal of the school and in that capacity proved himself the right man in the right place. He had entire control of the school work and prepared all outlines of recitations and courses of study. He is un- surpassed in his class-work, requiring thor- oughness and correct work from his pupils. He is an admirer of Fræbel and Pestalozzi and embraces the grand principles as cx- pressed by these immortal teachers in his school methods. He gives special personal attention to the normal training, and teachers going from his instruction prove unusually successful in their work. He has an extensive experience upon the lecture platform in Iowa and Nebraska, and he is under constant solici- tation to deliver educational addresses. His manner is pleasing, his presence is command- ing, and he has a ready flow of language.

During the time that he filled that position Professor Longwell found time to prepare two valuable additions to the already large number of text-books; one is a work on English literature designed for class use, and the other is a practical grammar, in which the subject is treated exhaustively and method- ically. This work has been received with much favor and the demand was such that thousands of copies were ordered while the book was yet in proof sheets. In 1890 lie resigned his position at Shenandoah, Iowa, to accept the presidency of Highland Park Nor- mal College, Des Moines, Iowa. This is one of the most completely equipped normal schools in the United States.

Professor Longwell was united in marriage September 16, 1882, to Miss Mary D. Stalker, who was born at Bedford, Indiana, August 22, 1858. She is a daughter of the Rev. Jolın M. Stalker, a native of Indiana and a

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

popular minister of the Baptist Church; he is a graduate of Hanover College, and has been pastor of the First Baptist Church in Bedford nineteen years. The mother of Mrs. Longwell was Harriet Jeter, also a native of Indiana. Mrs. Longwell is a graduate of the Bedford High School, and also of the Northern Indiana Normal at Valparaiso; for two years she was a teacher in the graded schools.

Professor and Mrs. Longwell are the par- ents of three interesting children: Helen A., Louise and John S.

ILLIAM HENRY BREWER, an old and highly esteemed resident of Shenandoah, was born in Washing- ton County, Indiana, January 10, 1838, and is a son of Oliver H. and Alvira (Westfall) Brewer, who were married in Indiana, where their parents had settled at an early date. Oliver H. Brewer has been married three times. His first wife was Miss Stark, who was the mother of one son, Ephraim, who enlisted in the army and died at Memphis, Tennessee, in the early part of the war. The second family consisted of six children : Will iam II., Jesse W., J. R., Mary A., wife of George Morey; Edwina H., wife of Alfred Mayburn, and Amy, wife of W. M. Rolston. Mrs. Brewer died in April, 1865, and Mr. Brewer was married a third time in Tama County, Iowa, to Mrs. Knight, by whom he has had four children, all living at home in Tarkio Township, Page County.

William Henry remained at home with his father until he was twenty-five years old, when he was married October 14, 1862, to Miss Mary Ann Procter, a native of the " Hoosier State." In 1869 they decided to come west, and accompanied Mr. Brewer's

father's family. They began to improve a farm in Tarkio Township and after one year's effort concluded that was not their calling. They then removed to Red Oak, where Mr. Brewer engaged in selling groceries for three years, meeting with fair success. January, 1874, found him established in a photograph- er's car on the site now occupied by the First National Bank in Shenandoah. He had learned the art at Red Oak, and had fitted up his car intending to devote some time to traveling; finding the business at Shenandoah more lucrative than he had anticipated he concluded to remain there permanently, and secured a gallery that had been abandoned by his pre- decessor, becoming a fixture of that rapidly growing town. His business increased in such proportions that in 1882 he was able to erect his present valuable brick block. It is 25 x 70 feet, with a commodious store-room on the ground floor, and photographers' parlors and residence on the second floor. The rooms devoted to his art are well lighted and finished work can be displayed to the best advantage. The work room is large and conveniently ar- ranged, and the dark room and printing win- dow, of his own invention, furnish unsurpassed facilities for turning out artistic work. In this most attractive occupation Mr. and Mrs. Brewer have found their calling, and they have spared no pains or expense to excel. They never allow a poor photograph to leave their studio; and by producing the choicest work they have an immense custom. They are also prepared to furnish portraits in oil, India ink, water colors, pastel or crayon. Two other business blocks are the result of years of toil, so that Mr. Brewer stands finan- cially among the most successful men of Shenandoah.

To Mr. and Mrs. Brewer have been born two children: George O., who is conducting a mercantile business of his own and who is

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

a highly respected young man of twenty-five years, and Hattie, an attractive girl of six- teen years. The parents are connected with the Congregational Church. In politics our subject stands squarely with the Democrats, having fixed convictions on all questions of public interest. Straightforward and upright in every transaction, no man has more friends than he and no man stands above him in the public estimation.

George O. Brewer was married June 15, 1887, to Elizabetlı Mary Derousse, daughter of Louis and Mary Derousse, of Chester, Illinois. Elizabethi Mary Derousse was born August 15, 1869, in Kaskaskia, Illinois.

Mary Ann Procter was born July 15, 1845, in Martin County, Indiana, and was the daugliter of George Rappeen and Mary W. (Green) Proctor, who where married in Law- rence County, Indiana, and emigrated to Whiteside County, Illinois, in 1855, with a family of six children: David G., George R., Saralı B., wife of William Moxley; Margaret Jane, wife of L. G. Crouch; Melissa E .; Mary Ann, wife of W. H. Brewer; Harriet N., wife of Jackson Hurless, and Eliza, wife of Clinton Manning. George Rappeen Procter died March 28, 1856.

M. JOHNSON, the popular and thor- oughigoing proprietor of the Shenan- doah Dairy, was born in Chautauqua County, New York, March 12, 1835, and is the son of Moses and Sylvia (Teft) Johnson. The father is a native of New York, and was a soldier, serving throngout the last war with Great Britain. The mother was born in Vermont and came from an old Puritan family. Young Tolinson grew to manhood with close familiarity to the hard labor neces- sary to the cultivation of the soil. IIe

attended the Fredonia Academy, where he obtained a liberal education. There he be- came acquainted withi Miss Mary E. Manning, to whom lie was married October 17, 1855. She was born January 10, 1837, in Washing- ton County, New York, and is the daugliter of John and Jane (Clark) Manning. The young couple immediately emigrated to Iowa and soon were engaged in farming. Mr. Jolinson became interested in buying and shipping stock and continued in that line of business until coming to Page County in 1881. He then secured his beautiful farm adjoining the corporation, and embarked in the dairy business. There are 160 acres in the place and the liome is one of the most attractive in the community ; it is surrounded with osage orange fences, and the lawn is adorned with beautiful evergreens and stately maples. The barn, which was erected at a cost of $1,500, is especially arranged for the accommodation of the twenty-five cows re- quired to supply the trade.

Mr. Johnson is a man who believes in giv- ing his personal attention to his business, and is almost always found at liis post, min- istering to the wants of his liost of customers His business has proved lucrative, and after eight years of close application lie expects to resign in favor of some other man. Besides giving the strict attention necessary to so confining an occupation, Mr. Johnson lias made some investments in Nebraska that liave proven substantial. He and his brother, C. H. Johnson, have secured 800 acres of land on the Elkhorn & Missonri Valley Railway, where they have established a stock ranch, having placed about 400 head.

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Author: Lewis and Dunbar, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis & Dunbar Number of Pages: 946

Author: Lewis and Dunbar, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis & Dunbar
Number of Pages: 946