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 70
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Mr. Johnson's family consists of Alice, Ad die and Charlie: Alice is the wife of Abram Gruver; Charlie is giving special attention to the study of penmanship, in which he has already made astonishing progress. The
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
family is indentified with the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Johnson is a inember of the Masonic fraternity. Miss Addie is giving special attention to music and fine art.
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ILLIAM M. GRAY is a man of varied and superior business capabilities, and more than one enterprise of Page has felt the force of his experienced hand. He was born in Campbell County, Tennessee, on December 3, 1838, and is a son of Martin and Nancy (Langley) Gray, natives of North Carolina. The father is a farmer by occupa- tion, and in 1841 emigrated to Missouri with his family, being the fourth family in Noda- way County. He and his wife are still living, at the advanced age of eighty-four and eighty-one years respectively, and reside in Nodaway County, Missouri. They had born to them twelve children, nine of whom sur- vive.
William M. came to Missouri with his parents where he spent his early life and re- ceived his education; the schools he attended were of the pioneer type, held in the primi- tive log school-house. He remained under his father's roof until he had attained his majority, and in the fall of 1861 he enlisted in the Missouri State militia for six months. December 2, 1862, he became a member of Company C, Eleventh Missouri Cavalry, and served his country until August 25, 1865. He was honorably discharged at New Orleans, Louisiana, after which he returned to his old home in Missouri. He at once embarked in the saw-inill business, which he followed for three years. He then engaged in the mer- cantile business at Clearmont, Missouri, which he conducted successfully for five years.
In the spring of 1875 he came to Page
County, Iowa, and located on a farm of eighty acres in East River Township; he had also secured a forty-acre tract in Taylor County, but made his home on the eighty acres in Page County. In 1882 he removed to Taylor County and remained there until February, 1884, when he came back to Page County and settled at Shambaugh. The previous fall he had purchased the stock of hardware and ag- ricultural implements belonging to B. F. & N. T. Berry, and conducted this business until November, 1889; he then sold the stock to George W. Thorn.
In February, 1886, Mr. Gray formed a partnership with David Clayton and bought a stock of groceries and queensware, which they opened at Shambaugh; later, they added a stock of dry goods and shoes, and now carry $2,500 worth of goods; their annual sales amount to $7,000, and the enterprise has proved a success in every way. Mr. Gray also owns a half interest in a hardware store in Braddyville, being associated with C. C. White: they carry a stock of $1,400, making annual sales of $6,000.
Mr. Gray also owns a farm of eighty-two and a half acres in Amity Township, and valuable residence property in Clarinda and Sham- baugh. He is one of the most prosperous and successful men in the county; his life furnishes a good example of what will and perseverance can accomplish when coupled with honesty and strict integrity of character. Politically he is identified with the Republi- can party and has represented his township as Justice of the Peace for two years, and as a member of the school board. He is a member of Warren Post, No. 11, G. A. R.
November 29, 1866, occurred the marriage of William M. Gray and Celestia L. Curren, a daugliter of Stephen Curren and Clarissa, nee Strattan, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Vermont. Their five children
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
are Clarence A., Mary Etta, deceased; Rebecca J., Ada E., deceased, and Myrtle M.
The father and inother are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Gray is trustee, assistant steward, and Sunday-school superintendent; he has taken an active interest in religious work for many years.
While a resident of East River Township Mr. Gray served as district secretary for eleven years and as clerk for eight years.
EORGE A. QUIMBY was born iu Chel- sea, Orange County, Vermont, on Jan- uary 17, 1847, and he is a son of Major and Philura (Hadley) Quimby, natives of Ver- mont. The Quimby family figured largely in the early history of New England, and Major Quimby was a teamster and stage- driver in the days when there was no other mode of travel.
When George was fifteen years old he be- gan to learn the blacksmith's trade, in the shops of the Central Vermont Railway Com- pany, where he worked seven years. Arriv- ing at the age of twenty-two years he camne West, and for nearly two years was in the shops of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway Company at Galesburg, Illinois, en- gaged in making car-springs, in which he becaine an adept. He was then promoted to the position of foreman of the shops at Ottumwa, the duties of which he acceptably filled for four years.
Having a desire to engage in business for himself, he decided to locate in Shenandoah, and in 1874 he established the Shenandoah Carriage Works, under the firm name of Wilford & Quimby, lis partner being Lewis Wilford. They continued to transact an ex- tensive business for more than seven years,
when Mr. Wilford retired and Mr. Quimby conducted the affairs until December, 1889, disposing of the entire establishinent to J. F. King. For several years from ten to fif- teen skilled workmen were employed and excellent work on carriages and wagons turned out.
After disposing of the carriage works, Mr. Quimby organized the Iowa National Build- ing and Loan Association of Des Moines, Iowa, with the Hon. John A. T. Hull, ex-Lieutenant Governor of Iowa, president; Hon. William Butler, vice-president; Hon. T. E. Clark, general attorney; George Bogart (president of Shenandoah National Bank), treasurer; W. J. Davenport (C .. B. & Q. R. R. freight and passenger agent), secretary, and George A. Quiinby, manager of agencies. Mr. Quimby is now devoting his whole time and attention to the business of this association, with great success as the result of his labors. The Iowa National has already become a household word, and is sure to be the leading institution of its kind in the United States.
Mr. Quimby was united in marriage June 15, 1868, at Geneseo, Illinois, to Miss An- nette L. Kendall, a native of Vermont, who had been an influential teacher in Illinois for some time previous to her marriage. She is a person of superior attainments, and received a thorough training in the Royalton Acade- my, Vermont. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Quimby: Sumner Carl, aged seventeen, who is a student at the col- lege; and Louise, aged fifteen years, a pupil in the high school. The parents are worthy ment- bers of the Congregational Church.
Mr. Quimby is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, in all its branches. He has been High Priest of the Chapter in Shenandoah for years and is the present Dep- uty Grand High Priest in the Grand Chap- ter of Iowa, a position of honor, and one
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
entailing considerable travel and active par- ticipation in the work throughout the State. This of itself is ample evidence of the esti- mation he is held by his fraters.
ILLIAM GIESE, a popular and lead- ing agricnlturist of Donglas Town- ship, was born in Des Moines County, Iowa, January 15, 1847, and is a son of John and Margaret (Dienkhausen) Giese. His parents were born in Germany and emigrated to the United States in their youth; they were married in Virginia, and were among the first families to settle in Des Moines County, Iowa, where they took Government claims. Burlington was then a hamlet of six log cabins, the Indians came and went at their will, and wild game was plentiful. There the father and inother lived half a cen- tury, witnessing a wonderful transformation in the surrounding country. They reared eight children, seven sons and one daughter.
William was the second child, and was reared on the old homestead, thus becoming acenstomed to farm work in his youth. He obtained an education in the common schools, and in 1870 he came to Page Connty and settled on section 4, Douglas Township, where he lived until 1877. When he took the land it was in a wild state of nature, but he lias succeeded in placing it nnder good cultivation, and it is to-day one of the best farms in the township.
His home farm comprises 140 acres, on section 7, and he lias eighty acres on section 33, Scott Township, Montgomery. The buildings upon his premises are of the most desirable and substantial kind. The resi- dence, of a modern style of architecture, cost $1,000; the lawn is beautifully ornaniented with shade and ornamental trees, presenting
a most attractive appearance. The barn, 28 x 30 feet, cost $500, and the cribs, 24 x 30 feet, cost $200; and there is also a modern windmill upon the premises.
Mr. Giese was united in marriage Decem- ber 15, 1872, to Miss Adaline Davie, a native of Richland County, Ohio, and a daughter of Alexander Davie, a prominent and well- known pioneer of Page County. Mrs. Giese was five years old when her parents came to the county, and here slie received her educa- tion and grew to womanliood. One child, Nellie Blanche, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Giese. The father and daughter were greatly bereaved in the death of Mrs. Giese, which occurred November 23, 1888. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and was a loyal servant to her Master.
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PENCER D. MORGAN was born in Lee County, Illinois, November 22, 1843, being the son of Joshua C. and Elizabeth (Shoemaker) Morgan: the parents were natives of Ohio.
Joshua C. Morgan was born in Greene County, Ohio, July 14, 1801. He had two brothers and two sisters: John, Harvey, Mar- gery and Sarah. He was a farmer when young. Was married in Ohio, in 1820, to Miss Almeda Moore. Moved to Sangamon County, Illinois, the same year. Was elected probate judge of said county in 1832, and served six years, he also held the office of county recorder and county clerk. His wife died in 1832, leaving four children: Frank, Isaac, Julia and Caroline. The last two are still living; Julia is the wife of Amasa Loomis, a prosperous farmer living near Elgin, Illinois; and Caroline, the wife of Washington Hutton, who owns a large farm
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
in Holt County, Missouri, near Mound City. He married for his second wife Miss Elizabeth Shoemaker, April 23, 1835, at Pekin, Illinois. He moved to Gap Grove, Lee County, in 1840. Mr. Morgan was postinaster at that place for five years. He died in 1849. His wife still survives him, and lives with her oldest son, H. C. Morgan, at Oregon, Holt County, Missouri. She will be seventy-five years old in September, 1890.
Spencer D. is one of a family of seven children, five of whom survive: Alfonso, a fariner by occupation, is a resident of Holt County, Missouri, where he fills the office of recorder; Jerome B. died in Mound City, Illi- nois, from disease contracted while in the service of his country; in 1861 lie enlisted in the Tenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Com- pany G, and served until his death, which oc- curred in 1862; Charles W., a resident of Page County, of whom a further notice will be found in this volume; Sidney L., a farmer, residing in Holt County, Missouri; Florence L,, wife of Delreign Remington, lives in Seward, Nebraska, and one child who died in infancy.
The subject of this sketchi was reared to farın life in his native State, and received his early education in the common school. At the age of eigliteen years he enlisted in the Tenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company G, serving three years; he took part in many hard-fought battles, the most noted being the siege of New Madrid, Corinth, Juka, Mis- sionary Ridge, Rocky Face Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta and Jonesborough; the last named battle was fouglit after his termn of enlistment had expired. His command was stationed at Nashville, Tennessee, ten inonths, where they did garrison duty at Fort Neglie.
After his service was ended he returned to his old home, where his mother and sister
were alone, all the other sons having entered the service, excepting one, who was in Cal- ifornia. He took charge of the farm and re- mained there until 1869, when he came to Iowa and purchased 280 acres of land in Page County, afterward disposing of a portion to his brother. He went back to Illinois, and in the spring of 1870 returned to his new home, prepared to begin his improvements, broke out forty acres and again went back to Illinois to remain through the winter; the following spring he returned, put in a crop, built fencing and erected a small house. In August, 1871, he went to Princeton, Illinois, and on the eighteenthi of that month was united in marriage to Miss Pliana M. Wood, a daughter of Eli and Joanna (Fellows) Wood, natives of Massachusetts and New Hampshire respectively. Mrs. Morgan was born in Princeton, Illinois, in August, 1850, and is one of a family of two; her brother, Otis, is a druggist by profession, and resides in Tampa, Florida.
Immediately after his marriage Mr. Morgan started with his bride for his Iowa home, and since that time has resided in East River Township, with the exception of one winter which was passed in Florida. He devotes himself to farming, and like all other pio- neers has had many drawbacks and hardships to meet. During his early residence in Iowa the markets were many miles distant, and tlie prices of produce were extremely low.
Politics claim some attention from our subject; he lias been appointed a delegate to the State convention of the Republican party, and has also served as a member of the town- ship central committee for several years. He is a member of Warren Post, No. 11, G. A. R.
Mr. and Mrs. Morgan are the parents of eight children: Edna E., Mand D., Lee Roy, Earl C., Hattie Lisle, Eva May, Floyd L.,
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
who died August 20, 1888, and an infant daughter, Lorena B.
S. CHILES .- The Blue Grass Creamery of Clarinda, Iowa, manufactures a gilt- edge butter that has acquired a national reputation for its proprietor, J. S. Chiles, who established the business in 1883; he is a prac- tical business man, and has rapidly and vigor- ously pushed the interests of the concern to the front, attaining a high standing in the butter markets of the East. The factory does a business of $75,000 per annum; the cream is collected by teams from every direction within a radins of twenty miles, which is a large source of revenue to the farmers of Page County; twelve wagons are employed during the busy season, and besides the twelve men required to run them four men are employed in the factory. The butter is principally shipped to eastern markets and commands the highest market price. The creamery is fur- nished with modern machinery, which is pro- pelled by an engine of eight-horse-power. The ice-houses are ample and well arranged, with a capacity of 1,200 tons. In addition to his creamery business Mr. Chiles also does a large business in feeding swine in order to have the buttermilk consumed; he keeps 200 lead and his feed lots and sheds are of a sub- stantial kind, and are kept in the best order. He expends $2,000 for cream and $1,000 for other purposes, including hired help, and is doing a thriving business. He is also a wholesale dealer in and shipper of eggs.
We will now go back a few years and learn something of the early history of this enter- prising citizen. J. S. Chiles was born in Preston County, West Virginia, October 15, 1850, and is a son of Jonathan and Margaret (Cress) Chiles, natives of Maryland and Vir-
ginia respectively. He was thirteen years old when the family removed to Guernsey County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. He was reared to the life of a farmer and received his education in the common schools. At the age of twenty-three years he went to Wash- ington County, Iowa, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1881. In that year he embarked in the creamery business. but it was on a salary of $20 per month. However he had vim, and push, and pluck, and he soon climbed to the top of the ladder, and is now accounted one of the most reliable and solid business men of Page County.
Mr. Chiles was united in marriage, in Washington County, Iowa, December 24, 1876, to Susan E. Armagost. By this union three children have been born: Asa E., George S. and Margaret A. Mr. Chiles is in the prime of a vigorons manhood, and has many years before him until he has lived out the " three score and ten" allotted to man, and he has many friends in Page County who wish him a prosperons future.
ICHOLAS C. WINTER, one of the well-known citizens of Douglas Town- ship, arrived in Page County January 14, 1859. He is a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, born September 16, 1829. His parents, Daniel and Eliza (Sim- mons) Winter, were also natives of Pennsyl- vania and of German ancestry. They reared three children; the mother died when Nich- olas C. was but seven years old, and the father was married again in later years to Susannah Beabont, of Washington, Pennsyl- vania, and removed to Licking County, Ohio; there the family resided for several years, the wife died, and afterward the father removed to La Salle County, Illinois, and lived with
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
his son J. J. Winter, where the father died, at the age of eighty years.
Mr. Winter received more than ordinary educational advantages in his youth, and after leaving school engaged in teaching. In 1856 he went to Fulton County, Illinois, and re- inained there three years; during this period he was engaged in the art of pliotography, and also taught singing-school. On coming to Page County he settled on a tract of land in Douglas Township, and for many years was the most extensive sheep-raiser in south-west- ern Iowa. He contributed very much to the pleasure of the young people of this section by teaching a singing class, a popular insti- tution in pioneer days. In 1860-'61 he was Captain of the Home Guards, numbering sixty men, of whom James Arbuckle was First Lieutenant and John Harris, Drum Major. In 1864 he located on section 4, Douglas Township, and in 1871 came to his present farm. He has done a general farming and stock-raising business, and has also been ex- tensively engaged in the manufacture of sor- ghum molasses, in which he has been very successful.
Mr. Winter was united in marriage De- cember 4, 1862, to Miss Amelia Moore, a native of Adams County, Ohio, and a dangli- ter of John and Sarah (Bowman) Moore, also natives of Ohio, Eight children have been born of this union: Laura M., one of Page County's successful teachers; Frank L., George H., John W., Ed D., Nettie A., Sarah E. and Earl C .; one child, Nicholas C., died in infancy. The family have always striven to elevate the moral tone of the com- in unity, and have actively participated in every enterprise having for its object the moral and intellectual improvement of the people.
In politics Mr. Winter was formerly a Whig and later a Republican, but is also in-
dependent and a strong temperance man. He has served as Justice of the Peace for twenty five years, dispencing justice with im partiality. He is a member of the Christian Church, of which he is at the present time one of the elders.
A. KYLE, one of the progressive farm- ers of Morton Township, was born in Orange County, New York, April 5, 1848, and is the son of Thomas and Margaret J. (Yerkes) . Kyle. The father is a native of Ireland, and now resides in Tioga County, New York. The mother was born in the State of New York, and is now deceased.
J. A. Kyle is the fifth of a family of eight children, and is the only one residing in the West. It was not until he was twenty years of age that he left the dear old home and went to seek his own fortune; he first went to western New York, but did not remain there long, and was soon after in Michigan; neither did this section have a lasting charm to him, and in 1868 he went to Iowa, locating in Cedar Connty. He had been trained in agri- cultural pursuits in the home of his boyhood and youth, and he again engaged in this oc- cupation. He also ran a threshing-machine eleven years in succession, with success, and he followed breaking prairie seven or eight years in Cedar, Page and Fremont Counties, breaking over 1,200 acres of prairie. For five summer seasons he lived in a movable shanty eight feet square, baching with several others. In the spring of 1872 he came to Page County, and purchased a tract of eighty acres on section 17, Morton Town- ship. It was not until the spring and sumn- mer of 1873 that he began breaking this land.
Mr. Kyle was nnited in marriage Decem- ber 23, 1873, to Miss Matilda A. Henderson
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
a daughter of Josiah and Catherine (Walters) Henderson, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively. Mrs. Kyle was born in Han- cock County, Ohio, October 24, 1852, and came to Iowa in 1861. In the spring of 1874 Mr. and Mrs. Kyle removed to their farm, where a rude dwelling had been erected; it furnished very few conveniences, but it was the best they could do, and they were con- tent.
In June, 1874, Mr. Kyle purchased 160 acres on section 18, Morton Township, and in the spring of 1875 removed to this place, having sold his land on section 17. He erected a frame-house, which now does duty as a kitchen to his more pretentions residence. This farm was uncultivated, as was all the surrounding country. With the exception of three years spent in Kansas, Mr. Kyle las resided on this place since 1875. He has made an excellent class of improvements in the way of residence property and barns for stock and grain. He has planted 3,000 trees in a grove, and 180 fruit trees, and has in every possible way developed his farm, making it both valnable and attractive.
Mr. Kyle has bought and sold a number of places in this part of the county, always im- proving every piece of land coming into his possession. In 1887 he purchased 160 acres adjoining his own farm, and now has 320 acres in his home place. He makes a specialty of raising and shipping live-stock, and takes a pride in introducing the better grades. His farm is well stocked with horses, cattle and hogs, and he lias been particularly successful in this branch of farming.
Mr. and Mrs. Kyle are the parents of three children: Thomas A., Clara J., deceased, and James F.
Politically Mr. Kyle is identified with tlie Republican party. He and his wife are wor- thy members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church at Shenandoah, and for eleven years have done all they could to advance Christian- ity. Mr. Kyle has acted as superintendent of the Sabbath-school for several years at the school-houses in his neighborhood, doing an immense amount of work in that field.
RANCIS M. JONES has been identified with the farming interests of Page County since the year 1869. In record- ing the history of any citizen it is of interest to his descendants to find something of the early ancestors. Francis Jones, grandfather of Francis M. Jones, was born in Kentucky, moved in early day to Ohio, settling in Mi- ami County, and finally moved to Logan County, where he cleared a farm and remained until his death, at the age of seventy-eight years. His family consisted of three chil- dren: David, Allen and Rachel.
Allen Jones was born on his father's farm in Miami County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. He was united in marriage to Annie Armstrong, a daughter of John and Mary Arınstrong, and to them were born ten children: Martin A., Jasper N., Margaret, Rachel, Mary, Francis M., Louisa, Rebecca, Ellen and Martha. The mother died in Logan County, Ohio, and Mr. Jones was married a second time to Mrs. Annie Simpson, a daugh. ter of Asel and Lucretia Styles, and she was the mother of one child by this marriage, Mahala. Mr. Jones was a farmer in Logan County, Ohio, and by industry and economy he acquired a handsome property. He was a man of broad character and honorable repu- tation.
Francis M. Jones, son of Allen and Anna (Armstrong) Jones, was born in Logan County, Ohio, in 1842. He obtained his education in the common schools of that day
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
and followed the occupation of his father, farming. He was married in the State of Illinois to Miss Fannie Starrett, March 1, 1866. Mrs. Jones was a daughter of James and Jane (Bogart) Starrett. Mr. and Mrs. Jones resided in Logan County until 1869, when they decided to seek a home in the far West; accordingly they emigrated to Iowa, and settled in Page County, where they have since ranked among the leading citizens. Mr. Jones bought 160 acres of land, which lie has redeemed from the wild state in which nature and the " Red Man" left it, and has converted it into a fine, fertile farm. Politically he affil- iates with the Republican party. During the late civil war he enlisted in the One Hun- dred and Thirty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company C, and was a faithful sol- dier in the struggle to perpetuate this nation.
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